Objective: To investigate the potential role of me latonin in the adrenal cortex of human embryo. Methods:Specifi c melatonin receptors was localized and characterized in the adrenal cortex of h u man embryo by means of immunohistochemistry. Results: mt1 （Me l1a）and MT2 （Mel1b）subtype of melatonin receptors was principally localize d to cytoplasm in zona glomerulosa， fasciculata and reticularis. Conclu sion: It is possible that mt1 and MT2 subtype of melatonin receptors co-exist in the adrenal cortex of human embryo.

Objective: To determine protein binding characteri stic and signal transmission pathway of melatonin（Mel） receptor(MR) in human e mbryonic peripheral organ tissues. Methods: MR was measured by radio ligand-binding assay and the effect of GTPγS on melatonin specific bindi ng was studied. Results: Mel specific binding sites were det ermined in 16 kinds of human embryonic tissue and this binding could be inhibit ed by GTPγS, supporting the theory that MR is coupled to inhibitory G-proteins system. Conclusion: MR is measured in human embryo tissue, the se results provide experimental data for elucidating the mechanism of the effect of Mel.

Objective: To make it clear whether there exists m elatonin receptor in the thyroid of human embryo. Methods: Thyr oid was collected and sliced up to be stained with methods of immunohistochemis try and in situ hybridization. Results: The thyroid tissue w as p ositively dyed, melatonin receptor mt1 and MT2 were with both immunohistoche mistry and in situ hybridization while brown granules dep osited in the membrane, plasma and nuclear of the thyroid cell were with the imm unohitochemistry. Conclusion: There exists melatonin rece ptors in human embryo thyroid, either mt1 or MT2, and they exist in the memb rane, plasma and nuclear.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new infectious disease rapidly spreading around the world, raising global public health concerns. Radiological examinations play a crucial role in the early diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19. Cross infection among patients and radiographers can occur in radiology departments due to the close and frequent contact of radiographers with confirmed or potentially infected patients in a relatively confined room during radiological workflow. This article outlines our experience in the emergency management procedure and infection control of the radiology department during the COVID-19 outbreak.

OBJECTIVETo study the factors affecting the management and treatment of immigrant workers with tuberculosis, to determine the most effective measures and to provide an academic basis for tuberculosis control and prevention strategies targeting the immigrant population.

METHODSA self-designed questionnaire was administered to 1364 immigrant workers with tuberculosis (study group) and 436 local residents (control group) with tuberculosis.

RESULTSWhether a patient's tuberculosis status was discovered or not was related to the medical facilities initially visited, job mobility, and the individual worker's economic condition. The percentage of cases discovered was relatively low among those who made their first visit to a private clinic (39.0%), and 58.4% (796) of immigrant workers delayed their first consultation mainly due to neglecting symptoms (55.9%, 445), subjective perception of symptoms being not severe enough (19.3%, 154) to visit a physician and the inconvenience of visiting a hospital because of its being far away from home (15.8%, 47). As comparing immigrant workers with local residents, the differences of the delay reason between the two groups were statistically significant (chi(2) = 21.49, P < 0.01). And 39.9% (544) of immigrant workers and 49.1% (214) of local residents had had late confirmation. The differences of the delay reasons between the two groups were insignificant (chi(2) = 7.31, P = 0.293). And 17.6% (240) patients of immigrant workers and 13.1% (57) patients of local residents did not keep to their drug regimens in a timely fashion. The differences of the reasons between the two groups were insignificant (chi(2) = 6.66, P > 0.05). And 77.5% (1057) of immigrant workers and 31.8% (138) of local residents were considered that taking medicine in supervision spot might have impact on their lives and work. The differences of the reasons between the two groups were significant (chi(2) = 9.71, P < 0.05). All 79.2% (1080) of immigrant workers and 63.3% (276) of local residents did not obtain medicine according to prescriptions. The differences of reasons between the two groups were statistically significant (chi(2) = 24.84, P < 0.01). And 51.2% (699) of immigrant workers and 46.1% (201) of the registered population did not follow up with doctors' directions for lab tests. The differences of the reasons between the two groups were insignificant (chi(2) = 3.26, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe influential factors in tuberculosis management and treatment were complex. Prevention strategies should focus on health education and promotion activities to improve awareness in seeking medical services. Also, developing and standardizing reference mechanisms for patients, and alleviating the economic burden of the workers will be critical to reduce the tuberculosis incidence.

China ; epidemiology ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Transients and Migrants ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Urban Population

AIMClinical studies stated that low molecular weight compounds (< 1.0 kd) extracted from the new born calf liver could effectively inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. In this report, we observed inhibition effects and their regulative mechanisms of taurine, ornithine, carnosine on the proliferation of HL-60 cells.

METHODSThree active ingredients, i.e., taurine, ornithine and carnosine were separated by ion-exchange chromatographic column and identified from the low molecular weight filtrate of new born calf liver. MTT assay was used to test the survival rate of HL-60 cells and normal lymphocytes treated by the three ingredients. The various effects of the three compounds on HL-60 cells were respectively evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis, ESR and immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSThese compounds effectively inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced apoptosis which was determined by apoptotic changes in morphology and nuclear DNA degradation. Whereas no inhibition effects on normal lymphocytes were observed. In addition, the results of ESR showed that the activity of oxygen radical within HL-60 cells treated with there compounds decreased to trace level. Furthermore, in the immunohistochemical experiments, we found that the level of p45/skp2 in HL-60 cells decreased while the level of p27/kip increased.

CONCLUSIONThe taurine, ornithine and carnosine compounds can selectively suppress tumor cells proliferation by regulating the level of cell cycle proteins.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carnosine ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Liver ; chemistry ; Ornithine ; pharmacology ; Taurine ; pharmacology

Objective: To determine protein binding characteri stic and signal transmission pathway of melatonin（Mel） receptor(MR) in human e mbryonic peripheral organ tissues. Methods: MR was measured by radio ligand-binding assay and the effect of GTPγS on melatonin specific bindi ng was studied. Results: Mel specific binding sites were det ermined in 16 kinds of human embryonic tissue and this binding could be inhibit ed by GTPγS, supporting the theory that MR is coupled to inhibitory G-proteins system. Conclusion: MR is measured in human embryo tissue, the se results provide experimental data for elucidating the mechanism of the effect of Mel.

Objective: To investigate the potential role of me latonin in the adrenal cortex of human embryo. Methods:Specifi c melatonin receptors was localized and characterized in the adrenal cortex of h u man embryo by means of immunohistochemistry. Results: mt1 （Me l1a）and MT2 （Mel1b）subtype of melatonin receptors was principally localize d to cytoplasm in zona glomerulosa， fasciculata and reticularis. Conclu sion: It is possible that mt1 and MT2 subtype of melatonin receptors co-exist in the adrenal cortex of human embryo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging derived quantitative metrics and serum soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) level in an embolic canine stroke model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A middle cerebral artery occlusion model was established in 24 beagle dogs. Experimental dogs were divided into low- and high-sCD40L group according to serum sCD40L level at 4.5 hours after establishing the model. IVIM imaging was scanned at 4.5 hours after model establishment using 10 b values ranging from 0 to 900 s/mm². Quantitative metrics diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) of ischemic lesions were calculated. Quantitative metrics of ischemic lesions were normalized by contralateral hemisphere using the following formula: normalized D = D(stroke) / D(contralateral). Differences in IVIM metrics between the low- and high-sCD40L groups were compared using t test. Pearson's correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship between IVIM metrics and serum sCD40L level. RESULTS: The high-sCD40L group showed significantly lower f and normalized f values than the low-sCD40L group (f, p < 0.001; normalized f, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in D*, normalized D*, D, or normalized D value between the two groups (All p > 0.05). Both f and normalized f values were negatively correlated with serum sCD40L level (f, r = −0.789, p < 0.001; normalized f, r = −0.823, p < 0.001). However, serum sCD40L level had no significant correlation with D*, normalized D*, D, or normalized D (All p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The f value derived from IVIM imaging was negatively correlated with serum sCD40L level. f value might serve as a potential imaging biomarker to assess the formation of microvascular thrombosis in hyperacute period of ischemic stroke.
Animals ; CD40 Ligand* ; Diffusion ; Dogs ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Perfusion ; Stroke* ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUNDThe cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C)-based chemotherapy is the major remedial measure for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) and cytidine deaminase (CDA) are the key enzymes in the metabolism of Ara-C. Many single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of DCK and CDA, which contribute to susceptibility to Ara-C, have been identified in Africans and Europeans. However, there has been no report about the relation among three SNPs in DCK (rs115543896, rs72552079, and rs111454937) and two SNPs in CDA (rs2072671 and rs60369023), and their clinical response to Ara-C for a Chinese population. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether these five SNPs are associated with the therapeutic outcomes of Ara-C-based chemotherapy regimens in patients with AML.

METHODSA total of 151 Chinese patients with AML were enrolled in our study. SNPs genotyping were performed using the MassARRAY system by means of the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) method.

RESULTSThe results illustrated that DCKrs111454937 AA genotype was more frequent in patients with higher platelet count, and A allele frequency was significantly higher in the group £40 years, lower white blood cell (WBC) count patients group and the group with platelet counts > 60'10(9)/L. Meanwhile, both DCKrs72552079 TC (OR = 1.225, 95%CI = 1.225 - 9.851, P = 0.0192) and CDArs60369023 GA (OR = 9.851, 95%CI = 1.31 - 77.93, P = 0.0263) significantly improved Ara-C-based chemotherapy response. While DCKrs11554389 AA (OR = 0.147, 95%CI = 0.027 - 0.801, P = 0.0267) was associated with the decrease of Ara-C-based chemotherapy response.

CONCLUSIONIt is evident that the DCK and CDA polymorphisms might be the important markers for the AML patients' therapy outcomes in a Chinese population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Cytidine Deaminase ; genetics ; Deoxycytidine Kinase ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult