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 investigate the radioactivity levels of gross α and gross β in foods around Zhangzhou nuclear power plant, China before operation. Methods Forty-nine samples from 33 kinds of foods in 5 categories of daily food around Zhangzhou nuclear power plant were collected, pretreated, dried, and ashed. The radioactivity levels of gross α and gross β were measured by the low-background α and β measuring instrument. The atomic absorption technique was employed to measure the level of potassium (K), and the radioactivity level of gross β (subtracting ⁴⁰K) was calculated with K concentrations in different foods consulted from the nutritional dietary system. Results The radioactivity levels of gross α in vegetables and fruits, grain, poultry and livestock, aquatic products, and tea around Zhangzhou nuclear power plant were < minimum detectable level (MDL)-7.97, < MDL-6.82, < MDL, < MDL-20.76, and 11.90-23.08 Bq/kg, respectively; the radioactivity levels of gross β were 34.56-122.81, 13.05-188.96, 56.00-108.34, 17.86-169.01, and 123.74-171.63 Bq/kg, respectively; the radioactivity levels of gross β (subtracting ⁴⁰K) were not detected (ND)-14.27, ND-27.86, ND-48.72, ND-45.85, and 6.69-13.79 Bq/kg, respectively. Conclusion The radioactivity of gross α and gross β in foods around Zhangzhou nuclear power plant before operation is basically at the same level as that in other areas of China.

OBJECTIVE To discuss the relationship between the main concentration of air-borne pollen and the number of visits for allergic diseases in Chengde City. METHODS The daily airborne pollen concentration and species in Chengde City,Hebei Province were monitored by gravity sedimentation method from March 1 to October 15,in 2020-2022. The number of visits of patients with allergic rhinitis,asthma and conjunctivitis in department of otorhinolaryngology,respiratory and ophthalmology were counted by HIS system in the hospital computer center,furthermore,the correlation between pollen concentration and the number of visits of the above diagnosed patients was analyzed. RESULTS The pollen concentration in Chengde showed two peaks each year,which were in May in spring and August in autumn. The main pollen sources in spring were Pinaceae,ash,birch,ulmaceae,Cupressaceae,Moraceae and Rosaceaceae,accounting for 82.6％ of the total annual pollen(78.2％,83.5％,and 86.1％ in 2020-2022,respectively). In autumn,artemisia and humulus were the main sources of pollen,accounting for 9.94％ of the total annual pollen(11.4％,6.3％,12.11％,in 2020-2022,respectively). The number of outpatient visits patients with allergic rhinitis,asthma and conjunctivitis were higher in May and August than in other months,and the number of patients with allergic rhinitis in August was significantly increased compared with other months(P<0.05). The total monthly visits of the three departments and the visits of the three allergic diseases were positively correlated with pollen concentration. CONCLUSION The pollen concentration in the spring and autumn seasons of Chengde City has a direct impact on allergic diseases. Monitoring and broadcasting pollen concentration can provide early warning for doctors and patients,and provide effective information for early intervention,protection,and reasonable treatment of diseases.

Celastrol is extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f..It is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine monomer with extensive pharmacological activity and has anti-tumor,anti-inflammation,anti-oxidation and neuroprotective effects.Studies have found that celastrol is not only closely related to obesity,tumor and cardiovascular diseases,but also plays a neuroprotective role in the cerebrovascular system by regulating various signaling pathways.At present,effective drugs for stroke are still limited,but with the deepening of the research on celastrol,its therapeutic potential in stroke has received more and more attention,especially in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke,which has shown good therapeutic effects.Therefore,this is the first time to systematically summarize the therapeutic effects of celastrol on stroke and the underlying mechanisms involved,in order to provide further directions and references for the neuroprotective effects of celastrol.

Objective:To investigate the differences in applicability of both the portable high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ spectrometer and the portable lanthanum bromide (LaBr) γ spectrometer for measuring thyroid 131I activity and internal exposure monitoring for radiation workers. Method:Both DETECTIVE-DX100-KT portable HPGe γ spectrometer and InSpector 1000 portable LaBr γ spectrometer were used to measure the 131I content in thyroid of radiation workers for comparison of the measuring result, minimum detectable activity (MDA) and corresponding annual committed effective doses between two types of spectrometers. Results:The detection rate of 131I in thyroid of radiation workers was 67.7% for HPGe γ spectrometer and 26.2% for LaBr γ spectrometer, respectively. The MDA was 12.26-14.74 Bq (measuring time: 3-5 min) for HPGe γ spectrometer and 56.56-80.37 Bq for LaBr γ spectrometer (measuring time: 2-4 min). The annual committed effective dose corresponding to MDA was 0.07-0.08 mSv (3-5 min) for HPGe and 0.31-0.45 mSv (2-4 min) for LaBr, respectively, in the case of using chronic continuous intake mode and 7 d monitoring period. Conclusions:The minimum detectable activity (MDA) of the two types of portable spectrometers could meet the requirements specified in GBZ 129-2016 Specifications for individual monitoring of occupational internal exposure for thyroid monitoring equipment. The two types of spectrometers could be used for routine monitoring of internal contamination. The difference between the monitoring result of LaBr γ and HPGe γ spectrometers might be due to such factors as large uncertainty in short measuring time and low activity concentrations, incomplete identical of distance between probe and neck, probe angle setting, different response of equipment to the environment, background deduction method.

ObjectiveTo study the correlations of the characteristics of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome in patients with chronic kidney disease （CKD） with clinical indicators and to explore the risk factors of kidney Yang deficiency in CKD. MethodThe differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome classified the 225 CKD patients who met the inclusion criteria into two groups： one group of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome （99 patients） and one group of non-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome （126 patients）. The symptoms， tongue manifestation， pulse manifestation， and accompanied symptoms of the kidney Yang deficiency syndrome group were recorded. The syndrome characteristics were summarized by factor analysis and clustering analysis. The levels of hemoglobin, red blood cell count, urinary protein, urinary glucose, creatinine, urea nitrogen and glomerular filtration rate were compared between the kidney Yang deficiency syndrome group, the non-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome group and the normal control group by ANOVA and non-parametric test. The binary logistic regression model was employed to analyze the correlations of lifestyle， body mass index （BMI） with syndrome. ResultThe high-frequency symptoms of CKD patients with kidney Yang deficiency syndrome were waist pain， fear of cold， favor of warm， lethargy， fear of cold at waist and knees， etc. The patients mainly presented deep pulse， thready pulse， or weak pulse， and the tongue with white coating， greasy coating， or thin coating. A total of 13 common factors were obtained， which can be classified into 5 categories. The patients with kidney Yang deficiency syndrome mainly had symptoms in limbs （especially lower limbs）， chest， bladder， fleshy exterior， and stomach， with the main manifestations of deficiency-cold， Qi deficiency， fluid retention， and blood stasis. The clustering analysis classified the patients into 11 categories， which reflected that kidney Yang deficiency syndrome mainly presented the symptoms of Qi deficiency， blood stasis， and fluid retention， with fleshy exterior， limbs， spleen， stomach， ears， mind， and bladder involved. The results of clustering analysis and factor analysis were consistent， both of which indicated that the patients were weak with deficiency-cold， accompanied by fluid retention and blood stasis. Frequency analysis also showed that common symptoms mainly included Qi deficiency， fluid retention， cold-dampness， and blood stasis. Compared with the non-kidney Yang deficiency group， the kidney Yang deficiency group showed a large proportion of patients in stage 3-5 CKD， elevated urea nitrogen （P<0.05）， decreased glomerular filtration rate， hemoglobin， and red blood cell count （P<0.05）， and increased qualitative grade of urine protein. In addition， the results of regression analysis showed that female， little or no exercise， and diet preference were the risk factors for kidney Yang deficiency syndrome in CKD （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe disease location and manifestations have correspondence in the CKD patients with kidney Yang deficiency syndrome. The TCM symptoms are correlated with clinical indicators. Hemoglobin， red blood cell count， glomerular filtration rate， urea nitrogen， and urine protein can reflect the connotation of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome in CKD to a certain extent. Additionally， related risk factors in life can affect the occurrence of kidney Yang deficiency syndrome in CKD.

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion on the colonic mucosal barrier of rats with ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group and a modeling group, with 20 rats in each group. Rats in the modeling group were subjected to preparing experimental UC models by drinking 4％ DSS for seven consecutive days. Two modeled rats and two normal rats were randomly selected for model identification. After the success of UC model was confirmed, the remaining 18 modeled rats were randomly divided into three groups, a model group, a model + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a model + mild moxibustion group, with six rats in each group; the remaining normal rats were randomly divided into three groups, a normal group, a normal + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, and a normal + mild moxibustion group, with six rats in each group. After 7 d of intervention with the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion or the mild moxibustion, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining technique was used to observe the pathological changes of colon tissue under a light microscope; Western blotting and/or immunohistochemical techniques were used to detect the protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, junction adhesion molecular 1 (JAM1), mucin 2 (MUC2), and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tissue was severely damaged, the pathological score was significantly increased, and the protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01); while there were no significant differences in the colonic histopathological score, protein expression levels of Occludin, Claudin, JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 in the normal + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the normal + mild moxibustion group (P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the model + herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and the model + mild moxibustion group showed repaired colon tissue, ulcer healing, significantly reduced pathological score, and significantly increased protein expression levels of JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 (P<0.05); the Occludin protein expression level in the colon tissue of the model + mild moxibustion group was increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: Neither herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion nor mild moxibustion influences the colonic histopathology and intestinal mucosal barrier-related protein expression in the normal rats; both herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion and mild moxibustion can up-regulate the protein expression levels of JAM1, MUC2, and TGF-β1 in the colon tissue of UC rats. Mild moxibustion can up-regulate Occludin protein expression. This may be a mechanism of moxibustion in reducing colonic mucosa inflammation in UC.

Objective: To observe the anti-inflammatory effect, as well as the effect on the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3B (LC3B) and Beclin-1 of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion in rats with experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT). Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group and a modeling group. The EAT rat model was prepared by a combination of antigen immunization plus iodine agent induction. After the model was prepared, rats in the modeling group were randomly and equally divided into a model group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group. In the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group, moxibustion was alternately applied to two groups of points [Dazhui (GV14)-Mingmen (GV4) and Tiantu (CV22)-Guanyuan (CV4)], and the treatment continued for 30 d. Rats in the normal and model groups were only fixed identically without intervention. Histopathological manifestations of thyroid glands were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining; the concentrations of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of autophagy-related factors LC3B and Beclin-1 in thyroid tissue. Results: There were massive follicular destruction, lymphocytic infiltration, and interstitial fibrous tissue hyperplasia of the thyroid glands in the model group. Some follicles of the thyroid glands were destroyed with few lymphocyte infiltrations and fibrous tissue hyperplasia in the moxibustion group. Compared with the normal group, the concentrations of serum TPOAb, TGAb, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were increased in the model rats (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression levels of LC3B and Beclin-1 in thyroid tissue were reduced in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the concentrations of serum TPOAb, TGAb, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were reduced in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression levels of LC3B and Beclin-1 in thyroid tissue were increased in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of LC3B and Beclin-1 in thyroid tissue was negatively correlated with the serum levels of TPOAb and TGAb.Conclusion: Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion reduces the inflammatory response in the thyroid glands of EAT rats and lowers the levels of serum TPOAb and TGAb. This may be related to the regulation of mRNA and protein expression of the autophagy-associated factors LC3B and Beclin-1 in rat thyroid tissue.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of intrathecal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (NP) in mice.Methods:Forty clean-grade healthy male C57 mice, aged 7-9 weeks, weighing 22-24 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=10 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), chemotherapy-induced NP group (group CIPN), low-dose IGF-1 group (group I1) and high-dose IGF-1 group (group I2). In CIPN, I1 and I2 groups, oxaliplatin 5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected for 5 consecutive days to establish chemotherapy-induced NP model.Normal saline 0.2 ml was given in group C. After measurement of the pain threshold at 10 days after establishment of the model, IGF-1 0.5 and 1.0 μg were intrathecally injected in group I1 and group I2, respectively.Normal saline 5 μl was intrathecally injected in C and CINP groups.Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured at 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15 days after establishment of the model.After measurement of the pain threshold at 15 days after establishment of the model, the expression of spinal IGF-1, IGF-1receptor (IGF-1R), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was detected, and IGF-1 positive cells were counted using immunofluorescence. Results:Compared with group C, MWT was significantly decreased, the expression of spinal IGF-1 was down-regulated, the count of IGF-1 positive cells was decreased, and expression of IL-17A, IL-1β and TNF-α was up-regulated at 3-25 days after establishment of the model in CINP, I1 and I2 groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group CIPN, MWT was significantly increased at 15 days after establishment of the model in group I1, and MWT was increased, the expression of spinal IGF-1 was up-regulated, the count of IGF-1 positive cells was increased, and expression of IL-17A, IL-1β and TNF-α was down-regulated at 13 and 15 days after establishment of the model in group I2 ( P<0.05). Compared with group I1, the count of IGF-1 positive cells in spinal dorsal horn was increased in group I2 ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of spinal IGF-1R among the 4 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Intrathecal IGF-1 can alleviate chemotherapy-induced NP, and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting the inflammatory responses in spinal cord of mice.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer, and application value of a nomogram prediction model.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 228 patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer who underwent radical resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from January 2013 to June 2016 were collected. There were 118 males and 110 females, aged from 25 to 87 years, with a median age of 62 years. All patients underwent open or laparoscopic-assisted radical resection of colon cancer. Observation indicators: (1) postoperative tumor recurrence; (2) risk factors analysis for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer; (3) development and evaluation of a nomogram prediction model for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer. Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect postoperative 3-year tumor recurrence up to June 2019. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range). Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the Pearson chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Multivariate analysis was performed using Logistic stepwise regression analysis. The independent risk factors were included into R 3.6.1 software to construct a nomogram prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawed, and the area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate discrimination of the nomogram prediction model. The calibration chart with R software was used to evaluate consistency of the nomogram prediction model. Results:(1)Postoperative tumor recurrence: 53 of 228 patients had postoperative tumor recurrence including 19 cases with locoregional recurrence and 34 cases with distant metastasis. Of the 34 patients with distant metastasis, there were 14 cases with liver metastasis, 7 cases with lung metastasis, 4 cases with brain metastasis, and 9 cases with multiple metastasis or isolated metastasis in other sites. The time to recurrence was 12 months (range, 6-19 months). (2) Risk factors analysis for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer:results of univariate analysis showed that bowel obstruction, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, ascites, vascular invasion were related factors for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer ( χ2=4.463, 13.622, 10.914, 5.911, P<0.05). Pathological N stage was also a related factor for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer ( P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that preoperative CEA level >5 μg/L, ascites, vascular invasion and pathological N stage as stage N1 or N2 were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer ( odds ratio=3.129, 3.071, 7.634, 3.439, 15.467, 95% confidence interval as 1.328-7.373, 1.047-9.007, 1.103-52.824, 1.422-8.319, 3.498-68.397, P<0.05). (3) Development and evaluation of a nomogram prediction model for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer: based on preoperative CEA level, ascites, vascular invasion and pathological N stage of multivariate analysis, a nomogram prediction model for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer was developed using R 3.6.1 software. The nomogram score was 41.7 for preoperative CEA level >5 μg/L, 41.0 for ascites, 74.2 for vascular invasion, 45.1 and 100.0 for pathological N stage as stage N1 and N2, respectively. The total of different scores for risk factors corresponded to the probability of postoperative recurrence. The ROC of nomogram for recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer was drawed,with the AUC of 0.805(95% confidence interval as 0.737-0.873, P<0.05). The calibration chart showed a good consistency between the probability of recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer predicted by nomogram and the actual probability of postoperative recurrence. Conclusions:Preoperative CEA level >5 μg/L, ascites, vascular invasion and pathological N stage as stage N1 or N2 are independent risk factors for tumor recurrence after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer. The nomogram prediction model contributes to prediction of the recurrent risks after radical resection of stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ colon cancer.