OBJECTIVETo compare the image quality of T grain green sensitive film (TML-1) and Lanex Gd(2)O(2)S rare earth intensifying screen with that of XK-1 blue sensitive film and calcium tungstate (CaWO(4)) intensifying screen, and to study the application of T grain technic to the diagnosis of lung diseases.

METHODS160 coal miners were randomly selected to take both TML-1 and XK-1 chest film of high kV radiographs at the same time. Silver halide granule, fluorescence of intensifying screen, radiographic parameters, the density at different points in the lung and chest radiographs were observed.

RESULTSSilver grains in TML-1 film were more homogeneous in distribution than in XK-1 film. Luminous intensity of Lanex Gd(2)O(2)S rare earth intensifying screen was brighter than CaWO(4) intensifying screen in the same exposure. The exposure doses of TML-1 film was reduced to one third of XK-1 film. The density of chest radiographs was 0.24 to 2.74 in TML-1 film, and 0.30 to 2.60 in XK-1 film. There were greater exposure latitude and more informations in TML-1 film. By apertured-disc observation, the fine structure of lung in TML-1 film was clearer than in XK-1 film, the shape was more concrete and reliable, visualizability was stronger.

CONCLUSIONT grain technique may obviously improve the clearness and resolution of image, and enhance the transmission of information, as well as increase the diagnostic informations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To assess the correlation between polymorphisms in the coagulation factor Ⅶ (F Ⅶ) gene hypervariable region 4 (HVR4) site and risk related to coronary heart disease (CHD) in different ethnic populations,especially the Asian populations.Methods Publications up to April 2013,from CBM,CNKI,Wanfang Database,VIP,PubMed,Cochrane Library and Embase were searched to collect data from case-control studies related to F Ⅶ gene HVR4 site and CHD in populations from different ethnicities.Quality of studies was evaluated,available data extracted and both RevMan 5.1 and Stata 11.0 softwares were used for Meta-analysis.Results Fifteen case-control studies were included,involving 3167 cases with CHD group and 3168 cases in the control group.Results on this Meta-analysis showed that:a) polymorphism of the FⅦ gene HVR4 site H7/H6 +H5and CHD,b) H7H7/H6H6 + H7H6 and CHD were both slightly correlated between people with different ethnic backgrounds.However,the H6 allele versus H7 + H5 allele and CHD showed different results-a high correlation seen in different ethnic groups.H5 allele versus H6 + H7 allele and CHD did not appear significant difference(OR=l.20,95％CI:0.76-1.90,P=0.43).Conclusion Both FⅦgene HVR4 polymorphisms H7 allele and the H7H7 genotype might have served as protective factors for CHD in different ethnic groups,H6 allele might serve as a risk factor for CHD,but H5 allele was likely not to be associated with CHD in different ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza monomer IH764-3 on apoptosis in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-stimulated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

METHODSHSCs were cultured in medium with different IH764-3 doses (10 mg/L, 20 mg/L, 30 mg/L, 40 mg/L) and without IH764-3. Direct cell count, 3H-thymidine incorporation, Annexin-V/Propidium Iodide double-labeled flow cytometry, TUNEL and transmission electron microscopy were employed to estimate the influence of IH764-3 on proliferation and apoptosis of HSCs. The expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) mRNA and protein in HSCs were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSIt was showed that H2O2 could promote HSC proliferation. In contrast, IH764-3 at concentrations of 10 mg/L, 20 mg/L, 30 mg/L and 40 mg/L inhibited its proliferation. The inhibition rates were 7.13%, 28.36%, 53.80% and 73.10% (P < 0.01). And the inhibition rates of IH764-3 at concentrations of 30 mg/L at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h were 22.24%, 40.51% and 61.65%. Furthermore, IH764-3 could also induce the HSC apoptosis in dose-dependent an dtime-dependent manners (P < 0.01). In addition, after exposed of HSCs to IH764-3 for 24 h, ERK production decreased and ERK1 mRNA was down-regulated earlier about 2 h after exposure to IH764-3.

CONCLUSIONIH764-3 may inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of HSCs in both dose-dependent and time-dependent manners, which may be related to down-regulation of ERK expression.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in adhesion and migration of hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

METHODSTwo recombinant plasmids expressing short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting FAK were constructed and one plasmid substantially suppressing FAK expression in HSC was selected. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the knockdown effects of FAK gene. After 48-hour treatment with FAK shRNA, toluidine blue colorimetric assay was used to detect the cell adhesion. Wound-healing assay and improved Boyden double-chamber were used to detect the cell migration induced by FN.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid expressing FAK shRNA was successfully constructed and transfected into HSC. Compared with the controls, the expression of FAK mRNA and protein in HSC treated with FAK shRNA was markedly down-regulated by 76.82% and 72.53%, respectively. The expression of p-FAK (Tyr397) protein was also decreased by 62.71% 48 h posttransfection. The adhesion of HSC was inhibited by 58.69% at 48 h after shRNA transfection. FAK gene silencing could also dramatically inhibit FN-stimulated HSC migration, and the cell migration distance and the cell number of crossing membrane were decreased by 58.27% and 83.70%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSFAK gene silencing suppresses adhesion and migration of HSC, and FAK may be a potential target for novel anti-fibrosis therapies.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Line ; Cell Movement ; Down-Regulation ; Fibronectins ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; enzymology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDThere has been no a specific scale to measure quality of life (QOL) for prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to date. This study aimed to develop and initially validate the scale to evaluate QOL for prostate cancer patients receiving ADT.

METHODSThe scale was developed following international recommendations. Moreover, the items were all generated through literature review and referenced questionnaires. After being reviewed by expert panelists, the revised scale was formed and then completed by a convenience sample of 200 prostate cancer patients from our hospital. Explore factor analysis (EFA) was applied to test the construct validity, then split-half reliability, Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliability were applied to assess the reliability and stability of the scale.

RESULTSThe revised scale contained 22 items and a total of 200 participants had completed the scale. One hundred participants were randomly selected from the total 200 participants to perform EFA with varimax rotation on the revised scale, and "hot flashes" item was deleted for low factor loading. We selected only 3 items from each factor, then, the final scale was formed with 18-items. We selected another 100 participants to perform the EFA again on the final scale. It was demonstrated that the structure with 6 factors explained 72.5% of total variance and factor loading value was above 0.40 in all items of the factors. Moreover, the split-half reliability coefficient, Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliability coefficient were calculated to be 0.74, 0.63, and 0.89, respectively, exhibiting good reliability on the whole.

CONCLUSIONSThe scale was identified to be a valid and reliable instrument to measure QOL for prostate cancer patients receiving ADT. Moreover, further research is needed to overcome the potential drawbacks.

Objective:To explore the application of mobile medical technology in aquatic rehabilitation assessment for patients with spinal cord injury. Methods:From November, 2017 to April, 2018, 72 patients with spinal cord injury accepted aquatic exercise were randomly divided into control group (n = 36) and experimental group (n = 36). All the patients were assessed with Water Orientation Assessment of Alyn (WOTA), using paper scale for the control group, mobile scale for the experimental group, twice. The time for assessment and for recall was recorded. The accuracy of results and variety between assessment was compared. Results:The time for assessment and for recall was less in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 10.492, P < 0.001), with more accuracy of standard total score, the variety of total score and standard total score (χ² > 4.545, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the paper-based assessment, the assessment based on mobile technology may improve work efficiency.

OBJECTIVETo summarize and critically assess the effificacy of Eastern and Western manipulative therapies for the treatment of neck pain in adults.

METHODSA search of PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, EMBASE, etc. from their inception date to January 2014 with Chinese, Japanese, and Korean databases. Two reviewers independently selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with negative control or blank control, extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Meta-analysis and levels of evidence were performed by Revman5.1 and Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTSNineteen clinical trials with adequate randomization were included in this review, 11 of them had a low risk of bias. The primary outcome for short-term pain had no significant differences, however, the secondary outcome, only the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score of intermediate-term [n=916, pooled mean differences (MD) =-0.29, P=0.02], the Neck Disability Index (NDI) score of short-term (n=1,145, pooled MD=-2.10, P<0.01), and intermediate-term (n=987, pooled MD=-1.45, P=0.01) were signifificantly reduced with moderate quality evidence. However, it supported the minimally clinically important difference (MCID) of the Visual Analogue Scale and NPRS pain score to be 13 mm, while NDI was 3.5 points. The meta-analysis only suggested a trend in favor of manipulative therapy rather than clinical signifificance.

CONCLUSIONSThe results do not support the existing evidences for the clinical value of Eastern or Western manipulative therapy for neck pain of short-term follow-up according to MCIDs. The limitations of our review related to blinding, allocation concealment and small sample size.

The present study was aimed to investigate the role of necroptosis in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The rat model of ARDS was induced by intravenous injection of oleic acid (OA), and observed for 4 h. The lung injury was evaluated by arterial blood gas, lung wet-dry weight ratio (W/D) and histological analyses. Simultaneously, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for total and differential cell analysis and total protein determination. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level in BALF was determined with a rat TNF-α ELISA kit. Expressions of receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) in lung tissue were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. The interaction between RIPK1 and RIPK3 was explored by immunoprecipitation. The results showed that, compared with those in control group, total white blood cells count (WBC), polymorphonuclear percentage (PMN%), total protein concentration, TNF-α level in BALF, W/D, and the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference (P(A-a)O) in OA group were significantly increased at 4 h after OA injection. Western blot and immunostaining further showed remarkably increased expressions of RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL in lung tissue from OA group. Additionally, immunoprecipitation results indicated an enforced interaction between RIPK1 and RIPK3 in OA group. Collectively, the TNF-α level in BALF and the RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL signaling pathway in lung tissue were found to be upregulated and activated with the process of ARDS. These findings implicate that RIPK1/RIPK3-mediated necroptosis plays a possible role in the pathogenesis of ARDS, which may provide a new idea to develop novel drugs for the therapy of ARDS.
Acute Disease ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung Diseases ; Necrosis ; Oleic Acid ; Rats ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Respiration Disorders ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha