In this paper, the five strains of Polygonatum odoratum were used as the experimental materials to test the supercooling point, freezing point, the degree of supercooling, the transition stage time, cooling time and water composition of the plant tissue. The cold resistance of P. odoratum was analyzed with the Gray Correlation Method. The results showed that the cold resistances of the five strains of P. odoratum were different, and the water content of plant tissue had some relevance with freezing point and supercooling point, whereas, it could not be measured when the moisture content was too low. The order of cold resistance of the five strains of P. odoratum was ZJCY, DYYZ, XYYZ, CYYZ and JZ I.
Cold Temperature ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; physiology ; Polygonatum ; chemistry ; classification ; physiology ; Water ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of early oral feeding with enteral nutrition preparation after surgery on clinical outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSSixty patients with gastric cancer undergoing radical operation between July 2010 and May 2011 were randomly divided into two groups using random digit table: experimental group(n=30, administration of water and enteral nutrition early after surgery) and control group(n=30, conventional postoperative care protocol). Clinical outcomes, immune function, and nutritional status between the two groups were compared.

RESULTSAs compared to the control group, duration of fever was significantly shorter in the experimental group [(81.1±6.4) h vs. (87.3±8.0) h, P<0.05], as were postoperative time of flatus [(79.9±9.5) h vs. (86.6±8.7) h, P<0.05] and postoperative hospital stay [(7.83±2.23) d vs. (9.57±1.96) d, P<0.01]. The medical cost [(30,220±3,220) RMB vs.(34,600±32,120) RMB, P<0.01] was lower than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in morbidity between the two groups[13.3%(4/30) vs. 16.7%(5/30), P>0.05]. The levels of CD3(+)T, CD4(+)T, NK cell, CD4(+)T/CD8(+)T, albumin, and prealbumin were higher in the experimental group as compared to the control group on postoperative day 3 and 7(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEarly oral feeding with enteral nutrition preparation after surgery can improve the nutritional status and immune function, and accelerate the rehabilitation for patients with gastric cancer.

Aged ; Enteral Nutrition ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Care ; Stomach Neoplasms ; therapy

BACKGROUNDLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in China. Mutation analysis reveals that LKB1 inactivation is present in 30% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), indicating its role as a tumor suppressor. However, the molecular mechanism is still not clear. Our study attempted to establish LKB1 stable knockdown NSCLC cell line, detect alterations in gene expression and identify the genes regulated by LKB1.

METHODSLKB1 stable knockdown H1299 cell line was established using a lentiviral short hairpin RNA. To identify the knockdown effect, LKB1 mRNA and protein expression level were evaluated with quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. We treated the cell lines with 2-deoxyglucose to determine if LKB1 protein function was impacted. Gene microarray analysis was performed to detect the gene expression alterations in LKB1 stable knockdown H1299 cells.

RESULTSLKB1 mRNA and protein expression were significantly suppressed in LKB1 stable knockdown H1299 cell line. 2-DG treatment had little impact on the phosphorylation of AMPK, which is the downstream target of LKB1, indicating the loss of function of LKB1. The microarray data showed that LKB1 knockdown resulted in expression alterations of 1243 kinds of genes, including those involved in cell migration, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe establishment of LKB1 stable knockdown H1299 cell line provides us with a great tool to investigate various genes regulated by LKB1 through microarray. The discovery of cell proliferation and migration-related genes regulated by LKB1 is critical for unraveling molecular mechanisms of LKB1's role in the development and metastasis of lung cancer.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDSentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become a common procedure for early breast cancer patients. The GeneSearch(TM) Breast Lymph Node (BLN) Assay is a real-time RT-PCR assay for the detecting nodal metastases larger than 0.2 mm. China Breast Cancer Clinical Study Group (CBCSG)-001a is a prospective multi-center clinical trial that was conducted to validate the GeneSearch(TM) BLN Assay in China.

METHODSThe SLNs from 90 consecutive patients were identified and dissected, and then sectioned along the short axis into multiple blocks. Intra-operatively, the odd blocks were tested by BLN assay and the even ones were used for frozen section, while all the blocks were evaluated by touch imprint cytology. Post-operatively, the remaining tissues were assessed by histological evaluation.

RESULTSA total of 189 SLNs was tested by BLN assay. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 88.9%, 97.4%, 88.9% and 97.4%, respectively, for BLN assay, 75.0%, 100%, 100% and 94.4%, respectively, for frozen section, and 63.9%, 100%, 100% and 92.2%, respectively, for touch imprint cytology. The sensitivity of BLN assay was higher than that of touch imprint cytology (P = 0.01) and frozen section (P = 0.13). When assessing the nodes with micro-metastases, BLN assay had a significant higher sensitivity than frozen section (P = 0.023) and touch imprint cytology (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONThe GeneSearch(TM) BLN Assay is an accurate and rapid intra-operative assay for breast SLNs and it is suitable for application in general medical practice.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of GeneSearch(TM) BLN assay as an intraoperative diagnostic method of sentinel lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients.

METHODSNinety consecutive patients were involved in this study. SLNs were intraoperatively identified and dissected, and then sectioned vertically to the long axis into multiple blocks. The odd blocks were tested by BLN assay and even ones prepared for frozen sectioning (FS), while all blocks were evaluated by touch imprint cytology (TIC). Post-operatively, residual tissues of the even blocks were assessed by histopathologic examination (4 - 6 µm thick serial sectioning permanent H&E slides were performed every 150 µm and one block made 6 slides).

RESULTSBLN assay could be performed within less than 35 min after learning curve of 10 cases. A correlation was found between cycle time values of mammaglobin or cytokeratin-19 and size of metastases, with Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.67 and 0.71, respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predict value (PPV) and negative predict value (NPV) of the assay were 95.6%, 93.3%, 96.7%, 93.3% and 96.7%, While FS had the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV of 76.7%, 100%, 100%, 89.6%, and TIC of 73.3%, 100%, 100%, 88.2%, respectively. The sensitivity of the assay was higher than that of FS (P = 0.07), and was significantly higher than that of FS (P = 0.04). When assessing patients with micro-metastases, the assay had a sensitivity of 85.7%, which was significantly higher than that of FS and TIC (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONGeneSearch(TM) BLN Assay can replace FS and TIC for the intraoperative assessment of SLN.

Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cytodiagnosis ; Frozen Sections ; methods ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; analysis ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Diseases ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; methods

Objective To observe the efficacy of postauricular injection of compound betamethasone injection in the treatment of sudden deafness and its influence on transcranial doppler(TCD)parameters and fibrinolysis-coagulation indicators.Methods Patients with sudden deafness were divided into control group and treatment group according to cohort methed.The control group was given intravenous injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate for 10 days on the basis of conventional treatment,and the treatment group was given postauricular injection of compound betamethasone injection 0.8 g for once every other day for 5 times in addition to conventional treatment.The clinical efficacy,hearing level,haemodynamics and laboratory indicators[homocysteine(Hcy),platelet(PLT)count]were compared between the two groups of patients,and the adverse drug reactions or complications were counted.Results There were 50 cases in treatment group and 50 cases in control group.After treatment,the total effective rates in treatment group and control group were 94.00％(47 cases/50 cases)and 80.00％(40 cases/50 cases),with significant difference(P＜0.05).After treatment,the acoustic thresholds under 0.5 kHz,1 kHz,2 kHz and 4 kHz in treatment group were(42.48±5.65),(45.35±6.44),(48.67±5.58)and(50.25±6.06)dB,which in control group were(50.64±6.92),(57.66±7.41),(60.24±8.31)and(63.15±8.25)dB,all with significant difference(all P＜0.05).After treatment,the whole blood high-shear viscosities in treatment group and control group were(4.18±0.58)and(4.99±0.76)mpa·s;the whole blood low-shear viscosities were(9.18±1.15)and(10.31±1.28)mpa·s;the plasma viscosities were(1.44±0.32)and(1.76±0.25)mpa·s;the Hcy levels in treatment group and control group were(15.57±4.25)and(21.75±4.93)μmol·L-1;PLT levels were(198.72±21.41)×109·L-1and(212.67±18.46)×109·L-1 respectively,all with significant difference(all P＜0.05).There were no obvious adverse drug reactions in treatment group and control group.Conclusion Postauricular injection of compound betamethasone injection can improve the hearing level and enhance the clinical efficacy in patients with sudden deafness,and it is helpful to improve haemodynamics and reduce serum Hcy level,with good safety.

BACKGROUNDChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a variable natural history and not all individuals follow the same course. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and characteristics of asymptomatic COPD patients from a population-based survey in China.

METHODSA multistage cluster sampling strategy was used in a population from seven different provinces/cities. All residents (over 40 years old) were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire and spirometry. Post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1))/forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than 70% was defined as the diagnostic criterion of COPD. All COPD patients screened were divided into symptomatic group and asymptomatic group according to the presence or absence of chronic respiratory symptoms. Socio-demographic, personal and exposure variables were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 1668 patients who were diagnosed with COPD from the 25 627 sampling subjects, 589 (35.3%) were asymptomatic. The age, sex, body mass index (BMI), rural and urban distributions, smoking habit and education levels were similar in the two groups. A total of 64.7% of the asymptomatic patients had no comorbidities. Cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer were more common among symptomatic COPD patients than asymptomatic group. Asymptomatic COPD group were less likely to present with poor ventilation in the kitchen, a family history of respiratory disease and recurrent childhood cough. Asymptomatic COPD patients had significantly higher FEV(1) (73.1% vs. 61.0%), FVC (91.9% vs. 82.0%), and a higher ratio of FEV(1)/FVC (62.9% vs. 58.7%) (all P < 0.001) than symptomatic group. More asymptomatic patients were underdiagnosed (91.9% vs. 54.3%, P < 0.001) than symptomatic patients.

CONCLUSIONSThis large population-based survey confirmed a high prevalence of asymptomatic COPD patients in China. More use of spirometry screening test may be important to the early detection of COPD.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Spirometry ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Humans ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/drug therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Microsatellite Instability ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Colorectal Neoplasms

Humans ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/drug therapy* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Microsatellite Instability ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Colorectal Neoplasms

Objective To propose a sperm classification model based on convolutional neural network to enhance the accuracy of sperm morphological classification.Methods A FT-EfficientNet model was constructed using EfficientNetB0 as the base model,which was fine-tuned by data preprocessing enhancement,transfer learning and cosine decay.Classification experi-ments were performed on the sperm public datasets SCIAN-Morpho and HuSHeM,and the datasets were segmented and vali-dated using 5-fold cross-validation.The classification results by the FT-EfficientNet model were compared with those by the cascade ensemble of support vector machines(CE-SVM)model,the adaptive patch-based dictionary learning(APDL)model,fine tuning of visual geometry group(FT-VGG)model,morphological classification of human sperm heads(MH-HSH)model and transfer learning(TL)model.Ablation experiments were performed in the SCIAN-Morpho dataset to verify the effect of different fine-tuning methods on the model.Results The FT-EfficientNet model proposed had the accuracy,precision and F1 score on the SCIAN-Morpho validation set being 64.1％,63.8％and 64.8％,respectively,which were better than CE-SVM,APDL,FT-VGG and MC-HSH models.The recall rate of the model proposed(65.2％)was slightly lower than that of MC-HSH model(68.0％).The accuracy,precision,F1 score and recall rate on the HuSHeM validation set was 95.4％,95.8％,95.4％and 96.0％,respectively,which were slightly lower than those of TL model while better than those of CE-SVM,APDL,FT-VGG and MC-HSH models.Ablation experiments showed the FT-EfficientNet model behaved the best in fine-tuning.Conclusion The sperm classification model based on convolutional neural network facilitates sperm morphology classification with high accuracy and performance.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(10):7-13]