Breast cancer (BC) is most commonly diagnosed worldwide. Liquiritigenin is a flavonoid found in various species of the Glycyrrhiza genus, showing anti–tumor activity. This article was to explore the influences of liquiritigenin on the biological behaviors of BC cells and its underlying mechanism. BC cells were treated with liquiritigenin alone or transfected with oe-HSP90 before liquiritigenin treatment. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were employed to examine the levels of HSP90, Snail, E-cadherin, HSC70, and LAMP-2A. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated by performing MTT, colony formation, scratch, and Transwell assays, respectively. Liquiritigenin treatment reduced HSP90 and Snail levels and enhanced E-cadherin expression as well as inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells. Moreover, liquiritigenin treatment decreased the expression of HSC70 and LAMP-2A, proteins related to chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). HSP90 overexpression promoted the CMA, invasion, and migration of BC cells under liquiritigenin treatment. Liquiritigenin inhibits HSP90-mediated CMA, thereby suppressing BC cell growth.

Objective:To formulate the Nursing standards of clinical practice of critical care ultrasonography (referred to as the Standards), so as to provide recommendations for the application of ultrasound in intensive care nursing practice. Methods:Based on the experience of intensive care ultrasound nursing practice and literature research, combined with the consensus recommendations of intensive care ultrasound, the critical care ultrasound study group formed the first draft of the Standards. After expert interview, consensus discussion, two rounds of Delphi expert letter consultation and other methods, the content of the Standards was revised and improved, and the final draft of the Standards was formed. Results:The Standards included four parts, such as basic application of intensive care ultrasound, nursing evaluation standard of intensive care ultrasound guidance, nursing operation process guided by ultrasound and intensive care ultrasound training. Conclusions:The establishment of Standards is scientific and practical, which can provide guidance for nursing practice of clinical operation technology of critical care ultrasonography.

The association between serum uric acid and the risk of incident diabetes in Chinese adults remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate this association in a community-dwelling population aged ≥ 40 years in Shanghai, China. Oral glucose tole3rance test was conducted during baseline and follow-up visits. Relative risk regression was utilized to examine the associations between baseline gender-specific serum uric acid levels and incident diabetes risk. A total of 613 (10.3%) incident diabetes cases were identified during the follow-up visit after 4.5 years. Fasting plasma glucose, postload glucose, and glycated hemoglobin A1c during the follow-up visit progressively increased across the sex-specific quartiles of serum uric acid (all Ps < 0.05). The incidence rate of diabetes increased across the quartiles of serum uric acid (7.43%, 8.77%, 11.47%, and 13.43%). Multivariate adjusted regression analysis revealed that individuals in the highest quartile had 1.36-fold increased risk of diabetes compared with those in the lowest quartile of serum uric acid (odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.36 (1.06-1.73)). Stratified analysis indicated that the association was only observed in women. Accordingly, serum uric acid was associated with the increased risk of incident diabetes among middle-aged and elderly Chinese women.
Adult ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Uric Acid

Objective: To investigate the different patterns of 24-h movement behaviors, and their associations with sociodemographic factors in a nationally representative sample of Chinese children aged 6-13 years. Methods: This study was based on a national multi-centered cluster intervention study involving 31 362 children aged 6-13 years from 7 provinces in China. Questionnaires were used to collect moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen time (ST) and sleep duration, as well as sociodemographic variables including age, gender, area of residence, parents’ education level and family income. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analyses were conducted for the 24-hour movement behaviors according to sociodemographic variables. Results: The proportions of individuals meeting the MVPA, ST, and sleep guidelines were 32.2%, 78.5%, 30.1%, respectively. The proportion that meet 0, 1, 2 and 3 recommended items was 9.6%, 47.7%, 35.0% and 7.7%, respectively. Age, gender, parents’ education levels and family income showed associations with PA, ST and sleep. Compared with low parents’ education group, the risk for unhealthy behavioral patterns was lower in those with high parents’ education level(P<0.05). Conclusion The current status of 24-hour physical activity for children aged 6-13 in China is not ideal, and social demographics should be considered when designing targeted interventions to promote children’s health.

Objective To explore the expressions of hypoxia inducible factor ( HIF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 ( VEGFR 2), and microvessel density ( MVD) in adrenocortical adenoma ( ACA) and adrenocortical carcinoma ( ACC), in order to discuss their potential role in the development of adrenal tumours. Methods Fifty-five adrenal tumour specimens resected in the hospital with complete clinical data (including 30 ACA cases and 25 ACC cases) were examined by immunohistochemistry for the expressions of HIF-2α, HIF-1α, VEGFR 2, and MVD. Results VEGFR 2 and MVD up-regulated were found in the ACC group (P＜0.05). The expression of HIF-2α and HIF-1α correlated with VEGFR 2 (P＜0.05). The expressions of VEGFR 2 and MVD were related to some clinicopathological features ( P＜0. 05 ). Additionally, tumour size, expression of VEGFR 2 and MVD were independently associated with ACC (P＜0.05). Conclusions The high expression of HIF-2α, VEGFR 2, and MVD in adrenal tumours suggested their roles in tumour angiogenesis, which indicated that anti-angiogenesis therapies deserve intensive studies for malignant adrenocortical tumours.

Objective To investigate the association between levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the risks of cardiovascular disease in Chinese. Methods A survey of 10 375 subjects aged 40 or older in Jiading District of Shanghai was performed using cluster sampling. All the subjects were recruited to undergo questionnaire interview, anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood sampling. A total of 8 877 participants were included in the final analyses, including 5 664 females and 3 213 males. The mean age of individuals was ( 58.68 ± 9.22)yearsinmenand(57.65±8.93)yearsinwomen(P＜0.01).10-yearriskforafirsthardatherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) event was calculated. Results Increased ALT levels were associated with more unfavorable cardiovascular risk profiles and 10-year risk for ASCVD. Increased ALT levels were associated with the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in female participants, while in male participants the prevalence of diabetes mellitus appeared as a U-distribution. The prevalence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia were 66.04%, 52.74%and 64.49%, 47.63% respectively. Increased serum ALT was associated with higher prevalence of 10-year risk for ASCVD. As compared with participants in the first ALT quartile, the risks of 10-year risk for ASCVD were increased by 148%(OR＝2.48, 95%CI 1.78-3.45) and 139%(OR＝2.39, 95%CI 1.78-3.19), respectively in male and female participants. As compared with participants in the first ALT quartile, higher prevalence of 10-year risk for ASCVD were increased by 96%(OR＝1.96, 95%CI 1.30-2.95), while there was no significantly statistical difference in men. Conclusion A high-normal serum ALT level was significantly associated with an increased risk of the cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and elderly Chinese.

Objective To investigate the relationship between urinary iodine level and prevalence of thyroid disease by comparing the levels of urinary iodine in patients with thyroid disease and healthy people in Hefei urban residents.Methods A prospective study was used in the study.A total of 238 patients with thyroid disease were enrolled in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from March 2015 to January 2017,and these patients were divided into three groups:Graves's disease (GD) group (n =116),chronic lymphocyticthyroiditis (HT) group (n =79) and thyroid nodule group (n =43),568 cases of Hefei urban residents without thyroid disease were selected as control group Urinary iodine was measured by arsenic-cerium catalyzed spectrophotometry.Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),free triiodothyronine (FT3),free thyroxine (FT4),thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay.The thyroid was examined through B ultrasonography in both the case group and the control group.Results The median urinary iodine concentrations(MUIC) of GD group,HT group,thyroid nodule group and control group were 326.83,361.49,235.26,and 195.63 μg/L,there were significant differences in the MUIC between the 4 groups (H =20.13,P ＜ 0.05).The MUIC of GD group and HT group were higher than that of control group (Z =5.395,6.269,P ＜ 0.05).The MUIC was significantly different between the HT group and the thyroid nodule group (Z =3.852,P ＜ 0.05).There were significant differences in TSH,FT3,FT4,TPOAb,TgAb between the GD group and the control group (P ＜ 0.05);the TPOAb and TgAb in the HT group and thyroid nodule group were statistically significantly different compared with those of control group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no correlation between the level of urinary iodine level and FT3,FT4,TSH,TPOAb and TgAb in the 4 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions According to the urinary iodine level in the normal population,the Hefei urban area belongs to the area of appropriate iodine.There was no corrolation between urinary iodine level and thyroid function in urban residents of Hefei.

Objective To realize the clinical characteristics of fungemia in premature infants.Methods Clinical characteristics of fungemia in premature infants in the intensive care unit of a children''s hospital between January 2011 and December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively, general condition of premature infants, laboratory-related indicators, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results were compared.Results From January 2011 to December 2015, 42 premature infants with confirmed fungemia were treated in this hospital, 22 (52.38％) of whom were with fungemia caused by Candida albicans(C.albicans), 13 (30.95％) by Candida parapsilosis (C.parapsilosis), 3 by Candida krusei (C.krusei), and 4 by other fungi.Patients were grouped according to the main pathogens causing infection: C.parapsilosis group and C.albicans group.Maternal genitourinary tract infection rate and incidence of fungal meningitis in C.albicans group were both higher than C.parapsilosis group(27.27％ vs 7.69％, 27.27％ vs 0.00％ respectively), peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) rate in C.albicans group was lower than that in C.parapsilosis group(22.73％ vs 69.23％), platelet count in C.parapsilosis group was lower than C.albicans group, differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05).Conclusion The major fungi causing fungemia in premature infants were C.parapsilosis and C.albicans, maternal reproductive system infection during pregnancy can easily lead to candidemia, premature infants with candidemia are more vulnerable to developing fungal meningitis;PICC is more likely to lead to C.parapsilosis fungemia, and platelet decline is more obvious.

Objective To analyze the effect of carotid artery stenting (CAS) on cerebralblood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity in patients with severe carotid stenosis.Methods Twenty patients with unilateral severe internal carotid artery stenosis,conformed by carotid color ultrasonography or MR angiography in our hospital from August 2014 to December 2015,were chosen in our study.CAS was performed;relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) detection and relative cerebrovascular reactivity (rCVR) assessment were performed by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) combined with carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalation within one week before surgery and 3 months after surgery.Four regions of interest (ROIs) in the bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory of internal carotid stenosis were selected for data analysis.The changes of rCBF and rCVR before and after CAS between the ipsilateral and contralateral ROIs of these patients were compared.Results In these 20 patients,80 ROIs from each patient were obtained.Preoperative ipsilateral rCBF averaged 0.883±0.075,and contralateral rCBF averaged 0.929±0.033;preoperative ipsilateral rCVR averaged 0.010±0.055,and contralateral rCBF averaged 0.124±0.053;postoperative ipsilateral rCBF and rCVR averaged 0.927±0.040 and 0.092±0.058,and contralateral rCBF averaged 0.938±0.038 and 0.127±0.054.Postoperative ipsilateral rCBF and rCVR were significantly improved as compared with preoperative ones (P＜0.05).Postoperative contralateral rCBF and rCVR were improved as compared with preoperative ones,without significant differences (P＞.05).Conclusions CAS can not only improve rCBF and rCVR of the MCA in the carotid artery stenosis,but also improve the contralateral side.

Objective To evaluate the effect of ropivacaine-induced convulsion on hippocampal synaptic development in neonatal rats.Methods Sixty 21-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats,weighing 40-41 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=20 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),single convulsion group (group SC),and recurrent convulsion group (group RC).Normal saline 0.1 ml was intraperitoneally injected in group C.Group SC received single intraperitoneal injection of 0.5％ ropivacaine 33.8 mg/kg.In group RC,0.5％ ropivacaine 33.8 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 5 consecutive days.The rats developed convulsion were included in the study.Five rats were selected at 24 h,3 days and 7 days after convulsion and at the age of 60 days in C and SC groups,and at 24 h,3 days and 7 days after the last convulsion and at the age of 60 days in group RC,the rats were sacrificed,and the hippocampus was removed for examination of the ultrastructure of neurons (with a electron microscope) and for determination of the number of synapses,synaptic space and thickness of synaptic density.Results Compared with group C,the number of synapses was significantly decreased,and the synaptic space was widened at 24 h and 3 days after convulsion,and the thickness of synaptic density was thinned at 24 h after convulsion in group SC,and the number of synapses was significantly decreased,and the synaptic space was widened,and the thickness of synaptic density was thinned at 24 h,3 days and 7 days after convulsion in group RC (P＜0.05).Compared with group SC,the number of synapses was significantly decreased,the synaptic space was widened,and the thickness of synaptic density was thinned at 24 h,3 days and 7 days after convulsion in group RC (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above at the age of 60 days between the three groups (P＞0.05).Neurons exhibited nuclear swelling,mitochondria showed edema,and disrupted mitochondrial cristae and vacuoles were observed at 24 h and 3 days after convulsion,and these changes mentioned above were significantly attenuated at 24 h,3 days and 7 days after convulsion.Conclusion Ropivacaine-induced convulsion exerts no effects on hippocampal synaptic development in neonatal rats.