Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Larynx ; pathology

OBJECTIVEQingkailing injection (QKLI), Jinnaduo injection (JNDI), Shuxuetong injection (SXTI), Shenmai injection (SMI) and Kangai injection (KAI) are widely used in China. To predict the herb-drug interactions in clinical application, they were evaluated for their in vitro inhibition effect on CYP3A in rat liver microsomes.

METHODThe rat liver microsomes were incubated with different doses of 5 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine injections (TCMIs) in the present of testosterone, a specific substrate of CYP3A. 6beta-hydroxytestosterone, the metabolite of testosterone, was monitored by HPLC to compare the inhibition effect of 5 TCMIs on CYP3A in rat liver microsomes. Ketoconazole was used as a positive control.

RESULT10% QKLI reduced the formation of 6beta-hydroxytestosterone by approximately 93.0%, which is more significant than other four TCMIs. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the enzyme-inhibitor constant K(i) were 1.0% and 0.7% respectively.

CONCLUSIONQKLI showed much stronger inhibition activity against CYP3A, comparing to other 4 TCMIs. The results revealed that QKLI may be involved in herb-drug interactions by inhibition of CYP3A.

Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors ; Injections ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the characters of lung injury induced by tin dusts and to provide the diagnosis evidence of tin pneumoconiosis.

METHODSForty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: the group exposed to tin dusts from smelting workshop, the group exposed to tin dusts from tin refining workshop, the positive control group exposed to standard quartz dusts and the negative control group exposed to saline. The pathological changes of rat lungs were observed dynamically.

RESULTSIn rats exposed to tin dusts, on the 30th day after exposure to tin dusts, the scattered hoar tip size of the spots in surface and section of the lungs were observed, the scattered focal granulomatous inflammation around the small bronchi and dust particles in lung tissue were observed under microscope; on the 90th day after exposure to tin dusts, the granulomatous inflammation increase, the fibroblasts proliferation, collagen fibers formation and positive VG staining were found. There were significant differences, as compared with positive or negative controls (P < 0.05). These pathological changes were basically the characters of specific pathological changes in early tin pneumoconiosis.

CONCLUSIONNon-ferrous metal tin dusts can induce the specific lung injury (granuloma formation) in lung tissue of rats exposed to tin dusts, which fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of specific pathological changes in early tin pneumoconiosis.

Animals ; Dust ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tin ; adverse effects

Laggera pterodonta is commonly used for treating influenza in Southwest China, especially in Yunnnan province. The main clinical effects of L. pterodonta include anti-influenza, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory. To investigate the anti-influenza A (H1N1) virus effect of L. pterodonta, neutralization inhibition and proliferation inhibition tests were performed. MDCK culture method was used to observe the cytopathic effect (CPE) of extracts from L. pterodonta in inhibiting influenza A (H1N1) virus and haemagglutination titre of H1N1 virus in vitro. The culture medium were collected at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, and detected by Real time RT-PCR, in order to compare the effect of different extracts from L. pterodonta on in vitro proliferation of H1N1, virus. The result of neutralization inhibition test showed that hemagglutination titer of ethyl acetate extract were 8 times lower at 72 h; in proliferation inhibition test, hemagglutination titer of ethyl acetate extracts reduced by 2 and 4 times. According to the results of Real time RT-PCR test, the H1N1 inhibition ratio of ethyl acetate extract was 72.5%, while the proliferation inhibition ratio of ethyl acetate extract was 25.3%; as for petroleum ether extracts, the H1N1 inhibition ratio was 60.2%, while the proliferation inhibition ratio was 81.4%. In conclusion, both ethyl acetate extract and petroleum ether extract of L. pterodonta have significant neutralization and direct proliferation inhibition effects on influenza A virus.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; China ; ethnology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; virology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective:To explore an efficient method of practical teaching for ultrasonography.Methods:There were 41 five-year clinical medical students intending to learn ultrasonography in the spring semester of 2019. After completing common theory courses, they were divided into two groups randomly for practice courses, which consisted of two modules: Lecture and Hands-on. Lecture included case-based learning while Hands-on included pictures reading. Each group followed different sequence of modules. There were assessments of ultrasound theory, practice or the combination of both before, during and after practice courses.Results:The theory and practice ability of each group improved significantly after practice courses ( P < 0.05). Moreover, the group whose Hands-on module preceded Lecture module got the higher scores in the evaluation of the combined ability of theory and practice ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:The theory was as important as the practice during the clerkship of ultrasonography. The clinical practical teaching pattern that Hands-on precedes Lecture has achieved better teaching effects.

OBJECTIVETo survey the sleep habits (bedtime, wake time), sleep duration, and sleep problems in school-age children of China.

METHODFrom November to December, 2005, a total of 19,299 school-age children from 55 elementary schools of 9 cities entered the study by a cross-sectional survey. A parent-administered questionnaire and the Chinese version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire were applied to investigate children's sociodemographic characteristics and sleep behaviors, respectively.

RESULTSThe mean sleep duration was 9 hours and 10 minutes (9:10, SD:48 min) during the weekdays and 9:48 (SD: 63 min) during the weekends. In about 71.4% and 41.8% school-aged children the sleep duration per day did not reach the lowest criterion of 10 hours recommended by the Ministry of Education of China during weekdays and weekends, respectively. Sleep problems were common with prevalence ranging from 14.5% for sleep-disordered breathing to 75.3% for daytime sleepiness. Parasomnia (chi(2) = 13.76, P < 0.01) and sleep-disordered breathing (chi(2) = 119.83, P < 0.01) were more prevalent in boys than in girls; however, sleep anxiety was more prevalent in girls than in boys (chi(2) = 19.42, P < 0.01). Except for night waking, other types of sleep problems were significantly associated with age.

CONCLUSIONSInadequate sleep duration and sleep problems prevail among school-age children, which indicates that children's sleep health may be a major public health concern in China.

Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Habits ; Humans ; Male ; Sleep ; Sleep Stages ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; epidemiology ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo determine occupational hazards in work sites of a large solid waste landfill and analyze their adverse health effects.

METHODThe national standardized detection methods were used to determine dust concentration, harmful gas and physical factors in worksites. Routine physical examination, pulmonary function, hearing tests and nervous system test were performed in workers for 2 consecutive years. Urine lead, cadmium and mercury contents were detected. The comet assay was use to measure DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes among workers.

RESULTThe main occupational hazard factors in this solid landfill are dust, harmful gas, high temperature and noise. The oxides, carbon monoxide, and noise and high temperatures in summer at some work sites exceeded the national occupational exposure limits. The prevalence of respiratory inflammation and rate of pulmonary function decrease among front-line workers and on-site technical managers are 21.2% and 11.5%, which are significantly higher than those among administrative staff (7.1% and 0) (P < 0.05). Nervous system abnormalities rate of front-line workers and on-site technical managers was 50.0%, which is significantly higher than that (26.7%) of administrative staff (P < 0.05). Because of long-term exposure to high intensity noice, hearing loss rate of bulldozer drivers was 10.3%. In addition, about 75% of workers with DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocyte are front-line workers.

CONCLUSIONAdverse health effects from occupational hazards were observed among workers in this solid waste landfill.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; Refuse Disposal ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Workplace

In this study, we investigated the mechanism of linoleic acid-stimulated increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in pancreatic islet β-cells. Pancreatic islet cells were primarily isolated from rats and cultured for the experiments. The cells were loaded with Fluo-3/AM, the indicator of [Ca(2+)](i), and the intensity of Fluo-3 was measured using confocal microscope. The islet β-cells were identified by immunocytochemical staining with insulin antibody after recording. The drugs were given by perfusion system. The results showed that linoleic acid (20 μmol/L) stimulated [Ca(2+)](i) increase with the first peak increase and the following plateau increase. Linoleic acid-stimulated [Ca(2+)](i) increase was partly inhibited by removal of extracellular calcium and by transient receptor potential (TRP) channel blocker, La(3+), and it was totally blocked by exhaustion of intracellular calcium stores and inhibition of phospholipase C. It is concluded that linoleic acid stimulates [Ca(2+)](i) increase in islet β-cells through both extracellular calcium influx via TRP channels and calcium release from intracellular calcium stores.
Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Linoleic Acid ; pharmacology ; Male ; Primary Cell Culture ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transient Receptor Potential Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors

With the development and improvement of new sequencing technology, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been applied increasingly in cancer genomics research over the past decade. More recently, NGS has been adopted in clinical oncology to advance personalized treatment of cancer. NGS is used to identify novel and rare cancer mutations, detect familial cancer mutation carriers, and provide molecular rationale for appropriate targeted therapy. Compared to traditional sequencing, NGS holds many advantages, such as the ability to fully sequence all types of mutations for a large number of genes (hundreds to thousands) in a single test at a relatively low cost. However, significant challenges, particularly with respect to the requirement for simpler assays, more flexible throughput, shorter turnaround time, and most importantly, easier data analysis and interpretation, will have to be overcome to translate NGS to the bedside of cancer patients. Overall, continuous dedication to apply NGS in clinical oncology practice will enable us to be one step closer to personalized medicine.
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; economics ; methods ; Humans ; Mutation ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; Precision Medicine ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic efficiency of ⁶⁸Gallium labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for staging the lymph node metastases (LNMs) in the prostate cancer.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A broad search of scientific databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database, and Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database (updated prior to November 1st, 2018) was conducted systematically by two reviewers. In this paper, we evaluated the methodological quality of each included article independently and performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to reveal the summary of the diagnostic performance of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET and MRI in properly identifying LNMs of intermediate- and/or high-risk prostate cancer.RESULTS: Thirteen eligible articles comprising 1,597 patients were included. For LNMs detection, the pooled sensitivity and specificity of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET were 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49–0.79) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88–0.97), respectively, while the corresponding values of MRI were 0.41 (95% CI: 0.26–0.57) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86–0.95). The area under the symmetric receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curve for ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET and MRI were 0.92 and 0.83, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: In intermediate- or high-risk pre-treatment prostate cancer, ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET had a higher sensitivity and a slightly different specificity in probing the LNMs when comparing with MRI. Moreover, the area under the SROC curve indicated that ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET was a more effective weapon for predicting the LNMs prior to radical surgery.