Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of multislice spiral CT (MSCT) for breast carcinoma.Methods One hundred and twenty consecutive suspicious cases of breast carcinoma diagnosed clinically and/or by imaging modalities were studied with MSCT prospectively. The dynamic contrast-enhanced serial scanning was done as follows:Scanning was triggered 35 s (early arterial phase) after beginning of contrast agent infusion at a speed of 3 mL/s by high pressure automatic injector, and would be repeated at the time point of 60 s and 150 s. Eventually, the CT diagnostic results were compared with the pathological consequences to calculate the diagnostic accuracy of MSCT for breast carcinoma. Results Eighty-nine patients with 100 foci of breast cancer from 120 suspicious cases were confirmed pathologically and their imaging data were analyzed. Among the 89 cases, 61 cases were invasive ductal carcinomas,12 ductal carcinomas in situ, 8 invasive lobular carcinomas, 6 medullary carcinomas and 2 inflammatory carcinomas. According to lesion morphologic appearance, lesion enhancement mode, time-density curve of lesion, and combination of all the above three parameters, the diagnostic accuracies were 78%, 82%, 84% and 92%, respectively. Conclusion MSCT has a great clinical value in diagnosing breast carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the coping strategies of the community-based population in Shenzhen.

METHODSTotally 5,940 subjects from the communities in Shenzhen were sampled and tested with the Simplified Coping Style questionnaire.

RESULTSThe most common coping strategies adopted by the community residents in Shenzhen were "consoling themselves" (33.1%) and "looking at the bright side of things" (31.4%), and the least adopted coping strategy was "relieving distress by smoking, drinking, taking medicine and eating" (57.8%); the strategies left out from their choices were mostly negative strategies. The scores for positive coping strategy factors of community residents in Shenzhen were greater than those of negative ones, with a mean difference of 0.43. The scores of both positive and negative coping strategy factors of these residents were significantly lower than those of general population in other mainland cities (P<0.001), with mean differences of 0.12 and 0.36, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe community residents in Shenzhen adopt mostly positive strategies for coping with frustration, which benefit their status of self-rated health.

Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Residence Characteristics ; Self Care ; methods ; psychology ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) on pneumocyte apoptosis after lung ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

METHODSAdult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups based upon the intervention (n = 8): control group (C), lung ischemic reperfusion group (LIR), LIR+ IPostC group (IPostC). At the end of the experiment, blood specimens drawn from the arteria carotis were tested for the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO); the pneumocyte apoptosis index (AI) was achieved by tennrminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end abeling (TUNEL); the expression of Bcl-2, Bax protein in lung tissue was accessed by quantitative immunohistochemistry (MHC) and Bcl-2, Bax mRNA by RT-PCR.

RESULTSIPostC could significantly attenuate the MDA level, MPO activity and improve SOD activity in blood serum which was comparable to I/R and significantly reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells compared with I/R group, expressed as Al (% total nuclei) from (39.0 +/- 3.46) to (8.0 +/- 0.88) (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax showed that IPO significantly attenuated the ischemia/reperfusion-upregulated expression of Bax protein but improved the expression of Bcl-2 that improved the Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P < 0.01) .

CONCLUSIONIPostC may attenuate pneumocyte apoptosis in LIRI by up-regulating expression of Bcl-2/Bax ratio and by inhibiting oxidant generation and neutrophils filtration.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; physiopathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To elucidate the important functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating synaptic assembly and function, we performed a computational analysis for the genetic loci required for the synaptic structure and function and their corresponding miRNAs in C. elegans. Methods Total 198 genetic loci required for the synaptic structure and function were selected. Sequence alignment was combined with E value evaluation to investigate and identify the possible corresponding miRNAs. Results Total 163 genes among the 198 genetic loci selected have their possibly corresponding regulatory miRNA (s), which covered most of the important genetic loci required for the synaptic structure and function. Moreover, only 22 genes among the analyzed 38 genetic loci encoding synaptic proteins have more possibility to under the control of non-coding RNA genes. In addition, the distribution of miRNAs along the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of these 22 genes exhibits different patterns. Conclusion Here we provide the computational screen and analysis results for the genetic loci required for synaptic structure and function and their possible corresponding miRNAs. These data will be useful for the further attempt to systematically determine the roles of miRNAs in synaptic assembly and function regulation in worms.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between polymorphism of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) gene in G1661A and the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene among coke oven workers.

METHODS295 male subjects were studied, including 214 workers working in coke oven plant and 81 controls working in raw material plant who were not generally exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occupationally. General in-formation of subjects were collected in a specific questionnaire including age, smoking and drinking habits, the history of occupation and so on. The AhR genotypes were detected by allele specific amplification (ASA), and the levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector.

RESULTSThe frequencies of G/G, G/A and A/A genotype were 52.8% (113/214), 27.6% (59/214) and 19.6% (42/214) in exposed group and 67.9% (55/81), 19.8% (16/81) and 12.3% (10/81) in control group, respectively. No significant difference was found in three genotypes between the exposed and control group. Allele frequencies of G and A were 66.6% (285/428) and 33.4% (143/428) in exposed group and 77.8% (126/162) and 22.2% (36/162) in control group, and no statistical differences were found in allele frequency between exposed and control group. After the length of service and external exposure orders in general linear model were adjusted, results of covariance analysis showed that logarithmic transformed urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were (3.62 +/- 0.12), (3.43 +/- 0.12) and (3.44 +/- 0.08) micromol/mol Cr in individuals with A/A, G/A and G/G, respectively. The logarithmic transformed urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were (3.24 +/- 0.09) and (3.43 +/- 0.10) micromol/mol Cr in individuals with allele of G and A. No statistical differences were found in level of 1-hydroxypyrene among A/A, G/A and G/G genotype individuals, and between allele G and allele A after external exposure orders and length of service were adjusted.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of aryl hydrocarbon receptor G1661A has no significant impact on levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene.

Adult ; Coke ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pyrenes ; pharmacokinetics ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon ; genetics ; Urine ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo measure peripheral serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and matrix metalloproteinase 19 (MMP19) in patients with pneumoconiosis, and to investigate their feasibility as potential biomarkers for pneumoconiosis.

METHODSNinety-eight male patients with pneumoconiosis (49 patients in phase I, 36 patients in phase II, and 13 patients in phase III) were enrolled as subjects, which included 41 patients with silicosis and 57 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Ninety-eight healthy male physical examinees were used as controls. A fasting blood sample (3 ml) was collected from the peripheral venous blood of each patient or control, and the serum was separated from the blood sample. The expression levels of MMP9 and MMP19 in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSSerum levels of MMP9 and MMP19 in patients with silicosis or coal workers' pneumoconiosis were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of MMP19 in patients with silicosis were significantly higher than those in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (P < 0.05). Serum levels of MMP19 in patients exposed to dust for less than 7 years were significantly higher than those in patients exposed to dust for more than 20 years (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in serum levels of MMP9 and MMP19 between patients with different levels of pulmonary function impairment (P > 0.05). Serum expression levels of MMP9 and MMP19 were positively correlated with each other in both patients with pneumoconiosis and those in the control group (P < 0.05). The serum expression level of MMP9 was negatively correlated with the stage of pneumoconiosis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSerum MMP9 and MMP19 may be used as potential biomarkers for pneumoconiosis.

Anthracosis ; enzymology ; Biomarkers ; Coal Mining ; Dust ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted ; blood ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; blood ; enzymology ; Silicosis ; enzymology

BACKGROUNDHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) frequently colonizes the stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common and costly disease. But the relationship of H. pylori and GERD is still unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect of H. pylori and its eradication on reflux esophagitis therapy.

METHODSPatients diagnosed with reflux esophagitis by endoscopy were enrolled; based on rapid urease test and Warth-Starry stain, they were divided into H. pylori positive and negative groups. H. pylori positive patients were randomly given H. pylori eradication treatment for 10 days, then esomeprazole 20 mg bid for 46 days. The other patients received esomeprazole 20 mg bid therapy for 8 weeks. After treatment, three patient groups were obtained: H. pylori positive eradicated, H. pylori positive uneradicated, and H. pylori negative. Before and after therapy, reflux symptoms were scored and compared. Healing rates were compared among groups. The χ2 test and t-test were used, respectively, for enumeration and measurement data.

RESULTSThere were 176 H. pylori positive (with 92 eradication cases) and 180 negative cases. Healing rates in the H. pylori positive eradicated and H. pylori positive uneradicated groups reached 80.4% and 79.8% (P = 0.911), with reflux symptom scores of 0.22 and 0.14 (P = 0.588). Healing rates of esophagitis in the H. pylori positive uneradicated and H. pylori negative groups were, respectively, 79.8% and 82.2% (P = 0.848); reflux symptom scores were 0.14 and 0.21 (P = 0.546).

CONCLUSIONSBased on esomeprazole therapy, H. pylori infection and eradication have no significant effect on reflux esophagitis therapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Amoxicillin ; therapeutic use ; Esomeprazole ; therapeutic use ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; drug therapy ; etiology ; microbiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; drug therapy ; etiology ; microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinidazole ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between sub-health status and the health-promoting lifestyle of employees.

METHODSA total of 5316 employees in a company in Guangdong were surveyed using sub-health measurement scale version 1.0 (SHMS V1.0) and the health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP-II). The former scale included 3 subscales of somatic sub-health, psychological sub-health and social sub-health, and the latter included 6 subscales of self-actualization, healthy responsibility, physical exercise, nutrition, interpersonal sensitivity and stress treatment.

RESULTSThe total healthy rate was 12.86% among the employees, with 76.76% and 10.5% in sub-health and disease states. The mean scores of HPLP-II was 115.95∓21.468 in the total population surveyed, 134.23∓24.72 in healthy employees and 114.69∓19.25 in the patients. There was a significant difference in the grades of health-promoting lifestyle between sub-healthy and healthy employees (P<0.05) as well as in the scores of HPLP-II and the scores of the 6 subscales (P<0.05). An appreciable correlation was found between sub-health status and the 6 subscales, and self-realization, physical exercise and stress management showed significant inverse correlation with sub-health status.

CONCLUSIONSub-health status is related to health-promoting lifestyle, and self-realization, physical exercise and management are the protective factors that influence sub-health status.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Health Status ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo perform a genome-wide alternative polyadenylation (APA) profiling in both mouse female germline stem cells (FGSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and explore the role of germline-specific APA in the biological behaviors of FGSCs.

METHODSWe used a high-throughput sequencing-based method 3T-Seq to profile the genome-wide 3' termini of the transcripts and delineate all the APA sites in mouse FGSCs and ESCs. The genes with altered APA sites in FGSCs compared with ESCs were analyzed with DAVID Gene Ontology tool for their biological roles.

RESULTSWe identified a total of 50243 APA sites in 16973 genes. In FGSCs, 1148 genes were shown to have alterations in 3'UTR length, among which 795 ( 66%) genes had shortened and 353 (34%) had lengthened 3'UTR. Some of the genes with shortened 3'UTR were involved in germ cell development.

CONCLUSIONSOur genome-wide APA profiling analysis reveals a cell type-specific APA alternation in FGSCs, and APA-mediated 3'UTR alteration contributes to germline-related biological process. This study provides a framework for understanding the post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms in FGSCs.

3' Untranslated Regions ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Embryonic Germ Cells ; metabolism ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome ; Mice ; Polyadenylation