Objective To evaluate the application value of circulating tumor cell ( CTC ) in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule ( SPN ) . Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 134 patients with solitary pulmonary nodule in Shanghai Chest Hospital from September 2013 to January 2015, including 80 patients with malignant nodule and 54 with benign nodule.CTC levels of the above subjects were detected by ligand-targeted polymerase chain reaction ( LT-PCR ) assay, and serum carcinoembryonic antigen ( CEA ) and cytokeratin 19 fragment ( CYFRA21-1 ) were detected by flow fluorescence assay.Results By Mann-Whitney U Test, the CTC levels of malignant SPN patients [11.06 (8.77-14.41)units/3 ml] were significantly higher than those of benign SPN patients [6.65(4.49 -7.84)units/3 ml] (Z=-6.217,P<0.001).The sensitivity and specificity of differential diagnosis of SPN for CTC were 80%(64/80) and 85%(46/54) respectively.According to the diameter of SPN, the patients were divided into three groups to evaluate the diagnostic value of CTC in SPN with different size .For SPN with diameter less than 8 mm, the sensitivity and specificity of CTC were 6/9 and 4/5 respectively .For SPN with diameter between 8 mm and 20 mm, the sensitivity and specificity of CTC were 83%(35/42) and 85%(29/34).For SPN with diameter greater than 20 mm, the sensitivity and specificity of CTC were 79%(23/29) and 13/15.Conclusion Comparing with the traditional tumor markers, CTC could provide more clinical value in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule .

Autophagy is a crucial biological process in eukaryotes, which is involved in cell growth, survival and energy metabolism. It has been confirmed that autophagy mediates toxicity of anticancer drugs, especially in heart, liver and neuron. It is important to understand the function and mechanism of autophagy in anticancer drugs-induced toxicity. Given that autophagy is a double-edged sword in the maintenance of the function of heart, liver and neuron, the autophagy-mediated toxicity are very complicated in the body. We provide a review on the concept of autophagy and current status about autophagy-mediated toxicity of anticancer drugs. The knowledge is crucial in the basic study of anticancer drugs-induced toxicity, and provides some strategies for the development of alleviating the toxicity of anticancer drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Autophagy ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Objective To investigate clinical features, outcomes and laboratory findings of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).Methods Patients with TTP admitted between April 2006 and January 2013 were identified by a retrospective review of records.Totally 21 patients were available,15 females and 6 males,with a median age of 46 years (ranged 18-66).The diagnostic criteria were defined by:(1)thrombocytopenia (<100 ×9 L-1)without other identifiable causes;(2)a negative Coombs'test and hemolytic anemia with schistocytes on the peripheral blood smear;and only those patients meeting the criteria for TTP,both on clinical presentation and their clinical course,were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were:(1)patients discharged or dead within 24 hours after admission;(2)patients treated with plasma exchange therapy in other hospitals;(3)medical data were incomplete;(4)cannot be followed up;and (5 )other causes of thrombotic microangiopathies.General condition of patients,etiology, clinical features,treatment and prognosis were analyzed by using the SPSS 20.0 software.P value of <0.05 was considered as significant.Results Hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia appeared in all of the patients. Twelve patients (57.2%) had the classical pentad manifestations of TTP (fever, thrombocytopenia,microangiopathic hemolytic anemia,symptoms of nervous system,renal injury),seven patients (33.3%)had tetrad of TTP clinical manifestations (thrombocytopenia,microangiopathic hemolytic anemia,symptoms of nervous system,fever or renal injury),and only two patients showed the triad manifestations of TTP (thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, symptoms of nervous system).In our studies,seven patients accepted plasmapheresis,and five of them (71.4%)achieved remission.Conclusions TTP progresses quickly.Plasmapheresis is still the treatment of choice for TTP patients.Etiological treatment can help to control the conditions of patients with TTP.

Objective To estimate the diagnostic value of circulating tumor cell detection for non-small cell lung cancer.Methods A Non-intervention clinical study was conducted in this research.From October 2014 to April 2015, totally 162 NSCLC who presented at Thoracic Surgery Department, 119 benign pulmonary disease and 52 healthy individuals were collected from Shanghai Chest Hospital.Folate receptor ( FR) based polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) method was used to detect the circulating tumor cell ( CTC) level, CEA and CYFRA21-1 was detected by the flowcytometry fluorescence luminance method, SCC was detected with Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay.The differences among groups were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis test( multi group comparison) and the Mann-Whitney U test( two group comparison) , and the chi-square test was used in the positive rate comparison;the Receiver Operating Characteristics ( ROC) curve was established.Results The median level of CTC in NSCLC patients was 11.90 Units/3 ml, which was significantly higher than those of benign pulmonary disease ( 6.72 CTC Units/3 ml ) and healthy individuals (5.82 CTC Units/3 ml,χ2 =125.990, P<0.01).Areas Under Curve ( AUCs) of ROC curve for NSCLC was 0.853 2(95% CI: 0.809 5,0.896 9).The cut-off value for discriminating NSCLC with benign pulmonary disease/healthy people was 8.74 CTC Units/3 ml with sensitivity being 77.16% and specificity being 90.06%.The positive rate of CTC in Stage I NSCLC patients was 68.7%, which was much higher than that of the combination of tumor markers(χ2 =32.98,P<0.01).Conclusion With relatively high sensitivity and specificity, the detection of circulating tumor cell may has a clinical value of application and extension.

Objective To explore the relationship between poor sleep quality and stoke.Methods A total of 738 stroke patients in Xuzhou city in 2013 were selected as the case group and age-and sex-matched healthy non-stroke subjects (n =738)as control group.The writer-designed general situation questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)analyses were conducted for a face-to-face investigation.Results No significant difference in mean age(66.1±10.9 and 65.8 ± 10.6,t =0.60,P =0.58)and in sex (50％ vs.50 ％) was found between two groups.There were statistically significant differences between case and control groups in baseline values of BMI(t=2.40,P =0.02),histories of hypertension(x2 =174.30,P =0.00),diabetes mellitus (x2 =27.20,P =0.00),coronary heart disease(x2 =115.60,P =0.00),smoking(x2 =6.10,P =0.01),drinking (x2 =7.30,P =0.01)and living stress(x2 =11.40,P =0.01).The PSQI sub-scores and PSQI total scores were higher in case group than in control group.The rate of poor sleep quality was higher in case group(279 cases,37.8 ％) than in control group(136 cases,18.4 ％) (x2 =6.10,P =0.01).Multivariate logistic analysis showed that,after adjusting for confounding factors of BMI,histories of hypertension,diabetes,coronary heart disease.smoking,drinking and living stress,the poor sleep quality in total male plus female was independent predictor variables for stroke[odds ratio(95 ％ CI) of 2.3 (1.8-3.0)],no matter their sex,with odds ratio (95 ％ CI) in male (2.5,1.7-3.7) or in female (2.2,1.5-3.2),respectively,but there was no significance difference in the odds ratio between male and female in case group(x2 =0.04,P=0.85).The risk stroke was 2.3 folds higher in poor sleep quality versus control in male plus female,with pure male or female of 2.5 or 2.2 folds.There was no significance difference between male and female in case group versus.the control(x2 =0.04,P=0.85).Conclusions Poor sleep quality is associated with the occurrence of stroke and may be a risk factor for stroke.

Objective To understand the prevalence and influencing factors of overweight and obesity in adult residents in Xuzhou City of Jiangsu Province,so as to provide scientific basis for health policies and intervention strategies.Methods A total of 39 445 participants were recruited by multi-stage random cluster sampling method,and health data were obtained through questionnaires and physical examinations.Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 34.60％ and 9.40％,respectively; and the standardized prevalence was 32.97％ and 8.67％.The prevalence of overweight or obesity in males was 36.73％ and 8.62％,in females 32.61％ and 10.13％.The prevalence of overweight or obesity was increased with age,although the prevalence of overweight was decreased after 55 years of age (18-:16.31％; 25-:27.38％; 35-:37.28％; 45-:41.55％; 55-:40.71％; 65-:37.64％; 75-:32.08％) and the prevalence of obesity was decreased after 75 years of age (18-:2.49％; 25-:6.41％; 35-:9.64％; 45-:11.24％; 55-:12.07％; 65-:12.45％; 75-:8.88％).There were significant difference of the prevalence of overweight/obesity by educational level (x2=178.41,P＜0.01; x2=243.59,P＜0.01),profession (x2=191.28,P＜0.01; x2=120.38,P＜0.01) and marital status (x2=431.67,P＜0.01; x2=118.43,P＜0.01).In Logistic regression,female,vegetable over-intake every day and current cigarette smoking were protective factors of overweight/obesity,while middle and old-age,alcohol drinking and big appetite were risk factors of overweight/obesity.Conclusions A higher morbidity rate of overweight/obesity was found in Xuzhou City,and comprehensive interventions should be taken for high risk populations.

Objective To explore the relationship between sleep quality and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods Multi-stage randomized cluster sampling was used in the survey and self-designed questionaire , Pittsburgh sleep quality index scale , diabetes specific quality of life scale and self-rating depression scale were adopted. Results The poor sleep quality rate was 33.6%. Compared with the group with 6~8 h sleep duration, the scores of physical function,psychological dimension,social relations and quality of life were higher in patients with < 6 h sleep duration (P < 0.01).The average quality of life score was significantly higher among the sleep disorder participants than the other groups(56.95 ± 14.57 vs 50.11 ± 11.08 vs 44.77 ± 9.61,P<0.01). After adjusting for age, gender, complications, course of disease and depression, etc. The correlation coefficient of sleep quality and quality of life was 3.92. Among them , the sleep quality and physical dimensions of the correlation coefficient is the largest(r=0.407,P<0.01). Conclusions It can be an effective method of improving their status of life quality by ameliorating their sleep quality , especially for the physical dimension.

Objective To investigate the correlation between clinicopathological features and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in early gastric cancer (EGC).Methods From January 2006 to June 2009,the clinical data of 473 patients with EGC were collected.The data of patients including gender,age,tumor size,tumor number,general classification,differentiation degree,invasion depth,ulcer in tumor,nerve invasion,and lymphatic tumor cell embolus were analyzed.Chi-square test was performed to analyze the correlation between clinicopathological features and LNM in EGC.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factor of LNM in EGC.Results Among 473 patients with EGC,77 patients had LNM and the metastasis rate was 16.3％.The metastasis rate of the female patients (24.6％,41/167) was higher than that of the male (11.8 ％,36/306).The metastasis rate of the tumors with maximum diameter over 2 cm (22.0％,39/177) was higher than that of the tumors less than 2 cm (12.8％,38/296).The metastasis rate of the elevated lesions (26.1％,6/23) was higher than that of flat and concave lesions (9.0 ％,15/167;19.8％,56/283).The metastasis rate of poorly differentiated tumors was higher than moderate differentiated and high differentiated tumors (12.7 ％,23/181; 7.1％,3/42).The metastasis rate of tumors invading into submucosa (22.9％,41/179) was higher than that of tumors invading into mucosa (12.2％,36/294).The metastasis rate of tumors with lymphatic embolus (40.7％,11/27) was higher than that of tumors without lymphatic embolus (14.8％,66/446) and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =12.960,6.873,10.704,7.382,9.277 and 12.572,all P＜0.05).The results of multifactor analyzed by Logistic regression analysis revealed that female,maximum diameter over 2 cm,poorly differentiated type and invasion to submucosa were the independent risk factors of LNM in EGC (relative risk (RR)=2.53,2.14,1.63 and 2.39,all P＜0.01).Conclusion Female,maximum diameter over 2 cm,poorly differentiated type and invasion to submucosa are the independent risk factors of LNM in EGC.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of aluminum (Al)-induced neurotoxicity by studying the effect of aluminum on lipid peroxidation in rat's brain and its sex related difference.

METHODSForty SD rats, both male and female, were exposed to aluminum through intraperitoneal injection of AlCl3 solution for 60 days at different dose. After exposure, the step down test was performed to examine the learning and memory abilities of rats, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in rat's cerebrum were detected by chemical method. The changes of ultrastructure in cortex were observed by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe differences between the changes of all indexes of female and male rats in the same dose-group wasn't statistically significant (P > 0.05). Compared with the rats in the control group, the learning and memory abilities of the Al-exposed rats were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The content of MDA was increased (P < 0.01) while the activity of SOD was decreased (P < 0.05). The membrane structure of neurons in cerebrum cortex of the Al-exposed rats were broken, dissolved and gone.

CONCLUSIONAluminum can accelerate lipid peroxidation in rat's brain, which may be one of the important intoxication mechanisms of aluminum. However, the sex-related difference of this effect have not yet been observed.

Aluminum ; toxicity ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Memory ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sex Factors ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective: To explore the determinants for health-seeking behavior of the residents after cough for more than 3 weeks in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, in order to provide reference for prevention and control of respiratory diseases. Methods: A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit the community residents aged 5 years and above in Yiwu. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect demographic information, features of cough and health-seeking behaviors in the past month. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze the associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Results: Among 6 374 residents investigated, 152 cases had a cough for more than 3 weeks in the past month, accounting for 2.48%. They were( 45.00±21.15 ) years old, including 70 ( 46.05% ) males and 82 ( 53.95% ) females. About 58.55% ( 89 ) of them sought medical treatment. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that females ( OR=2.100, 95%CI: 1.005-4.391 ), middle school education level ( OR=0.406, 95%CI: 0.168-0.983 ), family annual income of 100 000 to 199 999 yuan ( OR=2.993, 95%CI: 1.215-7.373 ) were associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Conclusion The rate of health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks among the residents in Yiwu is 58.55%, which is associated with gender, education level and income.