Fluorine is a common chemical element. Excessive intake of fluoride can lead to fluorosis. Fluoride easily passes through the blood-brain barrier and accumulates in different brain regions, causing pathological changes in brain tissue. It leads to adverse effects on neuronal metabolism, enzyme, protein function, neurotransmitters, and redox homeostasis, and subsequently neuronal damage and neurodegenerative diseases in humans and experimental animals. This paper reviewed the effects and important mechanisms of fluoride on neurological function and behavior, involving mitochondrial toxicity, oxidative stress, cell apoptosis and autophagy, and activation of pro-inflammatory factors. It provided a reference for further studying the mechanisms of brain damage induced by fluorosis.

Objective·To summarize the clinical features,imaging features,and diagnosis and treatment experience of primary mediastinal yolk sac tumor(YST).Methods·Data of 29 patients with primary mediastinal YST,who attended Shanghai Chest Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from September 2016 to May 2023,were collected and comprehensively analyzed,including imaging examination results,serum indicators,pathology reports and treatment methods.Results·There were 22 cases of pure YST and 7 cases of mixed YST comprising 28 males and 1 female.The mean age of onset was(24.5±5.9)years.The initial symptoms were chest tightness(34.5%),chest pain(27.8%),cough(34.5%),expectoration(34.5%)and no specific symptoms(24.1%).Chest computerized tomography(CT)enhancement showed that all the 29 lesions were located in the anterior mediastinum.The maximum diameter of the lesions ranged from 5.6 cm to 18.2 cm.The lesions were irregular in shape,uneven in density,partially cystic and solid in density.The enhancement scan showed the solid part was slightly and moderately enhanced,and the low-density area was not enhanced.Tumor boundary was not clear because tumors often compressed and invaded surrounding tissues.Among the 29 newly diagnosed patients,serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)was significantly increased in 28 cases(1 case was not tested).Patients received multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment,including chemotherapy(25/29),surgery(26/29),and radiotherapy(8/29).Seven patients directly received surgery after diagnosis.Nineteen patients received chemotherapy first and then surgery;16(84.2%)cases were evaluated as lesion shrinkage after chemotherapy.After surgery,73.1%(19/26)patients had a significant decrease in serum AFP.After chemotherapy,56.0%(14/25)patients had decreased serum AFP.Conclusion·Primary mediastinal YST usually occurs in middle-aged and young men,with certain clinical and radiographic features and elevated serum AFP,which requires multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment.

Objective:To investigate the value of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) in severity grading and prognosis prediction of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:Patients with ARDS aged 18-75 years admitted to the department of respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) of Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to February 2020 were enrolled. All patients were treated with conventional therapies such as mechanical ventilation, anti-infection, stabilization of water, electrolytes and acid-base environment, blood purification and nutritional support according to their conditions. Besides, the pulse-indicated continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) was performed after admission to the department, and EVLWI before treatment and at 24, 48 and 72 hours of treatment were recorded. Serum GDF-15 level was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during the same period. Patients were classified as mild, moderate, and severe degree according to the 2012 Berlin Definition of ARDS, and EVLWI and GDF-15 levels in patients with different disease levels before and after treatment were compared. In addition, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, ICU mortality, and 28-day mortality of patients with different GDF-15 or EVLWI levels were analyzed comparatively, with the GDF-15 3 458 ng/L and EVLWI 15 mL/kg as the cut point.Results:A total of 82 patients with ARDS were enrolled, including 22 patients with mild ARDS, 28 patients with moderate ARDS, and 32 patients with severe ARDS. The GDF-15 and EVLWI levels in patients with moderate and severe ARDS at each time point before and after treatment were higher than those in patients with mild ARDS. Both GDF-15 and EVLWI levels in patients with severe ARDS were higher than those in the patients with moderate ARDS. The differences were statistically significant at all the time points except for the difference of GDF-15 levels at 24 hours after treatment (ng/L: 3 900.41±546.43 vs. 3 695.66±604.73, P > 0.05). [GDF-15 (ng/L): 3 786.11±441.45 vs. 3 106.83±605.09 before treatment, 3 895.48±558.96 vs. 3 333.29±559.66 at 48 hours, 3 397.33±539.56 vs. 3 047.53±499.57 at 72 hours; EVLWI (mL/kg): 19.06±1.91 vs. 14.31±1.50 before treatment, 18.56±2.23 vs. 13.26±1.69 at 24 hours, 17.23±1.76 vs. 12.45±1.36 at 48 hours, 15.47±1.81 vs. 11.13±2.19 at 72 hours, all P < 0.05]. According to the cut-off value, there were 23 patients with GDF-15 ≥ 3 458 ng/L and GDF-15 < 3 458 ng/L respectively and there were 23 patients with EVLWI ≥ 15 mL/kg and EVLWI < 15 mL/kg respectively. The length of ICU stay and 28-day mortality in patients with high GDF-15 were significantly higher than those in patients with low GDF-15 [length of ICU stay (days): 21.22±2.69 vs. 15.37±3.14, 28-day mortality: 56.5% vs. 21.7%, both P < 0.05]. The length of ICU stay and 28-day mortality in patients with high EVLWI were also significantly higher than those in patients with low EVLWI [length of ICU stay (days): 18.45±2.61 vs. 14.98±2.75, 28-day mortality: 47.8% vs. 17.4%, both P < 0.05]. Conclusion:To some extent, GDF-15 and EVLWI levels reflect the severity of patients with ARDS, and high GDF-15 and EVLWI levels are significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with ARDS.

Objective: To analyze the clinical, pathological and radiological characteristics of paragonimiasis in children for accurate diagnosis and therapy. Methods: A total of 31 patients with paragonimiasis treated from 2002 to 2016 were selected, including 17 cases from migrant areas and 14 cases from Wenzhou area. Results: In migrant children group, the serum IgE was significantly higher than that in Wenzhou area group [(2 379±944) IU/mL∶(1 552±1 121) IU/mL, t=-2.23, P<0.05], and the duration of therapy was remarkable longer [(13.8±6.5) days∶(9.9±3.4) days, t=-2.15, P<0.05]. Among all cases, 10 showed polyserositis including pleural effusion, ascites and pericardial effusion at different degrees on chest CT scans. Five cases with cerebral paragonimiasis were confirmed by MR imaging. Most of the lesions were located in the parietal lobe with slight low signal on T1WI but high signal on T2WI surrounded by disproportionate edema. Annular enhancement was prominent by Gd-DTPA. Paragonimiasis serum antibody was positive in all cases by ELISA. Pathologic features included formation of irregular lacunae or sinus tracts, presence of paragonimus bodies, and eosinophilic infiltration in the adjacent tissues. Conclusions Clinical manifestations of paragonimiasis are complex and non-specific in children.In migrant children group, clinical manifestations are diverse, more serious with more complications and difficulties in treatment, while patients in Wenzhou area group have favorable prognosis and less complicated treatment. The early diagnosis and timely treatment should be determined by patient′s detailed history, eosinophilic count, radiologic findings and immunological test to avoid serious complications.

10.3969/j.issn.1007-3969.2013.05.002

Objective To investigate the role of rotational alignment reference landmarks of the proximal tibia in total knee arthroplasty.Methods Fifteen healthy adult volunteers were enrolled in this study,including 10 males and 5 females,aged from 21 to 38 years (average,28.1±6.0).CT scans of 26 knees were taken as the knees were placed in full extension.Two anteroposterior axes were drawn on the CT images:one line connected the middle of the posterior cruciate ligament insertion site and the medial edge of the patellar tendon,and another line connected the middle of the posterior cruciate ligament insertion site and the middle-medial 1/3 of the patellar tendon.The surgical epicondylar axis was also drawn on the CT images.Angles were measured between a line perpendicular to the surgical epicondylar axis and the two anteroposterior axes,and the angles were compared with the ideal tibial rotational alignment reference axis (0°).Results Angles between the line perpendicular to the surgical epicondylar axis and the line connecting the middle of the posterior cruciate ligament insertion site and the medial edge of the patellar tendon averaged 0.7°±2.8° (range,-5.1°-5.8°),there was no significant difference compared with 0°.Angles between the line perpendicular to the surgical epicondylar axis and the line connecting the middle of the posterior cruciate ligament insertion site and the middle-medial 1/3 of the patellar tendon averaged 6.9°±5.3° (range,-3.4°-14.1°),there was significant difference compared with 0°.Significant difference existed in angles between the two anteroposterior axes and the line perpendicular to the surgical epicondylar axis.Conclusion The line connecting the middle of the posterior cruciate ligament insertion site and the medial edge of the patellar tendon is a more reliable reference axis for the tibial component rotational alignment,which makes the femoral and tibial components in a more matching rotational position.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of labor analgesia and the outcome of maternals and neonatals by applying the vitamin B6- folic acid mixture to combined with spinal-epidural analgesia(CSEA) in nulliparous women at latency.MethodsAll the 112 full-term nulliparous parturients were selected and divided into the treated group and controlled group.Nulliparous women in two groups received CSEA,with which the additional vitamin - folic acid mixture was used only in treatment group.The contrast between the analgesic effect in groups,and alalgesic effect-acting period,fentanyl Apgar score and newborn usage were compared between groups also.ResultsThe analgesic effect-acting period and fentanyl dosage in the treated group were significantly decreased.There was significant difference between the 2 ( P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsIt could be effective applying vitamin B6- folic acid mixture at latency in nulliparous women based on CSEA,which could shorten the lumbar hemp effect-acting period and reduce fentanyl narcotic drugs dosage.

After many targeted drugs have entered into the treatment guideline or all stage clinical trial of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), many researchers undertake deep investigation on the role of molecular gene marker in targeted therapy of NSCLC. It is a good outset that mutation detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene direct the selection of EFGR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI). To choose individualized therapy regimens according to molecular gene marker will be the important research direction, but also be the critical measure to improve the management level of NSCLC and prolong patient"s survival. Accompanied with deep investigation of targeted therapy, there will be more molecular gene markers to direct the formulation of individualized therapy regimens.

BACKGROUNDProtein kinase C(PKC) is a potentially important target for can-cer therapeutics due to its potential role in carcinogenesis.Abnormal expression and increasing activity of PKC-α are present in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).PKC inhibitor can show anti-tumor effects through inducing tumor cell apoptosis,enhancing cytotoxic effects and down-regulating expressions of multidrug resistance gene.By observing the effects of PKC inhibitor chelerythrine chloride(CH) on drug-sensitivity to cisplatin of four NSCLC cell lines its mechanism of effect initially is explored.

METHODSNSCLC cell lines(H1299,H460,A549 and cisplatin-resistant A549) were dealed with PKC inhibitor CH respectively.The expressions of PKC-α mRNA and protein in NSCLC cell lines were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blot.The apoptosis rates of NSCLC cells lines were detected by flow cytometry.The drug-sensitivity to cisplatin of NSCLC cells lines was measured by methabenzthiazuron(MTT) assay.

RESULTSThe expression levels of PKC-α mRNA and protein in cisplatin-resistant A549 cell lines were significantly higher than H1299,H460 and parent A549 cell lines(P < 0.05).The expression levels of PKC-α mRNA and protein in four NSCLC cell lines decreased at different extent.The apoptosis rates of cisplatin-resistant A549 cell lines increased obviously after treating with CH for 4 and 24 hours,but it was not seen in H1299,H460 and parent A549 cell lines.The IC50 value of cisplatin of NSCLC cell lines decreased at different degree after treating with CH and it was more obvious in cisplatin-resistant A549 cell lines(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHigh expressions of PKC-α mRNA and protein exist in all four NSCLC cell lines.PKC inhibitor CH can enhance the drug-sensitivity of NSCLC cell lines to cisplatin by inhibiting their expression of PKC-α mRNA and protein.When compared with parent A549 cell lines,cisplatin-resistant A549 cell line's drug-sensitivity to cisplatin is increasing more efficiently by PKC inhibitor CH through inhibition of PKC-α protein's expression and elevation of tumor cell apoptosis rates.

Background and purpose:Protein kinase C (PKC) is a potentially important target for cancer therapy due to its potential role in carcinogenesis. Abnormal expression and increasing activity of PKC-?are present in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).The aim of this study is to investigate PKC-? protein expressions in lung cancer tissues by tissue microarray and their significance. Methods:Using tissue microarray, PKC-? protein expression in lung cancer patients was examined by immunohistochemistry. 182 samples of umor tissues and 18 samples of adjacent tissues were taken;of the 182 samples, 160 were NSCLC tissues and 22 were SCLC;102 samples from stage I cases and 58 from stageⅡ-Ⅲ cases.Results:Expression of PKC-? protein was observed in 48.3% (88/182) of cancerous tissues and 16.7% (3/18) of adjacent tissues (P