Objective To investigate the effects of long-term low-dose radiation (LDR) of γ-rays on the proliferation and radiosensitivity of human lymphoblast cells HMy2.CIR (HMy) and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.Methods HMy cells were divided into control group and long-term LDR group.For the long-term LDR treatment,HMy cells were fractionally exposed to a low dose of γ-rays,which could enhance cell proliferation,3 times per week for 4 weeks.After the long-term LDR exposure,part of the control and long-term LDR exposed cells were further irradiated with a challenging dose (2 Gy) of γ-rays.Then cell proliferation and radiosensitivity were assayed by CCK-8 kit,cell apoptosis,and γ-H2AX formation was measured by flow cytometry.Gene expressions of cyclinD1,PCNA,bcl-2 and bax were detected by RT-PCR.Results The long-term LDR significantly increased cell proliferation (t =9.607,P ＜ 0.01) accompanied with up-regulation of cell cycle regulation gene cyclinD1 (t =6.869,P ＜ 0.01),proliferation regulation gene PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) (t =9.229,P ＜ 0.01) and bcl-2 gene (t =2.662,P ＜ 0.05),but decreased the expression of pro-apoptotic gene bax (t =19.908,P ＜0.01) in HMy cells.Compared to untreated cells,the long-term LDR decreased cell radiosensitivity (t =8.896,P ＜ 0.01),including apoptosis induction (t =4.762,P ＜ 0.01) and γ-H2AX formation (t =10.264,P＜0.01).Conclusions The long-term LDR promoted cell proliferation by up-regulating cell cycle related genes,while it reduced the radiosensitivity of HMy cells with acquisition of apoptotic resistance.

A survey on professional knowledge levels was conducted from April to October 2019 among 388 general practitioners (GPs) from 46 community health service centers and 30 township health centers of 6 provinces selected by stratified random sampling method. The overall knowledge test score was 31.82—84.09(56.94±9.19) points, and the pass rate was 36.3% (141/388). There were significant differences in test scores among participants with different types of work units, regions, provinces, marital status, educational background, professional titles, types of employment, length of service, and training status (all P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that educational background ( B=-2.835), professional title ( B=-8.867), and participation in professional course training ( B=2.214) were the influencing factors of knowledge level (all P<0.05). The pass rates in knowledge of prevention/health management (13.7%, 53/388) and policies and regulations (12.1%, 47/388) were low. The results show that the levels of professional knowledge among GPs working in grassroots health institutions are relatively low, and suggest that continuing education should be strengthened to improve the professional knowledge level of GPs in primary care institutions, particularly, knowledge of health policies and regulations, disease prevention and health management.

Benzene ; analysis ; Chemical Industry ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Toluene ; analysis ; Trichloroethylene ; analysis ; Xylenes ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of SOM230, a new somatostatin analogue, on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HepG2 in vitro and in vivo, and explore the mechanism underline the necrosis of tumors.

METHODSMTT, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay (TUNEL) and flow cytometric assay were used to measure the effects of SOM230 on the proliferation and apoptosis of HCC HepG2 cells. Nude mice bearing HCC xenografts of the HepG2 cell line were treated with SOM230 (100 microg/kg/d subcutaneously injection) and saline as a control for eight weeks. The mass and percentage of necrotic volume of the HCC xenografts in nude mice were determined. Western blot was used to detect SSTR2 in HCC xenografts. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression sites of SSTR2 and VEGF in HCC xenografts. ELISA was used to detect the levels of TNFalpha.

RESULTSNo proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells were induced by SOM230 in vitro (F = 0.16, P more than 0.05). The percentage of necrotic volume in SOM230 were significantly higher than that of control group (73.4%+/-7.0% vs 30.2%+/-14.0%, t = -8.02, P more than 0.01). SSTR2 was expressed in blood sinus of HCC xenografts in nude mice. There was no significance difference in the level of SSTR2 expression between SOM230 group and saline treated group. VEGF expression in xenografts was down-regulated by SOM230 treatment. SOM230 treatment did not affect the level of TNFalpha in HCC xenografts (t = -0.24, P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSOM230 can induce massive necrosis of HCC xenografts only after the blockage of blood flow through down-regulation of VEGF mediated by SSTR2.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Somatostatin ; metabolism ; Somatostatin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Animals ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Dichlorvos ; blood ; Dimethoate ; blood ; Insecticides ; blood ; Methyl Parathion ; blood ; Mice ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the spontaneous brain activity alterations in liver transplantation (LT) recipients using resting-state functional MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty cirrhotic patients as transplant candidates and 25 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. All patients repeated the MRI study one month after LT. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) values were compared between cirrhotic patients (both pre- and post-LT) and HCs as well as between the pre- and post-LT groups. The relationship between ALFF changes and venous blood ammonia levels and neuropsychological tests were investigated using Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: In the cirrhotic patients, decreased ALFF in the vision-related regions (left lingual gyrus and calcarine), sensorimotor-related regions (left postcentral gyrus and middle cingulate cortex), and the default-mode network (bilateral precuneus and left inferior parietal lobule) were restored, and the increased ALFF in the temporal and frontal lobe improved in the early period after LT. The ALFF decreases persisted in the right supplementary motor area, inferior parietal lobule, and calcarine. The ALFF changes in the right precuneus were negatively correlated with changes in number connection test-A scores (r = 0.507, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: LT improved spontaneous brain activity and the results for associated cognition tests. However, decreased ALFF in some areas persisted, and new-onset abnormal ALFF were possible, indicating that complete cognitive function recovery may need more time.
Ammonia ; Brain* ; Cognition ; Fibrosis ; Frontal Lobe ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Motor Cortex ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Occipital Lobe ; Parietal Lobe ; Rabeprazole ; Somatosensory Cortex

OBJECTIVETo probe into the mechanism and the best program of acupuncture for slimming.

METHODSThe patients were randomly divided into a control group (n = 60) treated with diet control and exercise, and a treatment group treated with acupuncture, auricular point sticking, TDP radiation. Changes of body weight, cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and blood sugar (BS) before and after treatment were investigated.

RESULTSThe effective rate of the treatment group (91.6%) was better than that of the control group (28.3%).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture, auricular point sticking and TDP radiation combined with diet control and exercise are a better program for slimming, and decreasing appetite, promoting lipid decomposition metabolism are the mechanism of acupuncture in slimming.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Humans ; Obesity ; therapy ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVETo conduct audiological assessment in patients with tympanosclerosis.

METHODSA retrospective review was conducted in 79 patients with tympanosclerosis (involving 79 ears) with complete records, including 30 patients (30 ears) with fixed Malleus-incus complex, 29 (29 ears) with fixed stapes, and 20 (20 ears) with fixations of both the stapes footplate and the Malleus-incus complex. Audiometry was performed for all the patients one or two days before operation, and the audiological features of the patients were compared between the 3 groups.

RESULTSMost of the patients (65.8%) suffered conductive hearing loss, 32.9% had mixed deafness, and one patient had sensorineural hearing loss. No statistically significant differences was noted in the speech frequency (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz) air conduction pure tone average (PTA) or the air-bone gap (ABG) in the 3 groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMost of the patients with tympanosclerosis suffer conductive hearing loss, and the severity of hearing loss is not associated with the site of tympanosclerosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Audiometry ; methods ; Deafness ; physiopathology ; Ear Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; physiopathology ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis ; Tympanic Membrane ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Parathyroid adenoma is a major cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Treatment usually involves the surgical removal of one or more parathyroid glands. However, specific localising techniques have boosted the development of nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedures, such as percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) under ultrasonographic guidance, which are gaining popularity as a method of treatment. This paper reports two male patients who presented with hypercalcaemia (highest serum calcium level 4.56 mmol/L and 4.57 mmol/L, respectively) and hyperparathyroidism (highest serum parathyroid hormone [PTH] level 772 ng/L and > 1,900 ng/L, respectively) due to solitary parathyroid adenoma. Four days after percutaneous RFA, the serum calcium levels in both patients decreased and PTH levels showed a significant decreasing trend. Both patients recovered well with normal levels of calcium and improvement of symptoms. Thus, we conclude that RFA may be a safe and effective therapeutic option in the treatment of parathyroid adenoma.
Adenoma ; complications ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; etiology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Parathyroidectomy ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics