Humans ; Sarcoma ; Transcription Factors ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion

Objective: To clarify the values of autotaxin (ATX) in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and PBC-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: 179 patients with PBC were selected from prospective cohorts of autoimmune liver diseases at the time of first diagnosis of PBC in Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, from January 2016 to January 2018, all patients with PBC received UDCA therapy, primary endpoint was event of HCC, the follow-up period was censored at the date of HCC. The relationship between level of ATX and clinical features in patients with PBC and its potential value in predicting disease progression and PBC-related HCC were analyzed. Results: The ATX level in the peripheral blood of patients with PBC was significantly higher than that of alcoholic liver cirrhosis(ALC) (t = 3.278, P = 0.001) and healthy controls(HC) (t = 6.594, P < 0.001), however, when comparing PBC to non-PBC related HCC, no significant difference was found between the groups(t=-0.240, P = 0.811). Consistent with peripheral blood levels, histochemical staining indicated that ATX in the liver of patients with PBC was significantly higher than that of HC (Z=-3.633, P < 0.001) and ALC (Z=-3.283, P < 0.001), and the expression of ATX in PBC with advanced histological stage was significantly higher than PBC with early stage (Z=-2.018, P = 0.034). The baseline ATX level in PBC patients without developing to HCC during follow-up had significant difference to patients with developing to HCC (228.451 ± 124.093 ng/ml vs 301.583 ± 100.512 ng/ml, t = 2.339, P = 0.021). The result in multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ATX were independent predictors of PBC related HCC(OR 1.245, 95%CI 1.097-1.413). The optimal critical value of peripheral blood ATX level at baseline for predicting HCC was 235.254 ng/ml, with the cut-off value of 0.714 in AUC of the ROC (95% CI was 0.597~ 0.857), sensitivity and specificity were 84.6% and 59.0%, respectively. Conclusion: ATX level was significantly higher in PBC patients over controls, and it's concentration was correlated with UDCA efficacy and fibrosis stage. ATX has potential values in predicting disease progression and PBC-related HCC.

Objective: To investigate the clinical, imaging, histological, and molecular features and the differential diagnosis of radiation-associated sarcomas of bone and soft tissue. Methods: Forty-six cases of radiation-associated sarcomas of the bone and soft tissue in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2010 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed; and the imaging, histological features and immunophenotype were examined. Results: There were 33 females and 13 males, aged from 18 to 74 years, with a mean of 52 years. The most common site of radiation-associated sarcomas were the limbs and spine (15 cases), followed by the chest (9 cases). The primary diseases included epithelial tumors (15 breast cancer, 6 cervical cancer, and 5 bowel cancer), hematolymphoid tumors, bone and soft tissue tumors and infectious lesions. The latent period of radiation-associated sarcomas ranged from 2-22 years, with an average of 11.6 years. Histopathologically, the morphology was divergent from the primary tumor. The most common malignant tumor type was undifferentiated sarcoma (22 cases), followed by osteosarcoma (16 cases). The immunophenotype of radiation-related sarcoma was almost the same as the corresponding soft tissue sarcoma. Conclusions: Radiation-induced sarcoma has a wide range of primary tumor types and its imaging, morphology and immunohistochemical features are similar to those of the primary sarcoma of bone and soft tissue. Clinical correlation is often recommended for the differential diagnosis.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma/pathology* ; Osteosarcoma/diagnostic imaging* ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/pathology* ; Bone Neoplasms/pathology*

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of occupational lung diseases, to reduce the missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses of the diseases and to help standardize the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Methods: A total of 4 813 lung biopsy specimens (including 1 935 consultation cases) collected at the Department of Pathology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China from January 1st, 2017 to December 31th, 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 126 cases of occupational lung diseases were confirmed with clinical-radiological-pathological diagnosis. Special staining, PCR and scanning electron microscopy were also used to rule out the major differential diagnoses. Results: The 126 patients with occupational lung diseases included 102 males and 24 females. All of them had a history of exposure to occupational risk factor(s). Morphologically, 68.3% (86/126) of the cases mainly showed pulmonary fibrotic nodules, dust plaque formation or carbon end deposition in pulmonary parenchyma. 16.7% (21/126) of the cases mainly showed welding smoke particle deposition in the alveolar cavity and lung interstitium while 15.1% (19/126) of the cases showed granulomas with fibrous tissue hyperplasia, alveolar protein deposition or giant cell interstitial pneumonia. The qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses of residual dust components in the lung under scanning electron microscope were helpful for the diagnosis of welder's pneumoconiosis and hard metal lung disease. Conclusions: The morphological characteristics of lung biopsy tissue are important reference basis for the clinicopathological diagnosis and differential diagnosis of occupational lung diseases. Recognizing the characteristic morphology and proper use of auxiliary examination are the key to an accurate diagnosis of occupational lung diseases on biopsy specimens.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Pneumoconiosis/pathology* ; Lung/pathology* ; Dust ; Pneumonia, Viral/pathology* ; Biopsy

Background Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose can cause liver injury and liver failure, which is one of the most common causes of drug-induced liver injury in the United States. Pharmacological activation of autophagy by inhibiting mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) protects against APAP-induced liver injury likely via autophagic removal of APAP-adducts and damaged mitochondria. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of genetic ablation of mTOR pathways in mouse liver in APAP-induced liver injury and liver repair/regeneration. Methods Albumin-Cre (Alb-Cre) mice, mTORf/f and Raptorf/f mice (C57BL/6J background) were crossbred to produce liver-specific mTOR knockout (L-mTOR KO, Alb Cre+/-, mTORf/f) and liver-specific Raptor KO (L-Raptor, Alb Cre+/-, Raptor f/f) mice. Alb-Cre littermates were used as wild-type (WT) mice. These mice were treated with APAP for various time points for up to 48 h. Liver injury, cell proliferation, autophagy and mTOR activation were determined. Results We found that genetic deletion of neither Raptor, an important adaptor protein in mTOR complex 1, nor mTOR, in the mouse liver significantly protected against APAP-induced liver injury despite increased hepatic autophagic flux. Genetic deletion of Raptor or mTOR in mouse livers did not affect APAP metabolism and APAP-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, but slightly improved mouse survival likely due to increased hepatocyte proliferation. Conclusions Our results indicate that genetic ablation of mTOR in mouse livers does not protect against APAP-induced liver injury but may slightly improve liver regeneration and mouse survival after APAP overdose.

Objective: To investigate frailty progress status and related factors in the elderly living in communities. Methods: A cohort of elderly people aged 65 and over in Pingyi community of Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, was established. Face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted by trained interviewers. The frailty status, cognitive function, nutrition status and other functions of the subjects surveyed were evaluated at baseline survey and during follow-up. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects surveyed were assessed at baseline survey. Binary logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with frailty progress. Results: A total of 653 elderly people were surveyed in January 2014, and 507 elderly people were followed up while 146 elderly people terminated further follow-up in January 2017. The prevalence rates of frailty and pre-frailty at baseline survey were 11.2% (n=57) and 26.2% (n=133), respectively. After 3 years, 205 subjects (40.4%) surveyed experienced frailty progress, 276 (54.5%) remained to be in frailty state at baseline survey, and 26 (5.1%) had improvement. Disability (OR=8.27, 95%CI: 1.62-42.26), visual problem (OR=2.02, 95%CI: 1.27-3.22), cognitive impairment (OR=1.94, 95%CI: 1.08-3.48), poor self-rated health (OR=1.89, 95%CI: 1.07-3.31), chronic pain (OR=1.57, 95%CI: 1.03-2.40) and older age (OR=1.12, 95%CI: 1.08-1.17) were independently associated with the progress of frailty. In contract, overweight was a protective factor (OR=0.54, 95%CI: 0.34-0.85). Conclusions: Frailty is a dynamic syndrome affected by several socio-demographic factors and geriatric factors. The results of the study can be used in the prevention of frailty progress in the elderly in communities.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China/epidemiology* ; Frail Elderly/statistics & numerical data* ; Frailty ; Geriatric Assessment/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life/psychology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic parasite causing significant health problems to humans and animals. In recent years, a number of investigations about the seroprevalence of T. gondii in China have been reported, but little is known on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in sheep in northern China. In the present study, a total of 288 sheep serum samples were collected from Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Hebei provinces of northern China for T. gondii antibody survey using a latex agglutination test (LAT). Of these, 87 (30.2%) serum samples were positive for antibodies to T. gondii, and the antibody titres ranged from 1:64 to 1:1,024. Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep was 17.1% in Inner Mongolia, 33.8% in Heilongjiang, 24.6% in Jilin and 46.3% in Hebei. Age and rearing system significantly affected seropositivity. The present survey indicates antibodies to T. gondii are widely prevalent in sheep in northern China, which may cause public health problems in these provinces.

Objective: To estimate the incidence and distribution characteristics of fall related injury in people aged ≥50 years in 8 provinces in China and related physiological, psychological and social risk factors. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from adults aged ≥50 years participating in the World Health Organization (WHO) study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE) round 1 in China. Two-level hierarchical logistic model was used to identify the related factors for fall-related injury. All the models were stratified by living area (urban/rural). Results: Estimated incidence of fall related injury (road traffic injury was not included) was 3.2%. Ageing and multiple chronic conditions (OR=2.55, 95%CI: 1.41-4.64) was significantly associated with the incidence of fall related injury in urban area. In rural area, depression (OR=4.33, 95% CI: 2.52-7.42) and multiple chronic conditions (OR=2.46, 95%CI: 1.37-4.41) were associated with the incidence of fall related injury. Conclusions: This study estimated the incidence of fall related injury in adults aged ≥50 years in 8 provinces in China. A significant association between multiple chronic conditions and fall related injury were found in both urban and rural residents. Targeted measures should be taken for the prevention and control of chronic diseases in elderly population.
Accidental Falls/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; China ; Chronic Disease/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Wounds and Injuries/etiology*

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases caused by Coxsackie virus A16 (Cox A16) in Guangdong province from 2012 to 2016. Methods: The data of mild HFMD cases caused by Cox A16 were collected from 8 sentinel hospitals in 8 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong to estimate Cox A16 infection status and its population and time distribution characteristics. Results: (1) The highest estimated incidence of Cox A16 infection was in 2014 (113.0/100 000), followed by 2016 (86.4/100 000) and 2012 (79.1/100 000), while the estimated incidence was lower in 2015 (29.0/100 000) and 2013 (28.8/100 000). (2) Cox A16 was confirmed to be the predominant pathogen causing HFMD outbreaks (54.6%, 89/163). The number of outbreaks in the year with high incidence (28 outbreaks) was 11.2 times higher than that in the year with low incidence (2.5 outbreaks). (3) Across all age groups, the annual estimated incidence of Cox A16 infection decreased with age (trend χ(2)=853 905.63, P<0.01). The incidence was highest in age group 1 year (1 449.2/100 000), followed by that in age group 3 years (1 097.0/100 000), in age group 2 years (1 083.5/100 000), in age group 4 years (687.8/100 000) and in age group 0 year (604.9/100 000). Among the age groups <12 months, the estimated incidence increased with age (trend χ(2)=5 541.77, P<0.01), which was highest in age group 11-months (2 105.1/100 000), followed by that in age groups 10-months (1 448.6/100 000), 9-months (938.3/100 000), 8-months (703.3/100 000) and 6-months (664.6/100 000). (4) The annual incidence peak was during May (143.9/100 000)-June (131.5/100 000). Conclusion: The prevalence of Cox A16 infection differed with year in Guangdong during 2012-2016. When the incidence of Cox A16 infection was high, more outbreaks occurred. The prevalence occurred mainly in nurseries and kindergartens from May to June each year. Children aged 0-4 years were the high risk group for Cox A16 infection, children aged 6-11 months were at high risk for Cox A16 infection.
Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Cities ; Coxsackievirus Infections/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Enterovirus A, Human/isolation & purification* ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease/epidemiology* ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Schools

Objective: To understand the distribution and trends in 30-day coronary heart disease (CHD) case fatality rate in patients hospitalized due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Beijing during 2007-2012. Methods: The clinical data of patients hospitalized due to AMI in Beijing from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2012 were collected from "The Cardiovascular Disease Surveillance System in Beijing" . A total of 77 943 local patients aged ≥25 years were hospitalized due to AMI in Beijing during the this period. After excluding duplicate records and validation for the completeness and accuracy of the records, the clinical characteristics of the patients and 30-day CHD case fatality rate in the patients were analyzed. Trends in 30-day CHD case fatality rate in the patients were analyzed with Poisson regression models. Results: The age-standardized average 30-day CHD case fatality rate was 9.7% in the 77 943 patients. During this period, a decreasing trend was observed in 30-day CHD case fatality rate after adjusting for age and gender (P<0.001). The age-standardized 30-day CHD case fatality rate decreased by 16.0%, from 10.8% in 2007 to 9.0% in 2012. The decreases of 30-day CHD case fatality rates were noted in both men and women, whereas 30-day CHD case fatality rate was higher in women (14.1%) than in men (7.6%) after adjusting for age. During this period, the proportion of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) decreased, while the proportion of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) increased with year. A significant decline (20.1%) in 30-day case fatality rate of STEMI was found, but no decline was found for 30-day mortality rate of NSTEMI. Conclusion: A decreasing trend in 30-day CHD case fatality rate was observed in the patients aged ≥25 years and hospitalized due to AMI in Beijing during 2007-2012, indicating the improvement in short-term prognosis of patients hospitalized due to AMI. Our findings highlight the urgent need to improve the treatment for woman and NSTEMI patients.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Coronary Disease/mortality* ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization/trends* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/mortality* ; Prognosis ; Survival Analysis ; Time Factors