Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and next generation sequencing (NGS) results of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients dying early.Methods:A retrospective case series study was performed. The clinical data of 49 AML patients dying early in the Affiliated Yuebei People's Hospital of Shantou University Medical College from January 2016 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into 10 cases in the very early death group (death occurred within 3 d after diagnosis) and 38 cases in the non-very early death group (death occurred within 4-30 d after diagnosis). NGS was used to detect 196 mutant genes related to hematological malignancies.Results:The white blood cell count, creatinine level, lactate dehydrogenase level, bone marrow original cells proportion in the very early death group were higher than those in the non-very early death group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Among 48 AML patients dying early, 34 cases had NGS results, among which the very early death occurred in 5 cases and the non-very early death occurred in 29 cases. Gene mutations were detected in 34 patients; finally 32 mutant genes were detected and 33 cases (97.06%) harbored more than 2 gene mutations, and the median number [ M ( Q1, Q3)] of gene mutations was 3 (2, 4). Conclusions:AML patients dying early harbor more than 2 gene mutations involving multiple signaling pathways. The clinical characteristics of AML patients in the very early death group are different from those of patients in the non-very early death group.

The optimal protocol for neuromodulation by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) remains unclear. Using the rotarod paradigm, we found that mouse motor learning was enhanced by anodal tDCS (3.2 mA/cm²) during but not before or after the performance of a task. Dual-task experiments showed that motor learning enhancement was specific to the task accompanied by anodal tDCS. Studies using a mouse model of stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion showed that concurrent anodal tDCS restored motor learning capability in a task-specific manner. Transcranial in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging further showed that anodal tDCS elevated and cathodal tDCS suppressed neuronal activity in the primary motor cortex (M1). Anodal tDCS specifically promoted the activity of task-related M1 neurons during task performance, suggesting that elevated Hebbian synaptic potentiation in task-activated circuits accounts for the motor learning enhancement. Thus, application of tDCS concurrent with the targeted behavioral dysfunction could be an effective approach to treating brain disorders.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/methods* ; Motor Cortex/physiology* ; Neurons ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Objectives To explore and compare the clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality between patients with artificial quartz stone silicosis and those with classic silicosis. Methods A total of 48 patients with artificial quartz stone silicosis (experiment group) and 98 patients with classic silicosis (control group) were recruited as the research subjects using the convenience sampling method. Data of clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and pulmonary pathology of the research subjects were retrospectively analyzed. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors on the survival time of silicosis patients. Results Patients in the experiment group had shorter years of dust exposure, latency period and time since last exposure than those in the control group (all P<0.01). The positive rate of anti-nuclear antibodies and the expression of neuron-specific enolase in the experiment group were higher than those in the control group (39.6% vs 10.2%, median： 28.44 vs 16.25, both P<0.01). The PaO₂ levels in the experiment group were lower than those in the control group (median： 66.0 vs 89.0, P<0.01). The patients in the experiment group had lower vital capacity, inspiratory reserve volume, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity compared to the control group (all P<0.05), but the maximal expiratory flow in 75% vital capacity was higher than the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, patients in the experiment group had the presence of ground-glass opacity (GGO) in both lungs, aggregation and fusion of subpleural nodules, and gradual formation of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), with higher potential of pneumothorax. Within 5 years after diagnosis, the mortality of patients in the experiment group was higher than that in the control group (27.1% vs 4.1%, P<0.01). The Cox regression model analysis results showed that patients with nodule aggregation on lung HRCT images had a higher risk of mortality than those without nodule aggregation, and lower lung function including vital capacity, FVC, FEV₁ and maximum expiratory flow in 25% vital capacity had higher risk of reduced survival time (all P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with patients with classic silicosis, patients with artificial quartz stone silicosis have higher level of serum neuron-specific enolase, increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases. Pulmonary imaging features in patients with artificial quartz stone silicosis include GGO, PMF and susceptibility to pneumothorax, and rare calcification of mediastinal lymph nodes, leading to a higher mortality rate within 5 years after diagnosis.

Objective To explore the CT imaging features of artificial stone?agglomerated quartz associated silicosis. Methods A total of 37 cases confirmed with artificial stone?agglomerated quartz associated silicosis from December 2016 to August 2018 and 38 cases confirmed with traditional classical silicosis at the same period were retrospectively reviewed.The clinical characteristics(including gender, age and working age)and the imaging features(including the nodule features, ground glass opacity, merging features, consolidation, secondary changes, etc.)of the two groups were recorded. The variables including the imaging findings between the two groups were analyzed by Fisher exact test. Results Of all the cases, there were bilateral diffuse small nodules which distributed with upper?zone predominance. Small nodules can merge together and form mass shadow. The complications such as lymphadenopathy, calcification, emphysema/pneumatocele, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis could also be found. Among the various imaging features, the presence of ground glass opacity, small nodules merging together in the subpleural zones, consolidation, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, pneumothorax were found in 28,16,18,17,5 cases, respectively in artificial stone?agglomerated quartz associated silicosis group, and 2, 4, 4, 4, 0 cases, respectively in the traditional classical silicosis group. The percentages of these above signs were higher in the artificial stone?agglomerated quartz associated silicosis group than the traditional classical silicosis group, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.01). The artificial stone?agglomerated quartz associated silicosis group had 3 cases with mediastinal lymph node enlargement with calcification, while the traditional classical silicosis group had 12 cases. This sign showed a lower significantly incidence in the artificial stone?agglomerated quartz associated silicosis group than the traditional classical silicosis group(P<0.01). Conclusion The characteristic changes of CT imaging features in artificial stone?agglomerated quartz associated silicosis are small nodules with the background of ground glass opacity, the nodules merging together under subpleural zones, consolidation, mediastinal lymph node enlargement with less calcification and complicated with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and pneumothorax.

Objective: To explore the CT imaging features of artificial stone-agglomerated quartz associated silicosis. Methods: A total of 37 cases confirmed with artificial stone-agglomerated quartz associated silicosis from December 2016 to August 2018 and 38 cases confirmed with traditional classical silicosis at the same period were retrospectively reviewed.The clinical characteristics (including gender, age and working age)and the imaging features (including the nodule features, ground glass opacity, merging features, consolidation, secondary changes, etc.) of the two groups were recorded. The variables including the imaging findings between the two groups were analyzed by Fisher exact test. Results: Of all the cases, there were bilateral diffuse small nodules which distributed with upper-zone predominance. Small nodules can merge together and form mass shadow. The complications such as lymphadenopathy, calcification, emphysema/pneumatocele, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis could also be found. Among the various imaging features, the presence of ground glass opacity, small nodules merging together in the subpleural zones, consolidation, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, pneumothorax were found in 28,16,18,17,5 cases, respectively in artificial stone-agglomerated quartz associated silicosis group, and 2,4,4,4,0 cases, respectively in the traditional classical silicosis group. The percentages of these above signs were higher in the artificial stone-agglomerated quartz associated silicosis group than the traditional classical silicosis group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). The artificial stone-agglomerated quartz associated silicosis group had 3 cases with mediastinal lymph node enlargement with calcification, while the traditional classical silicosis group had 12 cases. This sign showed a lower significantly incidence in the artificial stone-agglomerated quartz associated silicosis group than the traditional classical silicosis group (P<0.01). Conclusion The characteristic changes of CT imaging features in artificial stone-agglomerated quartz associated silicosis are small nodules with the background of ground glass opacity, the nodules merging together under subpleural zones, consolidation, mediastinal lymph node enlargement with less calcification and complicated with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and pneumothorax.

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical manifestations,chest imaging,pathological changes,diagnosis and treatment on one case of hard metal lung disease( HMLD).METHODS: The occupational history,clinical manifestations,chest computed tomography and lung histopathological examinations of a case with pathologically confirmed HMLD were summarized.RESULTS: The patient began to cough and have dyspnea on exertion after 7 years of hard metal dust exposure of cobalt and tungsten, and pulmonary function test showed a restrictive ventilation dysfunction.Chest computed tomography showed bilateral areas of diffuse lesions,including ground-glass attenuation,areas of consolidation,diffuse small nodules, extensive reticular opacities and traction bronchiectasis.The lung histopathological changes include macrophage interstitial pneumonia,which is macrophages and a large number of multinucleated giant cells in the alveolar space.CONCLUSION: A clear history of hard metal dust exposure and the pathological examination of lung tissue are helpful for the diagnosis of HMLD.

Objective To explore the role of long-term enriched environment in promoting the recovery of motor and social function in mice after ischemic brain injury. Methods Sixteen adult male ICR mice underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The first day after operation, they were divided into enriched environment group (n=8) and standard condition group (n=8). The mice were tested with modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), rotarod test and smart cage 7, 14, 21, 28 days after modeling. Results The score of mNSS and the result of rotarod test improved more in the enriched environment group than in the standard condition group 28 days after MCAO (t>2.927, P<0.05). The occupancy time in the middle of smart cage was longer in the enriched environment group than in the stan-dard condition group 7 to 28 days after MCAO (t>2.480, P<0.05) in the general move test. There was a trend of being more interested in strange mice in the enriched environment group than in the standard condition group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05) in the social behavior test; however, the occupancy time in the middle of smart cage was longer in the enriched environment group than in the standard condition group 14 to 28 days after MCAO (t>3.472, P<0.01), and the velocity of moving was higher 14 days after MCAO (P<0.05). Conclusion Enriched environment could promote the recovery of motor function, somehow of social function, in mice af-ter ischemic brain injury.

Objective To investigate the expressions of homeobox gene 10 (HOXD10) and analyze its clinical significance. Methods Expressions of HOXD10 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry SP method in 53 cases of colorectal carcinoma tissues and corresponding normal tissues which was fixed by 4% formalin and embedded by paraffin.It was analyzed that the relationship between the expression of HOXD10 protein and clinico-pathological features. Results The positive staining rate of HOXD10 protein in normal colorectal mucosal tissue (5.7%)was significantly lower than that incolorectal carcinoma tissue(64.2%),the difference was statistically sig-nificant(P<0.05). In colorectal cancer tissue,the positive rate of HOXD10 protein in high differentiation(53.8%), T1+T2(38.5%),Ⅰ+Ⅱ(54.3%)and no lymph node metastasis(55.3%)was lower than that in low differentiation (73.0%),T3+T4(72.5%),Ⅲ+Ⅳ(83.3%)and lymph node metastasis,the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). However,it was not statistically significant between the positive rate of HOXD10 protein and the gender,age,primary site and tumor size in colorectal cancer patients(P>0.05). Conclusion The expression of HOXD10 protein is closely related to the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer.

ObjectiveTo explore the expression of miR-130b and RUNX3mRNA in human gastric carcinoma and the clinical significance. MethodsThe expression of miR-130b and RUNX3mRNA were detected by RT-PCR in 40 cases of gastric carcinoma and corresponding normal mucosa tissue. The expression of RUNX3protein was determined by immunohistochemistry SP method. ResultsThe expression of miR-130b was significantly up-regulated in gastric carcinoma than that in the adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues (2.18 ± 3.75 ) vs.( 2.59 ± 3.45 ),P ＜ 0.05 ; The expression of RUNX3mRNA in gastric carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues( 8.76 ±2.82) vs.( 7.58 ± 2.87 ),P ＜ 0.05.The expression of miR-130b and RUNX3mRNA were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage ( P ＜ 0.05 ) ; No significant association was found between the expression and age,gender,tumor size,distant metastasis and depth of tumor invasion ( P ＞0.05 ).The expression of miR-130b was negatively correlated with RUNX3 protein expression in nuclei and cytoplasm (P ＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsAbnormal expression of miR-130b and RUNX3mRNA correlates with prognosis of gastric carcinoma; Decreased RUNX3 protein expression may contribute to tumourigenesis.

Objective To investigate the expression of miR-21 and PDCD4mRNA in colorectal cancer and their correlation with clinicopathological characteristics,to elucidate relationship between PDCD4and miR-21 in vivo.Methods Expression of RNA (including miR-21and PDCD4mRNA) and PDCD4 protein were detected respectively by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR and SP immunohistochemical staining in 43 cases of colorectal carcinoma and corresponding normal mucous membrane tissue.Results In colorectal carcinoma,expression of miR-21 was higher than that of the control ( P ＜ 0.05 ),and expression of PDCD4mRNA lower than the control ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Expression of miR21 was associated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stages ( Ⅰ + Ⅱ,Ⅲ + Ⅳ ) ( P ＜ 0.05 ).On the other hand,no significant differences were observed regarding sex,tumor site,size,local invasion,distant metastases,clinical stages( Ⅰ,Ⅱ ) (P ＞ 0.05 ).Expression of PDCD4mRNA was associated with local invasion,clinical stages ( Ⅰ,Ⅱ ) ( P ＜ 0.05 ).While no significant differences were found concerning sex,site,size,lymph node metastasis,distant metastases,clinical stages( Ⅰ + Ⅱ,Ⅲ + Ⅳ ) ( P ＞ 0.05 ).miR21 levels was negatively correlated with PDCD4 expression including nuclear and nuclear and cytoplasmic put together (P ＜ 0.05 ),in contrast to PDCD4mRNA and PDCD4 expression in cytoplasmic ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions ( 1 ) Abnormal expression of PDCD4 mRNA and miR-21 correlate with prognosis in colorectal cancer.(2) miR-21 suppress translation of PDCD4mRNA by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR)of target PDCD4mRNA.