OBJECTIVETo explore the role of transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) in pathologic diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSIn our hospital during May 2011 and Sep 2011, the TBLB samples from 35 cases occupationally exposed to dusts were compared with the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or lobectomy samples from 27 cases not exposed to dusts for pathological indexes, including fibrotic proliferation, nodule or nodule-like, dust deposition and needle-shaped birefringent particles.

RESULTSIn group exposed to dusts, there were 6 cases (17.1%) with the moderate dust deposition and 28 cases (80.0%) with fibrotic proliferation. But in group not exposed to dusts, there were 0 case with the moderate dust deposition and 11 cases (40.0%) with fibrotic proliferation. There were significant differences between two groups (P < 0.05). In group exposed to dusts, there were 6 cases (17.1%) with Nodules-like and needle-shaped birefringent particles, but in group not exposed to dusts, there was 0 case with Nodules-like and needle-shaped birefringent particles.

CONCLUSIONTBLB could provide the evidence of pathological changes in lung tissue induced by dusts, and TBLB play an important role in pneumoconiosis diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; methods ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation between the pneumoconiosis severity and the cytokines levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or blood T cell subsets.

METHODSThe subjects were divided into five groups: control group (6 cases), group exposed to dusts (6 cases) and 3 pneumoconiosis groups (36 in stage I, 12 in stage II and 10 in stage III). ELISA was used to detect IL-6, sIL-2R and TNF-α levels in serum and BALF. The subsets of blood T cells were classified by flow cytometer.

RESULTSAs compared with control group and group exposed to dusts, the levels of serum IL-6 and sIL-2R in patients with II or III stages significantly increased, which were positively correlated with pneumoconiosis stages (r(1) = 0.74, r(2) = 0.81, P < 0.05). The level of serum TNF-α significantly decreased in patients with III stages, as compared with control group and group exposed to dusts. There was a negative correlation between serum TNF-α level and pneumoconiosis severity (r = -0.58, P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the levels of IL-6, sIL-2R and TNF-α in BALF and the levels of IL-6, sIL-2R and TNF-α in serum (r(1) = 0.77, r(2) = 0.96 and r(3) = 0.88, P < 0.05). The proportion of CD(4)(+)T cells and the ratio of CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) decreased dramatically in patients with II and III stages. But there was no correlation between these values and disease severity.

CONCLUSIONThe immune function in Th cell was inhibited. The levels of IL-6, sIL-2R and TNF-α in serum and BALF were associated with the severity of pneumoconiosis.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytokines ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Pneumoconiosis ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic changes in macronutrients and energy in human milk from mothers of premature infants.

METHODSA total of 339 human milk samples were collected from 170 women who delivered preterm or full-term infants in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital between November 2012 and January 2014. Macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates and energy were measured using a MIRIS human milk analyzer and compared between groups.

RESULTSIn milk samples from premature infants' mothers, the protein levels were the highest in colostrum (2.22±0.49 g/dL), less in transitional milk (1.83±0.39 g/dL), and the least in mature milk (1.40±0.28 g/dL) (P<0.01), and the levels of fats (2.4±1.3 g/dL vs 3.1±1.1 g/dL; P<0.01), carbohydrates (6.4±0.9 g/dL vs 6.6±0.4 g/dL; P<0.05) and energy (55±9 kcal/dL vs 62±8 kcal/dL; P<0.01) were significantly lower in colostrum than in transitional milk. The protein levels in colostrum from premature infants' mothers were significantly higher than those in colostrum from term infants' mothers (2.22±0.49 g/dL vs 2.07±0.34 g/dL; P<0.05). The colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks had significantly higher protein levels than those from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks and ≥34 weeks (2.48±0.68 g/dL vs 2.11±0.25 g/dL and 2.22±0.39 g/dL respectively, P<0.05); the energy levels in colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks group (51±6 kcal/dL) were significantly lower than those in colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks (58±8 kcal/d; P<0.05). The carbohydrate levels in transitional milk from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks were significantly higher than those in transitional milk from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks and ≥34 weeks (P<0.05). The protein levels in mature milk from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks were significantly higher than those in mature milk from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of ≤30 weeks and ≥34 weeks (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of macronutrients and energy in milk from mothers of premature infants vary significantly between colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. Protein levels are significantly higher in colostrum from premature infants' mothers than in colostrum from term infants' mothers, but the significant difference is not seen for mature milk. Macronutrient and energy levels show significant differences between milk samples from mothers of premature infants with different gestational ages, so as to meet different needs of premature infants.

Adult ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Lipids ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Milk Proteins ; analysis ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo observe and evaluate the performances of intermittent positive pressure ventilation, beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, and pressure lavage in promoting residual fluid absorption and improving blood oxygen saturation during massive whole lung lavage (WLL).

METHODSA total of 155 patients were randomly divided into pressure ventilation (PV) group (n = 28), adrenaline (Ad) group (n = 31), PV plus Ad group (n = 29), pressure infusion bag (PIB) group (n = 30), and control group (n = 32). The patients underwent staged MWLL of bilateral lungs. The blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) of arterial blood of finger, chest X-ray findings, clinical symptoms, and lung functions were observed before and after MWLL.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in change in clinical symptoms among the five groups after MWLL (P > 0.05). The Ad group showed 6.3% increase in forced vital capacity (FVC) and 10.9% increase in forced expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity (FEF(25%)) after MWLL (P < 0.05). The control group showed 5.7% decrease in FVC, 10.9% increase in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1.0)), and 12.0% increase in FEF(25%) after MWLL (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in other groups (P > 0.05). During and after MWLL, the incidence rates of hypoxemia in PV group, PV plus Ad group, and control group were 0, 0, and 12.5% (8/64), respectively (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in total amount of lavage fluid and amount of residual fluid in the lung among all groups (P > 0.05). The smallest difference between the optical densities of the two lung fields on chest x-ray at 3 h after WLL was 0.152 ± 0.053 in the PV plus Ad group, compared to 0.194 ± 0.074 in the PV group, 0.197 ± 0.054 in the PIB group, 0.214 ± 0.054 in the Ad group, and 0.241 ± 0.109 in the control group, with significant differences between the saline group and other groups except Ad group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPressure ventilation, adrenaline, and pressure lavage can promote the transportation and absorption of residual fluid in the lung and decrease the incidence of hypoxemia during WLL.

Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; methods ; Epinephrine ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen Consumption ; Pneumoconiosis ; therapy ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; methods

To determine the etiologic agents of two atypical pneumonia human cases in Hunan Province in 2005-2006 and to study their pathogenic potential, the patients' respiratory tract samples and sera were collected. The respiratory tract samples were tested by real-time RT-PCR and RT-PCR methods, and the sera by hemagglutination-inhibition assay. Virus was isolated from case 2 and its genome was sequenced and analyzed. Results showed the H5 nucleic acid tests of two cases were positive. The H5-specific antibody titer of the convalescence serum of case 1 showed a 4-fold greater rise than that of the acute phase. And case 2's antibody titer of acute phase was negative. The two atypical pneumonia cases were confirmed as the avian influenza A (H5N1) infection cases. Viral strain A/Hunan/1/2006 was isolated from case 2. Phylogenetic and molecular analysis suggested that 8 gene segments of A/Hunan/1/2006 originated from avian viruses. And A/Hunan/1/2006 was similar with viruses isolated from avian in Hunan Province. The isolated virus did not recombine with human influenza viruses and no obvious variation was observed.
Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; China ; Female ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; virology ; Male ; Phylogeny

This study aims to investigate the role of slient mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 1(SIRT1)/tuberous sclerosis complex 2(TSC2)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling pathways in the Periplaneta americana extract CⅡ-3-induced senescence of human leukemia K562 cells. K562 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with 0(control), 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg·mL~(-1) of P. americana extract CⅡ-3. Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) and flow cytometry were employed to examine the proliferation and cell cycle of the K562 cells. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase stain kit(SA-β-gal) was used to detect the positive rate of senescent cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by flow cytometry. The relative mRNA level of telomerase reverse transcriptase(TERT) was determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR. The mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1, TSC2, and mTOR were determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. The results showed that CⅡ-3 significantly inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells and the treatment with 80 μg·mL~(-1) CⅡ-3 for 72 h had the highest inhibition rate. Therefore, 80 μg·mL~(-1) CⅡ-3 treatment for 72 h was selected as the standard for subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, CⅡ-3 increased the proportion of cells arrested in G_0/G_1 phase, decreased the proportion of cells in S phase, increased the positive rate of SA-β-Gal staining, elevated the mitochondrial membrane potential and down-regulated the mRNA expression of TERT. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of SIRT1 and TSC2 was down-regulated, while the mRNA expression of mTOR was up-regulated. The protein expression of SIRT1 and p-TSC2 was down-regulated, while the protein expression of p-mTOR was up-regulated. The results indicated that P. americana extract CⅡ-3 induced the senescence of K562 cells via the SIRT1/mTOR signaling pathway.
Humans ; Animals ; Periplaneta ; Sirtuin 1/genetics* ; K562 Cells ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger ; Mammals

Based on the concept of quality by design(QbD), the Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology combined with standard relation(SR) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP)-entropy weight method(EWM) was applied to optimize the extraction process of the classic prescription Yihuang Decoction. The content of geniposidic acid, phellodendrine hydrochloride, and berberine hydrochloride in Yihuang Decoction, the extract yield, and fingerprint similarity were used as the critical quality attributes(CQAs) of the extraction process. The extraction time, water addition, and extraction times were used as the critical process parameters(CPPs). After determining the levels of each factor and level through single-factor experiments, response surface experiments were designed according to the Box-Behnken principle, and the experimental results were analyzed. The SR between each sample and the reference sample under various evaluation indicators of different extraction parameters was calculated. The weights of the five evaluation indicators were determined using AHP-EWM, followed by comprehensive evaluation. A function model between CPPs and CQAs characterized by comprehensive scores was established to predict the optimal extraction process parameters. In the final comprehensive weight coefficients, the yield rate accounted for 43.1%, and the content of berberine hydrochloride, phellodendrine hydrochloride, and geniposidic acid accounted for 35.1%, 6.3%, and 15.5%, respectively. After comprehensive score analysis with SR, the established second-order polynomial model was statistically significant(P<0.01, and the lack of fit was not significant). The predicted optimal extraction conditions for Yihuang Decoction were determined as follows: 8-fold volume of water, extraction time of 1.5 h, and extraction once. The mean comprehensive score of the validation experiment was 85.77, with an RSD of 0.99%, and it met the quality control stan-dards for the reference sample of Yihuang Decoction. The results indicate that the optimized extraction process for Yihuang Decoction is stable and reliable, and the water extract is close in quality attributes to the reference sample. This can serve as a foundation for the research and development of granules in the future. Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology combined with SR and AHP-EWM can provide references for the modern extraction process research of other classic prescriptions.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Analytic Hierarchy Process ; Berberine ; Entropy ; Water

PURPOSE: Low-velocity penetrating brain injury (LVPBI) caused by foreign bodies can pose life-threatening emergencies. Their complexity and lack of validated classification data have prevented standardization of clinical management. We aimed to compare the trans-base and trans-vault phenotypes of LVPBI to help provide guidance for clinical decision-making of such injury type. METHODS: A retrospective study on LVPBI patients managed at our institution from November 2013 to March 2020 was conducted. We included LVPBI patients admitted for the first time for surgery, and excluded those with multiple injuries, gunshot wounds, pregnancy, severe blunt head trauma, etc. Patients were categorized into trans-base and trans-vault LVPBI groups based on the penetration pathway. Discharged patients were followed up by outpatient visit or telephone. The data were entered into the Electronic Medical Record system by clinicians, and subsequently derived by researchers. The demography and injury characteristics, treatment protocols, complications, and outcomes were analyzed and compared between the two groups. A t-test was used for analysis of normally distributed data, and a Mann-Whitney U test for non-parametric data. A generalized linear model was further established to determine whether the factors length of stay and performance scale score were influenced by each factor. RESULTS: A total of 27 LVPBI patients were included in this analysis, comprised of 13 (48.1%) trans-base cases and 14 (51.9%) trans-vault cases. Statistical analyses suggested that trans-base LVPBI was correlated with deeper wounds; while the trans-vault phenotype was correlated with injury by metal foreign bodies. There was no difference in Glasgow Coma Scale score and the risk of intracranial hemorrhage between the two groups. Surgical approaches in the trans-base LVPBI group included subfrontal (n = 5, 38.5%), subtemporal (n = 5, 38.5%), lateral fissure (n = 2, 15.4%), and distal lateral (n = 1, 7.7%). All patients in the trans-vault group underwent a brain convex approach using the foreign body as reference (n = 14, 100%). Moreover, the two groups differed in application prerequisites for intracranial pressure monitoring and vessel-related treatment. Trans-base LVPBI was associated with higher rates of cranial nerve and major vessel injuries; in contrast, trans-vault LVPBI was associated with lower functional outcome scores. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that trans-base and trans-vault LVPBIs differ in terms of characteristics, treatment, and outcomes. Further understanding of these differences may help guide clinical decisions and contribute to a better management of LVPBIs.

Adult ; Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Trial of Labor ; Young Adult