Objective • To investigate the current status of self-perceived burden of the patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and analyze the related factors. Methods • A total of 169 NHL patients who were hospitalized in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from Jan. to Oct., 2019, and their caregivers were enrolled by convenience sampling method. The general information questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) and Self-perceived Burden Scale (SPBS) were used to investigate, and the factors related to the score of SPBS were analyzed. Results • The average score of SPBS was 28.95±11.27, while the score of economic burden was the highest (3.13±1.37). Multiple regression analysis suggested that the family income per month per person (P=0.001), Karnofsky performance status (KPS) (P=0.027), SDS score (P=0.006) and ZBI score (P=0.000) were associated with the SPBS score in the NHL patients. Conclusion • The overall selfperceived burden in the patients with NHL is mild-to-moderate, but the economic burden is not neglectable. Low monthly income, poor ability of self-care, depressive symptoms and heavy burden of caregivers can aggravate the self-perceived burden of the patients with NHL.

Adolescent ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Sturge-Weber Syndrome ; pathology

Toxicogenomics (TGx) refers to a set of technologies that assess genome-wide responses after toxic agent exposure. Altered gene expression patterns that are caused by specific exposures reveal how toxicants may disrupt cellular processes and lead to side effects. Development and application of " omics" technology facilitate the toxicogenomic research which sharing and interpretation of the enormous amount of biological information generated in toxicologic field. In recent years TGx has been widely valued and successfully applied as an effective research tool to evaluate the toxic effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Here we reviewed current progress in the field of TGx and focused on its application in traditional Chinese medicine safety evaluation, especially in revealing the mechanism, finding potential toxic biomarkers and studying compatibility detoxification of TCM.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Safety ; Toxicogenetics

Objective Little research has been done on the risk factor analysis of BK virus(BKV) infection in renal transplant recipients in Chinese population.The article aimed to investigate BKV infection and analyze its risk factors in renal transplant recipients in China.Methods Renal transplant recipients who had received the detection of BKV DNA in urine and blood samples in Nanjing General Hospital from June 2015 to July 2016 were selected, while the patients with uremia hemodialysis and healthy living donors were included as control group.According to the detection results of BKV DNA in urine and blood samples, renal transplant recipients were divided into BKV DNA positive group(n=89, positive urine or blood and urine BKV DNA) and BKV DNA negative group(n=359, negative blood and urine BKV DNA).Analysis was made on BKV infection in renal transplant recipients in order to investigate the effects of factors including clinical condition, postoperative complications and immunosuppressive regimen on BKV infection.Results The positive rate of BKV DNA in urine samples of renal transplant recipients was 19.9%, which was higher than those of patients with dialysis and healthy living donors(6.3% and 4.2% respectively, P<0.001).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed BKV infection was associated with pulmonary infection(OR[95%CI], 3.468[1.227-9.802];P=0.019) , acute rejection (OR[95%CI], 2.645[1.142-6.127];P=0.023), and FK506 (OR[95%CI], 2.408[1.104-5.254];P=0.027).Conclusion The incidence of BKV infection in renal transplant recipients increases significantly.Pulmonary infection, acute rejection and FK506-based immunosuppressive regimen are risk factors leading to BKV infection.

BACKGROUNDStudies of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-6 in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of asthmatic patients are limited. This study was to determine the effect of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment on IL-4 and IL-6 in the EBC of asthmatic patients.

METHODSIn a prospective, open-label study, budesonide 200 μg twice daily by dry powder inhaler was administered to 23 adult patients with uncontrolled asthma (mean age 42.7 years) for 12 weeks. Changes in asthma scores, lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1], peak expiratory flow [PEF], forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity [FEF50], forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity, maximum mid-expiratory flow rate) and the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-6 in EBC were measured.

RESULTSBoth asthma scores and lung function parameters were significantly improved by ICS treatment. The mean IL-4 concentration in the EBC was decreased gradually, from 1.92 ± 0.56 pmol/L before treatment to 1.60 ± 0.36 pmol/L after 8 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05) and 1.54 ± 0.81 pmol/L after 12 weeks of treatment (P < 0.01). However, the IL-6 concentration was not significantly decreased. The change in the IL-4 concentration was correlated with improvements in mean FEV1, PEF and FEF50 values (correlation coefficients -0.468, -0.478, and -0.426, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe concentration of IL-4 in the EBC of asthmatic patients decreased gradually with ICS treatment. Measurement of IL-4 in EBC could be useful to monitor airway inflammation in asthmatics.

Administration, Inhalation ; Adult ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Breath Tests ; Budesonide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Prospective Studies

Objective To analyze the podiatric conditions of athletes with intellectual disabilities.Methods From May eleventh to 17th, 2015,779 athletes who participated in the sixth National Special Olympics were enrolled partly.Their lower limbs and feet were evaluated with Fit Feet Healthy Athletes Screening Form.Results Common podiatric conditions found in Special Olympics athletes included flat feet (52.2% in left side and 51.7% in right side), over pronation (56.1% in left side and 56.9% in right side), callus (44.7%), wrong nail cut (46.6%),ingrown nail(21.1%),and cross over toes(6.8%),etc.Conclusion Special Olympics athletes have podiatric structural,functional, nail and skin problems,which may relate to intellectual disabilities.

Background Keratoconus is a bilateral,noninflammatory,gradually progressive corneal disorder characterized by progressive thinning and steepening of the central cornea.It is significant to investigate keratoconusrelated pathogenic gene for elaborating the pathogenesis and establishing early diagnosis standard and taking clinical measurement.Objective The aim of the study was to explore the relationship of visual system homeobox gene (VSX1) polymorphism and the risk of sporadic keratoconus.Methods This study was approved by Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Xi' an.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to enrollment.A case-controlled study was conducted.One hundred and one Han nationality patients with sporadic keratoconus were included in this study.These keratoconus patients were clinically diagnosed by slit lamp examination and corneal tomography.Single nucleolide polymorphism (SNP) of VSX1 gene was assayed and classified using the MassARRAY SNP technique.Demography and relevant risk factors were collected from each subject by questionnaire.Eighty healthy volunteers served as controls.Chi-square test and Binary logistic regression were used to evaluate the difference in the distribution of allele frequency and genotype frequency and to analyze the association with keratoconus risks.Results SNP of two genes was found in the Chinese Han population (rs743018 (c.843+140 C＞T) and rs6138482(R217H C＞T)).There were no significant differences in the genotype frequency and allele frequency of the SNP of two genes in the keratoconus group in comparison with the normal control group (P＞0.05).After adjustment by age and sex,SNP of two genes was not significantly associated with the risk of keratoconus (regression model:rs743018 (C＞T) adjusted:P=0.35,OR=0.72,95％ CI:0.37-1.43 ;rs6138482 (C＞T) adjusted:P =0.48,OR=0.76,95％ CI:0.35-1.64).Conclusions Gene polymorphisms of rs743018(c.843+140 C＞T) and rs6138482(R217H C＞T) in the Chinese Han population is not associated with the risk of keratoconus.Due to the racial difference in genotype and allele frequency,the role of the VSX1 gene in the pathogenesis of keratoconus still remains controversial,and further study needs to be developed.

Objective To evaluate the performance of diluted thrombin time (dTT) assay for detecting Dabigatran levels and observe whether this assay may meet the requirements of clinical laboratory.Methods According to EP15-A2,EP6-A,EP7-A and C-24 documents of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI),the precision,trueness,analytical measurement range,carryover rate and anti-biological interference of dTT assay were evaluated and the stability of specimen for dTT assay was observed.Results Both the within-day and between-day coefficient of variation (CV) of dTT assay for detecting Dabigatran levels were consistent with manufacturer's stated CV.Compared with target values of Dabigatran,the relative bias of 3 levels of proficiency test materials from College of American Pathologists (CAP) were less than 10％.The results meet linear verification when Dabigatran concentration was between 30.92 and 249.13 ng/mL.The carryover rate was-0.84％.There was no interference for Dabigatran levels by dTT assay for detecting Dabigatran when Hb≤3 g/L,triglyceride≤873 mg/dL,heparin≤2.2 IU/mL and FDP≤29 mg/L.The results of stability showed that plasma specimens for dTT could not be stored at room temperature more than 4 hours,at 4 ℃ more than 4 days,at-20 ℃ exceed 1 month,while at-80℃ the plasma specimens could be stored at least 6 months for dTT assay.Conclusion The precision,trueness,analytical measurement range,carryover rate,anti-biological interference of dTT assay may meet the requirement of clinical laboratory.The stability of the specimen can fulfill the clinical requirements.

Objective To observe the hematological toxicity of 89SrCl2 in patients with multiple bone metastases of malignant tumors,and analyze the related-risk factors.Methods A total of 89 patients (63 males,26 females;age:(62.3±5.2) years) with multiple bone metastases and treated with 89SrCl2 were enrolled.Hematological data at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment with 89SrCl2 were analyzed.Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03 was used to evaluate the hematological toxicity,and the influencing risk factors were analyzed.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the data.Results The incidences of grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ anemia,leukopenia and thrombocytopania at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment were 15.7％(14/89),18.0％(16/89),11.2％(10/89) and 18.0％(16/89),24.7％(22/89),18.0％(16/89),respectively.The incidences of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ anemia,leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were 2.2％(2/89),0,0 and 2.2％(2/89),2.2％(2/89),3.4％％(3/89),respectively.Logistics multivariate analysis showed that the number of bone metastases and the Hb level before treatment were independent effect factors for hematological toxicity of 89SrCl2,with odds ratio (OR) values of 2.200(95％ CI:1.269-3.841) and 0.961 (95％ CI:0.932-0.991),respectively.Conclusions Serious hematological toxicity after 89SrCl2 treatment is rare.The number of bone metastases and the Hb level before treatment are independent effect factors for hematological toxicity.

OBJECTIVETo determine the origin of 1 prenatally detected small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) using SNP-chip technology, and to deduce the underlying mechanism.

METHODSThe fetal sample was subjected to karyotype analysis. The identified sSMC was subjected to genom wide scan using a SNP microarray chip. The results were validated with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

RESULTSThe karyotype of the fetus was determined as 46, X, +mar, which was verified by SNP microarray chip analysis as Yp11.2-11.3 duplication, along with loss of Yq11.2 region, FISH analysis has confirmed that the sSMC has derived from the Y chromosome.

CONCLUSIONThe karyotype of the fetus was determined as 46, X, idic(Y) (pter→ p11.2::11.2→ pter). Regional deletion of Yq11.2 has been associated with male azoospermia. SNP chip analysis can exclude minor deletions and duplications with a size of more than 1 Mb, which may be applied for verifying difficult cases as well as microdeletion and duplication syndromes upon prenatal diagnosis.

Adult ; Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis