Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of antituberculosis therapy in elderly patients with smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis by low-dose computed tomography (CT).Methods Forty-seven elderly patients diagnosed as smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis were rechecked with low-dose chest CT scan (120 kV, 20 mAs) after 1-12 months of antituberculous therapy respectively. These images were compared with common CT before treatment (120 kV, 200-280 mAs). Results In the elderly patients with smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis, the most common CT signs before treatment were acinus consolidation (100%) and lobar or segmental consolidation (77%), but the cavity was seen less. After effective antituberculous therapy, tree-inbud was improved after one to three months, the acinus consolidation and lobular or segmental consolidations were improved after four to nine months, and the cavitations were slowly improved after six months. Conclusions Low-dose CT can provide sufficient information for the therapeutic effects of antituberculous therapy of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly and could be used for rechecking.

Objective To investigate the serum level of calcium-binding protein A9(S100A9)in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and explore its potential clinical significance. Methods The serum level of S100A9 was measured by ELISA in 79 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 20 healthy controls (HC). The correlation of S100A9 level and relevant clinical parameters were analyzed. Results The serum level of S100A9 was significantly increase in RA patients than those in HC. The serum level of S100A9 was higher in high disease activity than that in moderate and low disease activity in the RA group. There was a positive correlation in serum S100A9 level and DAS28 score,Rheumatoid factor,tender joint count and swollen joint count. Conclusion The serum level of S100A9 increases in RA patients and correlates with RA activity.

OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid determination method with gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) for thiodiglycolic acid (TDGA), a vinyl chloride (VCM) biomarker.

METHODSA high- sensitivity determination method was established using a moderate methyl esterification instead of methyl esterification of highly toxic diazo reaction.

RESULTSThe standard curve regression linear equation of the method was: y=8460.5x-4758.2, the linear coefficient was 0.999 7, the minimum quantity concentration was 2.0 µg/L, the range of precision value was 0.81%-2.38%, and the average recovery of standard addition was 99.0%-102.9%.

CONCLUSIONThis method reduces the risk of traditional methyl esterification, improves the determination sensitivity compared with the GC-FPD method, and meets the determination requirement of TDGA.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Thioglycolates ; urine ; Vinyl Chloride

Objective To observe the effects of ursolic acid (UA) on the activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) and the downstream signaling pathways in platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) activated rat hepatic stellate cell (HSC-T6).Methods Rat HSC-T6 cells were divided into blank control group (no treatment),UA control group (50 μmol/L UA),PDGF group (10 μg/L PDGF),UA intervention group (50 μmol/L UA + 10 μg/L PDGF),diphenyleneiodonium intervention(DPI) group (20 μmol/L DPI+ 10 μg/L PDGF),SB203580 (p38 mitogen-activated protein kirase(p38MAPK) inhibitor) intervention group (10 μmol/L SB203580 + 10 μg/LPDGF),LY294002 (phosphatidylinositop 3 kinase(PI3K) inhibitor) intervention group (10 μmol/L LY294002 + 10 μg/L PDGF) and rosup positive control group (5 μg/mL rosup).Except rosup positive control group,the expression of type Ⅰ collagen at mRNA level of each group was detected by fluorescence quantitavepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The expression of membrane protein p47phox (except rosup positive control group),PI3K(except rosup positive control group and SB203580 intervention group),p-protein kinase B (p-AKT,except rosup positive control group and SB203580 intervention group) and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK,except rosup positive control group and LY294002 intervention group) were tested by Western blot.Except SB203580 intervention group and LY294002 intervention group,the fluorescence intensity in the cells of each group was analyzed with active oxygen detection kit and fluorescence microplate reader.Single factor analysis of variance and LSD test were performed for comparison between groups.Results Type Ⅰ collagen at the mRNA level of PDGF group (3.74±0.32) was higher than that of blank control group (1.00±0.00) ; Type Ⅰ collagen at the mRNA level of UA group (0.21 ±0.02) was lower than that of blank control group,UA intervention group (1.02 ± 0.12),DPI intervention group (1.09±0.21),SB203580 intervention group (1.18± 0.27),and LY294002 intervention group (1.15 ± 0.26) were all lower than PDGF group,and the differences were statistically significant (t =15.667,-4.501,-15.553,-15.154,-14.642 and -14.813,all P＜0.05).p47phox at the protein expression level of PDGF group (1.98±0.53) was higher than that of blank control group (1.00±0.00) ; that of UA group (0.48±0.10) was lower than blank control group; those of UA intervention group (0.95 ± 0.26),DPI intervention group (0.99 ± 0.28),SB203580 intervention group (0.93±0.31),and LY294002 intervention group (1.07±0.19) were all lower than PDGF group (t=4.209,-2.234,4.424,-4.252,-4.510 and-3.909,all P＜0.05).The protein expression level of PI3K of PDGF group (2.27±0.46) was higher than that of blank control group (1.00±0.00); that of UA intervention group (0.14 ± 0.07) was lower than PDGF group and blank control group; that of UA group (0.14±0.07) was lower than blank control group; those of DPI intervention group (0.53±0.25) and LY294002 intervention group (0.35±0.14) were all lower than PDGFgroup (t 6.205,8.208,-2.003,4.202,-8.502 and-9.831,all P＜0.05).The protein expression level of p-Akt of PDGF group (2.54±0.49) was higher than that of blank control group (1.00± 0.00); those of UA intervention group (0.74± 0.20),DPI intervention group (0.94 ± 0.37) and LY294002 intervention group (1.17±0.41) were all lower than PDGF group; that of UA group (0.59± 0.15) was lower than blank control group (t=5.927,-6.928,-6.158,-5.273 and-1.578,all P＜ 0.05).The protein expression level of p-p38MAPK of PDGF group (1.98±0.35) was higher than that of blank control group (1.00±0.00); those of UA intervention group (0.68±0.28),DPI intervention group (0.63±0.27) and SB203580 intervention group (0.67 ± 0.29) was all lower than PDGF group; that of UAgroup (0.28±0.13) was lower than blank control group (t=4.897,-6.479,-6.727,-6.529 and-3.561,all P＜0.05).The level of active oxygen of PDGF group (105.57±7.51) was higher than that of blank control group (69.60±8.63) ; those of UA intervention group (64.56±9.11),DPI intervention group (65.75 ± 6.62) was lower than PDGF group,UA group (29.84 ±3.19) was lower than blank control group (t=6.368,-7.288,-7.071 and-7.255,all P＜0.05).Conclusion UA could inhibit membrane displacement of NOX subunit p47phox and reduce active oxygen production in PDGF induced rat HSC-T6 cells,and then block phosphorylation of PI3K Akt,p 38MAPK signal pathways and inhibited the expression of type Ⅰ collagen at mRNA level.

Objective To study the effect of ursolic acid (UA) intervention on hepatocyte apoptosis induced by TGF-β1 and its potential mechanism.Methods Primary hepatocytes were extracted from healthy SD rats by in situ perfusion,cultured for 12-24h,then randomly divided into the following groups:blank control group,UA control group (UA 25μmol/L),TGF-β1 group (TGF-β1 2.5ng/ml),UA intervention group (UA 25μmol/L and TGF-β1 2.5ng/ml),DPI intervention group (DPI 0.5μmol/L and TGF-β1 2.5ng/ml).Each group was treated with drugs for corresponding time and their proliferation and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry,the expression of CD95 (Fas) mRNA was analyzed by RT-qPCR,the expression of protein CD95 and membrane translocation of NADPH oxidase (NOX) subunit p47Phox were analyzed by Western blotting,and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in primary hepatocytes was analyzed with reactive oxygen detection kit.Results UA intervention at 30min before TGF-β1 stimulating hepatocytes markedly reduced hepatocyte apoptosis (63.97 ± 3.19 vs 80.53 ± 1.56,P＜0.01) and promoted hepatocyte proliferation (18.67 ± 1.60 vs 10.83 ± 2.03,P＜0.01).UA intervention notably down-regulated the expressions of CD95 mRNA and protein (1.28 ± 0.15 vs 2.40 ± 0.25,P＜0.01;1.05 ± 0.15 vs 1.37 ± 0.18,P＜0.05),restrained membrane translocation of p47phox (1.13 ± 0.12 vs 1.76 ± 0.22,P＜0.01),and decreased ROS level in primary hepatocytes induced by TGF-β1 (2.12 ± 0.45 vs 3.23 ± 0.53,P＜0.01).Conclusion The mechanism of UA inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis induced by TGF-β1 is likely to be that UA intervention reduced hepatocyte apoptosis by inhibiting NOX activation and decrease generation of ROS so as to down-regulate expression of CD95 in hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of Cyclin D1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells processed by epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG) and it's significance, and revealed the anti-tumor mechanism of EGCG against nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHOD: CNE-2 cells were treated by EGCG at different concentrations, the morphological changes of CNE-2 cells were observed by inverted microscope; the inhibition ratio of cell proliferation was detected by MTT colorimetric method, flow cytometry was used to analyze the changes of cell cycle. The expression of Cyclin D1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. RESULT: After treated by EGCG, the CNE2 cells decreased in amount and density, some of which became roll and small; Floating and dead cells can be seen in the inverted microscopy; cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in a time and dose dependent (P < 0.05). CNE-2 cells were arrested at G1/G0 phase. The expression of Cyclin D1 mRNA was down-regulated by EGCG with concentration and action time dependent (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION EGCG resisted nasopharyngeal carcinoma by inhibiting the cell proliferation, The down regulation of Cyclin D1 mRNA expression in a time and dose dependent may be the possible mechanisms.
Carcinoma ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Butylene Glycols ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the mean CT value and bone density value and explore a rapid and accurate image segmentation method for lumbar CT values in different age groups.

METHODSWe randomly collected thin lumbar spine CT scan data from 202 patients stratified by gender and age (at the interval of 10 years). The data of each group were imported into Mimics 14.0 software to obtain independent Mask files using the new image segmentation method. The Mask files were used to fill the empty space and calculate mean, maximum, and minimum CT values.

RESULTSIn the age groups of 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, and 61-70 years, the male subjects had mean CT values of 424.94 ± 52.23 Hu, 405.59 ± 53.60 Hu, 361.76 ± 53.50 Hu, 344.17 ± 47.76 Hu, and 332.88 ± 58.33 Hu, respectively; the values in the female group were 439.89 ± 50.99 Hu, 448.06 ± 65.89 Hu, 421.43 ± 54.74 Hu, 369.07 ± 78.27 Hu, and 304.98 ± 55.05 Hu, respectively. The mean CT value in men aged 61-70 years was significantly lower than the values in men below 50 years (P<0.05), but comparable with that in those aged 51-60 years (P>0.05); The mean CT value was significantly lower in women aged 51-70 years groups than in those aged below 50 years (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe mean CT values are correlated with the bone density values. The new image segmentation method allows rapid and accurate acquisition of the CT values in the regions of interest. The lumbar mean CT values tend to decrease with age.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate whether astaxanthin (AST) down-regulates dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) through activating the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog-1 (SIRT1) signaling pathway, thereby attenuating contrast-induced acute kidney injury.Methods:Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 160-180 g were randomly divided into five groups: sham surgery group (Sham group), contrast medium injury group (CM group), astaxanthin-intervention group (AST+CM group), SIRT1 inhibitor Ex527 intervention group (Ex527+CM group), and astaxanthin combined with Ex527 intervention group (AST+Ex527+CM group). After 72 hours of modeling, heart blood was removed and kidney tissues were collected for follow-up testing. Serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and oxidative stress-related indexes total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by biochemistry; hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the kidney; mitochondrial morphology and number were observed by transmission electron microscopy; reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected by ROS staining in frozen sections; TUNEL staining was performed to detect apoptosis level. The expression levels of SIRT1, p53, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), Drp1 and apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blotting.Results:(1) Compared with the CM group, Scr and BUN level were significantly lower, T-SOD level was higher and MDA level was lower in the AST+CM group, while T-SOD level decreased and MDA level increased after the combination of Ex527 (all P<0.05). (2) ROS expression was lower in the AST+CM group compared to the CM group and higher after the combination of Ex527 (both P<0.05). (3) The number of apoptotic cells was significantly reduced in the AST+CM group compared to the CM group and increased after the combination of Ex527 (both P<0.05). (4) The protein expression levels of SIRT1, PGC-1α and Bcl-2 were increased and the protein expression levels of p53, Drp1 and Bax were decreased (all P<0.05) in the AST+CM group compared with the CM group, and the protein expression levels of SIRT1, PGC-1α and Bcl-2 were decreased and the protein expression levels of p53, Drp1 and Bax were increased when Ex527 was combined (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Astaxanthin can inhibit Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission by activating the SIRT1 pathway, thereby reducing contrast-induced acute kidney injury in rats.

Objective:To investigate the current situation and influencing factors of humanistic care needs of family members of pregnant women in maternal intensive care unit, and to explore the relationship between humanistic care needs of family members of pregnant women in maternal intensive care unit, relocation stress level and perceived social support ability, so as to provide a basis for clinical nursing staff to implement targeted humanistic care for family members of pregnant women in maternal intensive care unit.Methods:From July to December 2022, 267 family members of pregnant women who were observed in the Maternal Intensive Care Unit of Maternity Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University/Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital were selected as the research objects by the convenient sampling method. The general information questionnaire, Humanistic Care Needs Scale for Family Members of Pregnant Women in the Obstetric Intensive Care Unit, Family Relocation Stress Scale for Intensive Care Unit Patients and Perceived Social Support Scale were used to carry out a cross sectional investigation.Results:The scores of humanistic care needs, relocation stress scale and perceived social support scale were (175.32 ± 16.04), (35.12 ± 8.11), (57.30 ± 15.43) points, respectively. The length of maternal intensive care unit stay ( B=1.301, P<0.05), the family′s role changed for the first time ( B=2.328, P<0.05), the delivery mode doesn′t match the family′s expectations ( B=-2.407, P<0.05), maternal admission to maternal intensive care unit due to childbirth complications ( B=3.228, P<0.05), relocation stress level of intensive care unit patients′ family members ( B=0.891, P<0.05), and family members′ perceived social support ability ( B=0.461, P<0.05) were the influencing factors of humanistic care needs of maternal family members in maternal intensive care unit factors, which explained 83.2% of the total variation. Conclusions:The humanistic care needs of family members of pregnant women in maternal intensive care unit are at a high level. Medical staff should pay more attention to the family members of pregnant women who stay in maternal intensive care unit for a long time, undergo role change for the first time, have unexpected delivery mode and stay in maternal intensive care unit due to childbirth complications, so as to provide them with more comprehensive humanistic care and establish multiple support system, in order to improve the level of humanistic care for the family members of maternal intensive care unit.