Background The pollution of agricultural products and the health risks caused by metals have become a hot spot of social concern. As China's main economic agricultural products, peppers are essential for health risk assessment. Objective By exploring the enrichment of common metals in different varieties of peppers in major growing areas of China, a bioavailability-based approach is used to assess dietary health risks of common metals in groups with different characteristics. Methods Through random sampling method, dried pepper samples from major pepper growing areas of China were purchased from the market, and were divided into Hippophae, Capsicum annuum, Magnoliopsida, Capsicum frutescens var, and Capsicum by morphological taxonomy, and a total of 667 batches of peppers were collected. Six common metals arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were evaluated; physiologically based extraction test was designed to estimate the bioavailability of the metals in peppers and their associated dietary health risks were assessed. Results The concentrations of metals Cd and Ni in pepper exceeded the limits of China, and the disqualification rates were 6.1% and 22.7% respectively. The other metals were within the safe range; there were differences in the concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn among different pepper varieties (P<0.05). The order of bioavailability of the six metals in pepper from high to low was As (57.9%)>Cd (43.07%)>Zn (42.74%)>Pb (38.04%)>Ni (31.97%)>Cu (31.4%). Based on bioavailability, when the metal concentration in pepper was at the median level, the order of hazard quotient of metals in pepper was Cu>Cd>As>Ni>Zn>Pb, and at the 90th quantile level, the order was Cd>As>Cu>Ni>Zn>Pb; the hazard quotient of single metal element and the total target hazard quotient of combined metal elements were both less than 1, and these indicators of adults were higher than those of children. Conclusion In the collected pepper samples, the non-carcinogenic health risks of single metal elements and multiple metal elements are in the safe range. Based on gastrointestinal bioavailability, the dietary health risk of pepper is further reduced.

AIM:To investigate the clinicopathological significance of the protein expression of phosphorylated ezrin at threonine 567 ( pEZRThr567 ) in lung squamous cell carcinoma, adjacent tissues and normal tissues.METHODS:pEZRThr567 protein was detected in lung squamous carcinoma, adjacent and normal tissues by the method of immunohisto-chemistry.The correlation of pEZRThr567 expression with clinicopathological parameters of lung squamous carcinomas was al-so analyzed.The localization of pEZRThr567 was detected by immunofluorescence staining in lung squamous cell line EBC-1. RESULTS:The protein expression of pEZRThr567 in lung squamous carcinoma was significantly higher than that in the adja-cent and normal lung tissues (P<0.01).pEZRThr567 mainly localized on the cell membrane, and its over-expression signi-ficantly correlated with the differentiation, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in lung squamous carcinoma.CON-CLUSION:pEZRThr567 may be an effective biomarker for prediction of malignant potential and poor prognosis of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of chronic exposure to trace chromium (VI) as a result of metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty on oxidative stress in mouse liver cells.

METHODSEighty NIH mice were randomly divided into 4 groups and subject to intraperitoneal injection of CrO(3) at the dose of 0, 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg every other day for 16 weeks. Five mice from each group were selected every 4 weeks for determining the content of chromium (VI) in the whole blood and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR) activity, and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) expression in the liver cells. The ultrastructural changes of the liver cells were also observed using transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSExposure to 5 and 10 mg/kg CrO(3) caused significantly increased blood chromium concentration and ROS level, which reached the peak level at 8 weeks and became stabilized, whereas at the dose of 20 mg/kg, CrO(3) exposure resulted in progressive, time-dependent increase of blood chromium concentration and ROS level. MDA showed no significant changes in the 4 groups. With the prolongation of the exposure time, GSH content and GR activity were decreased in these groups. In 5 and 10 mg/kg CrO(3) groups, GCL expression increased at each time point of measurement, but in 20 mg/kg group, GCL expression decreased gradually with a prolonged exposure. Transmission electron microscopy revealed apoptotic changes of the liver cells in 20 mg/kg group.

CONCLUSIONThe slow accumulation of trace chromium (VI) after metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty may cause oxidative stress and changes in the oxidative stress system in the liver cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Chromium ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Environmental Exposure ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic

OBJECTIVETo identify the type of CTGAATCA from -nt.199 to -nt.192 of the cytokeratin 13(CK13) gene 5' flanking region and determine its transcriptional effect on CK13 gene expression.

METHODSThe CAT systems were used to assess the effects of different motifs of CK13 gene 5' flanking region on transcription. The clones of pCAT-enhancer with the total length, -nt.207 to +nt.63 and the same length of -nt.207 to +nt.63, but the T, G of -nt.198, -nt.197 being changed to A, T of the CK13 gene 5' flanking region, were constructed and transferred to HeLa cells with the help of lipofectin. Then work was done to detect the instant CAT expression of different clones and evaluate the effects of CTGAATCA of the 5' flanking region on CK13 gene expression. The type of the cis-element of CTGAATCA was identified with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and competition-EMSA.

RESULTSCTGAATCA in the CK13 gene 5' flanking region is an AP1 cis-element by EMSA and competition-EMSA, it promotes CK13 gene expression.

CONCLUSIONCTGAATCA from -nt.199 to nt.192 of the CK13 gene 5' flanking region is an AP1 reaction element, not a cAMP reaction element. It promotes transcriptional activity of CK13 gene 5' flanking region.

5' Flanking Region ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; genetics ; Binding, Competitive ; Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Gene Expression Regulation ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Keratins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; genetics ; Transfection

In 2019, the rate of primary tooth caries rate among 1 598 preschool children in Shinan District and Shibei District of Qingdao was 59.4%. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that compared with children ≤ 2 years old with history of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), suffering IDA, breastfeeding to 2 years old and no tooth melanin, children ≤ 2 years old without history of IDA, not suffering IDA, breastfeeding to less than 2 years old and heavy tooth melanin had a lower risk of primary tooth caries, with OR ( 95%CI) values about 0.328 (0.197-0.549), 0.354 (0.208-0.603), 0.636 (0.437-0.926) and 0.301 (0.143-0.635), respectively.

In 2019, the rate of primary tooth caries rate among 1 598 preschool children in Shinan District and Shibei District of Qingdao was 59.4%. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that compared with children ≤ 2 years old with history of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), suffering IDA, breastfeeding to 2 years old and no tooth melanin, children ≤ 2 years old without history of IDA, not suffering IDA, breastfeeding to less than 2 years old and heavy tooth melanin had a lower risk of primary tooth caries, with OR ( 95%CI) values about 0.328 (0.197-0.549), 0.354 (0.208-0.603), 0.636 (0.437-0.926) and 0.301 (0.143-0.635), respectively.

Background::Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease, and hyperuricemia is a common comorbidity in patients with psoriasis. However, there are limited reports on the relationship between serum uric acid levels and biological treatment efficacy. The purposes of this study were to compare the differences in serum uric acid levels between patients with psoriasis and healthy controls and analyze the risk of hyperuricemia.Methods::A total of 196 patients with psoriasis and 191 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. One hundred and twenty-seven patients with severe psoriasis were treated with biologics. Sixty-eight patients received adalimumab, and 59 patients received secukinumab. Serum uric acid levels were measured at baseline, week 24, and week 48 of treatment.Results::Patients with psoriasis had higher serum uric acid levels than healthy controls (6.4 ± 1.7 mg/dL vs. 5.7 ± 1.5 mg/dL, P < 0.001). Hyperuricemia was found in 33.7% (66/196) of patients with psoriasis, which was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (13.1% [25/191], P < 0.001). Serum uric acid levels and hyperuricemia were not related to the severity of psoriasis ( P > 0.05). No significant changes in serum uric acid levels and hyperuricemia were observed following adalimumab treatment ( P > 0.05). The serum uric acid level in patients treated with secukinumab was 6.7 ± 1.6 mg/dL at week 24, which was not statistically different from that at baseline (6.6 ± 1.4 mg/dL, P = 0.885). Serum uric acid levels were significantly decreased at week 48 (6.3 ± 1.5 mg/dL vs. 6.6 ± 1.4 mg/dL, P = 0.007) in patients treated with secukinumab. Secukinumab had no significant effect on hyperuricemia either ( P > 0.05). Conclusions::The serum uric acid levels and prevalence of hyperuricemia in patients with psoriasis were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. Secukinumab treatment for 48 weeks successfully decreased serum uric acid levels in patients with psoriasis, whereas adalimumab had no significant effect on serum uric acid levels.

Objective:To propose a monosegment thoracic and lumbar fracture dislocation (mTLFD) classification, and to evaluate its reliability and clinical application.Methods:All of 298 cases of thoracic and lumbar fracture dislocation who received surgical management in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. 123 cases were included in the study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. mTLFD classification was proposed based on the imaging characteristics: type I (intervertebral disc injury mainly) and type II (vertebral burst fracture mainly). The type II was classified based on distribution of injury segment: type IIa (T 11 and above) and Ttype IIb (below T 11). Six spinal surgeons (3 residents, 3 associate chief physicians) were selected to classify the 123 cases according to preoperative imaging data, and to perform reliability test of each type. The repeatability and reliability of the classification were evaluated by ICC index. Different management strategies were performedf or each type: type I was managed with posterior decompression interbody fusion and internal fixation; type IIa underwent posterior decompression and fixation, subtotal vertebral resection and fusion was performed if bony compromise was still present through intra-operative exploration. Type IIb underwent posterior decompression, posterolateral fusion and internal fixation on the first stage, while anterior subtotal vertebral resection and reconstruction was performed on the second stage if the bony compromise was still present based on post-operative CT examination. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading of all patients was recorded, and the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswetry disability Iindex (ODI) and local Cobb angle of each type was compared between pre-operation and final follow-up. Results:The average follow-up time of all patients was 10.4±1.8 months. The average repeatability and reliability ICC index of mTLFD of 3 residents and 3 deputy chief physicians were 0.926 and 0.964, respectively, and 0.746 and 0.907, respectively. The reliability ICC index of type I, type IIa and type IIb was 0.918, 0.947 and 0.962, respectively, and the repeatability ICC index was 0.930, 0.940 and 0.966, respectively. The neurological function recovery was obtained in 56 patients. The preoperative VAS of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 8.5±1.0, 8.4±1.0 and 8.3±0.9, and 2.0±1.1, 1.8±1.0 and 1.8±0.9 at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). The ODI of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 97.0%±2.1%, 97.1%±1.9% and 97.3%±2.1% before surgery, and 29.5%±6.8%, 27.0%±6.0% and 29.0%±6.7% at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). The local Cobb angles of type I, type IIa and type IIb were 20.9°±7.1°, 29.0°±9.1° and 26.4°±6.9° before surgery, and 12.5°±5.4°, 18.0°±9.1° and 13.1°±5.1° at the final follow-up (all P<0.001). Conclusion:The mTLFD classification proposed in this study has strong repeatability and reliability, and management strategy of each type have achieved satisfactory clinical efficacy, indicating that the classification has certain significance for management of thoracic and lumbar spine fracture dislocation.

Chromosomal region maintenance 1 (CRM1) is associated with an adverse prognosis in glioma. We previously reported that CRM1 inhibition suppressed glioma cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated the role of CRM1 in the migration and invasion of glioma cells. S109, a novel reversible selective inhibitor of CRM1, was used to treat Human glioma U87 and U251 cells. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound-healing and transwell invasion assays. The results showed that S109 significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of U87 and U251 cells. However, mutation of Cys528 in CRM1 abolished the inhibitory activity of S109 in glioma cells. Furthermore, we found that S109 treatment decreased the expression level and activity of MMP2 and reduced the level of phosphorylated STAT3 but not total STAT3. Therefore, the inhibition of migration and invasion induced by S109 may be associated with the downregulation of MMP2 activity and expression, and inactivation of the STAT3 signaling pathway. These results support our previous conclusion that inhibition of CRM1 is an attractive strategy for the treatment of glioma.

Objective To investigate the application of liposuction in refining the dog-ear deformity following autologous flap breast reconstruction.Methods Between May 2012 and September 2016,16 patients with dog-ear deformity in the donor site following autologous flap breast reconstruction were treated with liposuction.All the patients were female with an average age of 40.6 years (range,32-47 years).After the operational compression garment was used for at least one month.Regular follow-up was performed after the above operation.Results The follow-up period lasted for 6 to 8 months.The dog-ear deformity was restored to normal appearance.All cases achieved satisfactory results without complications such as local depression,infection,skin necrosis etc.Conclusions For some of the dog-ear deformity following autologous flap breast reconstruction,liposuction is a good and simple method without adjuvant incisions.