Objective To analyze the multimodal ultrasound imaging characteristics in patients with different molecular subtypes of breast cancer.Methods The medical records of 85 patients with breast cancer were retrospectively collected and classified into 12 cases of Luminal A,35 cases of Lu-minal B,21 cases of HER2,and 17 cases of triple-negative breast cancer based on immunohisto-chemical results.All patients underwent conventional ultrasound,color Doppler ultrasound,ultra-sound elastography,and contrast-enhanced ultrasound.The relationship between multimodal ultra-sound characteristics and breast cancer molecular subtypes and their diagnostic value were analyzed.Results Conventional ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound results showed statistically significant differences in the margin characteristics of breast cancer lesions among the four molecular subtypes(P＜0.05).Ultrasound elastography results revealed that the maximum elastic modulus(Emax)lev-els of HER2 and triple-negative subtypes were higher than those of Luminal A and Luminal B,respec-tively.The ratios of elastic modulus to normal tissue(Eratio)for Luminal B,HER2,and triple-nega-tive subtypes were higher than that of Luminal A,and the Eratio level of Luminal Bwas lower than that of HER2(P＜0.05).Contrast-enhanced ultrasound results showed statistically significant differences in enhancement levels,perfusion defects,and peak intensity(IMAX),time to peak(TTP),and augmentation time(AT)among the four molecular subtypes of breast cancer lesions(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that margin characteristics,Emax,Emin,Emean,Eratio,IMAX,TTP,and AT were independent influencing factors for breast cancer molecular subtypes(P＜0.05).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve and sensitivity of multimodal ultrasound imaging characteristics(combined indicators)for diagnosing breast cancer molecular subtypes were significantly greater than those of individual indicators(P＜0.05).Conclusion There are differences in two-dimensional ultrasound,color Doppler ultra-sound,ultrasound elastography,and contrast-enhanced ultrasound results among different molecular-subtypes of breast cancer.Multimodal ultrasound imaging characteristics have high diagnostic value for breast cancer molecular subtypes.

Background Silicosis is an occupational disease mainly characterized by pulmonary progressive fibrosis induced by the accumulation of free silica (SiO₂) in the lungs due to long-term exposure to SiO₂ dust. It has been shown that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are increased in the lung tissues of silicotic mice after 28 d SiO₂ exposure, but it is unclear how the levels of NETs change throughout entire progression of silicosis in mice. Objective To observe the levels of NETs and pathological changes in the lungs of silicotic mice after different duration of SiO₂ exposure, and to confirm the possible role and significance of NETsin the development of SiO₂-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods A total of 28 SPF male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, and a model group, and the model group was subdivided into, a 2 d model group, a 7 d model group, and a 28 d model group, with 7 mice in each group. The mice in the model groups were given intratracheal instillation with 10 mg SiO₂ suspension (50 μL), and the mice in the control group were received same volume of saline. Mice were sacrificed and samples were collected at designed time points. The pathological changes of lung tissues of mice were observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Van Gieson (VG) staining. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the NETs markers citrullination histone H3 (CitH3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the percentage of NETs-positive cells was calculated. PicoGreen fluorescent dye kit was used to detect the content of extracelluar DNA (ex-DNA) in mouse BALF, and the expression levels of fibrosis-related proteins α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin (FN) and NETs marker CitH3 in lung tissues of mice were detected by Western blot (WB). Results Compared with the control group, inflammatory cells accumulation, alveolar wall thickening, and collagen deposition were obviously observed in the lungs of the silicosis model groups, and a large number of silicone nodules were recorded in the lung tissues in the 28 d group. Compared with the control group, the expressions of α-SMA and FN in the lung tissue of the 28 d group were significantly increased (P<0.05). The percentages of NETs in BALF increased significantly in the 2 d and the 7 d model group, then decreased in the 28 d model group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group (7.434±0.258) ng·mL⁻¹, the ex-DNA levels in BALF of mice in the 2 d [(35.110±6.331) ng·mL⁻¹], the 7 d [(39.491±6.948) ng·mL⁻¹], and the 28 d [(23.360±4.809) ng·mL⁻¹] model groups were increased (P<0.05), and the increase of ex-DNA in the 2 d and the 7 d model groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). In comparison with the control group, the protein level of CitH3 was significantly increased in the lung tissues of mice in the 7 d model group (P<0.05). Conclusion The content of NETs increases significantly and reaches a peak in the early inflammatory stage of silicosis, and decreases as the disease progresses to the fibrotic stage, suggesting that NETs may play a role in early stage of silicosis.

Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Butyrates ; Ligands ; Glucose ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism* ; Glycogen Synthase Kinases/metabolism* ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Phosphorylation

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess the application of the early warning score system (EWS-S) and gauge physician awareness, perceptions of necessity and attitudes regarding these tools based on previously experienced unnoticed clinical deterioration (CDET). METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out via an online questionnaire at a large 3,500-bed Class 3A general hospital in China. A total of 299 physicians of adult general wards were asked to answer a translated questionnaire that was localised from the original version. Demographic profiles of patients were included as well as three other sections assessing awareness of CDET/EWS-S and gauging attitudes towards and perceptions of the necessity of EWS-S at our hospital. RESULTS: A high level of physician awareness of the CDET problem was observed. Most physicians knew about the existence of a systematic assessment tool for clinical application. Physicians with previous experience in reanimation, unplanned transfer to intensive care unit (UTICU) and/or death tended to consider EWS-S necessary in attentive and well-trained staff (p < 0.05). Physicians who had previous experience with UTICU were more likely to recommend implementing EWS-S in their wards compared with those without such experience (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Most physicians have positive attitudes towards EWS-S. However, their awareness should be further heightened. Physicians who had previous experience with CDET/UTICU were more likely to employ EWS-S in their clinical practices. To better facilitate the implementation of EWS-S in Chinese hospitals, existing facilities, policy supports, standardised managements and the development of information systems should be strengthened.
Adult ; Attitude ; Clinical Deterioration ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Early Warning Score ; Humans ; Physicians

Objective:To control the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) effectively, strict isolation measures have been taken in China. Suspected patients must be isolated, and the confirmed patients specifically are isolated in negative-pressure isolation rooms. During the isolation, patients face difficulty in adapting to their surrounding environment, worry about the prognosis of the disease, lack confidence in treatment, separate from their families, and have a sense of distance from medical staff. Isolated patients may possess the feelings of negativity, including loneliness, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and despair. Hence, to reduce the risk of adverse psychological outcomes,"family member-like"care strategies were developed and implemented to solve problems associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to examine whether using"family member-like"care strategies can improve psychological resilience and reduce depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among patients with COVID-19 in an isolation ward.Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the"family member-like"care strategies for adult patients with COVID-19 in an isolation ward. COVID-19 patients in the Xiangya ward of the West District of the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, were included in this study from February 9 to March 20, 2020. Healthcare providers who volunteered as family members were assigned to patients. They practiced one-to-one care and provided continuous and whole care for the patients who were from admission to discharge. Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC-10) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were used to evaluate the resilience and psychological status of COVID-19 inpatients upon hospital admission, 2 weeks after admission, and at their discharge from the hospital. Results: The questionnaire response rate of the"family member-like"strategies was 100％. Of the 60 patients, 39 (65.0％) were male, and 21 (35％) were female. The hospital stay was (27.5±3.5) days. All the 60 patients were cured and discharged without any death and serious complications. The total scores for CD-RISC were 8.83±6.86 at admission, 29.13±5.42 at 2 weeks after admission, and 33.87±6.14 at discharge, which were significantly improved at the 2 follow-ups (F=404.564, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis and repeated measurements also indicated that patients experienced significant improvements in tenacity (F=360.839, P<0.001), strength (F=368.217, P<0.001), and optimism (F=328.456, P<0.001) at the 2 follow-ups. The total scores of DASS-21 were 49.27±11.30 at admission, 30.77±16.71 at 2 weeks after admission, and 4.17±11.03 at discharge, and the scores were significantly decreased at the 2 follow-ups (F=270.536, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis and repeated measurements also indicated that patients experienced significant decreases in depression (F=211.938, P<0.001), anxiety (F=285.592, P<0.001), and stress (F=287.478, P<0.001) at the 2 follow-ups.Conclusion:"Family member-like"strategies had positive effects on improving psychological resilience and reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression of COVID-19 patients. It might be an effective care method for COVID-19 patients. It should be incorporated into emergency care management to improve care quality during public health emergencies of infectious diseases.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of rhTNF-alpha on human sperm mitochondrial function and motility in vitro.

METHODSFifty-six semen samples collected by masturbation were analyzed according to WHO protocols. Semen samples from 40 healthy men were prepared using Percoll centrifugation. Sperm suspension was diluted to a concentration of 10 x 10(6)/ml in Ham's F10 medium. Sperm samples were incubated with rhTNF-alpha solution (final concentration 0.03 microg/L, 0.06 microg/L, 0.09 microg/L and 0.27 microg/L, respectively) for 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 4 h at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2, and comparative studies were made with a control group. Ten microl sperm samples were examined with CASA technique, 250 microl stained in the presence of 10 microg/ml Rh123 and PI, and mitochondrial function analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSSignificant differences were found between the experimental groups (final concentration 0.06 microg/L, 0.09 microg/L and 0.27 microg/L) and the control group in viability, straight line velocity, curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, progressive motility of human sperm and the number of spermatozoa with normal mitochondrial function (P < 0.01) except the final concentration 0.03 microg/L group (P > 0.05). Motility of human sperm lowered with the increase of rhTNF-alpha concentration and incubation time, and r values were 0.675, 0.691, 0.762, 0.693, 0.724 and 0.571, 0.594, 0.752, 0.791, 0.816, respectively (P < 0.01). The number of spermatozoa with normal mitochondrial function decreased with the increased rhTNF-alpha concentration and incubation time, and r values were 0.615, 0.643, 0.752, 0.691, 0.754 and 0.532, 0.567, 0.782, 0.692, 0.854, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONrhTNF-alpha can reduce human sperm motility function in vitro, possibly by interfering with human sperm mitochondrial function.

Adult ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Male ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; physiology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology