Objective To observe the combined poisonous effects of fluoride and aluminum on sex hormone of male rats.Methods Sixteen weaned SD healthy male rats aged two week were selected and divided into control group,aluminum group,fluoride group,fluorine-aluminum group,four rats in each group.All rats in the experimental groups were fed with corn collected from the prevailng areas containing different fluorine contents respectively for 90 days.Serum testosterone(T)and estradiol(E2)were detected.Results Compared separatelv with the control group[(3.317±0.635)μg/L],serum T level of fluorine-aluminum group[(15.994±6.558)μg/L]was higher(P＜0.05),but aluminum[(8.134±3.134)μg/L]and fluorine[(1.868±0.367)μg/L]groups had no significant differences(P＞0.05).Compared separately with the control group[(0.319±0.072)nmol/L],E2 level of the fluorine group[(0.172±0.030)nmol/L]being lower(P＜0.05),and it was not significant differences(P＞0.05)in the control group when compared with aluminum group[(0.282±0.012)nmol/L],and fluorine-aluminum group[(0.265±0.047)nmol/L].Fluorine and aluminum interacted with each other(F=9.82,P＜0.05).Conclusion The combined poisonous effects of fluorine and aluminum may influence sex hormone levels of male rats.

Alterations of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) and autophagy have been involved in lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, dynamic imaging of ALP function under lung I/R injury particularly is not fully understood. Here we depicted the live-cell fluorescence imaging of autophagosome to monitor ALP activation and autophagy function. The pAsRed2-N1-LC3 vectors were transfected into CRL-2192 NR8383 (an alveolar macrophage cell line) and CCL149 (an alveolar epithelial cell line) successfully. 0-h, 2-h, 4-h, and 6-h hypoxia/0-h, 2-h, 4-h, and 6-h reoxygenation were then induced with an ALP inhibitor (3-MA) or activator (rapamycin) in the culture of transfected cells separately. ALP activation was conformed by up-regulating AMPK and beclin1 expression. Apoptosis was not obvious in 2-h hypoxia/2-h reoxygenation. pAsRed2-N1-LC3 CCL149 and pAsRed2-N1-LC3 NR8383 cells revealed gradually enhanced AsRed2 from 2-h to 6-h hypoxia/reoxygenation. AsRed2 varied sensitively to 3-MA and rapamycin interventions during 2-h hypoxia/reoxygenation. Our data provides a simple method of autophagosome imaging to monitor ALP activation and autophagy function in lung I/R injury.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Lysosomes ; physiology ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to explore the clinical significance of expression of Fas, CTLA-4 and RhoBTB2 genes in breast carcinoma.

METHODSSemi-quantitative reverse transcriptive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to analyze the mRNA expression levels of the three genes in tumor tissues from 60 patients with primary breast cancer and normal breast tissues of 30 cases. The relationship between gene expression and clinicopathological factors were analyzed and determined.

RESULTSThe relative expression levels (gray scale ratio between target gene and internal reference gene) of Fas, CTLA-4 and RhoBTB2 genes in breast carcinoma tissues were 0.699 +/- 0.285, 1.045 +/- 0.302 and 0.625 +/- 0.160, respectively. In the normal breast tissues, they were 0.502 +/- 0.178, 0.418 +/- 0.140 and 0.843 +/- 0.218, respectively. There were statistically significant differences of the expression of those three genes between carcinoma tissues and normal breast tissues (P < 0.01). The expression level of Fas in carcinoma tissues was significantly higher in lymph node matastasis positive patients (0.782 +/- 0.313) than that in node-negative patients (0.557 +/- 0.146, P < 0.01). The expression level of CTLA-4 gene in carcinoma tissues was lower in II stage patients (0.978 +/- 0.330) than that in III stage patients (1.134 +/- 0.240, P < 0.05). The expression level of RhoBTB2 gene was lower in invasive ductal carcinoma (0.597 +/- 0.157) than that in invasive lobular carcinoma (0.717 +/- 0.145, P < 0.05). There were no correlations of expression of the three genes at mRNA level and age, ER, PR, HER2 status and survival time. Furthermore, no correlation was seen among the three genes expression (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of all the three genes at mRNA level is involved in genesis and progression of breast cancer. There exist correlations between Fas expression and axillary lymph node matastasis, CTLA-4 expression and disease stage, and RhoBTB2 expression and pathological type of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; Breast ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective Using of cumulative live birth rate(CLBR)per oocytes retrieved cycle,to assess the clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection(IVF/ICSI),and to explore impact factors on CLBR following utilization of all fresh and frozen embryos in one complete IVF/ICSI cycle using gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)agonist, GnRH-antagonist and clomiphene mild stimulation protocols. Methods Of the patients who underwent IVF/ICSI from January 1st, 2014 to December 31st, 2015 in the First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, a total of 6 142 oocytes retrieved cycles were included. The clinical and laboratory parameters of different ovarian stimulation protocols, and the effects of the age, number of oocytes retrieved and number of embryos available on the CLBR of each oocytes retrieved cycle were analyzed.Results The CLBR was 69.0%(2 004/2 906)in the GnRH-agonist protocol versus 67.4%(644/955)in the GnRH-antagonist protocol (P>0.05); the CLBR of clomiphene mild stimulation protocol was 53.2%(1 215/2 281),significantly lower than those of the other two protocols (all P<0.05). The CLBR significantly decreased with age increased. When divided into four groups according to the patients′ age, we found that CLBR were not statistically significant using three different protocols in the 20-25 years old group(all P>0.05).There was a strong association between the number of oocytes retrieved and embryos available on CLBR. CLBR rose significantly with an increasing number of oocytes up to 6, then the rising trend slowed down. Patients were categorized into four groups according to the number of oocytes retrieved,CLBR was significantly higher using GnRH-antagonist protocol (50.0%)than mild stimulation protocol(37.0%)in low ovarian responder(0-4 oocytes)group(P<0.05). The CLBR were no significant difference among three protocols in normal(10-15 oocytes)and high responders(≥15 oocytes)group(all P>0.05).The incidence rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in GnRH-agonist protocols(5.2%,152/2 906)were significantly higher than those of GnRH-antagonist(4.4%, 42/955)and clomiphene mild stimulation protocols(1.5%,34/2 281;all P<0.05).Conclusions CLBR is an important index to assess the clinical outcomes of IVF/ICSI. Age, number of oocytes retrieved and embryos available could affect CLBR obviously. According to the different age and ovarian response of patients, we should design ovarian stimulation protocols based on target oocytes number in order to get higher CLBR and reduce complications.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination chemotherapy of capecitabine (X) with fractionated administration of cisplatin (C) in Chinese patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

METHODS141 patients with AGC were enrolled between July 2002 and August 2004. All patients had measurable tumor according to the criteria of RECIST, Karnofsky performance status > or = 60, adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic functions. Prior radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy was not permitted. Patients received oral administration of capecitabine at a dose of 1000 mg/m(2) twice a day on D1-D14, and intravenous infusion of fractionated cisplatin at a dose of 20 mg/m(2)/day on D1-D5. The regimen was repeated every 3 weeks, totally for 6 cycles.

RESULTSOf the 141 evaluable patients, there were 104 men and 37 women, with a median age of 54 years (range, 23 - 80 years). Metastases before chemotherapy were detected in lymph nodes (46.8%), liver (40.4%), lung (5.7%) and other area (10.6%). The median treatment duration was 6 cycles (range, 3 - 6 cycles). The objective response rate (RR) was 36.2% (51/141). The median follow-up period was 17.5 months. The median time to progress (TTP) was 9.0 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 12.0 months. The most common treatment-related adverse events (grade 3/4) were: hand-foot syndrome (HFS) (2.1%), leucopenia (0.7%), abnormal alanine transaminase elevation (2.8%). There was no treatment-related death.

CONCLUSIONCapecitabine combined with fractionated cisplatin is highly effective and well tolerated as a first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer, with comparable results to 5-Fu plus cisplatin combination therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot Dermatoses ; chemically induced ; Hand Dermatoses ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1) gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility and/or progression of colorectal cancer.

METHODSA hospital-based case-control study was carried out, which recruited 426 colorectal cancer patients and 500 healthy individuals. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms, namely rs36084323, rs11568821, rs2227981, rs2227982 and rs10204525, were selected for the study and genotyped with a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay.

RESULTSThe G allele of rs36084323 under a dominant model was associated with increased risk of advanced TNM staging of colorectal cancer progression (OR=1.59, 95%CI=1.02-2.48). Haplotypes G-G-C-T-A and A-G-C-C-G of the rs36084323, rs11568821, rs2227981, rs2227982, and rs10204525 were negatively associated with the occurrence of colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONThe G allele of rs36084323 is associated with increased risk of advanced TNM staging of colorectal cancer. Conversely, the incidence of colorectal cancer is negatively associated with the haplotypes G-G-C-T-A and A-G-C-C-G of rs36084323, rs11568821, rs2227981, rs2227982, and rs10204525.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; genetics

Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation syndrome (ROHHADS) is a rare multi-system disease, and delayed diagnosis and treatment may lead to catastrophic cardiopulmonary complications. As far as we know, no patient with ROHHADS has been reported in China, and this article reports a child with ROHHADS to improve the awareness of this disease among clinicians. A girl, aged 3 years, had the clinical manifestations of rapid weight gain, fever, disturbance of consciousness, and convulsion. The physical examination showed a body weight of 20 kg, somnolence, irregular breathing, and stiff neck. She had increased blood levels of prolactin and follicle-stimulating hormone and hyponatremia. The lumbar puncture showed an increased intracranial pressure. The brain MRI and magnetic resonance venography showed symmetrical lesions in the periventricular region and venous thrombosis in the right transverse sinus and the superior sagittal sinus. The sleep monitoring showed hypopnea. The girl was finally diagnosed with ROHHADS and intracranial venous thrombosis. She recovered after symptomatic treatment including decreasing intracranial pressure, anticoagulation, and respiratory support. The possibility of ROHHADS should be considered for patients with unexplained obesity, fever, and hypoventilation, with or without central nervous system symptoms. Early diagnosis and standardized follow-up can improve the prognosis of children with ROHHADS.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Consciousness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Diseases ; Hypoventilation ; Obesity

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, survival and prognostic risk factors of children with hepatoblastoma (HB). Methods: Clinical data of 83 children with newly treated HB at the Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2012 to October 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The sex, age, first clinical manifestations, pretreatment extent of disease (PRETEXT) stages, pathological types, initial alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), treatment methods and treatment outcome of all patients were summarized. The children diagnosed before 2018 were treated with "Wuhan Protocol", and those who diagnosed after 2018 were treated with the "Expert Consensus for Multidisciplinary Management of Hepatoblastoma"(CCCG-HB-2016) protocol. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate the survival rate, Log-Rank test was used in univariate analysis, and the Cox regression model was used in multivariate prognosis analysis. Results: Among 83 cases, there were 51 males and 32 females. The age of onset was 25.2 (9.0, 34.0) months old, and 64 cases (77%) were under 3 years old. The most common first clinical manifestation was abdominal mass in 45 cases (54%). There were 8 cases of PRETEXT stage Ⅰ, 43 cases of stage Ⅱ, 20 cases of stage Ⅲ and 12 cases of stage Ⅳ. During the follow-up period of 40 (17, 63) months, the 1-year overall survival (OS) rate and event-free survival (EFS) rate were (84±4) % and (79±5) %, respectively, and 5-year OS rate and EFS rate were (78±5) % and (76±5) %, respectively. Fifty-five cases were treated with "Wuhan Protocol", and the 5-year OS and EFS rate were (73±6) % and (71±6) %, respectively. Twenty-eight cases were treated with CCCG-HB-2016 protocol, and the 5-year OS and EFS rate were (88±7) % and (82±9) %, respectively. Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that AFP did not turn negative after 3 courses of postoperative chemotherapy (HR=9.228, 95%CI 1.017-83.692) and PRETEXT stage Ⅳ (HR=6.587, 95%CI 1.687-25.723) were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of children with HB. Conclusions: The "Wuhan Protocol" and CCCG-HB-2016 protocol were effective in the treatment of children with HB. AFP did not turn negative after 3 courses of postoperative chemotherapy and PRETEXT stage Ⅳ were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of children with HB.
Female ; Hepatoblastoma/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Neoplasms ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology

Objective: To observe the effect of Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine polysaccharides(PRPCAP)on airway mucus secretion in rats with allergic asthma, in order to study the material basis of the "macromolecule" component of the polysaccharides as the original medicinal materials. Method: The 60 SPF-grade Wistar rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of chicken ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum-magnesium adjuvant, except for the normal control group. The OVA solution was aerosolized to establish a rat model of allergic asthma. After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely allergic asthma model group, positive drug group (montalurast sodium,5 mg·kg^-1), high-dose PRPCAP group (400 mg·kg^-1), middle-dose PRPCAP group (200 mg·kg^-1) and low-dose PRPCAP group (100 mg·kg^-1). The contents of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the count of eosinophils (EOS) was detected by BALF sediment. The histopathological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining in lung tissue. The mRNA expression of mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) was detected by Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Result: Compared with the normal control group, serum IL-4 level in the allergic asthma model group was significantly increased (P<0.01), IFN-γ level was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and EOS counts in BALF were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the allergic asthma model group, the positive drug group, and high, middle, and low-dose PRPCAP groups could significantly reduce the serum IL-4 content (P<0.01), while high and middle-dose PRPCAP groups could significantly reduce the content of IL-4 in BALF (P<0.05, P<0.01), the middle-dose PRPCAP group could significantly increase the content of IFN-γ in serum (P<0.05), EOS counts in BALF were significantly lower in the positive drug group and all of PRPCAP groups (P<0.01). HE staining showed the pathological changes in the lung tissue of the allergic asthma model group and a mitigating effect in the positive drug group and all of PRPCAP groups. Compared with the normal control group, the expression of MUC5AC mRNA in the lung tissue of rats with allergic asthma was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group of allergic asthma rats, the positive drug group and all of PRPCAP groups showed significant decrease in MUC5AC mRNA (P<0.01). Conclusion: The "macromolecule" component of polysaccharides in the Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum Cum Alumine may be the material basis for the efficacy of eliminating dampness and eliminating phlegm.