BACKGROUND:Researchers have done much work to investigate semantic priming with event-related potentials (ERPs) method. The ERPs component of N400 is of great importance in this research domain. N400 is a negative wave occurs at about 400 ms after the stimulus onset. It has been accepted that N400 represents the processing of semantic information. In many studies, amplitude of N400 could be reduced by semantic priming. Relatively, ERPs studies on phonological priming, especially by auditory stimuli, deserve to be further investigated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the EPR characteristics of semantic and phonological priming with spoken two-character Chinese words, and also to testify theories about auditory word recognition.DESIGN: Repeated measurement experiment.SETTING: Center for Psychology and Behavior Studies, Tianjin Normal University. PARTICIPANTS: This experiment was carried out between August and October 2003 in Tianjin Normal University. Seventeen healthy college students (8 male and 9 female, age ranging from 19 to 23 years) with no hearing defect were involved in this experiment. All of them were Chinese native speakers. All except one male participant were right handed. Informed consents of detected items were obtained from all the participants.METHODS: In the study, lexical dicision task which required participants was used to judge if the latter words were real words or pseudowords in the auditorily presented word-pairs by pressing buttons. The stimuli materials were 640 two-character word-pairs including semantic related, initial phonological overlap, final phonological overlap, phonological and semantic unrelated and word-pseudoword (control) conditions. These five kinds of word-pairs presented randomly in the experiment. The presentation of stimuli and recording of behavioral data were realized by STIM software. The error rate and mean reaction time (RT) of reaction of subjects were calculated under four experimental conditions. The word-pseudoword items were not included in the analysis (just served as fillers). EEG were recorded referring to linked mastoids with Scan 4.3 software made by Neuroscan company in America. Participants wore the Quick-Cap32 electrode cap (International 10/20 System). EEG data were amplified and acquired with a sampling rate of 500 Hz. Offline exclusion of occular artifacts was done on the acquired continuous EEG data after experiment. Then the EEG data were segmented to epochs of 1 700 ms, each epoch was time-locked to the onset of target stimulus with a 200 ms pre-target baseline. Then the operation of baseline (with a 200ms pre-target baseline), artifact rejection (epochs with amplitude exceeded the range of -100 μV to +100 μV were rejected) and average were realized. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Error rate, reaction time and caused N400 waveform change of target words under different experimental conditions.RESULTS: Data from 17 subjects were involved in the final analysis. The error rate of subjects under semantic related condition was lower (P＜ 0.05) while RT was shorter (P＜ 0.01) than that under phonological and semantic unrelated condition. The error rates of subjects under initial phonological overlap and final phonological over lap conditions were higher than that under phonological and semantic unrelated condition (P ＜ 0.01). The error reactions were discarded and the mean value of RT under 4 conditions (semantic related, initial phonological overlap, final phonological overlap and phonological and semantic unrelated) were 830 ms, 891 ms, 864 ms and 903 ms, respectively. There were significant differences of error rate and RT between semantic related and phonological and semantic unrelated conditions (P ＜ 0.01). Error rate and RT under final phonological overlap condition were significantly different from those under initial phonological overlap and phonological and semantic unrelated conditions (P ＜ 0.01). Since the largest amplitude of N400 occurred at FCZ electrode, FCZ was chosen for analyzing the effects under four different experimental conditions. The LSD multiple comparison showed that amplitude under control condition was significantly higher than that under semantic related condition (P ＜ 0.01). Latency under the control condition was the longest, then decreased gradually according to the sequence of semantic related, final phonological overlap and initial phonological overlap condition. As the results of LSD multiple comparison revealed, initial phonological overlap condition had a tendency of shortened latency, with significant difference when compared with control condition (P ＜ 0.05). Another five electrodes were selected besides FCZ standing for anterior, parietal, posterior, left and right brain area in order to investigate the scalp distribution difference of N400 under different experimental conditions. Two factors repeated measured ANOVA (Analysis of variance) was carried out for amplitude analysis, with different experimental conditions (4 levels) as the first factor and electrode positions (6 levels) as the second factor. The main effect of electrode positions was significant [F(5,80)= 13.376, P =0.000]. Among the chosen electrodes, FCZ had the largest amplitude (-7.946 μV), the second was CZ (-7.285 μV) and the other top-downsequence was FZ (-6.849 μV), PZ (-4.324 μV), T8 (-3.501 μV ) and T7 (-3.484 μV), respectively. Results of LSD multiple comparison revealed that the amplitude of FCZ was higher than all other electrodes but CZ. CONCLUSION: Two-character Chinese words presented auditorily in lexical decision task. Semantic relationship can facilitate the recognition of target words, which is shown by lower error rate, shorter RT and decreased amplitude of N400 component. Phonological congruence between prime and target words has both facilitory and interferential effects on target words, which is shown by increased error rate, shorter RT and the tendency of decreasing N400 amplitude.Interferential effect of initial phonological overlap between prime and target words is stronger than that of final phonological overlap. This finding provides evidence for initial phonological information's special function during auditory word recognition which is supported by Cohort Theory. No evidence for the existence of separate intracranial sources of semantic priming and phonological priming has been found. However, Cohort Theory should be revised while applying to the recognition of two-character words of Chinese.

Aim To investigate the effects of K + channel blockers on arsenic trioxide-induced HeLa cell death. Methods Viability of HeLa cells was assessed by mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity using colorimetric MTT assay and the voltage-dependent K+ currents were recorded by using patch-clamp rest living cells after As2 O3 24 h-incubation showed significant increase of K + currents densities. At + 80mV, the densities of K+ currents (61 ± 18) pA/10 pF (n = 8) in As2O3 24 h-incubation group were significantly more than that in the control group (38 ± 10) pA/10 pF (n = 8, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The HeLa cells were prevented partially from As2 O3-induced cell death by co-application for 24 h with typical voltageeffects on HeLa cells. Conclusion Chronic treatment with As2 O3 increased voltage-dependent K+currents in HeLa cells and the cell death induced by As2O3 was reduced partially by voltage-dependent K +channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine or tetraethylammonium.

Objective:To elucidate the etiology of the impairment of myocardial cells in Keshan disease. Methods:With intracellular microelectrode technique, we observed the electrophysiological changes of the eight groups of rats fed separately:normal, low Se, low Se+high VC, low Cr, low Cr+high VC, low Se+low Cr and low Se+low Cr+high VC fodders. Results:Compared with the control, there was no change in low Cr group. However, in low Se group, RP and APA decreased, APD 50 and APD 90 prolonged. In low Se+low Cr group, APA decreased, APD 50 and APD 90 prolonged significantly. In low Se with high vitamin C groups, though RP still decreased, no change had been detected on APA and APD. Conclusion:It is suggested that Se and Cr deficiency may jointly change the electrophysiological properties of myocardial cells significantly. However, vitamin C may protect myocardial cells against the injury effectively.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of adult patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection, and provide evidence for early identification of MP infection. Methods A prospective, multicenter and cross-sectional study was conducted. 452 adult patients with CAP admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing Guangwai Hospital and Air Force General Hospital from August 2011 to October 2015 were enrolled. The diagnosis of adult MP infection was confirmed by the combined application of double serum antibody titer and MP-DNA nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) through testing serum and throat swab samples from patients to identify acute infections, past infections, pathogen carrying, and non-MP infection. The clinical characteristics of patients with acute MP infection were summarized by analyzing the baseline data, clinical parameters and chest imaging findings in patients with non-MP infection and acute MP infection. Results Of 452 enrolling patients with CAP, 288 patients (63.7%) suffered from MP infection, and 164 patients (36.3%) with non-MP infection. There were 56 patients (12.4%) with acute infection, 10 patients (2.2%) with past infections, 222 patients (49.1%) with pathogen carriers in MP infective patients indicating susceptible to MP in adult patients. There were no significant differences in gender, age, fever extent, duration of fever, sputum production, shortness of breath, rales, underlying diseases, etc. between non-MP infection and acute MP infection patients, which suggested that the baseline data of the two groups were equilibrium. The acute infection rates of MP in summer and autumn (43.9% and 43.5% respectively) were more than those in spring and winter (13.3% and 12.3% respectively). It was shown by laboratory examination results that serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) increased significantly in acute MP infectious patients more than that in non-MP infection patients (30.4% vs. 9.8%, P < 0.01), which indicated that patients with acute MP infection were more likely to have myocardial injury. While there were no significant differences in blood routine, blood electrolytes, blood glucose, as well as heart, liver and kidney function between the two groups. It was shown by chest imaging that the diffuse lesions (57.1% vs. 37.2%), mediastinal lymphadenopathy (60.7% vs. 37.8%) were less founded in the middle lobe of the right lung (12.5% vs. 32.9%), which were the main manifestations in patients with acute MP infection as compared with non-MP infection patients with statistical difference (all P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the chest imaging performances of pulmonary ground glass shadow, lobar and segmental consolidation, patch shadow, a shadow, acinar nodules, grinding glass density nodules, the photic zone, hilar lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion occurrence between the two groups. Conclusion Adult CAP patients are easy to carry MP, myocardial damage is a common complication in acute MP infectious patients which are characteristic of image findings of diffuse lung disease, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and less founded in the middle lobe of the right lung.

Objective To study the distribution of antinuclear antibodies ( ANAs) in a healthy population and the significance of using ANAs screening test in medical examination .Methods The ANAs were measured by indirect immunofluorescence assay ( IIF) .The Western blot assay was used to detect fif-teen specific antibodies against auto-antigens .Results 3519 out of all 25 110 subjects showed ANAs titers>1∶100 , and among them male and female subjects were respectively accounted for 1143 and 2376 .1489 out of all subjects had ANAs titers >1∶320 , and among them male and female subjects were respectively accounted for 406 and 1083 .The positive rates of ANAs at different titers showed significant differences be -tween male and female subjects .Among subjects with ANAs titers >1∶320 , the number of male subjects showed a steady increase with the age , while the percentage of female subjects reached to two peaks during the periods of puberty and menopause .The fifteen specific antibodies were detected in 659 out of 1489 sub-jects with ANAs titers>1∶320 and anti-Ro-52 (14.2%) accounted for the majority , followed by anti-M2 (12.7%) and anti-SSA (9.6%).Conclusion ANAs can be detected among healthy population of all ages, but their distribution varied with gender and age .ANAs screening test is necessary for medical exami-nation of healthy population , especially for female during period of puberty or menopause .The population with positive ANAs should be followed-up closely and educated for the prevention of autoimmune diseases .

Coloring Agents ; Diagnostic Uses of Chemicals ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Humans ; Iodine

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of liposomal doxombicin combined with etoposide and high dose methylprednisolone (DEP) as a salvage therapy for refractory macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).Methods:Totally 38 patients with refractory MAS were enrolled in this study from January 2016 to January 2022 in Beijing Friendship Hospital, including clinical characteristics and laboratory test results before and after DEP treatment, were retrospectively collected. The efficacy was evaluated every 2 weeks according to the United States Midwest Cooperative HLH Group. Relevant samples were statistically analyzed using non-parametric tests.Results:Of 38 refractory MAS patients, 8 males and 30 females were included into this study.The median age was 30(15-69) years old. The underlying disease were adult onset Still's disease in 29 cases, Systemic lupus erythematosus in 6 cases, Rheumatoid arthritis in 1 case and Undifferentiated Connective-Tissue disease in 2. The overall response rate was 95% (36/38), including 9 patients (24%) achieved complete remission and 27 patients (71%) achieved partial remission after 2 weeks of treatment. The overall response rate was 97% (34/35), including 16 (46%) complete remission and 18 (51%) partial remission after 4 weeks of treatment(due to lack of data in some patients). The overall response rate was 97% (34/35), including 17 (49%) complete remission and 17 (49%) partial remission after 6 weeks of treatment. Patients who achieved partial remission or complete remission were actively treated for the underlying diseases after induction, and their conditions were in persistent remission.Conclusion:The DEP regimen may be an effective salvage therapy for the treatment of refractory MAS.

OBJECTIVETo estimate the cost-effectiveness of esophageal cancer endoscopic screening once-in-a-lifetime and to predict the optimal screening age for people in high-risk areas of rural China.

METHODSA Markov model was constructed to predict and compare the effect of four esophageal cancer endoscopic screening modalities which varied with different screening ages. Long-term epidemiological effectiveness and cost-effectiveness were predicted by simulation of the model.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, strategies starting at 40, 45, 50 and 55 year-old had saved life-years of 629.51, 769.88, 738.98 and 533.21 years per 100 000 people, respectively, of which the strategy starting at 45 year-old saved the maximum life years. All strategies were cost-effective and starting at 40 year-old cost the most per life-year saved. Among all alternatives, strategies starting age at 45 year-old and 50 year-old were incremental cost-effective, and the incremental cost-effective ratios were 34 962.87 and 3 346.43 RMB per life year saved, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe strategy starting at 40 year-old implemented at present and other strategies were cost-effective in high-risk areas of rural China. However, the 45-year-old group is more aligned with the principle of cost-effectiveness. Considering the cost-effectiveness of different strategies and social economic status, 45 year-old is regarded as the optimal starting age of esophageal cancer once-in-a-lifetime endoscopic screening and is recommended in areas lacking health resources. The strategy of starting age at 40 year-old which could obtain better screening effects would be preferable in wealthy regions.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Esophagoscopy ; economics ; Humans ; Markov Chains ; Middle Aged ; Rural Population

Objective: To describe the status of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use in areas with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer in China. Methods: This study was based on the National Key Research and Development Program of "National Precision Medicine Cohort of Esophageal Cancer" and "Study on Identification and Prevention of High-risk Populations of Gastrointestinal Malignancies (Esophageal cancer, Gastric cancer and Colorectal cancer)" . From January 2017 to August 2018, 212 villages or communities with a high incidence of esophageal cancer or gastric cancer were selected from 12 regions in 6 provinces. A total of 35 910 residents aged between 40 and 69 years old who met the inclusion criteria and signed the informed consent were investigated and enrolled in this study. The use of NSAIDs, demographic characteristics, health-related habits, height, weight, and blood pressure were collected by the questionnaire and physical examination. The status of main NSAIDs (aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen) use with the difference varying in genders, age groups and regions were analyzed by using χ² test and Cochran-Armitage trend analysis method. Results: Of 35 910 subjects, the mean age was (54.6±7.1) years old and males accounted for 43.42% (15 591). The overall prevalence of NSAIDs intake was 4.56% (1 638), but it significantly varied in different provinces (P<0.001). The overall prevalence of NSAIDs intake was 4.87% (1 750) in females, which was significantly higher than that in males 4.24% (1 524) (P<0.001). The prevalence of NSAIDs intake increased with age (P for trend <0.001). As the frequency of NSAIDs intake increased, the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms, gastrointestinal ulcers and black stools increased (P for trend <0.05 for all). Conclusion The use of NSAIDs is prevalent in some areas with a high incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer in China. The increased use of NSAIDs may lead to more adverse effects related to the gastrointestinal tract.