Objective Tissue uptake and distribution of nano-/microplastics was studied at a single high dose by gavage in vivo.Methods Fluorescent microspheres (100 nm, 3 μm, and 10 μm) were given once at a dose of 200 mg/(kg·body weight). The fluorescence intensity (FI) in observed organs was measured using the IVIS Spectrum at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after administration. Histopathology was performed to corroborate these findings.Results In the 100 nm group, the FI of the stomach and small intestine were highest at 0.5 h, and the FI of the large intestine, excrement, lung, kidney, liver, and skeletal muscles were highest at 4 h compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In the 3 μm group, the FI only increased in the lung at 2 h (P < 0.05). In the 10 μm group, the FI increased in the large intestine and excrement at 2 h, and in the kidney at 4 h (P < 0.05). The presence of nano-/microplastics in tissues was further verified by histopathology. The peak time of nanoplastic absorption in blood was confirmed.Conclusion Nanoplastics translocated rapidly to observed organs/tissues through blood circulation;however, only small amounts of MPs could penetrate the organs.

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Simendan/therapeutic use* ; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Peptide Fragments ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for clinically significant PCa diagnosed by transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic prostate biopsy in patients with MRI-negative and PSA-abnormal findings. METHODS: From January 2014 to December 2017, 335 male patients with MRI-negative (PI-RADS 2.0 score ≤ 2) and PSA-abnormal (4－30 ng/ml ) findings underwent systematic prostate biopsy guided by transrectal ultrasound under local anesthesia in our department. We collected and analyzed the demographic data, clinical symptoms, complications, past history and PSA density (PSAD) of the patients. RESULTS: Clinically significant PCa was diagnosed in 21 (6.3%) of the 335 patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors were higher age (AUC: 0.704, P < 0.01) and PSAD (AUC: 0.743, P < 0.01). The cutoff values of age and PSAD were 71 years and 0.18 ng/ml/ml, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Higher age and PSAD are risk factors for clinically significant PCa. Prostate biopsy, even repeated or saturated puncture, is recommended for those aged >71 years old or with PSAD >0.18 ng/ml/ml so as to avoid missed diagnosis and unnecessary invasive biopsy as well. /.
Aged ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Risk Factors

Our previous study found that plate factor-4 variant (CXCL4L1) was downregulated in the serum of patients with prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of CXCL4L1 in PCa. In total, 213 PCa patients treated with radical prostatectomy were enrolled and peripheral blood samples of all patients were collected. Expression of serum CXCL4L1 in patients with different tumor stages and grades were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to estimate the progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), metastasis, biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Prognostic factors for BCR-free survival and OS were determined by univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. The expression of CXCL4L1 was significantly lower in PCa patients with advanced pathological tumor stage, high-grade Gleason score, and metastasis. Moreover, downregulation of CXCL4L1 not only strongly correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features, but also predicted tumor progression and unfavorable outcomes. Finally, multivariate Cox regression analyses identified CXCL4L1 as an independent prognostic factor for both BCR-free survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-3.27; P = 0.004) and OS (HR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.07-4.79; P = 0.033). In conclusion, our results indicate that CXCL4L1 might serve as a novel and promising prognostic biomarker for patients with PCa and potential therapeutic target in the future.
Adenocarcinoma/surgery* ; Aged ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Platelet Factor 4/blood* ; Prognosis ; Prostate/surgery* ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Survival Rate

Objective: To evaluated the efficacy of dexmedetomidine (DEX) as a local anesthetic adjuvant for brachial plexus block (BPB). Methods: The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library was searched on a computer to find randomized controlled trial (RCTs) of the effect of ropivacaine combined with DEX in brachial plexus block. The time limit for searching was from the establishment of the library to December 30, 2017. At the same time retrospective references were included in the literature. Two reviewers independently screened literatureaccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. Then Meta analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results: A total of 13 RCTs involving 804 patients were included. Meta analysis showed that compared with that in the control group, sensory onset time (MD=-2.06, 95% CI - 3.96-- 0.15, P<0.01), and motoronset time (MD=-2.07, 95% CI- 4.30 - 0.15, P<0.01) were shorter and sensory block duration (MD=166.26, 95%CI 85.57 - 246.96, P<0.01), and motor block duration (MD=137.55, 95%CI 44.73-230.37, P<0.01) were longer in group of dexmedetomindine combined with ropivacaine.Duration of analgesia (MD=224.66, 95%CI 123.82-325.50, P<0.01) was longer in experimental group. Conclusions DEX combined with ropivacaine in brachial plexus block shortens the onset time and prolongs the duration of bolckade and duration of postoperative analgesia.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of debridement and bone autografting combined with proximal femoral anatomical plate in treating benign tumor in proximal femur.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to October 2014, 30 patients with benign tumor in proximal femur were treated with debridement, autogenic ilium, autogenic ilium and allogeneic bone implant, and anatomic plate fixation. Among them, there were 13 males and 17 females aged from 12 to 68 years old with an average of 42 years old. The courses ranged from 1 month to 2 years with an average of 9 months. MSTS scoring were observed and compared before and after operation, and also applied to evaluate lower-extremity function. X-ray was examined to evaluate healing of focus. Postoperative complications were observed.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 48 months with an average of 29 months. MSTS score at the final following-up (27.06±2.59) was higher than preoperative (16.44±1.35), and there was significant difference(<0.05). X-ray at the final following-up showed bone graft fusion, pathological fracture were recover consciously, internal fixation was well, no loosening, deformation and displacement occurred. One case occurred incision fat liquefaction and 1 patient with giant cell tumor of bone relapsed at 13 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONSDebridement and bone autografting combined with proximal femoral anatomical plate is an effective method in treating benign tumor in proximal femur. It could control tumor, relieve pain, promote function and prevent occurrence of pathologic fractures.

Pulmonary dysfunction caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury is the leading cause of mortality in lung transplantation. We aimed to investigate the effects of sevoflurane pretreatment on lung permeability, tight junction protein occludin and zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) expression, and translocation of protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha after ischemia-reperfusion. A lung ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established in 96 male Wistar rats following the modified Eppinger method. The rats were divided into four groups with 24 rats in each group: a control (group C), an ischemia-reperfusion group (IR group), a sevoflurane control group (sev-C group), and a sevoflurane ischemia-reperfusion group (sev-IR group). There were three time points in each group: ischemic occlusion for 45 min, reperfusion for 60 min and reperfusion for 120 min; and there were six rats per time point. For the 120-min reperfusion group, six extra rats underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded at each time point. The wet/dry weight ratio and lung permeability index (LPI) were measured. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were used to measure pulmonary occludin and ZO-1, and Western blot was used to measure cytosolic and membranous PKC-alpha in the lung. Lung permeability was significantly increased after ischemia-reperfusion. Sevoflurane pretreatment promoted pulmonary expression of occludin and ZO-1 after reperfusion and inhibited the translocation of PKC-alpha. In conclusion, sevoflurane pretreatment alleviated lung permeability by upregulating occludin and ZO-1 after ischemia-reperfusion. Sevoflurane pretreatment inhibited the translocation and activation of PKC-alpha, which also contributed to the lung-protective effect of sevoflurane.
Anesthetics, Inhalation/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Capillary Permeability/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Lung/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Lung Diseases/*drug therapy/genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Male ; Methyl Ethers/*therapeutic use ; Protein Kinase C-alpha/*metabolism ; Protein Transport/drug effects ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury/*drug therapy/genetics/metabolism/pathology ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein/analysis/*genetics

Objective To investigate the antioxidation activity and resistance of lipid peroxidation of panax notoginseng flower total saponins.Methods The panax notoginseng flower buds were extracted with ethanol. The hydroxyl free radical(?OH), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrythydrazyl radical(DPPH)clearing rate and resistance of lipid peroxidation of rat liver induced by Fe2+-cysteine were determined by spectrophotometry. Results Half clearance of hydroxyl free radical and DPPH. by panax notoginseng flower total saponin was 0.035 mg/ml and 0.094 mg/ml, the maximum inhibition rate of lipid peroxidation of rat liver induced by Fe2+-cysteine was 89.31%, therefore moderate concentration of extracts had a strong inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. Conclusions Panax notoginseng flower total saponins have antioxidant activity and resistance of lipid peroxidation.