Objective To evaluate effects of the daily average temperature on the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema in Lanzhou city.Methods Clinical data were obtained from outpatients with eczema in the Department of Dermatology of 2 third-grade class-A hospitals in Lanzhou city from January 1st 2007 to December 31st 2015,and meteorological data during this period were also collected.Controlling for confounding factors like long-term trends and day of the week,a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) fitted with quasi-Poisson link function was used to assess the effects of daily average temperature on the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema,and the analysis was stratified by season,age and gender.Results The exposure-response relationship between the daily average temperature and daily number of outpatient visits for eczema could be roughly described by a W-shaped curve.Stratification analysis showed that the effect of the daily average temperature on outpatient visits for eczema was strongest in autumn and winter,followed by summer,and weakest in spring.Low temperature may have lagged,cumulative and persistent effects on the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema,with the maximum relative risk (RR) value (1.12 [95％ CI:1.03-1.22]) observed at-9 ℃ on lag day 14.With a 1 ℃decrease in the temperature,16％ (RR =1.16,95％ CI:1.00-1.03),14％ (RR =1.14,95％ CI:1.02-1.26) and 13％ (RR =1.13,95％ CI:1.02-1.25) increases in the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema were observed in men,teenagers and middle-aged adults respectively (P ＜ 0.05).However,low temperature had no significant effects on outpatient visits for eczema among women or the elderly (P ＞0.05).The effect of high temperature usually occurred following exposure without lag periods,and was gradually weakened over lag time (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions In Lanzhou,the effect of daily average temperature on outpatient visits for eczema was strongest in autumn and winter.Changes of the daily temperature may be one of risk factors for eczema.Low temperature had lagged effects on the daily number of outpatient visits for eczema,and the effects were strongest on lag day 14.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of P-selectin (CD62P) in bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells of patients with acute leukemia (AL). Methods The CD62P expression in bone marrow mononuclear cells of 15 healthy donors and 56 untreated patients with AL, were examined by flow cytometry. Results The average rate of CD62P expression was (6.72±7.64) % in hematopoietic stem cells (CD+45 CD+34 CD-38) of the 38 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), was (3.46±2.51) % in hematopoietic stem cells (CD+45 CD+34 CD+19) of the 12 patients with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), and was (6.23±4.95) % in hematopoietic stem cells (CD+45 CD+34 CD+7) of 6 patients with T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The expression rates in those AL patients were higher than that in the healthy controls (1.04 ±1.23) % (t = 2.847, 3.284, 3.091, respectively, P ＜0.01), while there was no difference between the control group and the group who reach CR after routine treatment (t =1.932, P ＞0.05). Furthermore, the leukocyte,hemoglobin and platelet count in CD+62P patients with AML and T-ALL were significantly higher than CD-62P ones (t =4.153, 8.095, 8.289, 7.235, 8.692, 9.832, respectively, P ＜0.05), but there was no significant difference between CD+62P and CD-62P patients with B-ALL (t =0.340, 1.142, 0.019, respectively, P ＞0.05).Conclusion The CD62P is one of the markers of platelet activation, and its expression varies in different types of AL. The CD62P in hematopoietic stem cells of AL could be regarded as a new sign for the leukemic stem cells, as well as a helpful prognostic indicator in treatment response assessment.

The effects of two different histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, sodium butyrate (NaB) and trichostatin A (TSA),on apoptosis of human leukemic cells in vitro and the molecular mechanisms were investigated. The experiments were divided up 5 groups: control group, NaB group, TSA group, NaB+Z-VAD-FMK group and TSA+Z-VAD-FMK group. The apoptosis rate was determined by morphological analysis and flow cytomytry. The expression of Daxx, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xl proteins was detected by Western blot. NaB and TSA could induce the apoptosis of HL-60 and K562 cells, and Z-VAD-FMK caused a marked decrease in apoptosis induced by HDAC inhibitors. HDAC inhibitors could down-regulate the expression of Daxx protein, but had no significant influence on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl proteins. The results suggested that NaB and TSA induce distinct caspase-dependent apoptosis of human leukemic cells through down-regulating the expression of Daxx protein in vitro.

TMTP1, a 5-amino acid peptide NVVRQ, obtained by using the flagella peptide library screening in our previous studies, can be used for the labeling of malignant in situ and metastatic lesions, and even micro-metastases. In this study, TMTP1 was assessed for its ability to specifically target the malignant hematopoietic cells and metastatic lesions of hematological malignancies. FITC-TMTP1 was chemically synthesized. Immunofluorescence assay and competitive test were carried out to determine the specific binding capacity of TMTPl to hematological malignant cell lines, including HL60, k562, SHI-1, Jurkat, Raji, El-4 and umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow of healthy subjects and patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Then the cells were co-clutured with TMTP1 or scrambled peptides and the binding and affinity of TMTP1 peptide to the primary cells of hematological malignancies were flow cytometrically analyzed. The binding specificity of TMTP1 to target hematological malignancies was measured in vivo by intravenous injection of FITC-conjugated TMTP1 into El-4 lymphoma-bearing mice. The results showed that TMTP1 specifically bound to the cells of a series of hematological malignancies, including HL60, k562, Jurkat, Raji, El-4 and chronic myeloid leukemia primary cells but not to bone marrow mononuclear cells from healthy subjects. By contrast, TMTP1 could bind to the metastatic foci of lymphoma originating from the EL-4 cell line while the scrambled peptide failed to do so. Moreover, the occult metastases could be identified, with high specificity, by detecting FITC-TMTP1. We are led to conclude that TMTP1, as a novel tumor-homing peptide, can serve as a marker for primary malignant and metastatic lesions for the early diagnosis of hematological malignances and a carrier of anticancer drugs for cancer treatment.

TMTP1,a 5-amino acid peptide NVVRQ,obtained by using the flagella peptide library screening in our previous studies,can be used for the labeling of malignant in situ and metastatic lesions,and even micro-metastases.In this study,TMTP1 was assessed for its ability to specifically target the malignant hematopoietic cells and metastatic lesions of hematological malignancies.FITC-TMTP 1 was chemically synthesized.Immunofluorescence assay and competitive test were carried out to determine the specific binding capacity of TMTPI to hematological malignant cell lines,including HL60,k562,SHI-1,Jurkat,Raji,El-4 and umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells.Mononuclear cells were isolated from the bone marrow of healthy subjects and patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.Then the cells were co-clutured with TMTP1 or scrambled peptides and the binding and affinity of TMTP1 peptide to the primary cells of hematological malignancies were flow cytometrically analyzed.The binding specificity of TMTP 1 to target hematological malignancies was measured in vivo by intravenous injection of FITC-conjugated TMTP1 into El-4 lymphoma-bearing mice.The results showed that TMTP1 specifically bound to the cells of a series of hematological malignancies,including HL60,k562,Jurkat,Raji,El-4 and chronic myeloid leukemia primary cells but not to bone marrow mononuclear cells from healthy subjects.By contrast,TMTP1 could bind to the metastatic foci of lymphoma originating from the EL-4 cell line while the scrambled peptide failed to do so.Moreover,the occult metastases could be identified,with high specificity,by detecting FITC-TMTP1.We are led to conclude that TMTP1,as a novel tumor-homing peptide,can serve as a marker for primary malignant and metastatic lesions for the early diagnosis of hematological malignances and a carrier of anticancer drugs for cancer treatment.

The effects of two different histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, sodium butyrate (NAB) and trichostatin A (TSA),on apoptosis of human leukemic cells in vitro and the molecular mechanisms were investigated. The experiments were divided up 5 groups: control group, NaB group, TSA group,NaB+Z-VAD-FMK group and TSA+Z-VAD-FMK group. The apoptosis rate was determined by mor-phological analysis and flow cytomytry. The expression of Daxx, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xl proteins was de-tected by Western blot. NaB and TSA could induce the apoptosis of HL-60 and K562 cells, and Z-VAD-FMK caused a marked decrease in apoptosis induced by HDAC inhibitors. HDAC inhibitors could down-regulate the expression of Daxx protein, but had no significant influence on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl proteins. The results suggested that NaB and TSA induce distinct caspase-dependent apoptosis of human leukemic cells through down-regulating the expression of Daxx protein in vitro.

Polyethersulfone (PES) hollow fibers were fabricated by dry-wet spinning method for hemodialysis application. The effects of additives polyethylene glycols (PEG) in the dope solution and of fiber thickness and inner diameter fiber on the membrane mechanical characters were investigated. The dialysis tests were conducted by using a simulated solution prepared by dissolving bovine serum albumin (BSA), lysozyme and urea in de-ionized water to test the effects of membrane characters and operating conditions on dialysis efficiency. The results indicated that the reduction of PEG concentration from 27.6 wt% to 24.1 wt% in the dope solution improved the clearance of toxins, but slightly decreased the mechanical characters. The reduction of fiber thickness or fiber inner diameter was found to improve the clearance of toxins by removing 64.2% of lysozyme and 89.4% of urea (membrane area 0.2 m2), whilst BSA retention was found being maintained above 98%. The dialysis efficiency was also noted to increase with the increase in the flow rate of either the simulated or the dialysate solution, or increasing the membrane area. Moreover, The result of a comparison on the clearance of toxins between commercial F60S and PES dialyzers indicated higher dialysis efficiency per area of the fabricated PES membrane.
Biocompatible Materials ; therapeutic use ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Membranes, Artificial ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Renal Dialysis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Sulfones ; chemistry

Objective To explore the role of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg cells,interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and IL-27 in the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 37 patients with CSU (CSU group)and 40 healthy controls (control group).Flow cytometry was performed to determine the percentage of CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg cells in the peripheral blood,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the serum levels of IL-17A and IL-27.Results The percentage of CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg cells in the peripheral blood (5.99％ ± 2.72％ vs.9.07％ ± 3.44 ％,t =4.325,P ＜ 0.01) and the serum level of IL-27 (20.54 ± 7.65 ng/L vs.26.63 ± 9.72 ng/L,t =3.039,P =0.003) were both significantly lower in the CSU group than in the control group.However,there was no significant difference in the serum level of IL-17A between the 2 groups (P =0.529).Among the patients with CSU,the level of IL-17A was negatively correlated with the percentage of CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg cells (r =-0.359,P =0.029),while the urticaria activity score (UAS) was uncorrelated with the levels of IL-17A and IL-27 as well as the percentage of CD4+CD25+ CD127low Treg cells (r =-0.076,-0.083,-0.053 respectively,all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion There may be Th17/Treg imbalance in the peripheral blood of patients with CSU,and IL-27 may be involved in the occurrence of CSU.

Objective:To investigate the effect of logistic regression model based on virtual touch tissues quantification (VTQ) and fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4) in assessing impaired liver reserve function (LFR) in hepatic surgery patients before surgical resection.Methods:From January 2016 to October 2018, 173 patients including 135 males and 38 females with the mean age of 58.6 years old, scheduled for potential hepatectomy in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, were enrolled in our retrospective study. According to indocyanine green retention test at 15 minutes (ICG R15), the patients were divided into two groups, LFR-impaired group ( n=11, ICG R15≥20%) and control group ( n=162, ICG R15 < 20%). VTQ, FIB-4, platelet count and other parameters were compared between two groups. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to establish a risk model to access the impaired LFR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the efficacy of each parameter in LFR-impaired. Results:The platelet count in LFR-impaired group was lower than that in control group, VTQ and FIB-4 were higher than that in control group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression showed that VTQ ( OR=4.382, 95% CI: 1.380-13.918)) and FIB-4 ( OR=2.112, 95% CI: 1.342-3.325) were risk factors for LFR-impaired. The final prediction model of LFR-impaired group was Logit (P)=-6.185+ 0.748×FIB-4+ 1.477×VTQ. The cut-off point (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy) of logistic model, FIB-4 and VTQ were 0.098 (72.8%, 90.1%, 89.0%), 0.990 (90.9%, 79.0%, 79.8%) and 1.8 m/s (81.8%, 77.8%, 78.0%), respectively. The specificity, accuracy of logistic model was higher than FIB-4 or VTQ. Conclusions:Logistic regression model based on VTQ and FIB-4 may improve the specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of significant LFR impairment. VTQ can further assist clinicians in preoperative evaluation of LFR.