Objective: To understand the status of e-cigarette use among junior high school students in Zhengzhou City and its associated factors, and to provide support for tobacco control intervention for junior high school students. Methods: From March to May 2019 in Zhengzhou, a stratified cluster random sampling method was used to investigate 3 624 junior high school students using a self-made e-cigarette questionnaire, including demographic information, attitudes towards e-cigarettes, usage behavior, smoking behaviors of parents and friends. Results: The usage rate of e-cigarettes for junior high school students in Zhengzhou was 5.5%, parents and 51.5% of junior high school students purchased e-cigarettes online, 28.3% purchased them through stores, and 20.2% purchased e-cigarettes through other methods. Regarding the item use of e-cigarettes was harmful to others, the proportion of students with an approved attitude was lower than that with negative attitudes, the difference was statistically significant(χ2=4.33, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that e-cigarette was difficult to quit, the use of e-cigarettes won t make people feel relaxed, e-cigarette smoke was harmful to others , e-cigarette use did not make young people more attractive were negatively correlated with the use of e-cigarettes by middle school students(OR=0.46, 0.28, 0.57, 0.41, P<0.01). Conclusion The use of e-cigarettes by junior high school students in Zhengzhou is relatively serious, and multiple measures should be taken to strengthen health education and reduce the use rate of e-cigarettes.

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the course of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced apoptosis of rat retinal photoreceptor cells and investigate the mechanism of MNU-induced retinal damage.

METHODSA single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg MNU was given to 50-day-old female rats, which were sacrificed at different intervals after MNU treatment. The retinal damage was examined with optical microscopy and photoreceptor cell apoptosis detected by TUNEL assay. Western blotting was performed to analyze the changes in NF-kappaB.

RESULTSPyknosis of the photoreceptor cell nuclei and disorientation of the outer segment of the photoreceptor layer was observed 24 h after MNU treatment, and the outer nuclear layer and photoreceptor layer were almost completely lost on day 7. Photoreceptor cell apoptosis peaked at 24 h, and in the apoptotic cascade, NF-kappaB p65 protein was only detected 12 and 24 h after MNU treatment, whereas the amount of I kappa B alpha, in contrast, markedly increased in the cytoplasm as well as in the nuclei.

CONCLUSIONMNU-induced retinal damage might be mediated through the signaling pathway of NF-kappaB/I kappa B alpha.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Methylnitrosourea ; toxicity ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retinal Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have showed that photooxidative stress can lead to down-modulation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity causing apoptosis of cultured photoreceptor cells. This study aimed at investigating whether NF-kappaB was involved in photoreceptor cells apoptosis induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in rats.

METHODSA single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg MNU was given to 50-day-old female rats. At different intervals after MNU treatment, the animals were sacrificed. Retinal damage was examined by a light microscope. The apoptotic index of the photoreceptor cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL). NF-kappaB was analysed by Western blot and Transcriptin Factor Assay Kits.

RESULTSThe pyknosis of the photoreceptor nuclei and the disorientation of the outer segment of the photoreceptor layer was seen after MNU treatment for 24 hours. The outer nuclear layer and photoreceptor layer were almost completely lost at 7 days. Photoreceptor cells apoptosis reached the peaked value at 24 hours. In apoptotic cascade, the protein levels of NF-kappaB p65 were only detected after MNU treatment for 12 and 24 hours in the nucleus. Conversely, the amounts of IkappaBalpha were markedly increased in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus. The activity of NF-kappaB p65 in the nucleus was down-modulated in the end.

CONCLUSIONSMNU-induced photoreceptor cell destruction was attributed to the apoptotic process by down-regulating the activation of NF-kappaB p65.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Female ; I-kappa B Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Methylnitrosourea ; toxicity ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; analysis ; physiology ; Photoreceptor Cells ; chemistry ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; drug effects ; pathology

Objective: To explore the effects of n-butylphthalide (NBP) on mitochondria in hippocampus and learning and memory abilities in rats with chronic alcoholism. Methods: 60 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups on average, including normal group, model group and treatment group, with 20 rats in each group.Rats of model group and treatment group are given 6% (V/V) alcohol solution continuously for 28 d to establish the model of chronic alcoholism.Rats in the treatment group were given butylphthalide for 14 days from the fourteenth day after giving alcohol solution.The Y type electric maze was used to test the learning and memory ability of rats, the content of H₂S in the hippocampus and the activity of mitochondrial ATP enzyme were measured by spectrophotometry, and the protein expression of F-actin was detected by Western blot. Results: Compared with the normal group, the learning and memory ability of the rats in the model group were decreased, the content of H₂S in the hippocampus were increased, and the activity of mitochondrial ATP enzyme and the expression of F-actin protein were decreased, and most of the mitochondria were damaged under the electron microscope.The training times of the rats in treatment group(61.88±3.61)was lower than that of the model group(82.19±4.87), the ability of learning and memory was improved(P<0.05). Compared with the model group ((1.50±0.07)U/mgprot, (0.08±0.01)), the activity of the mitochondrial ATP enzyme((1.84±0.11)U/mgprot) and the level of F-actin protein(0.12±0.01)in rat hippocampus of treatment group were increased, the difference was statistically significant(both P<0.05). The level of H₂S in rat hippocampus of the treatment group ((34.56±2.47) nmol/g) was lower than that of the model group ((44.55±3.71) nmol/g), the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Compared with model group, the mitochondrial damage of the hippocampus in the treatment group was improved under electron microscope. Conclusion NBP can abate mitochondrial damage and improve learning and memory abilities in chronic alcoholism rats.

Objective To investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) isolated from Zhenjiang area to 13 routinely used antibiotics and identify the structure and dissemination of class Ⅰ integron. Methods K-B test was used to determine the resistant rate of 71 strains of P. aeruginosa. DNA template was extracted by boiling method, PCR method was utilized to detect class Ⅰintegron, and subsequently gene cassettes were analyzed by sequencing. Results The resistant rates to 13 routinely used antibiotics were quite different from 18. 3 to 77.5% among 71 strains of P. aeruginosa. The prevalence of class Ⅰ integron was 38%. These integrons include 5 gene cassettes ( aadB, aac (6) - Ⅱ , PSE-Ⅰ , dfrA17 and aadAS), in which dfrA17 and aadA5 gene cassette were frequently found. Comparing with the negative strains of integron, the positive strains of integron has obviously higher resistance to ten the antibiotics including piporacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftriaxone, cefepime, ceftazidime, gentamicin,amikacin, tobmmycin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. Conclusions The resistant rates of P. aeruginosa to 13 drugs were different, and the resistant rates of integron positive strains were obviously higher than integron negative strains, which indicates that integron may play an important role in multidrug reisistance of P. aeruginoosa.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) on learning and memory ability and possible mechanisms in rats with chronic alcoholism. METHODS: Sixty SD male rats were randomly divided into three groups on average.The model group rats and the remedy group rats were fed with the water containing (v/v) 6% alcohol for 28 days.After 14 days, the remedy group rats were treated with AOAA (5 mg/kg·d) by intraperitoneal injection once a day for 14 days and the other two group rats were treated with the equal amount of saline by intraperitoneal injection every day.Five days before the end of the experiment, the water maze test was carried out to test the learning and memory ability of rats for 5 days.Subsequently, the content of HS, the activity of ATP enzyme and the expression of 5-HT in hippocampus were measured. RESULTS: Compared with the rats in the control group, the latency and the swimming distance of the 2nd to the 4th day, the content of HS in hippocampus of rats in the model group were all increased, the mitochondrial ATP enzyme activity in hippocampus and the positive expression of 5-HT in hippocampus CA1 and CA3 of rats in the model group were decreased (<0.01).Compared with the rats in the model group, the latency and the swimming distance of the 2nd to the 4th day, the content of HS in hippocampus of the rats in the remedy group were decreased, the mitochondrial ATP enzyme activity in hippocampus and the positive expression of 5-HT in hippocampus CA1 and CA3 of rats in the model group were increased (<0.01). CONCLUSIONS AOAA could alleviate the symptoms of chronic alcoholism rats, which may be related to the effects of AOAA on the content of HS, the mitochondrial enzyme activity and the expression of 5-HT in hippocampus.
Alcoholism ; Aminooxyacetic Acid ; Animals ; Hippocampus ; Learning ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIM: To evaluate the changes in corneal epithelial thickness(CET)and corneal optical density(CD)after smart pulse technology(SPT)-assisted transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy(TPRK)and analyze their correlation.METHODS: The prospective study included 60 patients(120 eyes)with myopia and myopic astigmatism who underwent SPT-TPRK in the ophthalmology department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between February and August 2023. Changes in CET and CD were evaluated preoperatively and at 1 wk, 1 and 3 mo postoperatively.RESULTS: A total of 14 cases(28 eyes)were lost to follow-up, and 3 patients(6 eyes)with postoperative haze were excluded from this study, resulting in a final inclusion of 43 patients(86 eyes). At 1 wk after SPT-TPRK, CET had statistically significantly thickened compared to preoperative levels(P<0.05), particularly in the CET at 0-2 mm central corneal area(P<0.05). At 1 mo after SPT-TPRK, the CET at 0-2 mm area had statistically significantly decreased(P<0.05). At 3 mo after SPT-TPRK, the CET at 0-2 mm had essentially reached preoperative levels. Postoperative CD values increased, with a positive correlation between CET in the 0-2 mm area and CD in the whole 0-2 mm area(r=0.256, P<0.05), and a positive correlation between CET in the 2-5 mm area and CD in the anterior 2-6 mm area(r=0.319, P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Corneal epithelial remodeling takes 3 mo in areas within 2 mm of the central cornea; areas with thinner CET have faster postoperative corneal epithelial remodeling and greater thickening in the early postoperative period; CD increases in the early postoperative period compared to the preoperative value, and in some areas, there is a positive correlation between CET and CD value.

Objective To ascertain the levels and distributions of individual dose of radiologic workers arising from external exposure in medical institutions in Yangpu District during 2018—2020, so as to provide basic data for the prevention of occupational radiation diseases. Methods Based on the individual dose monitoring specifications for occupational external exposure, the individual dose of radiologic workers was monitored by the thermoluminescence dosimetry systems, and the data were collected and analyzed. Results A total of 2082 people were monitored from 2018 to 2020, and the average annual effective dose per capital was 0.20 mSv·a⁻¹. The average annual effective dose per capital in 2020 was lower than that in 2018 and 2019, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The average annual effective dose of 4 radiologic workers exceeded 5 mSv·a⁻¹ per capital. The average annual effective dose of diagnostic radiology was 0.20 mSv·a⁻¹, which was higher than that of dental radiology and other medical applications, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The average annual effective dose per capital of nuclear medicine was 0.34 mSv·a⁻¹, which was higher than that of other medical categories, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The average annual effective dose per capital in unrated hospitals was 0.14 mSv·a⁻¹, which was lower than that in tertiary hospitals and secondary hospitals, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion The average annual effective dose per capital of radiologic workers in medical institutions in Yangpu District is generally kept at a low level. The radiation protection of radiologic workers in nuclear medicine, secondary and tertiary hospitals should be strengthened to reduce the occupational external exposure doses to the lowest level as possible.