Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.Results In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β=-2.119), As (β=-1.318), Sr (β=-2.480), Ba (β=0.781), Fe (β= 1.130) and Mn (β=-0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength (P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95％ confidence interval:-1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn (Pinteractions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.

Aim To investigate the effects of Cartham-us tinctorius L.extract(CTLE)on oxidative stress,lipid metabolism,and apoptosis levels of mice with al-cohol-induced liver injury and its mechanism of action.Methods The mouse model of alcohol-associated liver disease was established by chronic alcohol feeding and acute alcohol gavage.Mice were randomly divided into four groups.During the modeling period,the state changes of mice were observed every day,and their weight was recorded.At the end of modeling,blood and liver tissues were collected from each group of mice.The blood of mice was analyzed biochemically,and HE staining and Oil Red O staining were used to evaluate further the degree of pathological damage in the liver of mice.Quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR)and Western blot were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of p-PI3K,PI3K,p-Akt,Akt,p-mTOR,mTOR,p-FoxO1,FoxO1,p-FoxO3a,FoxO3a,p-FoxO4,FoxO4,BCL and BAX factors.Results Compared to the model group,the CTLE administration group showed improved hepatic patho-logical injury and reduced lipid deposition.The bio-chemical indexes in serum and liver,such as ALT,AST,TG,TC,and MDA levels were reduced,while GSH and SOD levels increased.Regulating the PI3K/Akt/FoxO pathway resulted in increased production of SOD,which reduced damage and apoptosis caused by reactive oxygen species(ROS).Conclusions CTLE can exert anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptotic effects through the PI3K/Akt/FoxO pathway and attenuates alcoholic liver injury in mice,providing new ideas for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease and the develop-ment of related drugs.

Objective To explore the effects of miR-221 on tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) xenograft model mice, and to preliminarily analyze its possible mechanism of regulating Akt/ mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling pathway by targeting tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) on tumor cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through tumor-bearing nude mice. Methods The A549 cells were divided into control group, mimic group, TIMP-2 group and mimic+TIMP-2 group. The mimic group and TIMP-2 group were transfected with miR-221 mimic and TIMP-2 overexpression plasmids, respectively. The mimic + TIMP-2 group was simultaneously transfected with miR-221 mimic and TIMP-2 overexpression plasmids. The control group was transfected with the same amount of negative control plasmid. After transfection, the cells of each group were injected subcutaneously into the left forelimb to construct the corresponding 4 groups of NSCLC mouse models. The proliferation-related protein (Ki67) was detected by immunohistochemical staining to detected the effect of cell proliferation ability. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and N-cadherin proteins in each group were tested by Western blotting to assess and compare the abilities of migration and invasion. The levels of miR-221, TIMP-2 and Akt/ mTOR pathways in bone marrow and tumor tissues were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results When co-transfected with wild type(WT)-TIMP-2 and miR-221 mimic, the relative luciferase activity in the cells reduced significantly (P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, the tumor mass, volume, Ki67, MMP-2 and N-cadherin protein expression levels, miR-221 and Akt/ mTOR pathway levels were increased significantly, while the levels of TIMP-2 mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in the mimic group (P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, the levels of TIMP-2 mRNA and protein in the TIMP-2 group increased significantly, while the other indicators decreased significantly (P<0. 05). Tumor tissue mass, volume, Ki67, MMP-2, Ncadherin, miR-221 and Akt/ mTOR pathway levels in mimic+TIMP-2 group were significantly lower than those in the mimic group and significantly higher than those in the TIMP-2 group, while TIMP-2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher than those in the mimic group and significantly lower than those in the TIMP-2 group (P<0. 05). Conclusion In the NSCLC transplanted tumor mouse model, miR-221 may mediate the Akt/ mTOR pathway by targeting the expression of TIMP-2 protein to promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Bendamustine Hydrochloride/therapeutic use* ; Etoposide ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lymphoma/therapy* ; Melphalan ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Transplantation, Autologous

Objective To investigate the protective effect of excretory-secretory protein (AES) from adult Trichinella spiralis on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis in mice. Methods Eighteen female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups, including the blank control group (Group A), OVA-induced rhinitis group (Group B) and AES treatment group (Group C). Mice in Group A were given PBS. Mice in Group B were intraperitoneally injected with antigen adjuvant suspension for systemic sensitization, once every other day for seven times; then, local excitation was intranasally induced with 5% OVA solution once a day for seven times to establish a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. In addition to induction of allergic rhinitis, mice in Group C were given 25 μg AES at baseline sensitization and local excitation. Following the final challenge, mice were observed for 30 min in each group, and the behavioral score was evaluated. The serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 and TGF-β were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in mice, and the pathological changes of mouse nasal mucosa were observed under a microscope. Results There was a significant difference in the mouse behavioral scores among the three groups (F = 110.12, P < 0.01). The mouse behavioral score was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (7.17 ± 0.75 vs. 1.33 ± 0.52, P < 0.01), and more remarkable pathological damages of mouse nasal mucosa were seen in Group B than in Group A, while the mouse behavioral score was significantly decreased in Group C than in Group B (P < 0.01), and the pathological damages of mouse nasal mucosa remarkably alleviated in Group C relative to Group B. There was a significant difference in serum IFN-γ level among the three groups (F = 7.50, P < 0.01) and the serum IFN-γ level in Group B was significantly lower than in group A and C (both P < 0.05). There were significant differences in serum IL-4 (F = 470.81, P < 0.01) and IL-5 levels (F =68.20, P < 0.01) among the three groups, and significantly greater serum IL-4 and IL-5 levels were detected in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.01), while significantly lower serum IL-4 and IL-5 levels were detected in Group C than in Group B (P < 0.01). There were significant differences in serum IL-10 (F = 174.91, P < 0.01) and TGF-β levels (F = 9.39, P < 0.01) among the three groups, and significantly greater serum IL-10 and TGF-β levels were seen in Group C than in Group B (both P < 0.05). Conclusion T. spiralis AES has a remarkable protective activity against OVA-induced allergic rhinitis in mice.

OBJECTIVETo investigate genetic and antibiotic resistance characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) isolated from Shenzhen.

METHODSMultilocs sequence typing and agar dilution methods were used to define the genotype and antibiotic resistance of C. jejuni, respectively.

RESULTSIn total, 126 C. jejuni strains were isolated. The prevalence of C. jejuni was 5.3% in diarrheal patients. The prevalence in poultry meat (36.5%) was higher than that in cattle meat (1.1%). However, the prevalence in poultry cloacal swabs (27.0%) was lower than that in cattle stool (57.3%). Sixty-two sequence types were obtained, among which 27 of the STs and 10 alleles were previously unreported. The most frequently observed clonal complexes were ST 21 (11.9%), ST-22 (10.3%), and ST-403 (7.1%). ST-21, ST-45, ST-354, ST-403, and ST-443 complexes overlapped between isolates from patients and cattle, whereas ST-45 and ST-574 complexes overlapped between isolates from patients and poultry. All C. jejuni were resistant to at least one antibiotic. The highest resistance rate was toward ciprofloxacin (89.7%), followed by tetracycline (74.6%), and nalidixic acid (69.0%).

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report of the genotypes and antibiotic resistance of C. jejuni in Shenzhen. Overlapping clonal complexes were found between isolates from patients and cattle, and between patients and poultry.

Objective To investigate the effect of cysteine protease inhibitor derived from S chistosoma japonicum(SjCys-tatin)on dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced acute ulcerative colitis in mice.Methods Eighteen C57BL/6 mice were ran-domly divided into three groups:a control group treated with PBS(Group A),a DSS-induced-colitis group treated with PBS(Group B),and a DSS-induced-colitis group treated with SjCystatin(Group C).Colitis was induced in mice by giving 3％DSS orally for 7 days.During this period,the mice were daily injected with 10μg of SjCystatin or PBS only as a control intraperitone-ally.The mice were monitored daily for their clinical manifestations and given scores based on disease activity index(DAI).The severity of colonic inflammation was monitored by the macroscopic score and pathological change.The cytokine profile including TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6 and IL-10 in the supernatants of colon homogenate was detected by ELISA.Results Compared with Group A(0.50 ± 0.28),the DAI score increased significantly in Group B(9.30 ± 1.30)(F=86.86,P<0.01),with remarkable path-ological damages seen in colon tissues.and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were(321.33±67.01)and(403.58 ±180.51)pg/mL.The DAI score significantly reduced in Group C(6.67±1.57)as compared to Group B(F=86.86,P<0.01),with improve-ments in the macroscopic and microscopic pathology in mouse colon specimens.As compared to Group B,the levels of TNF-α [(188.14 ± 40.14)pg/mL] and IL-6 [(209.71 ± 48.47)pg/mL] significantly decreased(F=17.46 and 9.89,both P<0.01).Con-clusion SjCystatin has a significantly inhibitory effect for alleviating DSS-induced acute ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6 mice.

Objective To explore the developmental characteristics of white matter volume in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children longitudinal.Methods From May 2011 to September 2014,37 ASD children (ASD group)and 27 developmental delays (DD) children (control group) were treated at the Child Mental Health Research Center,Nanjing Brian Hospital Affiliated of Nanjing Medical University,and the children whose age,gender and developmental quotient matched with the ASD children were scanned by structure magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) at the age of 2-3 years old and 4-5 years old respectively.Region of interest (ROI) technology was adopted to investigate the change of the cerebrum white and the sub-lobes structure white matter volume with time.Then the correlation between clinical symptoms and brain white matter volume changes was analyzed.Results Among the 2-3 years old,compared with the control group,the white matter volume of the total brain[(383 521.84 ±6 427.57) mm3 vs.(364 014.06 ±6 856.97) mm3],the left cerebral hemisphere [(191 609.35 ± 3 206.60) mm3 vs.(181 695.89 ± 3 389.54)mm3],temporal lobe [(41 860.49 ±816.38) mm3 vs.(39 444.18 ± 834.85) mm3] and the right temporal lobe [(21 312.79 ± 414.07) mm3 vs.(20 084.22 ± 412.13) mm3] were significantly larger in the ASD group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).With the analysis of covariance with age or the total brain volume as the covariate,the differences disappeared(all P ＞ 0.05).Among the 4-5 years old,compared with the control group,the white matter volumes of the total brain[(417 651.42 ± 6 443.86) mm3 vs.(394 317.27 ± 6 404.86)mm3],left cerebral hemisphere [(208 714.16 ±3 214.61) mm3 vs.(197 192.82 ±3 262.02) mm3],right cerebral hemisphere [(208937.26±3242.09) mm3 vs.(7 124.45 ±3 193.13) mm3],frontal lobe [(107 107.46±1 681.99) mm3 vs.(100 326.19 ± 1 883.24) mm3],left frontal lobe [(54 569.63 ± 846.85) mm3 vs.(51 177.25 ±979.09) mm3],right frontal lobe [(52 537.83 ± 841.99) mm3 vs.(49 148.94 ±928.31) mm3],temporal lobe [(45 189.75 ± 833.29) mm3 vs.(42 487.73 ± 786.27) mm3],left temporal lobe [(22 204.21 ±411.77) mm3 vs.(20 922.90 ± 418.46) mm3],and right temporal lobe [(22 985.54 ± 426.93) mm3 vs.(21 564.83 ± 378.78) mm3]were significantly larger in the ASD group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).With the analysis of covariance with age as the covariate,the differences still existed (all P ＜ 0.05).With the analysis of covariance with the total brain volume as the covariate,the differences disappeared (all P ＞ 0.05).For longitudinal analysis,there was a significant difference in the white matter volume between the whole brain,left cerebral hemisphere,right cerebral hemisphere,frontal lobe,left frontal lobe,fight frontal lobe,temporal lobe,left temporal lobe,right temporal lobe and the differences were statistically significant (F =5.521,5.533,5.459,5.830,5.800,5.723,4.857,4.418,5.159,all P ＜0.05).There was a positive correlation between the changes of the volume of whole brain,the white matter volume in the whole brain,bilateral cerebral hemisphere,frontal lobe,parietal lobe,right parietal lobe and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (r =0.367,0.343,0.321,0.349,0.296,0.308,0.351,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Among the 2-3 years old,the white matter volume of the brain regions have been increased significantly in ASD.Among the 4-5 years old,the increase of the white matter volume of the brain regions implicated more widely which mainly concentrated in the frontal and temporal lobe in ASD.The severity of the clinical symptoms of ASD may be associated with the white matter volume of the total brain,bilateral cerebral hemisphere,frontal lobe,parietal lobe and right parietal lobe.

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) in the treatment of refractory and relapsed acute leukemia (AL) patients. Methods: The clinical data of 22 refractory and relapsed AL patients who were treated with UCBT as salvage therapy from November 2009 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received a myeloablative conditioning regimen for prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with cyclosporine A (CSA)/short course of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Results: ①Of 22 patients, 9 cases were male and 13 female. The median age was 23 (15-44) years and median weight of 52.5 (43-82) kg. All patients were transplanted with a median umbilical cord blood nucleated cells of 3.07 (1.71-5.30)×10⁷/kg (by weight), the median CD34⁺ cells was 1.60 (0.63-3.04)×10⁵/kg (by weight). ②The myeloid cumulative implantation rate was 95.5% (95%CI 45.2-99.7%) after transplantation of 42 d, with the median implantation time of 19 (13-27) d. The platelet cumulative implantation rate after transplantation of 120 d was 81.8% (95%CI 54.2-93.6%), the median implantation time of 42 (20-164) d. ③The incidence of Ⅱ-Ⅳ, Ⅲ-Ⅳ aGVHD and the 2 year cumulative incidence of cGVHD were 36.4%, 13.6% and 40.3% respectively. ④ The transplant related mortality (TRM) after transplantation of 180d was 22.7%, 2 year cumulative rate of relapse was 18.7% (95%CI 3.6-42.5%), 2 year disease-free survival rate (DFS) and overall survival rate (OS) were 53.7% and 58.1%, respectively. Conclusion: The preliminary results show that the use of UCBT is safe and effective for refractory and relapsed AL patients who fail to respond to conventional chemotherapy.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia/therapy* ; Male ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Young Adult

Five patients with synovial chondromatosis in the temporomandibular joint were treated in our hospital between August, 2011 and August, 2014. All the patients underwent preoperative imaging examinations for clinical diagnosis and determining the involvement of the lesions. Surgeries were performed and the lesions were confirmed as synovial chondromatosis by pathological diagnosis. The clinical manifestations, imaging features, diagnosis and treatment results were analyzed. All the 5 patients had pain in the joint region, 3 had limited mouth opening, and 3 had swelling in the joint region. X-ray film showed widening of the joint space in all the 5 cases and radiographic findings showed space-occupying lesions in the intra-articular space. Open joint surgeries was performed and completed successfully in all the cases. The postoperative imaging showed no residual lesions in the surgical area. As a rare clinical entity, synovial chondromatosis in the temporomandibular joint was poorly documented without specific clinical manifestations. The diagnosis of synovial chondromatosis relies on imaging, arthroscopic and pathological findings. Corpus liberum is an important feature of the disease occurring frequently in the joint cavity. Surgical intervention is the primary choice for treatment of synovial chondromatosis in the temporomandibular joint, in which the corpus liberum and the affected synovial membrane shall be removed after joint incision.