Objective To establish mouse models exposed to different doses of neodymium oxide via tracheal instillation,and to investigate the mechanisms underlying brain tissue damage induced by neodymium oxide exposure in mice.Methods Forty-eight male C57/BL6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups:the control group,the low-dose group,the medium-dose group,and the high-dose group.The low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups received 62.5 mg/mL,125 mg/mL,and 250 mg/mL neodymium oxide,respectively,via non-exposed tracheal instillation.The control group received an equivalent volume of saline using the same administration method.After 35 days,the mice were euthanized,and brain tissues were collected.RT-PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression changes of Claudin-5 and Occludin.Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the expression changes of Claudin-5 and Occludin tight junction proteins,as well as the expression changes of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the brain tissues.Additionally,the expression of the RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway and downstream cofilin protein was examined.Changes in oxidative stress markers,including MDA,T-AOC,and NO,were measured using a kit method.Results The mRNA expression of Claudin-5 was significantly reduced in the middle-dose and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).Similarly,the mRNA expression of Occludin was significantly lower in the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).Additionally,the protein expression of Claudin-5,MMP-2,and Occludin was significantly decreased in the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).The protein expression of MMP-9 and RhoA was also signifi-cantly lower in the medium-dose and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).Furthermore,the protein expression of ROCK2 and p-cofilin in the high-dose group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The content of MDA and T-AOC was significantly lower in the medium-dose and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05),and the content of NO in the high-dose group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Exposure to neodymium oxide results in increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier in mice,leading to oxidative stress,inflammatory responses,and activation of the RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway.

Objective To establish mouse models exposed to different doses of neodymium oxide via tracheal instillation,and to investigate the mechanisms underlying brain tissue damage induced by neodymium oxide exposure in mice.Methods Forty-eight male C57/BL6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups:the control group,the low-dose group,the medium-dose group,and the high-dose group.The low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups received 62.5 mg/mL,125 mg/mL,and 250 mg/mL neodymium oxide,respectively,via non-exposed tracheal instillation.The control group received an equivalent volume of saline using the same administration method.After 35 days,the mice were euthanized,and brain tissues were collected.RT-PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression changes of Claudin-5 and Occludin.Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the expression changes of Claudin-5 and Occludin tight junction proteins,as well as the expression changes of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the brain tissues.Additionally,the expression of the RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway and downstream cofilin protein was examined.Changes in oxidative stress markers,including MDA,T-AOC,and NO,were measured using a kit method.Results The mRNA expression of Claudin-5 was significantly reduced in the middle-dose and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).Similarly,the mRNA expression of Occludin was significantly lower in the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).Additionally,the protein expression of Claudin-5,MMP-2,and Occludin was significantly decreased in the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).The protein expression of MMP-9 and RhoA was also signifi-cantly lower in the medium-dose and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05).Furthermore,the protein expression of ROCK2 and p-cofilin in the high-dose group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The content of MDA and T-AOC was significantly lower in the medium-dose and high-dose groups compared to the control group(P<0.05),and the content of NO in the high-dose group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Exposure to neodymium oxide results in increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier in mice,leading to oxidative stress,inflammatory responses,and activation of the RhoA/ROCK2 signaling pathway.

Objective:To evaluate systematically the association between the c. 415>C polymorphism of NUDT15 gene and the toxicity of 6-mercaptopurine(6-MP)in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL).Methods:The literatures in domestic and foreign databases were retrieved: PubMed, EmBase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, VIP Chinese Sci-tech Journal Database, and Wanfang Database.The language was limited to Chinese or English.A case-control study or cohort study of 6-MP treatment in pediatric ALL related to the toxicity of the NUDT15 gene c. 415>C polymorphism was included.The time of search was set from the establishment of the database to October 1st, 2020.Two researchers screened the literature independently, extracted data from the literature that met the inclusion criteria, and evaluated the quality of the included studies.The association between locus polymorphism and toxicity during 6-MP chemotherapy was analyzed by Meta analysis with Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 12.0 software.Results:Nine studies were finally included, eight of which were cohort studies and one was a case-control study, with a total of 1 068 patients.The results showed that under the five genetic models, the mutation at c. 415>C of NUDT15 gene was significantly associated with the risk of leukopenia and neutropenia( P<0.01), while hepatotoxicity was with no significant association between the occurrence risk of damage( P>0.05). Conclusion:The mutation at c. 415>C of NUDT15 gene significantly increased the incidence of leukopenia and neutropenia during 6-MP chemotherapy, while there was no significant effect on the occurrence of hepatotoxicity.

Objective    To explore the predictive value of myocardial vitality in the improvement of cardiac function after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with ischemic heart failure. Methods    From December 8, 2015 to November 12, 2018, 46 patients with ischemic heart failure who underwent CABG operation alone were collected retrospectively. There were 41 males and 5 females with an average age of 60.4±8.0 years. The myocardial vitality and number of different types of myocardium were measured. The clinical data of patients in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement group (≥5%) and non-improvement group (<5%) were compared and analyzed. The  correlation between each index and LVEF improvement was analyzed by logistic multivariate regression analysis, and the boundary value of hibernating myocardium between LVEF improvement and non-improvement was obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results    There were significant differences in the number of hibernating myocardium (15.0%±12.3% vs. 4.3%±4.5%, P=0.000), the number of normal myocardium (74.7%±13.7% vs. 82.4%±8.6%, P=0.027), and cardiac function classification (NYHA) development (−0.7±0.7 vs. −0.3±0.5, P=0.047) between the two groups, but there was no significant difference in other indexes between the two groups (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the number of hibernating myocardium was an independent factor affecting the improvement of LVEF after CABG in patients with ischemic heart failure (OR=1.366, 95%CI 1.033-1.807, P=0.029). The ROC curve showed that the threshold value, sensitivity and specificity of hibernating myocardium were 15.0%, 43.8% and 100.0%, respectively. Conclusion    The percentage of hibernating myocardium to left ventricular wall area ≥15.0% can accurately predict the improvement of LVEF in patients with ischemic heart failure after CABG. Preoperative myocardial vitality assessment has important diagnostic value in predicting the improvement of cardiac function in patients with ischemic heart failure after simple CABG.

Objective: To investigate the value of multi-arterial phase differential sub-sampling with cartesian ordering (DISCO) technique in the evaluation of hepatic vascular anatomy with gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA). Methods: Forty-eight patients with suspected hepatic malignancy were prospectively enrolled and underwent both of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced DISCO MRI and CTA within two weeks. The hepatic arterial anatomy of two examination methods were evaluated by four-point scoring method. The arterial scores between DISCO and CTA images were compared by Wilcoxon test. The difference among multiple arterial scores of DISCO and CTA were compared by Kruskal-Wallis H test respectively. Results: There was no difference of arterial scores in celiac artery, common hepatic artery, proper hepatic artery, left hepatic artery, right hepatic artery, first branch of right hepatic artery, splenic artery, left gastric artery and gastroduodenal artery between DISCO and CTA (P>0.05), but the arterial score of first branch of left hepatic artery [2 (2,2)] was lower than that of CTA [2 (2,3)] (Z=-3.138,P=0.002). In the multiple comparison among different arteries, there were differences between PHA and LAH (P<0.05), B-LHA and B-RHA (P<0.05) in DISCO, but no difference was found in CTA (P>0.05). Conclusion The DISCO sequence with Gd-EOB-DTPA enhancement MRI can supply comparable image quality to CTA in hepatic artery and its main branches display, which has no ionizing radiation and can also provide more diagnostic information for clinic.

Objective To investigate the value of multi?arterial phase differential sub?sampling with cartesian ordering (DISCO) technique in the evaluation of hepatic vascular anatomy with gadolinium?ethoxybenzyl?diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd?EOB?DTPA). Methods Forty?eight patients with suspected hepatic malignancy were prospectively enrolled and underwent both of Gd?EOB?DTPA enhanced DISCO MRI and CTA within two weeks. The hepatic arterial anatomy of two examination methods were evaluated by four?point scoring method. The arterial scores between DISCO and CTA images were compared by Wilcoxon test. The difference among multiple arterial scores of DISCO and CTA were compared by Kruskal?Wallis H test respectively. Results There was no difference of arterial scores in celiac artery, common hepatic artery, proper hepatic artery, left hepatic artery, right hepatic artery, first branch of right hepatic artery, splenic artery, left gastric artery and gastroduodenal artery between DISCO and CTA (P>0.05), but the arterial score of first branch of left hepatic artery [2 (2,2)] was lower than that of CTA [2 (2,3)] (Z=-3.138,P=0.002). In the multiple comparison among different arteries, there were differences between PHA and LAH (P<0.05), B?LHA and B?RHA (P<0.05) in DISCO, but no difference was found in CTA (P>0.05). Conclusion The DISCO sequence with Gd?EOB?DTPA enhancement MRI can supply comparable image quality to CTA in hepatic artery and its main branches display, which has no ionizing radiation and can also provide more diagnostic information for clinic.

Objective To explore and compare the clinical efficacy of levetiracetam tablets and compound sodium valproate sustained release tablets in the treatment of children and adolescents with epilepsy.Methods From April 2017 to April 2018,80 children and adolescents with epilepsy treated in Chaonan Minsheng Hospital of Shantou were selected as study objects,and they were randomly divided into two groups by drawing lots,with 40 cases in each group.The observation group was given levetiracetam tablets,and the control group was treated with valproate.The improvement of EEG after therapy,the total effective rate,and the incidence of adverse reactions were observed and evaluated.Results The EEG improvement rates after treatment for 6 months in the observation group and control group were 41.17％,45.71％,respectively,the difference was not statistically significant(x2 =0.508,P ＞0.05).The EEG improvement rates after treatment for 9 months in the observation group and control group were 70.58％,74.28％,respectively,the difference was not statistically significant (x2 =0.225,P ＞ 0.05).The total effective rate in the observation group was 92.50％,which was 95.00％ in the control group,the difference was not statistically significant between the two groups (x2 =0.354,P ＞ 0.05).However,the incidence rate of adverse reactions of the observation group(22.50％) was significantly lower than that of the control group(45.00％)(x2 =6.864,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Both levetiracetam tablets and compound sodium valproate sustained release tablets have appreciable efficacy and safety in the treatment of epilepsy in children and adolescents,but levetiracetam therapy has less adverse reactions,which deserves further promotion in monotherapy of epilepsy in children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current status of diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis (AA) in China. METHODS: Questionnaire survey was used to retrospectively collect data of hospitalized patients with AA from 43 medical centers nationwide in 2017 (Sort by number of cases provided: Jinling Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Lu'an People's Hospital, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital, Dalian Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Dongying People's Hospital, Jinjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huangshan Shoukang Hospital, Xuyi People's Hospital, Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital, Lanzhou 940th Hospital of PLA, Heze Municipal Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University, Affiliated Jiujiang Hospital of Nanchang University, The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shandong Zaozhuang Mining Group, The Third People's Hospital of Kunshan City, Xuzhou First People's Hospital, The 81st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Linyi Central Hospital, The General Hospital of Huainan Eastern Hospital Group, The 908th Hospital of PLA, Liyang People's Hospital, The 901th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, The Fourth Hospital of Jilin University, Harbin Acheng District People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Nanjing Luhe People's Hospital, Taixing Municipal People's Hospital, Baotou Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Linyi People's Hospital, The 72st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital, People's Hospital of Dayu County, Taixing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Beijing Guang'anmen Hospital, Langxi County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Central Hospital, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University).The diagnosis and management of AA were analyzed through unified summary. Different centers collected and summarized their data in 2017 and sent back the questionnaires for summary. RESULTS: A total of 8 766 AA patients were enrolled from 43 medical centers, including 4 711 males (53.7%) with median age of 39 years and 958 (10.9%) patients over 65 years old. Of 8 776 patients, 5 677 cases (64.6%) received one or more imaging examinations, and the other 3 099 (35.4%) did not receive any imaging examination. A total of 1 858 (21.2%) cases received medical treatment, mainly a combination of nitroimidazoles (1 107 cases, 59.8%) doublet regimen, followed by a single-agent regimen of non-nitroimidazoles (451 cases, 24.4%), a nitroimidazole-free doublet regimen (134 cases, 7.2%), a triple regimen of combined nitroimidazoles (116 cases, 6.3%), nitroimidazole alone (39 cases, 2.1%) and nitroimidazole-free triple regimen (3 cases, 0.2%). Of the 6 908 patients (78.8%) who underwent surgery, 4 319 (62.5%) underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and 2589 (37.5%) underwent open surgery. Ratio of laparotomy was higher in those patients under 16 years old (392 cases) or over 65 years old (258 cases) [15.1%(392/2 589) and 10.0%(258/2 589), respectively, compared with 8.5%(367/4 316) and 8.0%(347/4 316) in the same age group for laparoscopic surgery, χ²=91.415, P<0.001; χ²=15.915,P<0.001]. Patients with complicated appendicitis had higher ratio of undergoing open surgery as compared to those undergoing laparoscopic surgery [26.7%(692/2 589) vs. 15.6%(672/4 316), χ²=125.726, P<0.001].The cure rates of laparoscopic and open surgery were 100.0% and 99.8%(2 585/2 589) respectively without significant difference (P=0.206). Postoperative complication rates were 4.5%(121/2 589) and 4.7%(196/4 316) respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ²=0.065, P=0.799). The incidence of surgical site infection was lower (0.6% vs. 1.7%, χ²=17.315, P<0.001), and hospital stay was shorter [6(4-7) days vs. 6(5-8) days, U=4 384 348.0, P<0.001] in the laparoscopic surgery group, while hospitalization cost was higher (median 12 527 yuan vs. 9 342 yuan, U=2 586 809.0, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is still clinically based, supplemented by imaging examination. Appendectomy is still the most effective treatment at present. Laparoscopic appendectomy has become the main treatment strategy, but anti-infective drugs are also very effective.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; China ; Female ; Health Care Surveys ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study genetic mutations and clinical features of a pedigree affected with MYH9-related disorders from Guangxi.

METHODSBlood platelets were counted with a hemocytometer. Blood smear was carried out to detect the inclusion body in peripheral blood neutrophils. DNA and mRNA samples were extracted from blood samples from the members of the pedigree. Fragments of the MYH9 gene were amplified with PCR and directly sequenced.

RESULTSThe affected individuals presented with a triad of giant platelets, decreased platelet count and inclusion bodies in the neutrophils with variable expressivity. A heterozygous deletional mutation (c.5803delG) in exon 41 of the MYH9 gene was found in all of the 8 affected individuals, which led to a frame-shift and change of 26 amino acids at the C-end of the tail domain of nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMMHC-IIA) (p.Ala1935Profs*12). The same mutation was not found among healthy members of the pedigree.

CONCLUSIONThe c.5803delG mutation probably underlies the MYH9-related disorders in this pedigree. The mutation has altered the C-end of the tail domain of the NMMHC-IIA protein, resulting in mild clinical symptoms in the affected individuals.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Motor Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Sequence Deletion ; Thrombocytopenia ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to discuss when to dissect the lymph nodes behind the right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) from the standpoint of the right cervical level Ⅵ-1 (superficial layer to the recurrent laryngeal nerve) lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients.METHODS The clinical data of 306 bilateral or right PTC patients from the Hangzhou First People's Hospital who underwent dissection of level Ⅵ-1 lymph nodes and LN-prRLN between March 2014 and September 2015 were analyzed. We measured the number of level Ⅵ-1 metastatic lymph nodes and size of level Ⅵ-1 lymph nodes metastasis loci to predict the metastasis of LN-prRLN.RESULTS The number of level Ⅵ-1 metastatic lymph nodes and size of level Ⅵ-1 lymph nodes metastasis loci were risk factors of LN-prRLN metastasis(P<0.05). When the number of the level Ⅵ-1 metastatic lymph nodes was greater than 1.5, the AUC was 0.813 (the sensitivity was 78.43%, the specificity was 76.65%). The ROC showed that when the size of level Ⅵ-1 lymph nodes metastasis loci were more than 0.45 cm, the AUC was 0.726 (sensitivity was 90.20%, specificity was 48.90%).CONCLUSION In bilateral or right PTC patients with metastasis of level Ⅵ-1 lymph nodes, especially when the number of level Ⅵ-1 metastatic lymph nodes was greater than 2cm and the metastasis loci were more than 0.45 cm, we should dissect the LN-prRLN.