Objective:To investigate of the concentrations of uranium in drinking water in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for providing theoretical basis for the health protection of local residents and the assessment of nuclear emergency.Methods:During the dry season and wet water season, tap water and well water samples were collected from 12 cities in Inner Mongolia, 644 unfiltered water samples and 34 filtered water samples were collected, and the uranium concentrations in drinking water was measured using a trace uranium analyzer.Results:During dry and wet seasons the uranium concentration were 0.85-23.61 μg/L and 0.98-23.65 μg/L in tap water, 3.74-88.28 μg/L and 3.68-95.36 μg/L in well water, respectively.Conclusions:The levels of uranium concentrations in drinking water in Inner Mongolia has been preliminarily ascertained, and the installation of filtration devices can significantly reduce the content of uranium in drinking water.

Objective To construct a training program for retuming to work after delivery based on Morrison's job adaptation theory in operating room nurses and to explore its application effect.Methods On the basis of literature research and Delphi expert consultation method,a training program of postpartum return of operating room nurses was constructed.From August 2021 to December 2022,the preliminary application of this research program was carried out,with 6 cases in an experimental group and 5 cases in a control group.The differences between the 2 groups were compared by Job Adaptation Scale,Psychological Resilience Scale and satisfaction evaluation,and the application effect was evaluated.Results After 2 rounds of correspondence,a training program for postpartum return of operating room nurses was formed,which included 4 first-level indicators(role adaptation,task adaptation,environment adaptation and cultural adaptation),and 32 second-level indicators.The authority coefficients of the 2 rounds of correspondence consultation were 0.908 and 0.917,and the Kendall W coefficients were 0.224 and 0.206,respectively(both P＜0.001).The preliminary application results showed that there were statistically significant differences in job adaptation and satisfaction evaluation between the 2 groups(both P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in psychological resilience score between groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The postpartum retum training program for operating room nurses established in this study is scientific and practical to a certain extent.In the future,samples can be expanded and multi-center studies can be carried out to further test the practicability and effectiveness of the program.

Objective To explore the value of dynamic prediction model based on recurrent neural network(RNN)algorithms for dynamic prediction of clinical outcomes in patients with critical trauma,and to study the feasible construction scheme and path of dynamic strategy and real-time prediction model.Methods The data of this study were derived from the US Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care(MIMIC)-IV 2.0.In order to predict the in-hospital outcomes of critical trauma patients,2 RNN algorithms,long short-term memory(LSTM)and gated recurrent unit(GRU)were used to train dynamic prediction models under the time windows of 4,6 and 8 h,respectively.The performance of the models was evaluated using the sensitivity,specificity,F1 value and area under curve(AUC)value;and the effects of different RNN algorithms and time windows on the performance of the models were analyzed.Hidden Markov model(HMM),random forest(RF)model and logistic model were trained under 8-h time window as the controls to compare the performances and the time trends horizontally with the 2 RNN algorithm models.Results There were significant differences in the 4 performance indexes of the RNN dynamic models including the sensitivity,specificity,F1 value and AUC value(all P＜0.001),and the performance indexes at 8-h time window were higher than those at 6 h and 4 h;there was only significant difference in specificity between different RNN algorithms(LSTM & GRU)(P=0.036).The results of the horizontal comparison showed that there were significant differences in each performance index between the 2 RNN prediction models and other models(all P＜0.001),and each index of the 2 RNN algorithm models was higher than those of the HMM,RF model and logistic model.The intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs)of each algorithmic model were less than 0.400 for the sensitivity,specificity and F1 value(0 was not included in 95％confidence interval[CI]),while the ICCs for the AUC value were statistically under-evidenced(0 was included in 95％CI).Conclusion The dynamic models based on RNN algorithms have certain performance advantages over those based on other common algorithms,and the time window may have an impact on the model performance.

Aristolochic acids (AAs) have long been considered as a potent carcinogen due to its nephrotoxicity. Aristolochic acid I (AAI) reacts with DNA to form covalent aristolactam (AL)-DNA adducts, leading to subsequent A to T transversion mutation, commonly referred as AA mutational signature. Previous research inferred that AAs were widely implicated in liver cancer throughout Asia. In this study, we explored whether AAs exposure was the main cause of liver cancer in the context of HBV infection in mainland China. Totally 1256 liver cancer samples were randomly retrieved from 3 medical centers and a refined bioanalytical method was used to detect AAI-DNA adducts. 5.10% of these samples could be identified as AAI positive exposure. Whole genome sequencing suggested 8.41% of 107 liver cancer patients exhibited the dominant AA mutational signature, indicating a relatively low overall AAI exposure rate. In animal models, long-term administration of AAI barely increased liver tumorigenesis in adult mice, opposite from its tumor-inducing role when subjected to infant mice. Furthermore, AAI induced dose-dependent accumulation of AA-DNA adduct in target organs in adult mice, with the most detected in kidney instead of liver. Taken together, our data indicate that AA exposure was not the major threat of liver cancer in adulthood.

OBJECTIVES: Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging has been successfully applied to assess the status of cartilage biochemical components. This study aimed to investigate the performance of 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging T mapping combined with texture analysis for evaluating the early degeneration of lumbar facet joints. METHODS: A total of 38 patients (20 in the asymptomatic group and 18 in the symptomatic group) were enrolled. All patients underwent 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging conventional sequences, water excitation three-dimensional spoiled gradient echo sequence (3D-WATSc), and T mapping scans. The bilateral L and L/S lumbar facet joints were morphological graded using the Weishaupt criteria, T values, and texture parameters derived from T mapping of cartilage. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the differences of parameters among different groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the independent predictive factors for evaluating the early degeneration of lumbar facet joints. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed and the area under curve (AUC) was calculated. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of the independent predictors of cartilage T value and texture parameters with the subjects' Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score or Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: A total of 148 facet joints were selected, including 70 in Weishaupt 0 (normal) group, 58 in Weishaupt 1 group, and 20 in Weishaupt 2-3 group. T value, entropy, and contrast increased significantly as the exacerbation of facet joint degeneration (all <0.05), while the inverse difference moment, energy, and correlation decreased (all <0.05). Entropy among different groups was significantly different (all <0.05), and the differences of T value, contrast, inverse difference moment, and energy between Weishaupt 0 and Weishaupt 1 groups, or Weishaupt 0 and Weishaupt 2-3 groups were statistically significant (all <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that T value and inverse difference moment were the independent predictors for evaluating early degeneration of facet joints. The combination of T value with inverse difference moment achieved the best performance in distinguishing Weishaupt 0 from Weishaupt 1 (AUC=0.85), with sensitivity and specificity at 92.7% and 76.5%, respectively. In the symptom group, the cartilage T value combined inverse difference moment was positively correlated with JOA score (=0.475, <0.05) and VAS score (=0.452, <0.05). CONCLUSIONS 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging T mapping combined with texture analysis is helpful to quantitatively evaluate the early degeneration of lumbar facet joints, in which the T value and inverse difference moment show an indicative significance．.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spondylosis ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Objective The inhibitory effect of the PARP inhibitor olaparib on human acute myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells was studied. Methods The HL-60 cells in logarithmic growth phase were treated with different concentrations(1. 25,2. 5,5 and 10 μmol/L) of olaparib for different time. The CCK-8 assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of olaparib on HL-60 cells. The apoptotic level of HL-60 cells was detected by Annexin-V/PI double staining method,and the expression of related signal proteins ( PARP-1 and caspase-3)in HL-60 cells was detected by Western blot. Results HL-60 cells were inhibited by olaparib at dif-ferent concentrations(1. 25,2. 5,5 and 10 μmol/L) for 48 h,and the inhibition rate gradually increased with the prolongation of the action time;at the same time,the apoptotic rate was increased in HL-60 cells after olaparib treatment for 48 h,showing a dose-de-pendent manner;the PARP activity was inhibited and caspase-3 was activated in HL-60 cells treated with olaparib. Conclusion The PARP inhibitor olaparib not only inhibits proliferation of HL-60 cells,but it also promotes apoptosis of HL-60 cells by inhibi-ting PARP activity and activating caspase-3.

To develop a radiomics signature based on CT image features to estimate the expression level of Ki-67 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
 Methods: A total of 108 NSCLC patients, who underwent non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT scan in our hospital from January 2014 to November 2017, were retrospectively analyzed. They were confirmed by histopathological examination and undergone Ki-67 expression level test within 2 weeks after CT examination. The non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT three-dimensional structural images of the lesions were manually delineated by MaZda software, and the texture features of the region of interest were extracted. Combination of feature selection and classification methods were used to build radiomics signatures, and the classification were assessed using misclassification rates. The MaZda software provides texture feature selection methods including mutual information (MI), Fisher coefficients (Fisher), classification error probability combined with average correlation coefficients (POE+ACC), and Fisher+POE+ACC+MI (FPM), and texture feature analysis including raw data analysis (RDA), principal component analysis (PCA), linear classification analysis (LDA) and nonlinear classification analysis (NDA).
 Results: Among the 108 patients, 50 cases were at high levels of Ki-67 expression and 58 cases were at low levels of Ki-67 expression, respectively. The differences of gender, age and pathological type between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The radiomics signature built by FPM feature selection combined with NDA feature analysis based on non-enhanced CT images achieved the best performance for predicting the level of Ki-67 with a misclassification rate of 14.81%. However, radiomics signature based on contrast-enhanced CT images did not reduce the misclassification rate.
 Conclusion: The radiomics signature based on conventional CT image texture features is helpful to predict the expression of Ki-67 in NSCLC lesions, which can provide a non-invasive technique for assessing the invasiveness and prognosis for NSCLC.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; genetics ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) after cerebral infarction and treatment with curcumin combined with electroacupuncture.Methods Middle cerebral artery occlusion was successfully introduced to simulate cerebral infarction in 60 healthy,male Wistar rats.They were then randomly divided into a control group,an electroacupuncture group,a curcumin group and a curcumin combined with electroacupuncture group (the observation group),each of 15.After the modeling,the four groups were given the planned interventions for 2 weeks,with the control group receiving no intervention.All of the rats were sacrificed after neurobehavioral scoring and immunological staining of brain tissue from the infarction area was used to detect the expression of BDNF and NGF.Results The average Bederson score in the observation group was significantly lower than those of the other groups.Cells expressing BDNF and NGF were significantly more numerous in the observation group than in the other three groups.Conclusion Curcumin combined with electroacupuncture can significantly improve the expression of BDNF and NGF in the infarcted area,and this may play a neuroprotective role.

Objective To determine the utility of single energy CT value and spectrum energy curve in identifying different cause of diffuse spleen enlargement.Methods 43 patients confirmed by either surgical pathology,aspiration biopsy or clinical comprehensive diagnosis and follow-up were assessed,including lymphoma with spleen infiltration(lymphoma group,n=18) and cirrhotic splenomegaly(liver cirrhosis group,n=25).All patients underwent upper abdomen CT scans in GSI mode and the GSI data were transferred to the Workstation AW 4.6 to acquire single energy CT value(40-140 keV,10 keV's interval) and spectrum energy curve of the spleen on the venous phase.All single energy CT values and the slope of curves were comparatively analyzed through independent-samples t test.The diagnostic efficiency were evaluated by ROC analysis.Results Under 40-140 keV energy range,single energy CT values were significantly lower in the lymphoma group than in the liver cirrhosis group(all P＜0.05).The spectrum energy curve were both types of decreasing.Under 40-90 keV,100-140 keV energy range,the slop of curves in the lymphoma group(2.42 ± 0.70,0.27± 0.08) were also significantly lower than in the liver cirrhosis group (3.11 ± 0.62,0.34± 0.07),respectively(all P ＜0.05).When the slope of curve under 40-90 keV energy range was selected as a diagnostic indicator,the area under the curve(AUC) would reach 0.77.If threshold value of 1.39 was taken,the sensitivity and specificity would be equal to 86 ％ and 64 ％,respectively.Conclusion Single energy CT value and spectrum energy curve are helpful for differentiation of lymphoma with spleen infiltration from cirrhotic splenomegaly.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of transhepatic arterial embolization with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) and lipiodol (LIP) for the treatment of VX2 tumor in rabbits.Methods:Twenty-four rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumors by surgical implantation were randomly divided into 4 groups and treated with transhepatic arterial embolization of 4 different agents as follows (n=6 each):doxorubicin (DOX) group,DOX-LIP group,SPIO-DOX group,and SPIO-DOX-LIP group.Liver function (AST and ALT) was measured at 0,1,3,5 and 7 d after transhepatic arterial embolization.The serum DOX level was measured at 0,5,15,30,60,and 120 minutes after transhepatic arterial embolization.MRI was performed at 7 d after the treatment to assess the distribution of SPIO in the SPIO-DOX group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group,while CT was performed to assess the distribution of LIP in the DOX-LIP group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group.All the rabbits were sacrificed and their livers were removed at 7 d after treatment for the detection of tissue DOX level.The histopathologic examinations were performed including HE staining,Prussian blue staining and TUNEL assay,and then the tumor necrosis percentage and apoptosis index were calculated.Results:Compared to the DOX group,the levels of AST and ALT in other 3 groups were significantly elevated at 1 and 3 d after embolization (P＜0.05).The levels of ALT and AST in the DOX group,DOX-LIP group or SPIO-DOX-LIP group returned to the baseline at day 7,there were no significant differences (P＞0.05).The SPIO-DOX-LIP group exhibited the lowest serum DOX level at all time points up to 120 minutes after embolization (P＜0.05).However,the tissue DOX level in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group was the highest among all groups at day 7 (P＜0.05).The SPIO-DOX group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group showed significantly lower MRI signal intensity of tumors in T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) at day 7.Meanwhile DOX-LIP group and SPIO-DOX-LIP group showed that high-density lipiodol was deposited in the tumors in CT images.Histopathologic findings showed an almost complete central necrosis coagulation of tumors in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group,and the tumor necrosis percentage and tumor apoptosis index were significantly increased in the SPIO-DOX-LIP group compared to those in other 3 groups (P＜0.05).Conclusion:This novel drug-delivery system of SPIO nano-drug carrier together with LIP is safe and feasible when it is used for transhepatic arterial embolization for liver tumor.It provides an excellent MR and CT visualization and improves the therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of rabbit VX2 liver tumor.