Objective To determine the fitting parameters for the Archer equation (using shielding transmission factor as variables and shielding material thickness as functions) and quadratic equation with one unknown (using lead equivalent as variables and shielding material thickness as functions) for common radiation protection shielding materials, enabling calculation of lead equivalent or required shielding material thickness. Methods The shielding transmission factor of red brick, lime-sand brick, barium sulfate protective coating, lead glass, and standard lead sheets was measured under narrow-beam X-ray exposure, with tube voltages ranging from 70 to 150 kV. The data of standard lead sheet was used as the reference for lead equivalent. Related parameters were fitted according to the Archer equation recommended by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements Report No. 147 and quadratic equation with one unknown relating lead equivalence to shielding materials thickness. Results The coefficients of determination for the quadratic equation with one unknown of red brick, lime-sand brick, barium sulfate coating, lead glass exceeded 0.999 3. Under 120 kV X-rays, 1 and 2 mmPb were equivalent to 101.02 and 171.09 mm red brick, 121.21 and 204.43 mm lime-sand brick, 10.63 and 24.27 mm barium sulfate coating, and 4.21 and 9.39 mm lead glass. Conclusion The Archer equation and quadratic equation with one unknown from 120 kV or higher tube voltage conditions derived in this study can be applied to calculate lead equivalent or required thickness of shielding materials under both primary and scattered radiation, without linear extrapolation. They provide a basis for radiation shielding design in radiation diagnosis and treatment facilities and for occupational radiation hazard assessments.

Objective: To investigate the resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid and the changing trends among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Luohu District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province from 2012 to 2022, so as to provide insights into improving drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis control and prevention strategies. Methods: Basic information, treatment classification and drug resistance data of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and positive pathogenic detection in Luohu District from 2012 to 2022 were collected through the Tuberculosis Surveillance System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and resistance rates of rifampicin and isoniazid and the changing trends were analyzed. Results: A total of 2 126 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were collected and had a median age of 34 (interquartile range, 25) years, including 1 334 males (62.75%) and 792 females (37.25%). There were 302 patients with drug-resistance in Luohu District from 2012 to 2022, with a resistance rate of 14.21%. Among them, 60 patients were monoresistant to rifampicin (2.82%), 113 patients were monoresistant to isoniazid (5.32%), and 129 patients were multidrug resistant (6.07%). The rate of rifampicin monoresistance showed a downward trend from 2012 to 2022, while the rate of multidrug resistance showed an upward trend (both P<0.05). There was no significant tendency in the rate of isoniazid monoresistance (P>0.05). The rate of multidrug resistance among patients without Shenzhen residence was higher than that among patients with Shenzhen residence; the rates of rifampicin resistance and multidrug resistance among retreated patients were higher than those among treatment-naïve patients (all P<0.05). Conclusions The rate of rifampicin monoresistance appeared a downward trend and the rate of multidrug resistance appeared an upward trend among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Luohu District from 2012 to 2022. Attention should be given to non-Shenzhen residence and retreated patients.

Objective:To investigate the value of machine learning methods for predicting in-hospital mortality in trauma patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:A retrospective non-intervention case-control study was performed. Trauma patients with ARDS met the Berlin definition were extracted from the the Medical Information Mart for Intensive CareⅢ (MIMICⅢ) database. The basic information [including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), pH, oxygenation index, laboratory indexes, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), the proportion of mechanical ventilation (MV) or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), acute physiology scoreⅢ(APSⅢ), sequential organ failure score (SOFA) and simplified acute physiology scoreⅡ(SAPSⅡ)], complications (including hypertension, diabetes, infection, acute hemorrhagic anemia, sepsis, shock, acidosis and pneumonia) and prognosis data of patients were collected. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen meaningful variables ( P < 0.05). Logistic regression model, XGBoost model and artificial neural network model were constructed, and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was performed to evaluate the predictive value of the three models for in-hospital mortality in trauma patients with ARDS. Results:A total of 760 trauma patients with ARDS were enrolled, including 346 mild cases, 301 moderate cases and 113 severe cases; 618 cases survived and 142 cases died in hospital; 736 cases received MV and 65 cases received CRRT. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis screened out significant variables, including age [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.035, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.020-1.050, P < 0.001], BMI ( OR = 0.949, 95% CI was 0.917-0.983, P = 0.003), blood urea nitrogen (BUN; OR = 1.019, 95% CI was 1.004-1.033, P = 0.010), lactic acid (Lac; OR = 1.213, 95% CI was 1.124-1.309, P < 0.001), red cell volume distribution width (RDW; OR = 1.249, 95% CI was 1.102-1.416, P < 0.001), hematocrit (HCT, OR = 1.057, 95% CI was 1.019-1.097, P = 0.003), hypertension ( OR = 0.614, 95% CI was 0.389-0.968, P = 0.036), infection ( OR = 0.463, 95% CI was 0.289-0.741, P = 0.001), acute renal failure ( OR = 2.021, 95% CI was 1.267-3.224, P = 0.003) and sepsis ( OR = 2.105, 95% CI was 1.265-3.502, P = 0.004). All the above variables were used to construct the model. Logistic regression model, XGBoost model and artificial neural network model predicted in-hospital mortality with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.737 (95% CI was 0.659-0.815), 0.745 (95% CI was 0.672-0.819) and 0.757 (95% CI was 0.680-0.884), respectively. There was no significant difference between any two models (all P > 0.05). Conclusion:Logistic regression model, XGBoost model and artificial neural network model including age, BMI, BUN, Lac, RDW, HCT, hypertension, infection, acute renal failure and sepsis have good predictive value for in-hospital mortality of trauma patients with ARDS.

Objective To investigate the effect of resveratrol on alveolar epithelial sodium channel in acute lung injury mice and the potential mechanism.Methods Twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, LPS group, RES group and PP242(mTORC inhibitor) group with 6 mice in each group.The pathological changes in lung tissue were evaluated by HE staining;the concentrations of total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assessed by BCA (bicinchoninic acid).The levels of inflammatory cytokines in BALF were determined by ELISA.The proportions of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) in BALF were detected by Flow Cytometry.The transcription levels of α-ENaC mRNA were assessed by qPCR while the protein levels of α-ENaC and p-GSK1 were measured by Western blot.Results 1)Compared with mice in control group, severe pathological lung injury changes were observed in mice of LPS group, with increased total protein levels, PMN proportions,levels of inflammatory cytokines in BALF (P<0.05), accompanied by down-regulated level of α-ENaC and p-SGK1 in lung tissues (P<0.05).2)Compared with mice in LPS group, resveratrol significantly reversed lung injury triggered by LPS, decreased total protein levels, PMN proportions, levels of inflammatory cytokines in BALF (P<0.05), with down-regulated levels of α-ENaC and p-SGK1 in lung tissues (P<0.05).3)However, PP242 prevented beneficial effects of RES on ALI.Conclusions Up-regulation of α-ENaC expression via activation of SGK1 takes part in the protective effects of RES on LPS-induced ALI in mice.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of adipolin/CTRP12 in LPS-induced acute respiratory distress syn-drome (ARDS) and its potential regulation on alveolar epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in mice.METHODS:C57BL/6J mice (n=40) were randomly divided into control group, LPS group, adipolin group and wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor) group with 10 mice in each group using random number table.The pathological changes of the lung tissues were evaluated by HE staining.The alveolar fluid clearance ( AFC) was measured by Evans blue-marked albumin, and the concentrations of total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) were assessed by bicinchoninic acid ( BCA) method.In BALF, the levels of IL-1βand TNF-αwere determined by ELISA, and the activity of myeloperoxidase ( MPO) was detected by an MPO assay kit.The total cell counts and polymorphonuclear neutrophil ( PMN) counts in the BALF were analyzed by Gi-emsa staining.The mRNA levels of α-ENaC were assessed by qPCR, while the protein levels of α-ENaC and p-Akt were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the classic ARDS pathological changes were ob-served in the mice in LPS group, manifesting by severe pathological lung injury (P<0.05), increases in W/D weight rati-o, total protein levels, cell counts, MPO activitiy, and IL-1βand TNF-αlevels in the BALF, and decrease in AFC ( P<
0.05), accompanied by down-regulated levels of α-ENaC and p-Akt in the lung tissues (P<0.05).The deteriorating effects triggered by LPS were significantly reversed by administration of adipolin.However, PI3K inhibitor wortmannin can-celed the beneficial effects of adipolin on LPS-induced ARDS, as evidenced by aggravated lung injury, increased levels of W/D weight ratio, protein levels, cell counts, MPO activity, and IL-1βand TNF-αlevels in the BALF (P<0.05), and decreased levels of AFC,α-ENaC and p-Akt in the lung tissues.CONCLUSION:Adipolin protects against LPS-induced ARDS in the mice by up-regulatingα-ENaC and enhancing AFC via PI3K/Akt signal pathway.

OBJECTIVETo detect JAK2 V617F mutation burden and its clinical implications in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN).

METHODSJAK2 V617F mutation burden were detected by using MGB Taqman probes and its clinical significance were retrospectively studied in 415 MPN patients.

RESULTSJAK2 V617F was found in 56.9% of all patients [83.5% in polycythemia vera (PV), 55.9% in essential thrombocythemia (ET), 41.9% in primary myelofibrosis (PMF) and 64.7% in MPN-unclassifiable)]. The majority of patients carried heterozygous JAK2 V617F mutation and homozygote was found only in 12 cases (4 in PV, 4 in MPN-U, 2 in PMF, 1 in ET, and 1 in chronic neutrophilic leukemia). Most patients (68.8%) were lower mutation burden (mutation burden<50%), but PV had the highest burden, the moderate burden in PMF and the least in ET. The patient's age and WBC count were significantly correlated with higher mutation burden in PV. WBC count was significantly related to higher mutation burden in ET. WBC count, Hb level and the platelet count were significantly related to higher mutation burden in PMF.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation burden of JAK2 V617F from high to low was PV, ET and PMF. The majority of JAK2 V617F mutation was heterozygous. JAK2 V617F mutation burden was positively correlated with age, WBC, Hb and platelet counts.

Homozygote ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; Leukocyte Count ; Mutation ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Platelet Count ; Polycythemia Vera ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocythemia, Essential

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on injured spinal cord.

METHODSThe spinal cord injury (SCI) model of Wistar rats was established by a 10 gx2.5 cm impact force on the T(8) spinal cord. NGF (60 microg/20 microl) was given to the rats of the treatment group immediately and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours after SCI. The level of neuronal constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ncNOS) and the expression of ncNOS mRNA in the spinal cord were detected by the immunohistochemistry assay and in situ hybridization method.

RESULTSAbnormal expression of ncNOS was detected in the spinal ventral horn motorneuron in injured rats. The levels of ncNOS protein in the NGF group were significantly lower than those in the normal saline group (P<0.05 ). The ncNOS mRNA expression was found in the spinal ventral horn motorneuron in injured rats and the expression in the NGF group was significantly decreased compared with that in the normal saline group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNGF can protect the injured tissue of the spinal cord by prohibiting abnormal expression of nitric oxide synthase and the neurotoxicity of nitric oxide.

Animals ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism