Coal Mining ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health ; Tuberculosis ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the situation and causes of misdiagnosis of pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis in China by pooled analysis, and to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis of pneumoconiosis in China and reduce the misdiagnosis rate.

METHODSA computer search was performed to collect the studies on the misdiagnosis of pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis published in China from 1985 to 2013. The obtained data were subjected to pooled analysis to investigate the causes of misdiagnosis and seek the measures for reducing misdiagnosis.

RESULTSFifty-nine studies involving 1178 cases of misdiagnosed pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis were collected. There were 13 causes of misdiagnosis, and the most common one was the poor ability of identification due to inadequate experience in reading chest X-ray films (45.93%), followed by neglect of patient's occupational history (44.99%). Other causes of misdiagnosis included complex X-ray findings that are difficult to judge (29.03%), poor quality of chest radiographs (23.09%), and lack of regular health supervision (19.95%).

CONCLUSIONInadequate experience of physicians is the main cause of misdiagnosis of pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis. To reduce misdiagnosis of the disease, measures should be taken to enhance the training and evaluation of knowledge and skills of diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pneumoconiosis among physicians.

China ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis ; Silicotuberculosis ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo establish a murine model of sensitization, and investigate the effect and mechanism of sensitization on allogeneic donor bone marrow cells (BMCs).

METHODSSensitized BALB/c mice were established by transfusions of allogeneic splenocytes. The donor reactive antibodies were detected by binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays. After irradiation, 1 × 10(7) BMCs of C57BL/6 donor mice were injected into non-sensitized or sensitized BALB/c recipient mice. The distribution pattern of donor BMCs in peripheral blood, spleen and bone marrow of recipient mice were analyzed at different time points (2 h, 12 h and 48 h) post transplantation. Hematopoietic recovery post transplantation was assessed, and survival was monitored. Moreover, sera and splenocytes derived from non-sensitized or sensitized recipients were incubated with allogeneic BMCs in vitro, and the cytotoxic indexes were calculated in the immune experiments.

RESULTSThe binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays showed that a high level of donor reactive antibodies was presented in sensitized sera. Compared with the non-sensitized recipients, the homing assay showed significantly decreased distributions of allogeneic donor BMCs in peripheral blood, spleen and femur of sensitized recipients. Non-sensitized recipients survived long term after irradiation, while all the sensitized recipients died within 12-15 days. Fourteen days post transplantation, the white blood cells and BMCs of non-sensitized recipients were (3240 ± 300) × 10(6)/L and (396 ± 27) × 10(6)/femur, respectively; while the white blood cells and BMCs of sensitized recipients were (320 ± 80) × 10(6)/L and (6 ± 2) × 10(6)/femur, respectively; the differences were statistically significant between this two groups (P < 0.05). Seven days post transplantation, the percentage of donor cells in bone marrow of non-sensitized and sensitized recipients was (48.07 ± 4.70)% and (0.77 ± 0.11)%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the white blood cells and BMCs following transplantation decreased along with time in sensitized recipients. The immune experiments of complement-dependent cytotoxicity reaction, cytotoxic T lymphocytes reaction and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity showed the cytotoxic indexes were higher in sensitized group than the non-sensitized group.

CONCLUSIONA sensitized model was established by transfusions of allogeneic spleen cells. Allogeneic donor BMCs were rejected in sensitized recipients, and its mechanism might be through immune impairment pathways.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Graft Rejection ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo carry out the citation analysis of publications in Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine (CJPM) among the preventive medicine authors and analyze the impact of this magazine in preventive medicine domain.

METHODSUsing Chinese scientific periodical literature evaluation and statistical analysis system (V1.0), the citation status of all CJPM publications in 2000-2005 was analyzed, the analysis covered 21 columns, including the review, editorial and original article, the data were collected up to November, 2007.

RESULTSFrom 2000 to 2005, CJPM had more than 30 columns and carried 1196 articles and 92. 89% (1111/1196) articles were from 21 main columns. During 2003 to 2005, the impact factors of CJPM were 0. 897, 1.011 and 0. 891 respectively. Among 21 main columns, the citation frequency of six columns including original article, editorial, review, courses, discussion and case report were higher than 80%. In five columns (original article, editorial, report, review and academic trends), the average citation frequency of individual articles was more than 4 times. The citation frequency of 20 authors was higher than 20 times and these authors were from medical schools, teaching hospitals, centers of diseases control and the research institutes. The individual citation frequency of 17 articles was more than 20 times and the individual citation frequency of three articles was more than 50 times. 34.9% of the citations of the 2000-2005 CJPM articles were from the top 20 journals, and the self-citation rate was 4. 85%.

CONCLUSIONThe publications in Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine are most frequently cited, which indicated that those publications have high quality, this journal has a great effect in preventive medicine field of China.

Bibliometrics ; China ; Periodicals as Topic ; statistics & numerical data ; Preventive Medicine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role and significance of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway regulating GSK-3beta, STAT3, Smad3 and TERT in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSThe HCC cell line HepG2 was transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against beta-catenin. Proteins were extracted and the expressions of beta-catenin, GSK-3beta, p-GSK-3beta, STAT3, Smad3 and TERT were detected by Western blot at 72 h and 96 h respectively after transfection.

RESULTSbeta-catenin expression was inhibited at both time points and the expression at 96 h was higher than that at 72 h (t = 4.43, P < 0.05). Interestingly, GSK-3beta and p-GSK-3beta expressions increased gradually at 72 and 96 h (tGSK-3beta= 4.98, tp-GSK-3beta= 29.83, P < 0.05) respectively, and STAT3 expression showed no alteration after transfection (F = 0.49, P > 0.05). Smad3 expression was increased at 72 h (t = 10.67, P < 0.05) and decreased to normal at 96 h (t = 1.26, P < 0.05), while TERT expression decreased at 72 h (t = 4.18, P is less than 0.05) and increased to normal at 96 h (t = 1.26, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is related to the expressions of GSK-3beta, Smad3 and TERT, but perhaps not related to STAT3 protein expression in HCC. It suggested that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway might participate in HCC genesis and development through regulating the above three factors.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEIn childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), cytogenetics plays an important role in diagnosis, allocation of treatment and prognosis. On the basis of the conventional cytogenetic analysis, molecular methods have improved pediatric hematologists/oncologist's ability to accurately and rapidly perform risk-stratification on patients with childhood ALL during the last few years. The aim of the present study was to assess the demography of cytogenetic abnormalities in childhood ALL.

METHODThe study subjects consisted of 124 newly diagnosed ALL patients younger than 16 years of age, who were diagnosed at the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Soochow University Children's Hospital. The diagnosis and FAB subtypes of ALL was determined by Wright-Giemsa-stained bone marrow smears and cytochemical staining. Immunophenotyping of the bone marrow samples was performed by flow cytometry. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Multiplex PCR) analysis was performed to detect the 29 most common leukemia translocations for routine molecular diagnostic hematopathology practice, and complement the information gained from conventional cytogenetic analysis.

RESULTSCytogenetic analysis was successful in 112 of 124 children with ALL. Sixty-eight (60%) of them had clonal chromosomal abnormalities. Numerical imbalances consisted of hyperdiploid (> 47 chromosomes, 36 cases), hypodiploid (< 46 chromosomes, 14 cases), pseudodiploidy (18 cases). Chromosomal translocations were observed in 13 patients by conventional cytogenetic analysis. Three cases were found positive for 4; 11 translocation, 3 cases for 9; 22 translocation, 1 case for 1; 19 translocation and 6 cases for other rare translocations. Multiplex-PCR analysis detected 116 of the 124 ALL patients. Thirteen cases of TEL-AML1, 10 cases of rearrangement in the MLL gene, 4 cases of E2A-PBX1, 4 cases of E2A-HLF, 3 cases of BCR-ABL, 2 cases of TLS-ERG, 32 cases of HOX11 were detected by Multiplex PCR in B-lineage leukemias. SIL-TAL1 had been found in 4 of 7 of T-lineage leukemias.

CONCLUSIONSSixty-eight cases of ALL showed chromosomal aberrations. Multiplex PCR positivity was detected in 59 (50%) of the 116 ALL patients studied. Multiplex PCR combined with chromosomal analysis uncovered chromosomal abnormalities in 95 of 124 (77%) of ALL patients and supplemented each other in detecting chromosomal abnormalities.

Adolescent ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Gene Fusion ; genetics ; Homeodomain Proteins ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; methods ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein ; genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pre-B-Cell Leukemia Transcription Factor 1 ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1 ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the regulatory rolesof SIRT1 on EZH2 expression and the further effects on EZH 2’ s repression of target gene expression.

METHODSThe stable SIRT1 RNAi and Control RNAi HeLa cells were established by infection with retroviruses expressing shSIRT1 and shLuc respectively followed by puromycin selection. EZH2 protein level was detected by Western blot in either whole cell lysate or the fractional cell extract. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the mRNA level of EZH2. Cycloheximide was used to treat SIRT1 RNAi and Control RNAi cells for protein stability assay. Chromatin immunoprecipitation(ChIP) assay was applied to measure enrichment of SIRT1, EZH2, and trimethylated H3K27 (H3K27me3) at SATB1 promoter in SIRT1 RNAi and Control RNAi cells.

RESULTSWestern blot results showed that EZH2 protein level increased upon SIRT1 depletion. Fractional extraction results showed unchanged cytoplasmic fraction and increased chromatin fraction of EZH2 protein in SIRT1 RNAi cells. The mRNA level of EZH2 was not affected by knockdown of SIRT1. SIRT1 recruitment was not detected at the promoter regionof EZH2 gene locus. The protein stability assay showed that the protein stability of EZH2 increases upon SIRT1 knockdown. Upon SIRT1 depletion, EZH2 and H3K27me3 recruitment at SATB1 promoter increases and the mRNA level of SATB1 decreases.

CONCLUSIONSDepletion of SIRT1 increases the protein stability of EZH2. The regulation of EZH2 protein level by SIRT1 affects the repressive effects of EZH2 on the target gene expression.

DNA-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; chemistry ; physiology ; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein ; Gene Expression Regulation ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 ; Repressor Proteins ; physiology ; Sirtuin 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Transcription Factors ; analysis ; chemistry ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo develop an alternative method for assessment of gene delivery systems in vivo.

METHODSMouse primary spleen lymphocytes were genetically modified in vitro by a retroviral vector harboring a Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) expression cassette. After implantation of these cells into recipient mice, the expression of Gluc was detected in whole blood or plasma collected.

RESULTSAs little as 10 muL whole blood drawn from the recipient mice could guarantee prompt reading of Gluc activity with a luminometer. And the reading was found in good correlation with the number of genetically modified spleen lymphocytes implanted to the mice.

CONCLUSIONSGluc may be useful as an in vivo reporter for gene therapy researches, and Gluc blood assay could provide an alternative method for assessment of gene delivery systems in vivo.

Animals ; Arecaceae ; enzymology ; Cell Line ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Luciferases ; genetics ; Mice

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic methods of bac-terial colonization and infection of Acinetobacter baumannii on the wound of earthquake induced patients. Methods A retrospective study was done on 42 Wenehuan earthquake induced patients with positive wound germiculture of Acinetobacter baumannii. There were 24 males and 18 females, at mean age of 37 years (12-96 years). Open injury was located at the upper arm in one patient, at the forearm in four, at the thigh in 12, at the calf in 23 and at the trunk in two. The time between injury and treatment varied from 3 to 7 days. The clinical characteristics including the bacteria identification and drug sensitivity test were studied to compare drug resistance to 15 antibiotics. Results Bacterial colonization of Acineto-bacter baumannii was found in 31 patients (8.2%) and infection of Acinetobacter baumannii in 11 (2.9%). After debridement, pruphylactic antibiotics and nutrition support, 15 patients with bacterial colonization were managed with Ⅱ stage suture or skin grafting. The other 16 patients were transferred to hospitals of other provinces after germiculture turned negative. Through debridement and drainage, antibi-otic therapy and nutrition support, the infection was controlled and the wound eliminated in six patients through Ⅱ stage suture but four were concomitant with pulmonary infection and one with septicemia. Drug sensitivity test showed that sensitive rate to imipenem, amikacin, levofloxacin, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid, tobramycin were 59.5%, 21.4%, 21.4%, 19.5% and 19.0% respectively. Conclusions The risk factors of infection of Acinetobacter baumannii include severe tissue trauma, severe wound contamination, delayed treatment and weak body resistance. During treatment, the bacterial colonization and infection of Acinetobacter baumannii should be distinguished and treated respectively. Correct wound treatment, suit-able antibiotic therapy and increased body resistance are key to improvement of clinical curative effect.

OBJECTIVETo explore demographic characteristics, current diagnosis and treatment patterns of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients in China.

METHODSData of hospitalized CML patients in 2005 whole year and outpatient information (July 1 through September 30, 2006) from 15 hospitals throughout China were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 1824 CML cases were analyzed, including 722 inpatients and 1102 outpatients. The male/female ratio was 1.78:1. The median age at diagnosis was 40.02 (2.45 - 83.29) years old, 90.41% of the patients were diagnosed at chronic phase. Proportion of accelerated phase or blast crisis patients increased to 21.66% during study period. 93.20% of the patients received blood routine and bone marrow morphologic examination at diagnosis and in monitoring; 70.29% were performed cytogenetic analysis and 51.54% performed molecular measurement in addition. The most common therapy for CML treatment was hydroxycarbamide. The proportion of patients treated with imatinib and interferon was 37.45% and 25.55%, respectively. Of 722 inpatients, 164 (22.72%) received hemotopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The proportions of accelerated phase and blast crisis patients treated with imatinib were 48.28% and 48.42%, respectively, being significantly higher than that of chronic phase patients (35.9%) (P < 0.05). The mean imatinib dosage administered in the three phases patients did not differ significantly. Imatinib resistance rates were 6.87% and 16.28% for outpatient and inpatient, respectively. In the outpatient group, the primary resistance to imatinib occurred comparably to the secondary resistance (68.75%), while primary resistance was predominant in inpatient group (65.71%). The intolerance rates of imatinib for outpatient and inpatient were 3.21%, 11.63%, respectively. The majority of patients treated with imatinb were not monitored in time: 63.38% patients evaluated hematologic response after 3 months of treatment, proportions of patients received cytogenetic examination after 6 months and 12 months of treatment were 41.41% and 27.35%, respectively. Mean cost for HSCT was 213 092 +/- 125 890 RMB.

CONCLUSIONSCML in China tends to afflict younger population than in Western countries. Most patients were diagnosed in the chronic phase. Due to restriction of financial support, only one third of CML patients were treated with imatinib, and the majority of the treated were not monitored in time. Clinicians should pay attention to resistance and intolerance to imatinib treatment in accelerated phase or blast crisis patients.

Benzamides ; therapeutic use ; China ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use