Probability of causation (PC) was used to facilitate the adjudication of compensation claims for cancers diagnosed following exposure to ionizing radiation. In this article, the excess cancer risk assessment models used for PC calculation are reviewed. Cancer risk transfer models between different populations, dependence of cancer risk on dose and dose rate, modification by epidemiological risk factors and application of PC are also discussed in brief.

Objective To observe the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with abdominal muscle electrical stimulation on the pulmonary ventilation of patients with cervical spinal cord injury.Methods Twenty-five patients with cervical spinal cord injury were randomized into an experimental group (n =13) and a control group (n =12).The control group was given comprehensive rehabilitation treatment,including upper limb movements,standing training and training of respiratory function,while the experimental group was given repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and abdominal muscle electrical stimulation in addition to the comprehensive rehabilitation treatment.The patients' maximum lung capacity (VC),forced expiratory volume for 1 second (FEV1),peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) and tidal volume (VT) were measured at the outset and after 3 months of treatment.Results The lung function indexes increased in both groups after treatment,but each index improved significantly more in the experimental group,on average,than in the control group.Conclusion As a supplement to routine respiratory function training,repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with abdominal intermediate frequency electrical stimulation can improve the pulmonary ventilation function of patients with middle and lower cervical spinal cord injury.

A total of 560 patients with primary hypertension were divided into two groups.Of them,260 were treated with Fosinopril(10～20 mg once daily),and the other 300 were treated with Amlodipine (5～10 mg once daily).The treatment lasted for 12 months in both groups.The levels of blood pressure (BP)、braehial ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV)and pulse pressure(PP)were examined at baseline,6 month and 12 month with automatic analysis system of arteriosclerosis.BP in Amlodipine group(132/76 mm Hg)decreased more significantly than Fosinopril group(136/85 mm Hg),but Fosinopril group showed more remarkable changes in baPWV(1310 cm/s)and PP(52 mm Hg)than Amlodipine group(1400 cm/s and 56 mm Hg).

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of p16 protein non-expression and p16 gene inactivation by deletions and hypermethylation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for p16 protein was carried out in 90 cases of non-keratinizing carcinoma (NKC) of nasopharynx. P16 gene deletions and hypermethylation were also analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and methylation-specific PCR in 23 randomly selected NKC cases.

RESULTSAmong the 90 NKC cases studied, 42 cases (46.7%) were negative for p16 protein. The non-expression rate of p16 protein also correlated with the 5-year survival rate. The non-expression rate was 60.0% in patients who died within 5 years, in contrast to 20.0% in those alive for over 5 years after diagnosis. The non-expression rate of p16 protein in cases with or without distant metastasis was 81.8% and 41.8% respectively (P < 0.05), while that in cases with or without local invasion into skull base was 41.7% and 48.5% respectively (P > 0.05). As for molecular analysis, deletion of p16 gene exon 2 was found in 10 of the 23 cases (43.4%) studied, while deletion of p16 gene exon 1 was not detected in these samples. Hypermethylation of p16 gene exon 1 was also noted in 2 of the 23 cases (8.7%). The overall mutation rate of these cases was 52.1%.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a high incidence of p16 protein non-expression, deletion of p16 gene exon 2 and hypermethylation of p16 gene exon 1 in NKC. P16 gene inactivation may thus play an important role in the pathogenesis of NKC, especially in terms of its metastatic potential.

CpG Islands ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; pathology ; Survival Rate

Aim To investigate the effect and mecha-nism of valproic acid on neuroglobin expression, and the neuroprotective role of valproic acid against H2 O2-induced neurotoxicity. Methods Western blot, RT-PCR and luciferase assay were used to detect the pro-tein levels, mRNA levels and promoter activity of mouse and human neuroglobin induced by valproic acid. Luciferase assay was used to investigate the role of transcription factor CREB in the up-regulation of neuroglobin by valproic acid. MTT assay was used to evaluate the effect of valproic acid against H2 O2-in-duced neurotoxicity. Results VPA treatment marked-ly increased the protein levels, mRNA levels and pro-moter activity of Ngb in mouse N2 a cells and human SKNSH cells. CREB specific inhibitor KG501 or CREB dominant negative mutant KCREB attenuated VPA-induced Ngb promoter activity. VPA could pro-tect N2a cells from H2 O2-induced neurotoxicity. Con-clusion CREB mediates VPA-induced Ngb up-regula-tion, which may contribute to the neuroprotective effects of VPA in oxidative stress in neurons.

Objective To explore the DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats exposed to sodium arsenite. Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats, weighing 180 - 200 g, equal male and female, were randomly divided into 4 groups, 8 in each group. Sodium arsenite 0(control) ,0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L were given through drinking water for 30 days. Body weight and drinking water consumption were measured every day. Blood were collected and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes was examined by single cell gel electrophoresis.Results The increase of body mass[( 121.00 ± 38.57), ( 120.62 ± 42.80), ( 125.38 ± 48.68)g]and water intake [(36.9 ± 6.2), (37.9 ± 5.8), (39.3 ± 4.2)ml/d]in 0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L sodium arsenite groups were compared with the control group[( 119.25 ± 47.27)g, (38.4 ± 5.1 )ml/d], and the difference were not significant (F = 0.040,0.828, all P ＞ 0.05). The tail ratios[46.25%(185/400) ,57.00%(228/400),64.00%(256/400)], tail lengths [(32.89 ± 17.18), (58.74 ± 36.28), (77.55 ± 35.73 ) μm]and tail moments [(6.29 ± 3.74), ( 11.20 ± 9.64),(17.30 ± 12.60)μm]in 0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L sodium arsenite groups were significantly higher than those of the control group[39.25%(157/400), (18.73 ± 15.83),(2.61 ± 1.05)μm, all P ＜ 0.01], and the tail ratios,tail lengths and tail moments in lymphocytes increased with increased doses of arsenic concentration. Conclusions Low doses of arsenic exposure can induce DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats.

Objective:To explore the trajectory of acute pain after median thoracotomy surgery, and analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide guidance for pain management after cardiac surgery.Methods:In this prospective cohort study, a total of 255 patients who underwent median thoracotomy in the Cardiac Surgery Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from September 2021 to May 2022 were selected by convenience sampling and investigated with the general data questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety Scale (HAS), Hospital Depression Scale (HDS) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). The pain degree of patients 1 to 7 days after operation was assessed by digital evaluation tools. The Group-Based Trajectory Model was used to describe the trajectory of postoperative pain, and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of pain trajectory categories.Results:Due to reasons such as death and refusal to further investigation, 210 patients finally completed the 7-day follow-up. Three postoperative pain trajectory categories were identified, namely, moderate to mild pain-significant relief group ( n=75), severe to moderate pain-slow relief group ( n=99) and persistent severe pain group ( n=36). The results of univariate analysis showed that sex, age, body mass index, number of postoperative drainage tubes, indwelling time of drainage tube, operation time, HAS score, HDS score, and PCS score were the influencing factors of acute pain trajectory categories ( P<0.05). Taking the moderate to mild pain-significant relief group as a reference, the results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that sex, age, body mass index, indwelling time of drainage tube, HAS score, HDS score, and PCS score were the independent influencing factors of the postoperative acute pain trajectory of this patient group ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The trajectories of postoperative acute pain in patients undergoing median thoracotomy are heterogeneous. Medical and nursing staff should pay full attention to patients who are female, young, obese, have long indwelling time of drainage tubes, preoperative anxiety, preoperative depression, and high PCS scores. It is necessary to improve the quality of pain management in postcardiac surgery patients through appropriate targeted interventions.

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective: Renal fibrosis is the most common manifestation of chronic kidney disease(CKD).Noting that existing treatments of renal fibrosis only slow disease progression but do not cure it,there is an urgent need to identify novel therapies.Hydrogen sulfide(H2S)is a newly discovered endogenous small gas signaling molecule exerting a wide range of biologic actions in our body.This review illustrates recent experimental findings on the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of H2S against renal fibrosis and highlights its potential in future clinical application.Data sources: Literature was collected from PubMed until February 2019,using the search terms including "Hydrogen sulfide,""Chronic kidney disease," "Renal interstitial fibrosis," "Kidney disease," "Inflammation factor," "Oxidative stress," "Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition," "H2S donor,""Hypertensive kidney dysfunction,""Myofibroblasts,""Vascuar remodeling,""transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta/Smads signaling,"and "Sulfate potassium channels."Study selection: Literature was mainly derived from English articles or articles that could be obtained with English abstracts.Article type was not limited.References were also identified from the bibliographies of identified articles and the authors' files.Results: The experimental data confirmed that H2S is widely involved in various renal pathologies by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress,inhibiting the activation of fibrosis-related cells and their cytokine expression,ameliorating vascular remodeling and high blood pressure,stimulating tubular cell regeneration,as well as reducing apoptosis,autophagy,and hypertrophy.Therefore,H2S represents an alternative or additional therapeutic approach for renal fibrosis.Conclusions: We postulate that H2S may delay the occurrence and progress of renal fibrosis,thus protecting renal function.Further experiments are required to explore the precise role of H2S in renal fibrosis and its application in clinical treatment.

With the introduction of assisted reproductive technology (ART), sperm assessment has developed progressively, from conventional semen routine tests to novel cellular and molecular measures. Sperm DNA damage is a new marker of male fertility, whose genetic mechanism involves abnormal package and segregation of chromatin, oxidative stress, abnormal cell apoptosis, etc. Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) is one of the common techniques to measure sperm DNA damage. Sperm DNA damage might be associated with the pregnancy outcome of ART, recurrent spontaneous abortion and potential genetic risk of ICSI offspring. Some treatment strategies might reduce the percentage of sperm DNA damage and increase the success rate of ART, including oral administration of antioxygen drugs, ICSI with testis sperm, sperm freezing and preservation, removing of etiological factors, traditional Chinese medicine, and so on. This review focuses on the mechanism and detection of sperm DNA damage, its association with reproductive outcomes, and relevant treatment strategies in assisted reproductive technology.
DNA Damage ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; adverse effects ; methods ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism