BACKGROUND:The diagnosis of osteoporosis depends upon the bone mineral density T-score of ≤ -2.5 standard deviation or brittle fractures. Bone mineral density measurement combined with vertebral fracture assessment might prevent the missed diagnosis of osteoporosis due to bone mineral density evaluation alone, and improve the diagnosis rate of osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of bone mineral density measurements combined with vertebral fracture assessment for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.
METHODS:Bone mineral density measurements of proximal femur and vertebral fracture assessment for lateral thoraco-lumbar images were consecutively done for 217 postmenopausal women who aged ≥ 50 years. The rate of osteoporosis diagnosed with bone mineral density T score was compared with that diagnosed with bone mineral density combined with vertebral fracture assessment. The effects of bone mineral density on the vertebral fracture were analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:92 (42.4%) patients had bone mineral density T score ≤ -2.5, which met the threshold for diagnosis of osteoporosis. 102 (47.0%) patients had osteopanic (-1>T>-2.5) and 23 (10.6%) had normal range of bone mineral density. 158 patients had no vertebral fractures and 59 (27.2%) patients had 101 vertebral fractures. The vertebral fracture rate was 21.6%in the patients with bone mineral density T> -2.5 and 34.8%in the patients with bone mineral density T ≤ -2.5, with significant differences (P<0.05). Bone mineral density in combination with vertebral fracture assessment for the diagnosis rate of osteoporosis was up to 54.8%, which was significantly higher than the rate diagnosed with only bone mineral density (12.4%;P=0.01). Bone mineral density measurement combined with vertebral fracture assessment improves the diagnosis of osteoporosis for postmenopausal women.

Objective To study the impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on the activity of cord hematopoietic stem cells. Methods CD34+ cells were isolated from healthy human cord blood by miniMACS. Cells were cultured in IMDM complete culture medium containing stem cell factor (SCF),fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FL), thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin-3 (IL-3) and 10% fetal bovine serum. High copies HBV were added to the culture system. The proliferation of stem ceils and virus replication were observed. Following the proliferation, dendritic cells (DCs) were induced by adding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IL-4. Morphous of stem cells and DCs were observed by microscope and the cell surface molecules were detected. Results The proliferation of stem cells infected with HBV was significantly lower than that of healthy stem cells (P＜0.01),and enhanced after adding cytokines (P＜0.01). At the same time, HBV replication was increased after adding cytokines in the culture system (P＜0.01), but the proliferation was still lower than that of healthy stem cells with cytokines in the culture medium (P＜0.05). Dane particles were found in the cytoplasma of stem cells infected with HBV by electron microscope. The expression of CD80,CD86 ,CD1a and HLA-DR on DCs derived from HBV infected stem cells were all lower than those on DCs from non-infected stem cells (P＜0.01). Conclusions HBV could infect CD34+ stem cell and the proliferation of the stem cell could enhance the virus replication. HBV could not only inhibit the proliferation of stem cells,but also down-regulate the immuno-phenotype expression of DCs derived from CD34+stem cells.

BACKGROUND:The prevalence of osteoporosis is high in the patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Osteoporosis is associated with the survival of prostheses. Both canal flare index and bone mineral density are aged-related.
OBJECTIVE:To study the cxorrelation between canal flare index of the proximal femur and bone mineral density of femoral neck, and to pay more attention to osteoporosis.
METHODS:A retrospective study of the correlation between canal flare index of the proximal femur on pelvic radiograph and bone mineral density of femoral neck was made in 57 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The canal flare index were ranged 1.8-4.8 (3.1±0.7) in 57 patients. There were 23 patients in canal flare index<3 (chimney-type medul ary cavity), 33 in canal flare index between 3 and 4.7 (normal-type medul ary cavity), and one in canal flare index>4.7 (funnel-type medul ary cavity). The age had an impact on the type of medul ary cavity. The prevalence of chimney-type medul ary cavity were significantly higher in>60 years old group than≤60 years old group, and bone mineral density of femoral neck in the group of canal flare index≥3 was significantly higher than the group of canal flare index<3. The bone mineral density of femoral neck was gradual y reduced with age, and were significantly higher in≤60 years old group than in>60 years old group [(0.751±0.235) g/cm2, (0.590±0.092) g/cm2, P=0.000]. As bone mineral density reduced, canal flare index was also decreased. Experimental findings indicate that, the bone mineral density of femoral neck is significantly correlated with canal flare index.

AIM To study the effects of No.1 Weiyan Decoction (Codonopsis Radix,Paeoniae Radix alba,Taraxaci Herba,etc.) on hypoxia and hypoxic tolerance in gastric mucosal epithelial cells in rats with precancerous lesion of gastric cancer (PLGC).METHODS Forty rats were randomly divided into normal,model,Vitacoenzyme Tablets and No.1 Weiyan Decoction groups.Except for the normal group,the rats in the other groups were given with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and Little Chengqi Decoction to establish a PLGC rat model.Ten weeks after the administration,the gastric mucosal epithelial microvascular ultrastructure was observed,the expressions of Hif1a mRNA,HIF-1 α protein and VEGF protein in gastric mucosal epithelium were detected.RESULTS Compared with the normal group,the number of microvasculatures in gastric mucosal epithelium was decreased;lumen was severely stenosed or expansive;inner wall was not smooth and had adhesion;vascular endothelial cells were swollen;the expression of Hif1α mRNA showed an increasing trend;the expressions of HIF-1α protein and VEGF protein were anomalous in the model group.Compared with the model group,the gastric mucosal vascular lesion of PLGC rats was improved,and the expressions of Hif1a mRNA,HIF-1α protein and VEGF protein were significantly decreased in the No.1 Weiyan Decoction group.CONCLUSION No.1 Weiyan Decoction can improve hypoxia and hypoxia tolerance,and induce angiogenesis in gastric mucosal epithelium in PLGC rats.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the roles of serum interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and soluble interleukin-2R (sIL-2R) in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C and to observe the effects of interferon (IFN) on the above- mentioned serum cytokines.

METHODSThe levels of above- mentioned cytokines were detected in 10 healthy individuals, 24 asymptomatic hepatitis virus C (HCV) carriers and 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C (before and after IFN treatment) using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe levels of the cytokines in patients with chronic hepatitis C are higher than in healthy people (P < 0.05) and in asymptomatic HCV carriers (P < 0.05). The values of the cytokines show a significant positive correlation to ALT (P < 0.05). Levels of tested cytokines decreased observably after IFN treatment (P < 0.05). The grades of the serum levels for sIL-2R and IL-10 before IFN treatment (from high to low) were categorized accordingly: non-response group > partial- response group > complete- response group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe tested cytokines co-participate in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C, and can be used to evaluate the effect of IFN on the immune state of organisms. Furthermore, sIL-2R and IL-10 are important for predicting the anti-viral efficacy of IFN.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins

Objective:To investigate the Chinese anesthesiologist′s proficiency, training experience and needs of flexible bronchoscope-guided awake flexible bronchoscopy intubation (AFBI) using a questionnaire method.Methods:The cluster sampling was used, and self-designed questionnaires that addressed 54 questions in 5 categories were distributed through WeChat and online platforms. The survey took one month, and the answers were automatically recorded by the WeChat server.Results:A total of 1 250 anesthesiologists participated in the survey in 30 provinces of China, 9 of them were not anesthesiologists, and 1 241 (99.28%) questionnaires were validated. In the valid questionnaires, 52.70% (654) of the anesthesiologists were from tertiary hospitals, and 74.78% (928) of the anesthesiologists were attending physicians or above, only 7.57% (94) of the anesthesiologists had sufficient confidence in AFBI. Twenty-five point two two percent (313) of the anesthesiologists preferred fiberoptic intubation as the first tool when dealing with the anticipated difficult airway. Forty-eight point one one percent (597) of the anesthesiologists had implemented AFBI. Among them, 80.74% (482) had experienced unsuccessful AFBI practices. Eight hundred and ninety-four anesthesiologists had received AFBI training, and the most common AFBI training strategy was theoretical lectures. In addition, the degree of satisfaction regarding the theoretical lectures quality, technical training, clinical practice relativity and non-technical skills training was 21.47% (192), 14.32% (128), 12.3% (110) and 17.90% (160), respectively. The degree of satisfaction with all the 4 training elements mentioned above was 7.27% (65).Conclusions:The awareness and practice of Chinese anesthesiologists in terms of clinical application of AFBI to treat difficult airways need to be strengthened at present, and the lack of high-quality AFBI training may be the key.

Metformin is currently a strong candidate anti-tumor agent in multiple cancers. However, its anti-tumor effectiveness varies among different cancers or subpopulations, potentially due to tumor heterogeneity. It thus remains unclear which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient subpopulation(s) can benefit from metformin treatment. Here, through a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9-based knockout screen, we find that DOCK1 levels determine the anti-tumor effects of metformin and that DOCK1 is a synthetic lethal target of metformin in HCC. Mechanistically, metformin promotes DOCK1 phosphorylation, which activates RAC1 to facilitate cell survival, leading to metformin resistance. The DOCK1-selective inhibitor, TBOPP, potentiates anti-tumor activity by metformin in vitro in liver cancer cell lines and patient-derived HCC organoids, and in vivo in xenografted liver cancer cells and immunocompetent mouse liver cancer models. Notably, metformin improves overall survival of HCC patients with low DOCK1 levels but not among patients with high DOCK1 expression. This study shows that metformin effectiveness depends on DOCK1 levels and that combining metformin with DOCK1 inhibition may provide a promising personalized therapeutic strategy for metformin-resistant HCC patients.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats ; Genome ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Metformin/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Phosphorylation ; Synthetic Lethal Mutations ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; rac GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism*