Objective To observe the effect of different calcium concentration peritoneal dialysate on calcium-phosphorus metabohsm in uremia patients under peritoneal dialysis. Methods Forty uremia patients who the first entered peritoneal dialysis were divided into two groups: standard calcium concentration group (20 cases), low calcium concentration group (20 cases). Treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), combining with oral calcium carbonate, observing 12 months. Results When the first entering CAPD, serum calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product, immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) of the two groups had no differences. Hyperphosphatemia, lower iPTH were universal. After 6 months' treatment, hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in standard calcium concentration group got increasingly serious.While in low calcium concentration group, serum calcium, phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product all decreased significantly, moreover, they were also lower than post-treatment standard calcium concentration group(P<0.01). In the following 6 months, in low calcium concentration group,serum calcium, calcium-phosphorus product maintained at the normal level serum phosphorus also decreased to the normal level iPTH maintained about 150 ng/L. During the treatment, all patients had no hypotension and hyperspasmia. Conclusion Low calcium concentration peritoneal dialysate can ameliorate disorder of calcium-phosphorus metabohsm, delay the appearance of its comphcations.

Objective To explore effect of different postures for PICC intubation through basilic vein in very low birth weight infants. Methods Eighty infants from Oct. 2013 to Sep. 2014 with PICC via basilic vein were set as the control group in which traditional method of preventing catheter displacement was applied, another 80 cases from Oct. 2014 to Sep. 2015 were divided to the observation group. And improved method was applied in the experiment group besides the traditional method. The ectopic occurrence rates of the two groups were compared. Result The ectopic rate of PICC catheters in the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion When the catheter tip reaches the shoulder of the very low birth weight infants, the method of raising their upper limbs slightly to the head can reduce the ectopic incidence of catheters and thereby improve the success rate of PICC intubation.

[Objective] To investigate the variation of Q promoter (Qp) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells, and to compare the existing two mutant sites [62 225 site(g→a)and 62 422 site (g→c) ] Qp in NPC cells with the Qp in B95.8 cell line in the functional and biological difference. [Methods] The Qp sequence was amplified in the samples from 29 cases of paraffin-embedded tissues of NPC suffers and 14 cases of peripheral blood of healthy adults by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method (totally 43 cases). The point mutations on specified sites were analyzed and statistically compared from sequencing results. The sequences of variant and prototype Qp were amplified by PCR and cloned into luciferase reporter vector (pGL3-basic), then transfected into HaCat cells respectively. The transcriptional activity was compared between variant and prototype Qp using luciferase reporter system. The DNA binding affinity of mutant and prototype Qp to Sp1 was compared through chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) method since mutation of nt 62 225 located in a Spl binding site. [Results] The mutation rate of Qp was significantly higher in NPC compared with healthy controls (P=0.039 5, <0.05), which suggested the variant Qp was closely associated with NPC. The transcription of the luciferase gene promoted by variant Qp was significant more than that of prototype Qp in transient transfection assay (2.5:1, P<0.05). The binding affinity of variant Qp to Sp1 was about 1.52 times higher than that of prototype Qp as determined by quantitative ChIP assay. [Conclusions] The transcriptional activity was enhanced in variant Qp in NPC cells compared with prototype, which possibly through the higher binding affinity to Sp1. We suggest that the mutated Qp may play an important role during the EBV infection and transformation of nasopharyngeal epithelium.

Objectives To investigate the characteristics of changes in serum metabolic profile before and after resection of carcinoma tissues to establish a disease distinguishing model,to analyze the changing trend of characteristic metabolites,and to determine the molecular mechanism and potential clinical value of characteristic metabolic markers for HBV-related liver cancer.Methods Ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was used to analyze the serum metabolites of 15 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before and after partial hepatectomy and on 25 healthy volunteers.The pattern recognition method and nonparametric test analyzes were used to analyze the data and to identify the specific metabolites and their changes after resection of carcinoma tissues.Results We established the principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) disease distinguishing model for HCC patients before and after operation as against the healthy volunteers.To distinguish between the liver cancer group and the normal control group,27 characteristic metabolites were selected from the patients before and after resection of carcinoma tissues.Eight moved towards the normal control after resection of carcinoma tissues.This indicated that liver carcinoma was an important impacting factor for these metabolites.Finally,7 metabolites were identified,and these metabolites had high diagnostic value as shown on ROC curves.Conclusions Through serum metabolic profiling of patients before and after resection of carcinoma tissues,a high correlation between metabolism and hepatocellular carcinoma was found.Researches on endogenous metabolites and pathways in liver diseases will provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms and provide further directions for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective: To explore the predictive value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET conventional parameters and radiomics features for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression which was uncertain by immunohistochemistry (IHC) detection in invasive breast cancer. Methods: From April 2012 to December 2017, 76 patients (all were females, age: (50.8±10.9) years) with invasive breast cancer and with uncertain HER2 expression by IHC in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. The ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT images before treatment were reviewed and the expression of HER2 were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The tumor lesions were manually outlined, and the radiomics features from PET images were extracted. Wilcoxon test was used to determine whether there was difference in PET conventional metabolic parameters (maximum standardized uptake value (SUV_max), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)) and radiomics features between HER2-negative and HER2-positive groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to compare the predictive efficacy of PET radiomics features for HER2 expression. Results: There were 41 HER2-positive patients and 35 HER2-negative patients. No significant differences in PET conventional metabolic parameters between different HER2 expression groups were observed (U values: from -1.598 to 1.551, all P>0.05). A total of 38 PET radiomics features were extracted, and there were significant differences in gray mean, correlation, contrast, inertia, and inverse different moments between 2 groups(U values: from -2.413 to 2.527, all P<0.05). The area under the curve of the above 5 parameters for prediction of HER2 expression were 0.643, 0.638, 0.647, 0.644 and 0.643, respectively, and the contrast was the best parameter. Conclusions PET radiomics features can effectively identify HER2 expression in patients with invasive breast cancer to some extent, and the contrast may be the best. Conventional metabolic parameters have limited predictive value.

Clinical data from 11 previously diagnosed and treated patients with hyperthyroidism(Graves′ disease) complicated by liver failure were collected. Among them, 4 cases were drug-induced liver injury leading to liver failure, 1 case had a history of schistosomal liver cirrhosis combined with hyperthyroidism, and 6 cases had hyperthyroidism-induced liver injury(HILI) leading to liver failure. During hospitalization, all patients received supportive therapy and symptomatic treatment with β-blockers. Nine patients were treated with glucocorticoids and artificial liver support therapy. Among the 11 patients, 2 died, 8 patients achieved normal thyroid and liver function within 1-12 months after treatment, and 1 patient with liver cirrhosis had stable liver function in the later stage. After improvement in liver function, 7 patients received isotope therapy, 1 patient underwent total thyroidectomy, and 1 patient received medication. These results indicate that the clinical characteristics differ for drug-induced liver injury and HILI-related liver failure. Early initiation of artificial liver support therapy, in addition to β-blockers and glucocorticoids, is important in alleviating thyroid toxicity and liver damage, thus creating an opportunity for subsequent radioactive iodine or surgical treatment.

Objective: To investigate craniofacial differences in individuals with hypodontia and explore the relationship between craniofacial features and the number of congenitally missing teeth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 261 Chinese patients (males, 124; females, 137; age, 7–24 years), divided into four groups (without hypodontia: no teeth missing, mild: one or two missing teeth, moderate: three to five missing teeth, severe: six or more missing teeth) according to the number of congenitally missing teeth. Differences in cephalometric measurements among the groups were analyzed. Further, multivariate linear regression and smooth curve fitting were performed to evaluate the relationship between the number of congenitally missing teeth and the cephalometric measurements. Results: In patients with hypodontia, SNA, NA-AP, FH-NA, ANB, Wits, ANS-Me/N-Me, GoGn-SN, UL-EP, and LL-EP significantly decreased, while Pog-NB, AB-NP, N-ANS, and S-Go/N-Me significantly increased. In multivariate linear regression analysis, SNB, Pog-NB, and S-Go/N-Me were positively related to the number of congenitally missing teeth. In contrast, NA-AP, FH-NA, ANB, Wits, N-Me, ANS-Me, ANS-Me/N-Me, GoGn-SN, SGn-FH (Y-axis), UL-EP, and LL-EP were negatively related, with absolute values of regression coefficients ranging from 0.147 to 0.357. Further, NA-AP, Pog-NB, S-Go/N-Me, and GoGn-SN showed the same tendency in both sexes, whereas UL-EP and LL-EP were different. Conclusions Compared with controls, patients with hypodontia tend toward a Class III skeletal relationship, reduced lower anterior face height, flatter mandibular plane, and more retrusive lips. The number of congenitally missing teeth had a greater effect on certain characteristics of craniofacial morphology in males than in females.

Background The pathogenesis of silicosis is complex and treatment methods are limited. SiO₂-induced increase of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) can activate fibroblasts to promote collagen deposition, ultimately leading to fibrosis. Previous studies have confirmed that lipid metabolism plays an important role in the progression of silicosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α) mediates mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid metabolism pathways in diabetic models, but its role in silicosis has not been elucidated. Objective To investigate the effect of PGC1α on lipid metabolism disorder of macrophages induced by SiO₂ and its effect on the progression of silicosis fibrosis. Methods (1) Macrophages were divided into four groups by transfecting and silencing PGC1α and its control sequence in macrophages and followed by SiO₂ stimulation: negative control group (transfected with si-NC for 48 h), si-PGC1α group (transfected with si-PGC1α for 48 h), SiO₂ stimulation group (stimulated with 50 μg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ for 36 h after transfection with si-NC for 48 h), and si-PGC1α+SiO₂ group (stimulated with 50 μg·mL⁻¹ SiO₂ for 36 h after transfection with si-PGC1α for 48 h). Western blot and cell immunofluorescence were used to test PGC1α expression, 4,4-difluoro-1,3,5,7,8-pentamethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY 493/503) and total cholesterol (TC) and free cholesterol (FC) kits were used to test lipid accumulation, and the Oroboros2k-Oxygraph respiratory test system (O2K) was used to assess the effects of PGC1α on mitochondrial respiratory chain. ELISA kits were used to test TGF-β1 expressed in the macrophage supernatant. (2) Lung fibroblasts were divided into the same four groups as above, and stimulated with the supernatant of macrophages in the above groups. The expression of collagen Ι (COL Ι), E-cadherin (Eca), and fibronectin (FN) were detected by cell immunofluorescence and Western blot to further evaluate the effect of silencing PGC1α on fibrosis. Results The protein expression level of PGC1α stimulated by SiO₂ was decreased, and the relative expression level of PGC1α was 0.78 times that of the control group (P<0.05). After transfection with si-PGC1α, the expression of PGC1α was decreased, and the relative protein expression level of the si-PGC1α group was 0.86 times that of the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the SiO₂ stimulation group, the staining area of BODIPY 493/503 in the si-PGC1α+SiO₂ group was enhanced, and the cholesterol-related indexes [TC, FC and cholesterol ester (CE)] were increased to 1.38, 1.10, and 2.26 times those in the SiO₂ stimulation group (P<0.05). The activity of mitochondrial complex Ι was decreased, and the level of complex Ι in the si-PGC1α+SiO₂ group was 0.63 times that in the SiO₂ stimulation group (P<0.05). The secretion of TGF-β1 by macrophages increased, and the level of TGF-β1 in the si-PGC1α+SiO₂ group was 1.15 times that of the SiO₂ stimulation group (P<0.05). In addition, after stimulation of primary lung fibroblasts with macrophage supernatant, silencing PGC1α increased the expression levels of COL Ι and FN, while decreased the expression of Eca. The protein levels of COL Ι, FN, and Eca in the si-PGC1α+SiO₂ group were 1.39, 1.18, and 0.82 times those in the SiO₂ stimulation group, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion Silencing PGC1α exacerbates SiO₂-induced lipid metabolism disorder, inhibits mitochondrial respiratory chain, and aggravates the fibrosis induced by SiO₂, suggesting that PGC1α may participate silicosis fibrosis by regulating mitochondrial respiratory chain and lipid metabolic disorder induced by SiO₂.

Objective:To observe the extent of brain edema caused by severe cut injury and the protective role of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs).Methods:A total of 90 female C57L mice were selected and the models of severe cut injury were prepared with surgical blade. According to the random number table, the animals were divided into control group (20 mice), cut group (20 mice), interleukin-6 antibody (IL-6-AB) before cut group (administered IL-6-AB at 18 hours before cut, 15 mice), IL-6-AB after cut group (administered IL-6-AB at 1 hour after cut, 15 mice) and UC-MSCs group (20 mice). The extent of brain edema was detected, the level of IL-6 in brain tissue by ELISA method and the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) by Western blot assay.Results:Brain water content test showed brain edema in cut group was (81.5±1.8)%, significantly higher than (77.1±2.4)% in control group ( P<0.05). Compared with cut group, brain edema in UC-MSCs group [(76.8±2.4)%] and IL-6-AB before cut group [(76.2±2.9)%] were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), while that in IL-6-AB after cut group [(82.4±1.7)%] was little decreased ( P>0.05). ELISA showed the level of IL-6 in cut group was significantly increased in mouse brain [(16.6±1.3)pg/ml], when compared with control group [(10.3±0.3)pg/ml] ( P<0.01). Compared with cut group, the levels of IL-6 in UC-MSCs group [(10.7±0.6)pg/ml] and IL-6-AB before cut group [(10.1±0.4)pg/ml] were significantly decreased ( P<0.01), while that in IL-6-AB after cut group [(14.9±1.2)pg/ml] was little decreased in mouse brain ( P>0.05). Western blot assay showed that compared with control group (1.0±0.1), the expression of AQP-4 in cut group (2.4±0.5) was significantly increased in mouse brain ( P<0.01). Compared with cut group, the expression of AQP-4 in UC-MSCs group (1.2±0.3) and IL-6-AB before cut group (1.0±0.1) were significantly decreased ( P<0.01), while that in IL-6-AB after cut group (2.3±0.3) was little decreased in mouse brain ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Severe cut injury can increase brain water content and eventually lead to brain edema through upregulating the levels of IL-6 and AQP-4 protein in the brain. Moreover, UC-MSCs effectively prevent the formation of brain edema by inhibiting the above effects.