Objective To investigate the levels of gross α and gross β activities in different water types within a 40-kilometer radius around the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant prior to its operation. Methods In 2018, drinking water samples were collected from the area surrounding the nuclear power plant during both the wet and dry seasons, including source water, treated water, tap water, and well water. The gross α and gross β activity concentrations were measured using a low-background α/β counter, followed by statistical analysis. Results A total of 80 water samples from different sources around the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant were collected. The average gross α and gross β activity concentrations during the wet season were (0.110 ± 0.036) Bq/L and (0.643 ± 0.028) Bq/L, respectively, while those during the dry season were (0.124 ± 0.032) Bq/L and (0.624 ± 0.026) Bq/L, respectively. There were no significant differences in the gross α and gross β activity concentrations between the wet and dry seasons for the overall sample set (P > 0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences in the gross α and gross β activity concentrations between the wet and dry seasons for source water and well water (Z_wet = −2.005, −2.123; Z_dry = −1.943, −3.090; P < 0.05). Conclusion The radioactivity levels in different water types within various ranges around the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant before its operation were determined. The measured activity concentrations were at the same level as those from previous investigations in other regions of Fujian Province.

Objective:To observe the effect of escitalopram combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on efficacy and attention function in patients with first-episode unipolar depression.Methods:Fifty-two first-episode initial-naive unipolar depression patients were enrolled in Department of Neurology of Guangzhou First People's Hospital from March 2022 to April 2023 were chosen. They were randomly allocated to active stimulation group ( n=27) and sham stimulation group ( n=25); both were treated with escitalopram, and active treatment or sham treatment in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were given for 4 weeks (5 d per week, 20 d totally). Before treatment and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD)-24 was used to evaluate depressive symptoms, and Birmingham Cognitive Screening Scale-Chinese (BCoS-C) was used to evaluate the attention function. Results:(1) In terms of depressive symptoms: HAMD-24 scores of the active stimulation group 2 and 4 weeks after treatment (20.63±2.73, 15.85±2.43) were significantly lower than those before treatment (25.74±2.68, P<0.05); HAMD-24 scores of sham stimulation group 4 weeks after treatment were also significantly lower than those before treatment ([20.48±2.33] vs. [25.80±2.57], P<0.05); HAMD-24 scores of the active stimulation group 2 and 4 weeks after treatment were significantly lower than those of sham stimulation group ( P<0.05). (2) In terms of auditory attention indicators: total correct number (selective attention) in active stimulation group 4 weeks after treatment was significantly larger than that before treatment (51.74±1.38 vs. 47.48±1.60), and the sustained index (sustained attention) was significantly lower than that before treatment (0.74±0.71 vs. 4.37±1.15, P<0.05); total correct number in active stimulation group 4 weeks after treatment was significantly larger than that in sham stimulation group (48.00±1.66), and the sustained index was significantly lower than that in sham stimulation group (3.72±1.28, P<0.05). Conclusion:Combined with escitalopram, rTMS can more effectively mitigate the depressive symptoms in first-episode unipolar depression patients, and depressive symptoms improve more quickly than attentional function.

Objective To analyze the metabolic profile in serum between normal and orthotopic xenograft nude mice burdened with three human pancreatic cancer cell lines,which were differentiated differently.Methods Human pancreatic cancer lines SW1990,BxPC-3 and Panc-1 were subcutaneously injected into the nude mice,respectively.When the tumor volume reached 1.0 cm3,the nude mice were euthanized and the tumor tissues were removed and implanted to the pancreas to establish the orthotopic xenograft mice model.The serum from three orthotopic xenograft tumor nude mice and the normal controls were collected and then analyzed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Results The three orthotopic xenograft nude mice models were successfully established.In SW1990,BxPC-3 and Panc-1 group,the orthotopic xenograft tumor formation rate was 79％ (11/14),93％ (13/14) and 86％ (12/14),while the mortality was 7％ (1/14),0 and 7％ (1/14),respectively.Compared with control group,the content of metabolites in the serum of orthotopic xenograft tumor nude mice was increased including creatine,alanine,glutamine,1-methylhistidine,isoleucine,lactate,phenylalanine,tryptophan and valine,but the glycerolphosphocholine (GPC) and glucose levels were reduced.As the tumors progressed to be more malignant,the content of valine and isoleucine tended to increase.Conclusions The establishment of the orthotopic implantation tumor nude mice model was stable and reliable with high tumor formation rate.Obvious metabolic differences of glucose,lipid and amino acids were observed between normal and human pancreatic cancer tumor burdening nude mice models.The common metabolic features identified in all three nude mice models burdened with human pancreatic cancer could be used as the potential markers for diagnosing human pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the level of homocysteine in patients with postpartum depression is associated with depression index. METHODS: A total of 43 women with postpartum depression or with potential postpartum depression, who visited the psychological clinic of Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan Province from June, 2012 to April, 2014, were enrolled in this study. They were evaluated by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale. Chinese Classification of Mental Disorder (the third edition) was used for their diagnosis. The depressive index was calculated by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, and clinical symptom scores, which was used to assess the level of depressive symptoms. The level of homocysteine in serum was detected by chemoluminescent method. Meanwhile, another 31 women, who visited the hospital without postpartum depression, were used as controls to compare with the 43 patients. RESULTS: The homocysteine level in the women with postpartum depression was significantly higher than that in the control group [(10.09 ± 3.59) μmol/L vs (8.57 ± 1.59) μmol/L, t=12.392, P=0.001]. The depression index was positively correlated with the level of homocysteine (r=0.231, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The level of serum homocysteine is associated with postpartum depression, suggesting that the level of serum homocysteine might be a risk biomarker for postpartum depression.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Case-Control Studies ; Depression, Postpartum ; blood ; Female ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales