OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of hCG on the epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the phallic tissues of hypospadiac mice.

METHODSThe Kunming mouse model of congenital hypospadias was established. As controls, 10 three-week-old normal male mice and 10 3-week-old congenital hypospadiac mice were injected with isometric sodium chloride intraperitoneally. Another 40 mice with hypospadias were divided into 4 groups and injected intraperitoneally with 50 IU, 100 IU, 150 IU and 200 IU of hCG respectively per day for 7 days. Then the concentration of ECG in the phallus and in the serum were assayed by ELISA.

RESULTSThe EGF level in the phallus of the hypospadiac mice was much lower than that of the controls statistically (P < 0. 05). After the injection of exogenous hCG, the concentration of ECG increased with the dose of hCG, 50 IU (59.57 +/- 22.16) pg/ml, 100 IU (57.97 +/- 9.59) pg/ml, 150 IU (73.02 +/- 31.35) pg/ml and 200 IU (92.45 +/- 35.74) pg/ml. The concentration of ECG showed no significant difference between the control group and the 150 IU and 2000 IU groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDecreased concentration of EGF in the mouse phallus may be associated with the pathogeny of hypospadias. A proper dose of exogenous hCG may increase the concentration of EGF in the mouse phallus.

Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; blood ; Hypospadias ; blood ; metabolism ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Mice ; Penis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and indications of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring for frontal lobe contusion patients.

METHODSDuring January 2005-December 2008, 34 cases of frontal lobe contusion received ICP monitoring in our department (monitoring group). Different treatment protocols were adopted according to the results of ICP. Meanwhile 46 cases of same type of head-injured patients who did not undergo ICP monitoring served as control group.

RESULTSWe found that ICP elevated dramatically within 24 hours after head injury if the contusions were located in frontal longitudinal dehiscence, bilateral undersurface of frontal lobe or dispersed in bilateral lobe. After half a year follow-up and on the basis of Glasgow Coma Scale assessment, the monitoring group showed better outcome than the control group with good recovery in 24 cases (70.6%) , moderate disability in 7 cases (20.6%), severe disability in 2 (5.88%) and death in 1 (2.94%). The outcome of control group displayed good condition in 25 cases (54.3%), moderate disabilities in 8 (17.4%), severe disability in 7 (15.2%), and death in 6 (13.0%).

CONCLUSIONSFrontal lobe contusions are vulnerable and complex head injuries, especially when the contusions are located in frontal longitudinal dehiscence, bilateral undersurface of frontal lobe or diffused in bilateral lobes. These patients should undergo ICP monitoring regardless of their consciousness status. If ICP elevates over 25 mm Hg, the craniotomy is mandatory and will markedly reduce the mortality and disability of these patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Contusions ; physiopathology ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; physiopathology ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; injuries ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To evaluate the vitamin D status of residents in two cities of Zhejiang province.Methods 442 participants from Hangzhou and Ningbo were selected using multi-stage cluster random sampling method,then the blood samples were collected and the serum level of 25 -hydroxyl vitamin D [25 (OH)D]was detected by the method of radioimmunoassay to analyze the Vitamin D status.Results Median (25 th-75 th percentile)level of serum 25 (OH)D in subjects aged 6 -11,12 -17,18 -44,45 -59 and over 60 years were 53.19 (41.85 -64.89),48.76 (32.56 -60.52),59.91 (48.05 -72.79),68.67 (55.50 -78.07)and 70.97 (56.91 -84.65)nmol/L,respectively.The number of vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D<25 nmol/L],insufficiency[25≤25(OH)D <50 nmol/L],normal [50≤25 (OH)D <75 nmol/L ],sufficiency [25 (OH )D ≥75 nmol/L ] were 2.95%,30.84%,44.22% and 22.00%, respectively.Conclusion The deficient and insufficient status of vitamin D is common among residents in two cities of Zhejiang province.Vitamin D nutrition situation should be improved.

BACKGROUNDIn recent years the proportion of lung adenocarcinoma (adCA) which occurs in lung cancer patients has increased. Using laser capture microdissection (LCM) combined with liquid chip-mass spectrometry technology, we aimed to screen lung cancer biomarkers by studying the proteins in the tissues of adCA.

METHODSWe used LCM and magnetic bead based weak cation exchange (MB-WCX) to separate and purify the homogeneous adCA cells and normal cells from six cases of fresh adCA and matched normal lung tissues. The proteins were analyzed and identified by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-fight mass spectrometry (MALDI-OF-MS). We screened for the best pattern using a radial basic function neural network algorithm.

RESULTSAbout 2.895 × 10(6) and 1.584 × 10(6) cells were satisfactorily obtained by LCM from six cases of fresh lung adCA and matched normal lung tissues, respectively. The homogeneities of cell population were estimated to be over 95% as determined by microscopic visualization. Comparing the differentially expressed proteins between the lung adCA and the matched normal lung group, 221 and 239 protein peaks, respectively, were found in the mass-to-charge ration (M/Z) between 800 Da and 10 000 Da. According to t test, the expression of two protein peaks at 7521.5 M/Z and 5079.3 M/Z had the largest difference between tissues. They were more weakly expressed in the lung adCA compared to the matched normal group. The two protein peaks could accurately separate the lung adCA from the matched normal lung group by the sample distribution chart. A discriminatory pattern which can separate the lung adCA from the matched normal lung tissue consisting of three proteins at 3358.1 M/Z, 5079.3 M/Z and 7521.5 M/Z was established by a radial basic function neural network algorithm with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100%.

CONCLUSIONSDifferential proteins in lung adCA were screened using LCM combined with liquid chip-mass spectrometry technology, and a biomarker model was established. It is possible that this technology is going to become a powerful tool in screening and early diagnosis of lung adCA.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Microdissection ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features and treatment strategy of dissymmetric bilateral frontal contusion, and to summarize our experience in treating these patients by minimally invasive surgery.

METHODSOver the past 3 years, we have treated a total of 31 patients with dissymmetric bilateral frontal contusion using endoscopy-assisted unilateral cerebral falx incision. Other 30 patients treated by routine bilateral approaches within the same period were taken as control.

RESULTSSeventeen cases (54.8%) in the unilateral operation group survived and were in good condition, 8 (25.8%) had moderate disability, 4 (12.9%) had severe disability, 1 (3.2%) was in vegetative state, and 1 (3.2%) died. Compared with the control group, the Glasgow Outcome Scale score was not significantly different in the unilateral operation group, but the operation time, blood transfusion volume, the length of hospital stay, the incidences of mental disorder and olfactory nerve injury were greatly reduced in the unilateral operation group.

CONCLUSIONSEndoscopy-assisted unilateral cerebral falx incision can shorten the operation time, reduce surgical trauma and complications in treatment of patients with dissymmetric bilateral frontal contusion. It can obviously diminish the chance of delayed intracerebral hematoma and subsequently minimize the incidences of subfalcial and centrencephalic herniation.

Brain Injuries ; Contusions ; Dura Mater ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

At present, the methods for verifying the attenuation of hearing protective devices(HPDs) mainly include real-ear attenuation at threshold(REAT), microphone in real ear(MIRE), and acoustical test fixture(ATF). Among them, the REAT is the gold standard, but its testing requirements are strict and there is a physiological noise masking effect. The test results of MIRE need to be modified by transfer function of the open ear, which has the advantage of convenient operation without being affected by subjective feelings. The ATF method is mainly used to verify the shape and quality of customized HPDs since its artificial ear design cannot truly reflect the real-ear test situation. The HPD fit testing has been well developed and widely applied abroad, which has been proved to be able to accurately verify and effectively improve the attenuation of workers wearing HPDs. However, relevant research and applications have only been carried out in China in recent years. At present, the main problems in the verification of the protective effect of HPDs in China are as follows: firstly, the measurement is only limited in attenuation and fail to comprehensively consider the applicability and comfort of the HPDs; secondly, a-weighted sound pressure level is mostly used in noise monitoring in China, while the choice of HPDs is based on C-weighted-sound pressure level. The transition between these two has not been established. Future research should be devoted to solve the above problems and help the use of HPDs in preventing the hearing loss of noise-exposed workers.

Objective: To get insight into the current practice of noise reduction effect of workers as they wore hearing protectors in different domestic enterprises and the possible affected factors. Methods: From October 2020 to April 2021, using a random sampling method, 1197 workers exposed to noise in petrochemical factories, textile factories, and parts manufacturing factories were selected as the study subjects. The noise reduction effect of hearing protectors worn by workers in daily use was tested using a hearing protector suitability testing system. The personal sound attenuation level (PAR) was compared among workers in three enterprises, Targeted intervention and repetitive testing were conducted for workers who did not meet the noise reduction effect required by the enterprise, and the changes in PAR of workers before and after the intervention were compared. The comparison of baseline PARs between two or more groups was performed using the Mann Whitney test, the comparison of baseline PARs with post intervention PARs was performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test, and the comparison of qualitative data between two or more groups was performed using the Chi square test. Results: The median baseline PAR for all workers was 15 dB. Men, age<30 years old, education level at or above college level, working experience of 5 to 15 years, and those who used hearing protectors for 5 to 15 years had higher PARs, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The median difference in baseline PAR among workers from three enterprises was statistically significant (H=175.06, P<0.01). The median PAR of subjects who did not pass the baseline increased from 3 dB to 21 dB after intervention (Z=-27.92, P<0.01) . Conclusion: Some workers wearing hearing protectors do not meet the required PAR, and low PARs may be related to incorrect wearing methods and incorrect selection of hearing protectors. As a tool for testing, training, and assisting in selection, the hearing protector suitability testing system is of great significance for worker hearing protection.
Male ; Humans ; Adult ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced/prevention & control* ; Ear Protective Devices ; Noise, Occupational/prevention & control* ; Hearing ; Audiometry

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between short-term exposure to indoor total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) among young female adults. METHODS: This panel study recruited 50 young females from one university in Beijing, China from December 2021 to April 2022. All the participants underwent two sequential visits. During each visit, real time indoor TVOC concentration was monitored using an indoor air quality detector. The real time levels of indoor temperature, relative humidity, noise, carbon dioxide and fine particulate matter were monitored using a temperature and humidity meter, a noise meter, a carbon dioxide meter and a particulate counter, respectively. HRV parameters were measured using a 12-lead Holter. Mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the association between the TVOC and HRV parameters and establish the exposure-response relationships, and two-pollutant models were applied to examine the robustness of the results. RESULTS: The mean age of the 50 female subjects was (22.5±2.3) years, and the mean body mass index was (20.4±1.9) kg/m². During this study, the median (interquartile range) of indoor TVOC concentrations was 0.069 (0.046) mg/m³, the median (interquartile range) of indoor temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, noise level and fine particulate matter concentration were 24.3 (2.7) ℃, 38.5% (15.0%), 0.1% (0.1%), 52.7 (5.8) dB(A) and 10.3 (21.5) μg/m³, respectively. Short-term exposure to indoor TVOC was associated with significant changes in time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters, and the exposure metric for most HRV parameters with the most significant changes was 1 h-moving average. Along with a 0.01 mg/m³ increment in 1 h-moving average concentration of indoor TVOC, this study observed decreases of 1.89% (95%CI: -2.28%, -1.50%) in standard deviation of all normal to normal intervals (SDNN), 1.92% (95%CI: -2.32%, -1.51%) in standard deviation of average normal to normal intervals (SDANN), 0.64% (95%CI: -1.13%, -0.14%) in percentage of adjacent NN intervals differing by more than 50 ms (pNN50), 3.52% (95%CI: -4.30%, -2.74%) in total power (TP), 5.01% (95%CI: -6.21%, -3.79%) in very low frequency (VLF) power, and 4.36% (95%CI: -5.16%, -3.55%) in low frequency (LF) power. The exposure-response curves showed that indoor TVOC was negatively correlated with SDNN, SDANN, TP, and VLF when the concentration exceeded 0.1 mg/m³. The two-pollutant models indicated that the results were generally robust after controlling indoor noise and fine particulate matter. CONCLUSION Short-term exposure to indoor TVOC was associated with significant negative changes in nocturnal HRV of young women. This study provides an important scientific basis for relevant prevention and control measures.
Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Heart Rate/physiology* ; Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis* ; Carbon Dioxide ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Environmental Pollutants

OBJECTIVEThis study was to investigate the expression of miR-10a in the different FAB subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its relationship with drug resistance.

METHODSForty de novo patients with AML, 16 patients with non-malignant hematologic disease and three AML cell lines HL-60, U937 and HL-60/ADR were enrolled in this study, the MiR-10a expression in bone marrow mononuclear cells of above-mentioned patients and 3 AML cell lines was detected by TaqMan RT-PCR. The correlation of miR-10a with clinicopathological factors of AML patients was analyzed.

RESULTSThe miR-10a expression level in HL-60 cell line was higher than that in U937 cell line (P = 0.039). And its expression level in de novo AML patients was higher than that in patients with non-malignant hematologic disease (P < 0.01). FAB-AML-M3 patients exhibited higher expression of miR-10a than that in M1, M2 and M4 (P < 0.05); HL-60/ADR cell line showed higher miR-10a expression than that in HL-60 cell line (P < 0.01) . Except M3, the patients without CR (non-CR) after the first cycle of chemotherapy showed a higher level of miR-10a as compared with CR patients (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe high expression of miR-10a may be closely related to over-proliferation of promyelocyte and drug resistance of acute myeloid leukemia cells, except M3.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; MicroRNAs