Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To establish a method of analyzing total uranium and 235U/238U ratio in urine using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and uncertainty assessment.Methods Urine sample was digested with HNO3 and H2O2,and total uranium was determined using ICP-MS method directly.The digested urine sample was separated to concentrate uranium with tributyl phosphate (TBP) column,and 235U/238U ratio was analyzed using ICP-MS.The uncertainty was evaluated through sample pre-treatment,measurement and standard curve calculation.Results The recovery of total uranium in urine was 98.4％-102.4％,detection limit was 0.002 μg/L.The relative expanded uncertainty of total uranium concentration in urine was 0.26 (k =2).235 U/238 U ratio was 0.001 1 (k =2).Conclusions This study offers a low detection limit,good recovery and precision method for rapid determination of total uranium and 235U/238 U ratio in urine samples.It is potential used for both in occupational exposure assessment and nuclear emergency situation.The uncertainty evaluation of total uranium and 235U/238U ratio in urine are reliable.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of nuclear transcription factor-?B(NF-?B) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) and the effect of dexamethasone(DEX) on its expression,to provide the experimental base for corresponding clinical treatment of the ALL,in which NF-?B is taken as a target.Methods 1.The biotin-streptavidin method was used to detect NF-?B P65 protein on 20 childhood ALL patients and 20 healthy children.2.The effect of DEX at clinically relevant dosage on NF-?B P65 protein were also detected by the biotin-streptavidin method.Results 1.The positive expression rate of NF-?B P65 protein in childhood ALL patients was 85.50%,obviously higher than that in normal group(10.0%)(?~2=22.56 P

Objective To investigate the effect of highly expressed β-catenin on the proliferative activity of and expressions of two apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax by human skin fibroblasts induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).Methods Normal human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) from child foreskin were divided into three groups:empty vector group transfected with the empty vector pcDNA3.1,H2O2 group transfected with the empty vector pcDNA3.1 followed by treatment with H2O2 (150 μ mol/L) for 2 hours,β-catenin group transfected with pcDNA3.1-β-catenin followed by treatment with H2O2 (150 μ mol/L) for 2 hours.Subsequently,methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was conducted to estimate proliferative activity of fibroblasts,flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis,and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and Western blot were performed to measure the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax respectively.The relative expression levels of genes were expressed as the ratios between the targets and GAPDH.Results Significant differences were found between the empty vector group,H2O2 group and β-catenin group in cellular proliferative activity (expressed as absorbance value at 570 nm:0.792 ± 0.012 vs.0.462 ± 0.012 vs.0.521 ± 0.015,P＜ 0.01) and apoptosis rate (3.407％ ± 0.217％ vs.24.555％ ± 1.793％ vs.15.360％ ± 0.755％,P＜ 0.01).Both mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl-2 were significantly lower in the H2O2 group (0.333 ± 0.003 and 0.336 ± 0.004 respectively) than in the empty vector group (0.507 ± 0.013 and 0.514 ± 0.021,respectively,both P ＜ 0.01) and β-catenin group (0.404 ± 0.006 and 0.411 ± 0.005,respectively,both P ＜ 0.01).Increased expression levels of Bax mRNA and protein were observed in the H2O2 group compared with the empty vector group and β-catenin group (mRNA:0.451 ± 0.002 vs.0.303 ± 0.005 and 0.339 ± 0.012,protein:0.460 ± 0.008 vs.0.320 ± 0.013 and 0.346 ± 0.013,all P＜ 0.01).Conclusion High expression of β-catenin can raise proliferative activity of aging HSFs.

Objective To ascertain the concentrations of uranium in drinking water around nuclear power plants.Methods A total of 106 water samples were collected from June 2009 to March 2010 in Jiangsu,Zhejiang,Liaoning and Shandong provinces.Inductively coupled plasma-msgs spectrometry(ICPMS)was applied to determine uranium content in local water source and drinking water.The detection limit of U was 0.8 ng/L.The recovery was 100.9%.Results The uranium concentrations in all samples were less than 15μg/L which was the limit given by World Health Organization(WHO).Conclusions The concentration of uranium in water sources was as follows:Liaoning>Shandong>Jiangsu>Zhejiang.The concentration of uranium in drinking water W88 maximal in Shandong Province and minimal in Zhejiang Province.

Objective To study the association between activity of hand,foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and the meteorological factors in Suzhou.Methods A total of 17 653 children diagnosed with HFMD in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University during 2008 to 2011 were enrolled.The meteorological factors in(c)luding mean temperature,relative humidity,rainfall amount,sum of sunshine and mean wind velocity during Jan 2008 to Dec 2011 were collected monthly.Numeration data were analyzed using chi square or Fisher exact test.Normal distribution data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and non-normal distribution data were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation.Results HFMD could be found all over the year and had obvious seasonality which peaked in Summer,followed by Spring and Autumn and HFMD decreased markedly in Winter.The activity of HFMD was positive correlated with mean temperature(r=0.716,P＜0.01),wind velocity (r=0.630,P＜0.01),rainfall(r=0.477,P＜0.01) and sum of sunshine(r=0.311,P＜0.05).No statistical significance was observed between relative humidity and HFMD(r =0.276,P＞0.05).Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that only mean temperature and rainfall were associated with HFMD and mean temperature had stronger influence on HFMD than rainfall (t =4.687,P ＜ 0.01 ; t =2.258,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions HFMD has obvious seasonality.Mean temperature and rainfall are the main factors affecting this seasonality.

Objective To ascertain the uranium isotopic ratios in surface water samples around nuclear power plants.Methods Water samples were collected in Jiangsu,Shandong and Zhejiang provinces.An efficient separation procedure for the trace uranium concentrated from surface water by tributyl phosphate (TBP) was used.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to determination of low abundance uranium isotopes.Results The 234 U/238 U isotope ratio varied from 4.575 × 10-5to 7.752 × 10-5 and 235U/238U from 7.273 × 10-3 to 7.639 × 10-3.Conclusions The 234U is enriched in the surface water.

ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between pancreatic cancer (PC) and diabetes mellitus (DM),and the clinical and pathological features of pancreatic cancer in patients with DM.MethodsFrom January,2008 to December,2010,151 patients with PC and 195 comparable patients without PC were enrolled in a case-control study to analyze the relationship between PC and DM.ResultsThe OR was 5.91 (95％ CI 3.03-8.00,P＜0.05) in PC patients with DM for less than 2 years,and 1.308 (95％ CI 0.37-4.60,P＞0.05) in patients with DM for 2 to 5 years,and 1.16(95％ CI 0.44-3.19,P＞0.05) for patients with DM for more than 5 years.There was no significant difference between PC patients with and without DM in gender,age,body-mass index (BMD,obstructive jaundice,tumour location and tumour metastases (P＞0.05).ConclusionsThere was a significant correlation between PC and DM.De novo DM may be a clinical manifestation in patients with PC.PC patients with concurrent DM have no particular clinical and pathological features.

Objective To observe the effect of high expression of β-catenin on senescent phenotypes in normal human skin fibroblasts (NHSFs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).Methods Cultured NHSFs were classified into three groups: β-catenin + H2O2 group transfected with a recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-β-catenin and treated with H2O2 of 150 μ mol/L for two hours,H2O2 group transfected with the empty vector pcDNA3.1 and treated by H2O2 of 150 μmol/L for two hours,and vector group transfected with the empty vector pcDNA3.1 and receiving no treatment.Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and Western blot were performed to quantify the mRNA and protein expressions of β-catenin in these cells,microscopy to observe the morphological changes of cells.The activity of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by using commercial kits.Data were processed with the software SPSS 13.0,and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted for multiple group comparisons.Results The expression of β-catenin was significantly upregulated in NHSFs transfected with the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-β-catenin.Both the mRNA and protein expression levels of β-catenin described as β-catenin/ glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) ratio were significantly lower in the H2O2 group compared with the vector group (0.2900 ± 0.0195 vs.0.5963 ± 0.0400,0.3130 ± 0.0171 vs.0.6190 ± 0.0090,both P ＜0.05),while the protein expression level of β-catenin was statistically higher in the β-catenin + H2O2 group than in the H2O2 group (0.7953 ± 0.0074 vs.0.3130 ± 0.0171,P ＜0.05).Significant differences were observed between the vector group,H2O2 group and β-catenin+ H2O2 group in the percentage of SA-β-gal-positive cells ((2.9667 ± 0.2517)％ vs.(37.70 ± 0.9539)％ vs.(29.330 ± 0.6359)％,P ＜0.05),ROS activity ((50.9963 ±9.2688)％ vs.(109.9190 ± 11.5215)％ vs.(75.1063 ± 3.0138)％,P ＜0.05),and SOD levels ((88.0856 ±3.9181) vs.(35.5585 ± 3.4438) vs.(61.7029 ± 3.1716) U/mg,P ＜0.05).Conclusion The overexpression of β-catenin can downr_egulate the activity of SA-β-Gal and ROS level,but enhance the activity of SOD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the applications of percutaneous screw fixation for the treatment of pelvic fractures and its related surgical considerations.

METHODSFrom June 2010 to June 2012,19 patients with pelvic fractures were treated with percutaneous hollow screws. There were 13 males and 6 females, with an average age of 41 years (ranged from 22 to 58 years). Fractures were caused by traffic accidents in 11 cases, by falling down from high place in 8 cases. Based on the Tile classification, there were 15 cases of Tile C type and 4 case of Tile B type. The indexes such as screw inserting time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, functional recovery and reduction conditions were observed. Fixation methods included sacroiliac screws, cannulated screw fixation of the pubic ramus and cannulated screw fixation of the pubic symphysis separation.

RESULTSAnatomical reduction achieved in 7 cases, satisfactory reduction 11 cases, and unsatisfactory reduction 1 case. Union time of fracture union ranged from 8 to 12 weeks (mean 10 weeks). Wound infection,ununion of fracture and nerve injuries were not found. According to the Majeed standards, 12 patients obtained an excellent results, 6 good and 1 fair.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous screw fixation for the treatment of pelvic fractures under fluoroscopy has several advantages such as less trauma, less blood loss, fewer rates of complications, reliable fixation and no blood transfusion, which can reconstruct the stability of the pelvic ring, but it needs adequate preoperative preparation and high requirements for the surgeon.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Radiography ; Young Adult