Objective To investigate indoor radon concentrations and environmental cumulative doses in residential and office units in Shenzhen, and estimate the average annual effective dose, and to provide data for assessing public health risks. Methods Within the 11 administrative districts of Shenzhen (including the Shenzhen-Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone), 17 residential units and 3 office units were randomly selected as monitoring sites in each district. The units selected represented buildings of different ages and various floors on which the units were located. Radon detectors and environmental cumulative dosimeters were deployed for monitoring. Results The indoor radon concentrations in Shenzhen during the two monitoring periods were (36.6 ± 16.5) Bq/m³ and (19.8 ± 15.3) Bq/m³, respectively. The environmental cumulative doses for the two monitoring periods were (0.33 ± 0.07) mSv and (0.25 ± 0.04) mSv, respectively. The estimated average annual effective dose due to indoor radon in Shenzhen was 0.92 mSv. Conclusion All monitored indoor radon concentrations in Shenzhen were below the national standard of China. The indoor radon concentrations exhibited significant regional variations, were higher in spring than in summer, and showed no statistically significant differences across buildings of different ages or units of various floors. The trends in indoor radon concentrations and environmental cumulative doses were highly consistent. The average indoor radon concentration in Shenzhen was lower than both the global and national levels, indicating a low risk of internal radiation exposure from radon.

Objective:To investigate the value of dual-detector spectral CTA in distinguishing infarct core from penumbra in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS), and to further explore the risk factors associated with infarct core and their predictive value.Methods:The imaging and clinical data of 163 patients with AIS who met the inclusion criteria admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from March 2022 to May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients from March 2022 to December 2022 were used as the training group, and patients from January 2023 to May 2023 were used as the validation group for internal validation. The head and neck spectral CTA and brain CT perfusion imaging with dual-layer detector spectral CT were all carried out on all patients. Using CTP as reference, the patients were divided into infarct core group and non-infarct core group according to whether an infarct core occurred in the hypoperfusion regions of brain tissue. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen predictors related to the infarct core. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy.Results:A total of 163 patients were included in the study, including 112 in the training group and 51 in the validation group. There were significant differences in iodine density, effective atomic number, hypertension, triglyceride and neutrophils between the two groups ( P< 0.05). The cutoff values for iodine density values and effective atomic number values were 0.215 mg/mL and 7.405, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that iodine density and hypertension were independent risk factors for infarct core in AIS, and triglyceride was an independent protective factor. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of iodine density value was the largest (0.859), with a sensitivity of 70.27%, and a specificity of 90.67%, which had a good predictive value. The ROC curve analysis results for the validation group were consistent with the training group. Conclusions:Spectral CT parameters iodine density values and effective atomic number values have the potential to distinguish the infarct core area from the penumbra area in patients with AIS. Iodine density and hypertension were independent risk factors of infarct core in AIS, triglyceride was an independent protective factor, and iodine density values obtained by dual-layer spectral detector CT had a high predictive value.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of activation of splenic plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice.Methods:The experiment was performed in two parts. Animal experiment Thirty-six SPF healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 10 weeks, weighing 22-27 g, were assigned to 3 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), myocardial ischemia group (MI group) and myocardial I/R group (MI/R group). The myocardial ischemia was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery for 40 min in MI group, while the model of myocardial I/R was established by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 40 min followed by 1-h reperfusion in MI/R group. Following successful preparation of the model, 3 animals from each group were randomly selected, and their hearts were removed for determination of myocardial infarct size through a combination of TTC and methylene blue double staining. Another 3 animals from each group were randomly selected, and their hearts were removed for examination of pathological changes of myocardial tissues using HE staining. Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta of 6 mice left in each group for determination of plasma interferon alpha (IFN-α) concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Then the animals were sacrificed and hearts were harvested for collection of cardiac perfusate (CP). Cell experiment Twelve SPF healthy male C57BL/6J mice, aged 10 weeks, weighing 22-27 g, were selected and the splenic pDCs were isolated using anti-mPDCA-1 MicroBeads according to the manufacturer′s instructions (with a positivity rate of >85% for the isolated cells). The cells were divided into 4 groups: group pDCs stimulated by CP in Sham group (pDCs+ CP-Sham group), group pDCs stimulated by CP in MI group (pDCs+ CP-MI group), group pDCs stimulated by CP in MI/R group (pDCs+ CP-MI/R group) and pDCs stimulated by PBS group (pDCs+ PBS group). The CP in Sham, MI and MI/R groups and PBS were used to induce and culture pDCs for 8 h. Flow cytometry was employed to detect the expression of CD45 and co-stimulatory molecules CD80, CD86 and Major Histocompatibility Complex Ⅱ (MHC Ⅱ) on the surface of pDCs. The levels of IFN-α in the cell culture supernatant were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Animal experiments Compared with Sham group and MI group, the percentage of myocardial infarct size was significantly increased, the concentrations of plasma IFN-α were increased ( P<0.05), and cardiomyocytes displayed evident vacuolar degeneration, severe myocardial fiber rupture, and infiltration of a substantial number of inflammatory cells in MI/R group. There was no significant difference in each parameter between Sham group and MI group ( P>0.05). Cell experiment Compared with pDCs+ CP-Sham group, the expression of CD80, CD86 and MHCⅡ was significantly up-regulated in pDCs+ CP-MI group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the aforementioned parameters in pDCs+ CP-MI/R group ( P>0.05). The expression of aforementioned parameters was significantly up-regulated in pDCs+ CP-MI group as compared with pDCs+ CP-MI/R group ( P<0.05). Compared with pDCs+ CP-Sham group and pDCs+ CP-MI/R group, the concentrations of IFN-α in the cell culture supernatant were significantly increased in pDCs+ CP-MI group ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the concentrations of IFN-α between pDCs+ CP-MI/R group and pDCs+ CP-Sham group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism underlying myocardial I/R injury may be related to activation of splenic pDCs leading to the production of IFN-α following myocardial ischemia in mice.

Objective:To explore the effect of the"internet+health education system"in nursing care after stapler circumci-sion.Methods:A total of 260 patients underwent stapler circumcision in the Outpatient Department of our hospital from January 2022 to July 2022,of whom 130 received routine nursing after operation(the control group),and the other 130 internet+medical nursing service based on the internet+health education system(the experimental group).We followed up the patients on the 1st,3rd,7th and 30th day after surgery,recorded their Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)scores within 24 hours postoperatively,their satisfac-tion scores with surgery and nursing,the incidence of complications and falloff of the stapler nails,and compared them between the two groups.Results:The postoperative VAS scores of the patients and the incidences of postoperative edema,bleeding,infection and other complications were significantly lower(P<0.05),the falloff of the stapler nails markedly sooner,and the patients'satisfaction scores with surgery and nursing service remarkably higher(P<0.05)in the experimental than in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:The application of the internet+health education system in nursing care after stapler circumcision can impart relevant knowledge to the patients,enhance their self-care ability,effectively reduce postoperative complications,and improve the patients'sat-isfaction with surgery and nursing service.

In recent years, the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC) has made great progress, but chemoresistance is still one of the main reasons for reducing the survival rate of patients with colorectal cancer. Therefore, ameliorating chemotherapy resis-tance is an urgent problem to be solved. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory role and related molecular mechanisms of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA) in colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) chemoresistance. In this study, HCT116 and HT-29 cells were used as research subjects. Firstly, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay and colony formation assay were used to detect and analyze the effect of HSYA on the proliferation of CRC cells. Secondly, the effect of HSYA on the cell cycle in CRC cells was analyzed by cell cycle assay. Furthermore, the effect of HSYA on the migration of CRC cells was analyzed by wound-healing assay and Transwell assay. Based on the above, the influences of HSYA on 5-FU chemoresistance of CRC cells and related molecular mechanisms were explored and analyzed. The results showed that HSYA significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of CRC cells, and arrested the cell cycle in G_0/G_1 phase. In addition, HSYA significantly ameliorated the chemoresistance of CRC cells to 5-FU. The results of acridine orange staining and Western blot showed that the autophagy activity of CRC cells in the HSYA and 5-FU combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in the 5-FU single drug treatment group. As compared with the 5-FU single drug treatment group, the phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B(Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) in the HSYA and 5-FU combined treatment group were significantly reduced, indicating that the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in the combined treatment group was down-regulated in CRC cells. In conclusion, HSYA may upregulate autophagy activity through the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and migration of CRC cells and ameliorating the chemoresistance to 5-FU.
Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Cell Line, Tumor ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Fluorouracil/pharmacology* ; Cell Proliferation ; Autophagy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy*

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly malignant and heterogeneous brain tumor, contains various types of tumor and non-tumor cells. Whether GBM cells can trans-differentiate into non-neural cell types, including mural cells or endothelial cells (ECs), to support tumor growth and invasion remains controversial. Here we generated two genetic GBM models de novo in immunocompetent mouse brains, mimicking essential pathological and molecular features of human GBMs. Lineage-tracing and transplantation studies demonstrated that, although blood vessels in GBM brains underwent drastic remodeling, evidence of trans-differentiation of GBM cells into vascular cells was barely detected. Intriguingly, GBM cells could promiscuously express markers for mural cells during gliomagenesis. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing showed that patterns of copy number variations (CNVs) of mural cells and ECs were distinct from those of GBM cells, indicating discrete origins of GBM cells and vascular components. Importantly, single-cell CNV analysis of human GBM specimens also suggested that GBM cells and vascular cells are likely separate lineages. Rather than expansion owing to trans-differentiation, vascular cell expanded by proliferation during tumorigenesis. Therefore, cross-lineage trans-differentiation of GBM cells is very unlikely to occur during gliomagenesis. Our findings advance understanding of cell lineage dynamics during gliomagenesis, and have implications for targeted treatment of GBMs.
Mice ; Animals ; Humans ; Glioblastoma/pathology* ; Endothelial Cells/pathology* ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Brain/metabolism* ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology*

Objective:To investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic pro-ximal gastrectomy (LPG) for proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 385 patients with proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction who underwent LPG in the 15 medical centers, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University et al, from January 2014 to March 2022 were collected. There were 304 males and 81 females, aged (63±9)years. Of the 385 patients, 335 cases undergoing LPG were divided into the laparoscopic group and 50 cases undergoing open proximal gastrectomy were divided into the open group. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative and postoperative situations; (2) follow-up; (3) stratified analysis. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using the repeated ANOVA. Results:(1) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. The operation time, cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis, cases with postoperative pathological staging as stage 0?Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ?Ⅲ, duration of postoperative hospital stay, cases with postoperative early complications were (212±96)minutes, 270, 65, 177, 107, 10(range, 8?14)days, 40 in patients of the laparoscopic group, with 51 cases missing the data of postoperative pathological staging. The above indicators were (174±90)minutes, 39, 11, 22, 28, 10(range, 8?18)days, 10 in patients of the open group. There were significant differences in the opera-tion time and postoperative pathological staging between the two groups ( t=2.62, χ2=5.93, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the reconstruction of digestive tract, duration of post-operative hospital stay, postoperative early complications between the two groups ( χ2=0.19, Z=0.40, χ2=2.50, P>0.05). (2) Follow-up. Of the 385 patients,202 cases were followed up during the post-operative 12 months, including 187 cases in the laparoscopic group and 15 cases in the open group. Cases with reflux esophagitis, cases with esophageal anastomotic stenosis were 48, 11 in patients of the laparoscopic group, versus 5, 2 in patients of the open group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). The body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb) at postoperative 6 months and 12 months were (21±3)kg/m 2, (130±15)g/L, (40±4)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (132±14)g/L, (41±4)g/L in patients of the laparoscopic group, versus (21±3)kg/m 2, (121±19)g/L, (37±5)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (125±21)g/L, (43±6)g/L in patients of the open group. There were significant differences in postoperative Hb between the two groups ( Fgroup=5.88, Ftime=5.49, Finteraction=19.95, P<0.05) and there were significant differences in time effect of postopera-tive BMI and Alb between the two groups ( Ftime=9.53, 49.88, P<0.05). (3) Stratified analysis. ① Incidence of postoperative of reflux esophagitis and esophageal anastomotic stenosis in patients with different reconstruction of digestive tract. Of the 202 patients, cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis were 168 and 34, respectively. The incidence rates of postoperative of reflux esophagitis were 26.79%(45/168)and 23.53%(8/34)in cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis, showing no significant difference between them ( χ2=0.16, P>0.05). Cases undergoing esophageal anastomotic stenosis were 13 in patients with reconstruction of diges-tive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis. ② The BMI, Hb, Alb in patients with different reconstruc-tion of digestive tract. The BMI, Hb, Alb were (24±3)kg/m 2, (135±20)g/L, (41±5)g/L in the 168 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis before the operation, versus (23±3)kg/m 2, (130±19)g/L, (40±4)g/L in the 34 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophageal-jejunal anastomosis before the operation, showing no significant difference between them ( t=1.44, 1.77, 1.33, P>0.05). The BMI, Hb, Alb at postoperative 6 months and 12 months were (21±3)kg/m 2, (128±16)g/L, (39±4)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (131±16)g/L, (41±4)g/L in the 168 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis, versus (20±4)kg/m 2, (133±13)g/L, (43±3)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (135±12)g/L, (44±3)g/L in the 34 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophageal-jejunal anastomosis. There were significant differences in the group effect and time effect of postoperative Alb between patients with different reconstruction of diges-tive tract ( Fgroup=15.82, Ftime=5.43, P<0.05), and there was also a significant difference in the time effect of postoperative BMI between them ( Ftime=4.22 , P<0.05). Conclusion:LPG can be used to the treatment of proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, with a good safety and short-term efficacy.

Objective To summarize the palliative care consultations proposed by the Emergency Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 22 palliative care consultations in the Emergency Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2017 to June 2020. Results A total of 18 patients (6 males and 12 females) received palliative care consultations in the Emergency Department,with the average age of (65±8) years (36-88 years).Specifically,10 and 6 patients received once and twice consultations,respectively,and 2 patients did not complete the consultation.Of the patients receiving palliative care consultations,15 had malignant tumors and 3 had non-neoplastic diseases.The reasons for palliative care consultations included communication (61.1%,11/18) and pain relief (61.1%,11/18).In terms of the place of death,8 patients died in the hospital and 6 patients in other medical institutions. Conclusion There is a clear demand for palliative care consultation in the Emergency Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital,and the consultation can bring help to both emergency doctors and patients.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Palliative Care/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Referral and Consultation ; Hospitals ; Emergency Service, Hospital

OBJECTIVE: To observe the safety of donor NK cell infusions in the settings of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and after consolidation chemotherapy in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Forty patients with AML were included, in which 21 patients aged over 60 years were at the stage of complete remission (CR) and 19 patients that received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Mononucleated cells were isolated from peripheral blood from the donors (for allo-HSCT) or healthy immediate family members (elderly AML). The cells were seeded into the flasks pre-coated with NK cell specific activators, and expanded in media containing recombinant human IL-15 and IL-2 for 14 days. The cells were transfused intravenously after the identification of quality control. Trypan blue exclusion test was used for the determination of cell viability and counting. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the surface antigenic profile. Seventy-eight infusions of the cell products were received by the elderly patients with AML after consolidation chemotherapy, 11 infusions were received by the patients during allo-HSCT and 32 infusions 3 moths after transplantation. The safety of cell therapy, body temperature, blood pressure and other indexes were observe during and 48 hours after cell transfusion. Meanwhile, the occurrence and severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were documented. RESULTS: Flow cytometry analysis showed that the proportion of NK cells (CD3^-CD56⁺) in the mononucleated cells before culture was (14.10±4.22)% (n=121), and the proportion increased dramatically up to (87.29±8.75)% (n=121) after culture for 14 days, the number of NK cells increased to 753.47±140.13 times (n=121). The doses of the infused NK cells was (7.58±2.50)×10⁷/kg per infusion. Moderate fever occurred in three cases after multiple infusions, and the temperature restored to normal on the same day after treatment. Fever was observed in one patient after every infusion of four times in total. The temperature reached to 38.5-39.0 ℃ and returned to normal within 1-2 hours after adequate antipyretic treatment, and then there was no discomfort. No GVHD was observed in the elderly AML patients, while 6 cases that received allo-HSCT developed moderate acute GVHD, among them grade I in 5 cases and grade II in 1 case. No other severe toxicities were observed. CONCLUSION NK cell products with a high-purity could be obtained by ex vivo expansion with this protocol. The transfusion of these expanded cells is generally safe in the elderly patients with AML that have received chemotherapy or patients that received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Aged ; Graft vs Host Disease/prevention & control* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

Objective: The aim of this study is to discover the possible working mechanisms of Ardisiae Japonicae Herba (AJH) on hepatoma carcinoma (HCC). Methods: In this study, ethanol extract of AJH was prepared and used to treat HCC cell in vitro. Furthermore, a genomic wide RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to screen deregulated genes in HCC cells after the treatment of AJH extract. The gene and protein expression related to lipid metabolism in HCC cells were also investigated to validate the results obtained from RNA-seq. Results: AJH extract could inhibit HCC cell proliferation in vitro. RNA-seq analysis has identified 1,601 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, fold change ≥ 2.0 or fold change ≤ 0.5, P < 0.05) in HCC after AJH extract treatment, which included 225 up-regulated genes and 1,376 down-regulated genes. KEGG pathway analysis of DEGs demonstrated that lipid metabolism was a potential pathway related to AJH treatment. In agreement with the RNA-seq data, qPCR and Western-blot analysis indicated that expression of genes and proteins related to lipid metabolism (SREBP1, ACC, ACLY and FASN) were significantly down-regulated in AJH treatment group as compared with the control group. Furthermore, AJH extract could also decrease lipid contents and cellular free fatty acid levels in HCC cells. Conclusion: Ethanol extract of AJH could inhibit HCC cell proliferation in vitro, the possible mechanism may be related to the inhibition of lipid metabolism.