Adult ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Occupational Exposure ; Silicosis ; diagnosis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods

Objective To study the content of taxol in different parts of Taxus Yunnanensis and the effects of different growth time on taxol content. Method A HPLC method was developed for the detetmination of taxol content in bark, needle, twig, root from Taxus Yunnanensi, and the effects of different growth time. Results Taxol content in bark was the highest, that in root was the lowest and that in needle and twig were higher. Taxol content was higher with the growth time in needle and twig of Taxus Yunnanensi. Conclution It was significant to take taxol from needle and twig of Taxus Yunnanensis which is more than five years growth time.

Objective To control the quality of Herba Leonuri by studying the content of stachydrine hydrochloride in different parts of it. Method A HPLC method was developed for the content detetmination of stachydrine hydrochloride in flower, stem, leafage from Herba Leonuri. Spherisorb SCX colum was used with mobile phase of 20 mmol/L sodium dihydrogen phosphate (containing 0.04% triethylamine and 0.15% phosphoric acid). The colum temperature was 25 ℃, the detective wavelength was 192 nm. Results Stachydrine hydrochloride content was the highest in leafage and the lowest in stem. Conclusion To ensure the quality of Herba Leonuri, it is significant to choose medical material with more leafage.

Rational clinical nutrition support may slow down the progress from heart insufficiency to heart failure and improve the quality of life.This article summarizes advances in nutrition support in patients with heart insufficiency in terms of nutrition and metabolic characteristics, nutritional risk screening and nutrition status evaluation, nutrient recommendations, and clinical application of nutrition support.Moreover, nutrition and metabolic support in acute heart failure is also discussed.

Objective:To investigate the effect of miRNA-1-3p (miR-1-3p) on expression of myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) and the biological function of osteosarcoma cells.Methods:The tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of 20 patients with osteosarcoma who were clinically diagnosed in Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital from January 2019 to January 2020 were collected, and the expression of miR-1-3p in the samples was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression of miR-1-3p in osteosarcoma cell lines U2-OS, SAOS-2, MG63, SW1353 and human normal osteoblast cell line hFOB1.19 was detected by qRT-PCR, then the cell line with the lowest expression of miR-1-3p was selected for follow-up experiments. An overexpression miR-1-3p vector was constructed (miR-1-3p mimcs). The miR-1-3p overexpression group was transfected with miR-1-3p mimcs, and the control group was transfected with empty vector (miR-1-3p nc). CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation activity of cells; flow cytometry was used to detect the changes of cell apoptosis and cell cycle. miRwalk database was used to predict the miR-1-3p target gene, and the target gene was verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay; Western blot was used to detect the expression of MEF2A protein in cells of each group.Results:Compared with adjacent tissues, the expression of miR-1-3p in osteosarcoma tissues was down-regulated (0.31±0.14 vs. 0.62±0.21), and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 5.31, P<0.01). The expression of miR-1-3p in U2-OS cells was the lowest; compared with the control group, the proliferation activity of U2-OS cells was inhibited in miR-1-3p overexpression group (48 h absorbance value 0.56±0.01 vs. 0.77±0.03, t = 2.77, P<0.01; 72 h absorbance value 0.87±0.02 vs. 1.40±0.03, t = 2.93, P<0.01); G 1/S cell cycle arrest increased [G 1 phase (38.24±0.55)% vs. (32.11±0.80)%, t = 9.27, P = 0.01; S phase (61.24±0.90)% vs. (67.78±0.83)%, t = 7.52, P = 0.02]; early apoptotic rate increased [(11.20±0.12)% vs. (1.50±0.12)%, t = 2.91, P<0.05], miRwalk database predicted that the miR-1-3p target gene was MEF2A. The result of dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-1-3p bound to MEF2A 3'UTR, and the luciferase activity of U2-OS cells in miR-1-3p overexpression group was lower than that in the control group (renilla luciferase/firefly luciferase activity ratio 0.53±0.06 vs. 1.00±0.04, t = 4.04, P < 0.05). Western blot showed that the expression of MEF2A protein in U2-OS cells of miR-1-3p overexpression group was lower than that of the control group (protein relative expression 0.41±0.14 vs. 0.77±0.12, t = 3.93, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The low expression of miR-1-3p may be associated with the proliferation, apoptosis and cycle changes of osteosarcoma cells. miR-1-3p can negatively regulate the expression of MEF2A protein and regulate the occurrence and development of osteosarcoma.

Two patients were admitted to the hospital for 2-month history of pruritic eruptions on the forehead and 2-week history of pruritie eruptions on the leg, respectively. Both patients had a history of pet contact. Topical application of glucocorticoids did not work well. Dermatological examination revealed a patch measuring 5 cm ×6 cm on the forehead of one patient and a patch measuring 2 cm × 3 cm on the leg of the other patient. Both patches were surrounded by red papules and scaling. Microscopic examination of skin scales revealed hyphae and chain-like spores, and culture of skin scales grew Microsporum gyeum. Both the isolates of Microsporum gyeum were sensitive to ketoconazole, miconazole, bifonazole, terbinafine, and voriconazole. Both patients were healed after treatment with oral terbinafine and topical ciclopirox olamine.

Objective To investigate the in vitro susceptibility of 16 strains of Exophiala dermatitidis to 6 commonly used antifungal agents. Methods The Glinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)M27-A2 protocol was carried out to determine the MIGs of terbinafine (TRB), itraconazole (ITC), amphotericin B (AMB), fluconazole (FLC), voriconazole (VRC), and caspofungin (GAS) to 16 strains of E. dermatitidis, and E-test was performed to determine those of VRG, ITC and AMB. Besides, the minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFGs) of the above antifungal agents to the 16 strains of E. dermatitidis were further assessed.The activity of TRB in combination with ITC and VRG against E. dermatitidis was also estimated. Results The MIC ranges of TRB, VRC, ITC, AMB, FLC, and CAS were 0.125 - 0.25 mg/L, 0.25 - 0.5 mg/L, 2.0 mg/L,2.0 mg/L, 16 - 32 mg/L and 16 - 64 mg/L respectively as shown by M27-A2 microdilution assay, while the MIC ranges of VRG, ITG and AMB, as determined by E-test, were 0.032 - 0.094 mg/L, 0.047 - 0.5 mg/L and 0.125 - 3.0 mg/L, respectively. The MFC ranges of TRB, VRC, ITG, AMB and FLG were 0.125 - 0.5 mg/L,0.25 - 0.5 mg/L, 2.0 - 4.0 mg/L, 2.0 - 4.0 mg/L and 16 - 64 mg/L, respectively. No synergism in the acitivity against E. dermatitidis was observed for the combination of TBR with ITC or VRC. Conclusion E. dermatitidis is susceptible to TRB, ITC, AMB, and VRC, but less sensitive to both FLC and GAS.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms of cross-resistance to azoles in a clinical isolate of Aspergillus fumigatus. Methods A. fumigatus was isolated from a patient with invasive aspergillosis.Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute M38-A2 broth microdilution method and E-test method were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) or minimum effective concentration (MEC) of itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, posaconazole and caspofungin for the A. fumigatus isolate. DNA was extracted from the isolate and subjected to the amplification of cyp51A gene encoding the target enzyme of azole antifungal agents followed by sequence analysis. Results The broth microdilution test showed that the MEC of caspofungin was 0.5 mg/L, and MICs of itraconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B were ≥ 16 mg/L,8 mg/L and 1 mg/L, respectively, for this isolate; while E-test assay revealed that the MICs of caspofungin,itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and posaconazole were 0.047 mg/L, ≥32 mg/L,≥32 mg/L, 12 mg/L and ≥32 mg/L, respectively. Sequence analysis showed an insertion of a 34-bp tandem sequence in the promoter region of the cyp51A gene as well as a T364A point mutation causing the substitution of leucine 98 (L98H). In addition, there were some other mutations in the cyp51A gene of this isolate, such as A137T,G585A, C814A, G836C, T991C and A1350G, which could result in corresponding amino acid substitutions.Conclusions An A. fumigatus strain with cross-resistance to azole antifungal agents is isolated. There is an insertion of a 34-bp tandem sequence into the promoter region as well as a T364A point mutation in the cyp51A gene, which contribute to the cross resistance to azole antifungal agents including itraconazole, voriconazole,and posaconazole. In addition, other mutations causing amino acid substitutions have also been detected in the cyp51 A gene of this isolate.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) incision for pain induced by brachial plexus injury. Methods A cohort study was performed in 41 consecutive patients with pain induced by brachial plexus injury treated with DREZ incision from July 2005 to December 2007. Of all, 19 patients were amputated and had phantom limb sensation. Oral pain relief (0%-100%) and complications were followed up by one professional doctor. Oral pain relief rate ≥50% was considered satisfactory outcome. Results The proportion of patients with satisfactory pain relief was 90% (37/41), 81% (30/37), 77% (24/31) and 70% (16/23) at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and last follow-up (over one year) after surgery. At last follow-up, 15 out of 16 patients with over 10 years of pain duration got satisfactory pain relief; while only 16 out of 25 patients with less than 10 years of pain duration got satisfactory pain relief (x2 =4.682, P =0.030). In 16 amputees who were followed up for more than three months, seven patients with alteration of phantom limb sensation got satisfactory pain relief, while only four out of nine patients without alteration of phantom limb sensation got satisfactory pain relief. Among 37 patients followed up for more than three months, severe neurological defects were found in three patients including one with mild motor disturbance in the ipsilateral lower limb and two with severe sensory disturbance in the ipsilateral lower limb. Conclusions DREZ incisions are effective and safe neurosurgical procedure for relieving pain induced by brachial plexus injury. The possible predictive factors of better outcome are the long preoperative pain duration and postoperative phantom limb sensation among amputees.

Objective To explore the possible mechanism of SchA ,which decreases MPP+induce SH-SY5Y cell damage .Meth-ods Cultured cells were divided into 5 groups ,one as control group ,cultured by free-blood serum media;the other 4 groups were treated with different concentrations of SchA(1 ,3 ,5 μmol/L) and MPP+ (1 mmol/L) for 48 h named model group ,1 ,3 ,5 μmol/L SchA group respetivly .The content of nitric oxide(NO) were measured by NO kit ;The expression levels of total Akt and p-Akt proteins were detected by Western blot .Results Compared with the control group ,the content of NO in group significantly in-creased after MPP+stimulating(P<0 .05);compared to the control group ,the content of NO in 5μmol/L SchA group significantly decreased(P<0 .05) .The expression levels of total Akt in all groups had no significant difference(P>0 .05) .The expression levels of p-Akt in model group significantly lowered ,while SchA(1、3、5 μmol/L) significantly increased the expression levels of p-Akt in comparision with cells in model group .Conclusion Decreasing MPP+ induced SH-SY5Y cell damage of SchA may be related to the content of NO and p-Akt expression .