Objective To compare the fidelity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)models established using two methods:exposure to cigarette smoke(CS)and exposure to motor vehicle exhaust(MVE)in rats.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into control,CS-exposed(CS),and MVE-exposed(MVE)groups,with 8 rats per group.Rats in CS and MVE groups were exposed to CS or MVE,respectively,to induce COPD models.After COPD model established,lung function of each group was assessed.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)was collected to measure inflammatory cell counts,levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,and expression levels of mucin 5AC(MUC5AC).Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin(HE)to observe pulmonary tissue and airway pathological changes.Periodic acid-Schiff(PAS)staining was used to detect goblet cell hyperplasia in airways.Results Compared with control group,rats in CS and MVE groups showed significantly increased inspiratory resistance(RI),total lung capacity(TLC),and lung static compliance(Cchord)(P<0.05),while expiratory flow parameters FEV50/FVC were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with MVE group,rats in CS group had significantly higher RI,TLC,and Cchord(P<0.05),and lower FEV50/FVC(P<0.05).HE staining of lung tissues showed that mean linear intercept(MLI)was significantly higher in both CS and MVE groups compared with control group(P<0.05),with CS group having higher MLI than MVE group(P<0.05).BALF analysis revealed that white blood cells,neutrophils,macrophages,lymphocytes,IL-6,and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in both CS and MVE groups compared with control group(P<0.05),and inflammatory cell counts,IL-6,and TNF-α levels were higher in CS group compared with MVE group(P<0.05).PAS staining of lung tissues indicated that goblet cells in large airways were significantly increased in both CS and MVE groups compared with control group(P<0.05),with CS group showing higher goblet cell counts than MVE group(P<0.05).Expression levels of MUC5AC in BALF were significantly higher in both CS and MVE groups compared with control group(P<0.05),with CS group having significantly higher MUC5AC levels than MVE group(P<0.05).Conclusions Exposure to CS or MVE can establish a rat model of COPD,with CS exposure better mimicking characteristics of acute exacerbation of COPD compared to MVE exposure.

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are major public health and social issues worldwide. The long-term follow-up of COVID-19 with pulmonary TB (PTB) survivors after discharge is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively describe clinical outcomes, including sequela and recurrence at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge, among COVID-19 with PTB survivors. Methods From January 22, 2020 to May 6, 2022, with a follow-up by August 26, 2022, a prospective, multicenter follow-up study was conducted on COVID-19 with PTB survivors after discharge in 13hospitals from four provinces in China. Clinical outcomes, including sequela, recurrence of COVID-19, and PTB survivors, were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Results Thirty-two COVID-19 with PTB survivors were included. The median age was 52 (45, 59) years, and 23 (71.9％) were men. Among them, nearly two-thirds (62.5％) of the survivors were moderate, three (9.4％) were severe, and more than half (59.4％) had at least one comorbidity (PTB excluded). The proportion of COVID-19 survivors with at least one sequela symptom decreased from 40.6％ at 3 months to 15.8％ at 24 months, with anxiety having a higher proportion over a follow-up. Cough and amnesia recovered at the 12-month follow-up, while anxiety, fatigue, and trouble sleeping remained after 24 months. Additionally, one (3.1％) case presented two recurrences of PTB and no re-positive COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Conclusion The proportion of long symptoms in COVID-19 with PTB survivors decreased over time, while nearly one in six still experience persistent symptoms with a higher proportion of anxiety. The recurrence of PTB and the psychological support of COVID-19 with PTB after discharge require more attention.

Objective: Several COVID-19 patients have overlapping comorbidities. The independent role of each component contributing to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown, and how some non-cardiometabolic comorbidities affect the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 1,160 laboratory-confirmed patients were enrolled from nine provinces in China. Data on comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio ( Results: Overall, 158 (13.6%) patients were diagnosed with severe illness and 32 (2.7%) had unfavorable outcomes. Hypertension (2.87, 1.30-6.32), type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (3.57, 2.32-5.49), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (3.78, 1.81-7.89), fatty liver disease (7.53, 1.96-28.96), hyperlipidemia (2.15, 1.26-3.67), other lung diseases (6.00, 3.01-11.96), and electrolyte imbalance (10.40, 3.00-26.10) were independently linked to increased odds of being severely ill. T2DM (6.07, 2.89-12.75), CVD (8.47, 6.03-11.89), and electrolyte imbalance (19.44, 11.47-32.96) were also strong predictors of unfavorable outcomes. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease on admission (5.46, 3.25-9.19), while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes (6.58, 1.46-29.64) within two weeks. Conclusion Besides hypertension, diabetes, and CVD, fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, other lung diseases, and electrolyte imbalance were independent risk factors for COVID-19 severity and poor treatment outcome. Women with comorbidities were more likely to have severe disease, while men with comorbidities were more likely to have unfavorable treatment outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sealing performance of Hybrid Coat and its influence on the shear bond strength of five dentin surface cements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six premolars were pretreated to expose the dentin surface prior to the application of Hybrid Coat. The microscopic characteristics of the dentinal surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, 40 premolars were sectioned longitudinally, and 80 semi-sections were divided into a control group (untreated) and a study group (treated by Hybrid Coat). Alloy restoration was bonded to the teeth specimen using five different cements. Shear bond strength was measured by the universal testing machine. The fracture patterns and the adhesive interface were observed using astereomicroscope. RESULTS: SEM revealed that the lumens of dentinal tubules were completely occluded by Hybrid Coat. The Hybrid Coat significantly improved the shear bond strength of resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) and resin cement (RC) but weakened the performance of zinc phosphate cement (ZPC), zinc polycarboxylate cement (ZPCC) and glass ionomer cement (GIC). CONCLUSION: Hybrid Coat is an effective dentinal tubule sealant, and therefore its combined use with resin or resin-modified glass ionomer cements can be applied for the prostheses attachment purpose.
Adhesives ; Alloys ; Bicuspid ; Dentin ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Polycarboxylate Cement ; Prostheses and Implants ; Resin Cements ; Tooth ; Zinc Phosphate Cement

OBJECTIVEGastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have a broad spectrum of biological behaviors ranging from benign, borderline and malignant. This study aimed to screen differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) between malignant and borderline GISTs and to investigate the potential role of miRNAs in the malignant transformation of GISTs.

METHODSSix GIST samples including borderline tumors (n = 3) and malignant tumors (n = 3) were collected based on the clinical and pathological characteristics. Total RNA was extracted, followed by miRNA microarray analysis to screen the differentially expressed miRNAs. The most significantly expressed 4 miRNAs were then chosen for further validation by real-time PCR in 22 additional GIST samples.

RESULTSDirect comparison of malignant group versus borderline group revealed 14 significantly and differentially expressed miRNAs (P < 0.05, with a fold change of < 0.5 or > 2). Five miRNAs were up-regulated and nine were down-regulated in the malignant group. Four miRNAs (miR-221, miR-135b, miR-675(*) and miR-218) were most significantly and differentially expressed between the two groups. The differential expression of 2 miRNAs (miR-221 and miR-675(*)) were subsequently confirmed with good concordance by real-time PCR.

CONCLUSIONSThe differential miRNA expression profiles between two groups are revealed by miRNA microarray assay, and confirmed by real-time PCR. Among differentially expressed miRNAs, miR-221 and miR-675(*) might be related to the malignant transformation of GISTs, and have a potential value in predicting biological behavior of GISTs.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microarray Analysis ; Middle Aged ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Up-Regulation

Objective To develop a method for measuring the piezoelectric effect in wet bone. Methods A piezoelectric voltage measurement system of wet bone was designed, which employed platinum/iridium electrodes to detect the piezo-voltages and an ultra-high input impedance bio-amplifier to amplify the piezo-voltage signals, respectively. Because there was nearly no electric current in the buffer solution, even the electrodes that did not contact the bone sample could detect the piezoelectric voltages at the side of two bone samples. Results Voltage-time curves were obtained under the trapezoidal loading, and the results were confirmed to be piezoelectric voltages produced from bone by experiment. A total of 6 samples were tested. The measurement results showed that the piezo-voltages of wet bone were induced during the dynamic loading process, which was consistent with dry bone. Conclusions Measurement of the piezo-voltages in wet bone was developed by employing platinum/iridium electrodes for detecting the piezo-voltages and an ultra-high input impedance bio-amplifier for amplifying the piezo-voltage signals, and the validity of the test system was confirmed via experiments. The peak value of piezo-voltage was between -0.75 mV and -1.69 mV under the loading peak value 9 N. The results are helpful to investigate the relationship between bone growth and electric signals, which provides the theoretical references for researches on bone healing in clinic.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical significance of KRAS mutation detection in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODSParaffin-embedded tissue specimens were obtained from 440 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. The genomic DNA was extracted. Mutations of exon 2 of KRAS gene were examined by PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTSSomatic mutations of KRAS gene were identified in 146 cases, with the mutation rate of 33.2% (146/440). Among these 146 patients, KRAS mutation involved codon 12 in 118 patients, including 35G > A (Gly12Asp, 62 cases), 35G > T (Gly12Val, 35 cases), 34G > T (Gly12Cys, 9 cases), 34G > A (Gly12Ser, 6 cases), 35G > C (Gly12Ala, 5 cases), and 34G > C (Gly12Arg, 1 case); in 27 patients the mutation involved codon 13, including 38G > A (Gly13Asp, 25 cases), 38G > C (Gly13 Val, 1 case) and 37G > T (Gly13 Cys, 1 case); and in one patient, the mutation involved codon 14 with 40G > A (Val14Ile). The status of KRAS or codon 12 mutations in colorectal adenocarcinoma was related to patients' gender (P = 0.021 and P = 0.030, respectively), and this significant correlation to females was conserved in clinical stage III (P = 0.007 and P = 0.003, respectively), but not in stages I, II, and IV. The status of KRAS or codon 12 mutations was also related to tumor stage. Between stage II and stage IV, the mutation rate of KRAS and codon 12 showed significant difference (P = 0.028 and 0.034, respectively). Between stage III and stage IV, only the codon 12 mutation rate showed significant difference (P = 0.011). Codon 13 mutation was not related to tumor stage.

CONCLUSIONAbout one third of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma have KRAS gene mutation, which might be related to patients' gender; and could be consistently detected by PCR and direct sequencing.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Codon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult ; ras Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical stage and histological grade of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

METHODSTwelve clinical and pathological parameters were assessed in 613 patients with follow-up information. These parameters were classified into two gross spread parameters including liver metastasis and peritoneal dissemination, five microscopic spread parameters including lymph node metastasis, vascular, fat, nerve and mucosal infiltration, and five histological parameters including mitotic count ≥ 10 per 50 high-power fields, muscularis propria infiltration, coagulative necrosis, perivascular pattern and severe nuclear atypia.

RESULTSThe accumulated 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of 293 patients without any of these predictive parameters of malignancy were 99.3% and 100.0%, respectively. They were regarded as nonmalignant and further evaluations on the stage and grade of these tumors were not performed. At least one and at most seven predictive parameters of malignancy were identified in 320 patients. For these patients, the accumulated 5-year DFS and OS rates were 43.9% (mean 6.7 years) and 59.7% (mean 9.3 years), respectively. The DFS showed significant difference between patients with and without gross spread (P < 0.01), with and without microscopic spread (P = 0.001). DFS and OS were associated with the number of predictive parameters of malignancy in patients without gross spread (P < 0.01 for both DFS and OS), but not in patients with gross spread (P = 0.882 and 0.441, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSMalignant GIST could be divided into clinical stages I and II based on the absence and presence of gross spread, respectively. The degree of malignancy of patients in clinical stage I could be graded according to the number of predictive parameters of malignancy. Patients in clinical stage II were of the highest degree of malignancy regardless of the number of parameters. The staging and grading of gastrointestinal stromal tumors in this study are strongly associated with prognosis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; methods ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the viral etiology of acute low respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) among hospitalized children in Changsha of Hunan Province of China.

METHODSNasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 1165 hospitalized children with ALRTI in Changsha from September 2007 to August 2008. Respiratory syncytin virus (RSV), human rhinovirus (HRV), influenza virus A (IFVA), influenza virus B (IFVB), parainfluenza 1-3 (PIV 1-3), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human coronaviruses NL63 (HCoV-NL63), and human coronaviruses HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Adenovirus (ADV) and human bocavirus (HBoV) were detected by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR). WU polyomaviruses (WUPyV) and KI polyomaviruses(KIPyV) were detected by nested PCR. The positive samples further underwent genetic sequencing.

RESULTSAmong the 1165 nasopharyngeal aspirates, viruses were detected in 871 samples (74.76%), among which RSV (27.03%) was the most common virus, followed by HRV (17.33%), PIV3 (13.73%), HBoV (8.67%) and hMPV (6.52%). The overall positive rate of viral detection showed no significant differences between males and females (X2=2.241, P=0.134), whereas the positive rates of PIV3, hMPV, and HBoV in males were higher than in females. The positive rate of viral detection showed significant differences among different age groups (X2=10.934, P=0.027), and the highest positive rate was noted in the age group of 6 months to 1 year. Furthermore, the overall positive rate of viral detection showed a significant difference in term of seasonal distribution, with a peak prevalence in winter.

CONCLUSIONSVirues predominate in the etiology of pediatric ALRTI in Changsha, and RSV, HRV and PIV3 are the main viruses for ALRTI. HBoV and hMPV have become increasingly important. Viral infection-associated ALRTI shows a prevail in the age group of 6 months to 1 year as well as in winter.

Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Hospitalized ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nasopharynx ; virology ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; etiology ; virology ; Seasons ; Sex Distribution ; Viruses ; isolation & purification

Objective The main objective of this study was to explore the prevalence and clinical characteristics of human coronavirus NL63 infection in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in Changsha.Methods Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) samples were collected from 1185 hospitalized children with ALRTI at the People's Hospital of Hunan province,between September 2008 and October 2010.Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to screen for coronavirus NL63,which is a 255 bp fragment of a part of N gene.All positive amplification products were confirmed by sequencing and compared with those in GenBank.Results The overall frequency of coronavirus NL63 infection was 0.8％,6 (60％) out of the coronavirus NL63 positive patients were detected in summer,2 in autumn,1 in spring and winter,respectively.The patients were from 2 months to two and a half years old.The clinical diagnosis was bronchopneumonia ( 60％ ),bronchiolitis ( 30％ ),and acute laryngotracheal bronchitis( 10％ ).Four of the 10 cases had critical illness,4 cases had underlying diseases,and 7 cases had mixed infection with other viruses. The homogeneity of coronavirus NL63 with those published in the GenBank at nucleotide levels was 97％-100％.Conclusion Coronavirus NL63 infection exists in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection in Changsha.Coronavirus NL63 infections are common in children under 3 years of age.There is significant difference in the infection rate between the boys and the girls:the boys had higher rate than the girls.The peak of prevalence of the coronavirus NL63 was in summer.A single genetic lineage of coronavirus NL63 was revealed in human subjects in Changsha.Coronavirus NL63 may also be one of the lower respiratory pathogen in China.