OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanisms potentially responsible for carcinogenesis due to cadmium by detecting expression change of the translation initiation factor 3 (TIF3 p36) in those malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cell lines (16HBE) induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)).

METHODSThe expression changes of TIF3 p36 were detected and analyzed at different stages of malignant cells (semi transformed cells, transformed cells and tumorigenic cells) induced by CdCl(2) solution with both reverse transcription PCR technique and sensitive fluorescent quantitative PCR assay.

RESULTSCompared with non-transformed human bronchial epithelial cells, the results of fluorescent quantitative PCR assay showed that the semi-transformed cells, transformed cells and tumorigenic cells all expressed higher levels of TIF3 p36 mRNA (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). As compared with the control cells, the TIF3 expressions at different stages of malignant transformation were 3.1 times, 5.9 times and 9.9 times higher respectively in the low dosage group of CdCl(2) (5 micromol/L); 7.1 times, 6.8 times and 14.8 times respectively in the middle dosage group of CdCl(2) (10 micromol/L); 3.6 times, 3.0 times and 9.1 times respectively in high of dose of CdCl(2) (15 micromol/L). These results showed that there was the positive correlation between overexpression levels of TIF3 p36 mRNA and the malignant degree of the cells, but they were not related to the dosages of cadmium.

CONCLUSIONThere is significantly abnormal overexpression of TIF3 gene during malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cell line induced by cadmium chloride, and the TIF3 expression is associated with the malignant degree of the cells, which may be one of molecular mechanisms potentially responsible for the carcinogenesis due to cadmium.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cadmium Chloride ; toxicity ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Prokaryotic Initiation Factor-3 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

From December 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia (formerly known as the 2019 novel Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) broke out in Wuhan, China. In this study, we present serial CT findings in a 40-year-old female patient with COVID-19 pneumonia who presented with the symptoms of fever, chest tightness, and fatigue. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection confirmed by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CT showed rapidly progressing peripheral consolidations and ground-glass opacities in both lungs. After treatment, the lesions were shown to be almost absorbed leaving the fibrous lesions.
Adult ; China ; Coronavirus ; Fatigue ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumonia ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

At present, the modernization of Chinese medicine preparations (CMPs) is still a challenging task. The 3 typical Chinese medicine materials (CMMs) used for preparing CMPs are the powders, extracts, and components of Chinese medicine and their properties of CMMs are important for designing CMPs. Basing on our long term research, we have established a property system for CMMs according to the state of CMMs under an exactly condition and according to the interaction characteristics between substances. The property system could be divided into 5 categories: material composition, spatial structure, body property, surface property, physicochemical properties, and they could also be divided into 18 subcategories. Furthermore, we also established the corresponding index and characterization system, where the 61 indexes and characterization techniques were systematically summarized. At last, we hope that the article will promote the modernization of CMPs.

From December 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia (formerly known as the 2019 novel Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) broke out in Wuhan, China. In this study, we present serial CT findings in a 40-year-old female patient with COVID-19 pneumonia who presented with the symptoms of fever, chest tightness, and fatigue. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection confirmed by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. CT showed rapidly progressing peripheral consolidations and ground-glass opacities in both lungs. After treatment, the lesions were shown to be almost absorbed leaving the fibrous lesions.

The rhizome of Panax japonicus var. major have been used as the natural medicinal agent by Chinese traditional doctors for more than thousand years. Most of the therapeutic effects of P. japonicus var. major had been reported due to the presence of tetracyclic or pentacyclic triterpene saponins. In this study, Illumina pair-end RNA-sequencing and de novo splicing were done in order to understand the pathway of triterpenoid saponins in this species. The valid reads data of 15. 6 Gb were obtained. The 62 240 unigenes were finally obtained by de novo splicing. After annotation, we discovered 19 unigenes involved in ginsenoside backbone biosynthesis. Additionally, 69 unigenes and 18 unigenes were predicted to have potential function of cytochrome P450 and UDP-glycosyltransferase based on the annotation results, which may encode enzymes responsible for ginsenoside backbone modification. This study provides global expressed datas for P. japonicus var. major, which will contribute significantly to further genome-wide research and analysis for this species.
Gene Expression Profiling ; Panax ; genetics ; Saponins ; biosynthesis ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment on hand burn, and to make a cost-effectiveness analysis.

METHODSSixty-two patients with ninety-eight affected hands were divided into rehabilitation group (32 cases, 48 hands) and control group (30 cases, 50 hands). Patients in rehabilitation group received comprehensive rehabilitation treatment at early stage after burn; patients in control group were given instructions for function training at the same time. The functions of the hands to be restored including grasp, hold, pinch, nip, forearm pronation and supination, fetching, laying, and writing abilities of patients in both groups were quantitatively evaluated with Carroll's upper extremity function test before treatment and 5 months after. Direct medical costs of patients in both groups within 5 months were respectively added up to make a cost-effectiveness analysis.

RESULTSIn rehabilitation group, function of digital opposition, palmar opposition, holding, and pinching of 37 hands recovered well, with which patients could pick food, put on clothes, go to toilet, and self-care etc. independently. Function of digital opposition, palmar opposition, holding, pinching half recovered in 7 hands, accompanied with well recovered of metacarpophalangeal function, but recovery of function of interphalangeal joint was less satisfactory. Although patients could grasp and hold, they were still poor in fine and harmonized activities. Joint ranges of motion of 4 hands were poor with limited function, and this was resulted from not strictly following treatment for remaining granulation wound. In control group, 23 hands received reconstructive surgery, 14 of them recovered with good function, but were poor in most of fine and harmonized activities. Severe claw hands were found in 13 hands. The ratio between total mean cost value and total function increment value in rehabilitation group (181 +/- 11) was obviously lower than that in control group (298 +/- 30, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSComprehensive rehabilitation treatment at early stage after hand burn has a good effect on prevention and treatment of hand deformity, promoting recovery of hand function and improving hand appearance. It is also less costly.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; rehabilitation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Female ; Hand Injuries ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rehabilitation ; economics ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the potential protective effects of valproic acid (VPA) on gut barrier function after major burn injury in rats and its mechanism.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into sham + normal saline (NS),sham + VPA,scald + NS,and scald + VPA groups,with 10 rats in each group.Rat with 55％ total body surface area (TBSA) third-degree severe-bums model was reproduced by immersing into 80 ℃ water,and the rats in sham groups were given sham-bums by immersing into 37 ℃ water.The rats after severebums were immediately treated with 0.25 mL of 300 mg/kg VPA or NS by subcutaneous injection.Rats were sacrificed at 2 hours and 6 hours after injury,and abdominal aortic blood and ileal tissue were harvested.The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The intestinal permeability was evaluated by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran) determination.The histomorphological changes in gut barrier were evaluated by Chiu grading system.Levels of acetylated lysine at the ninth position of histone 3 protein (Ac-H3K9),hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α),zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) were determined by immunofluorescence staining and Western Blot.Results Compared with sham + NS group,rats in scald + NS group showed intestinal mucosal damage 2 hours after bum injury,as well as increased mucosal permeability,protein expression levels of HIF-1 α,VEGF,MLCK,and lowered levels of AC-H3K9 and ZO-1.These changes were much more prominent at 6 hours after injury.VPA treatment significantly attenuated the bum-induced intestinal damage.Compared with scald + NS group,the protective effects in scald + VPA group was not evident at 2 hours after injury;however,intestinal damage was much less severe at 6 hours after injury (Chiu score:2.03 ± 0.27 vs.3.12 ± 0.15),intestinal permeability was significantly decreased [FITC-dextran (μg/L):709 ± 76 vs.1138 ± 75],histone acetylation was enhanced [Ac-H3K9 (gray value):1.55 ± 0.12 vs.0.48±0.12],ZO-1 degradation was significantly inhibited (gray value:0.69 ± 0.12 vs.0.43 ± 0.16),the protein expression levels of VEGF and MLCK were significantly down-regulated [VEGF (ng/mg):51.7±3.7 vs.71.2±4.3,MLCK (gray value):1.98±0.20 vs.2.80±0.24],while the HIF-1 α protein expression levels were significantly reduced at both 2 hours and 6 hours after injury (gray value:2.50±0.39 vs.3.88±0.42 at 2 hours,1.83±0.42 vs.4.42±0.41 at 6 hours,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Severe bum injury can induce histone deacetylation,ZO-1 degradation and intestinal barrier dysfunction.VPA can improve the levels of histone acetylation and ZO-1,and protect intestinal epithelial barrier function.These may probably be mediated through inhibiting HIF-1α and its downstream gene VEGF and MLCK.

Objective? To explore the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction(MBSR) on cancer-related fatigue and mental status of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC) who receive chemotherapy. Methods? By convenience sampling, 67 patients with NSCLC receiving chemotherapy in the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province were selected from June 2017 to December 2018 in this study. According to their admission time, they were divided into the observation group(n=34) and control group (n=33). Conventional nursing care was given for the control group, apart from that, the MBSR exercise was adopted for the observation group, once a week and 8 times in total. Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to compare the scores of their cancer fatigue, anxiety and depression between the two groups. Results? Finally, 31 patients in the observation group and 32 patients in the control group completed the study. Before intervention, there was no statistical difference in CFS and each dimensional score in CFS, SAS and SDS scores between the two groups (P＞0.05); after 8 weeks' intervention of MBSR, the CFS score and each dimensional score in CFS, SAS and SDS scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusions? MBSR can effectively improve the NSCLC patients' cancer-related fatigue and reduce the level of anxiety and depression.

Objective To analyze the service demand and capacity for preventing mother-to-child transmission(MTCT) of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in Guangdong, as well as to find the weakness in the work. Methods The relevant data of service demands and intervention capacity of human acquired immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-infected maternal and their babies from 2014 to 2017 was collected, and SPSS 21.0 software was employed to analyze the differences among the pearl river delta area, western area, mountainous area and eastern area, and to explore the correlation between regional midwifery institutions or personnel numbers and the rate of HIV MTCT. Results The education of HIV-infected maternal wasn’t high, generally, mainly in middle school (54.49%). The service demand of HIV-infected maternal was different in each area. The ethnic minorities outside the pearl river delta region (12.96%) and non-local living maternal in mountainous area (43.75%) were high. The proportion of maternal in the eastern area who didn’t know the route of HIV infection was also high (77.78%). The service capacity varies in each area, and the proportion (mountainous area: 41.67%, eastern area: 44.44%) of the confirmation time in intrapartum /postpartum was high among those from the mountains and eastern areas, which lead to poor intervention (the proportions of starting to antiretroviral treatment time later than 36 weeks or untreated in mountainous and eastern areas were 43.75% and 55.56%, respectively), as well as a high proportion of untreated maternal and exposed-infant (mountainous area: 2.08%, eastern area: 33.33%), and a higher percentage (11.11%) of breastfeeding in eastern area. There was no significant correlation between the number of midwifery institutions or healthcare personnel and the rate of HIV MTCT in different regions. Conclusions The mountainous and eastern areas are the weak of HIV MTCT in Guangdong Province, and later detection, less-standard intervention, and lower quality of information management are the weak steps in those areas. Targeted measures should be urgently developed to strengthen the training of the key areas to eliminate the regional differences of service capacity, which is essential to achieve the elimination of HIV MTCT in Guangdong.

Background Efficient cell adhesion and proliferation is a central issue in cell-based tissue engineering, which offers great promise for repair of urethral defects or strictures. This study evaluated the adhesion and growth of rabbit uroepithelium on a surface-modified three-dimensional poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold.Methods Urethral mucosa were harvested from male New Zealand rabbits and the urothelium were dissociated and then cultured. Immunocytochemistry on cultured uroepithelium for pancytokeratin and uroplakin Ⅱ and TE-7 confirmed pure populations. After in vitro proliferation, cells were seeded onto a surface-modified urethral scaffold with non-knitted filaments. The morphology and viability of the cells were examined by immunohistochemical and fluorescence staining.Inverted and scanning microscopes were used to document cell growth and adhesion.Results Three to five days after primary culture, the uroepithelial cells gradually became confluent, assuming a cobblestone pattern. The filaments of the urethral scaffold had excellent biocompatibility and allowed growth of the uroepithelium, without affecting viability. The uroepithelial cells adhered to and grew well on the scaffold. After 3-7 days,the cells grew vigorously and meshes of the scaffold were full of uroepitheliums.Conclusions The surface-modified urethral scaffold with non-knitted filaments allows the growth of uroepithelium and can serve as a carrier for the tissue engineering of urethra.