Objective To investigate radiation doses to examinees undergoing computed tomography (CT) scanning of different body parts (the head, chest, and abdomen) in medical institutions of Shijiazhuang, China, and to provide a reference for optimizing radiation protection for examinees in medical institutions. Methods March 2021 to March 2022, eleven medical institutions of radiation monitoring in Shijiazhuang were surveyed for the basic information, scanning parameters, and dosimetric data of a total of 930 adults and children who received CT examinations. The dosimetric data of the subjects were analyzed and compared with the domestic and international diagnostic reference levels and the results of other cities in China. Results In the above hospitals, the CTDI_vol(P₅₀) of CT subjects in children's group were 17.42-50.45 mGy, 2.13-14.01 mGy and 3.58-28.20 mGy, respectively. DLP(P₅₀) ranges from 228.87 to 966.97 mGy·cm, 33.20 to 296.03 mGy·cm, and 74.90 to 926.53 mGy·cm, respectively. In the adult group, the CTDI_vol(P₅₀) in the head, chest and abdomen of CT subjects were 37.28-54.05 mGy, 6.43-14.99 mGy and 8.28-18.75 mGy, respectively. DLP(P₅₀) ranges from 372.81 to 630.56 mGy·cm, from 219.77 to 467.93 mGy·cm, and from 313.86 to 689.87 mGy·cm, respectively. The distribution of radiation doses in different-grade hospitals varied greatly. The abdomen dose of the children's hospital was higher than other hospitals. Especially the primary hospitals were significantly higher than the recommended diagnostic reference level (DRL). Conclusion In some secondary and primary hospitals, the setting of CT scanning parameters was simplified, not specific to the subjects’ age and body types. They should strictly comply with the principal of optimizing radiation protection to strengthen radiation dose optimization and supervision, reducing the radiation dose of examinees in future examinations .

Objective: To investigate the self-reported prevalence, clinical characteristics, complications of allergic rhinitis (AR) and the sensitization of outdoor air pollen allergens in children in the Inner mongolia grassland region. Methods: A multistage, stratified and random clustered sampling with a face-to-face interview survey study in children from 0 to 17 years old was performed together with 10 common allergen skin prick tests (SPT) and measurements of the daily pollen count in 6 regions in the Inner mongolia grassland region from May to August of 2015. SAS 9.4 software was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 2 443 subjects completed the study. The self-reported prevalence of AR was 26.6%. The prevalence of boys was higher than that of girls (28.8% vs 24.3%, χ²=6.157, P<0.05). Subjects from urban areas showed higher prevalence than rural areas (34.7% vs 18.8%, χ²=79.107, P<0.05). There was significant regional difference in the prevalence of AR among the six areas investigated (χ²=221.416, P<0.05). The main clinical symptoms of AR were sneezing (88.2%) and nasal congestion (78.6%). Among combined diseases, asthma accounted for 16.5% (107/650), rhinoconjunctivitis accounted for 47.9% (311/650). The peak season of AR was April and July, with the top SPT positive allergens of Artemisia species and chenopodium in this area. Conclusions The prevalence AR in children in the Inner mongolia grassland region is extremely high. Sneezing is the main clinical symptom. Rhinoconjunctivitis is the most common combined disease. High summer and autumn pollen exposure is the main cause of AR.

Objective To deepen and promote the development of nursing higher education internationalization through the analyzation of the status,existing problems and future trends of research about nursing higher education.Methods Searching literatures in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI),VIP and WANFANG databases from 1984 until 2014.Results 79 references were selected from 44 journals and the numbers increased each year.69.62％ (55/79) of them were accepted by statistical source core journals and 54.43％ (43/79) of them were funded.The authors came from 19 provinces.There were only 4 articles reported international education about graduates and most of them were about undergraduate students.The main reformation measures included curriculum and english teaching reform et al.Conclusions The educator paid more attention to nursing higher education internationalization than before,also the policy's support and the quality of literatures were optimistic.However,the breadth,depth and integrity of research should be strengthened in future.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of serum Golgi protein-73 (GP73) combined with the AFP-L3% test for hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSComprehensive electronic and manual searches were performed to retrieve relevant studies on GP73 combined with AFP-L3% for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. After screening of the studies according to inclusion criteria and extraction of the data,meta-analysis was performed in Meta-disc 1.4 and Stata 12.0.

RESULTSEleven studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected from the total 138 references with potential relevance.The threshold effect was not found in the GP73 combined with AFP-L3% for the diagnosis of liver cancer.However,heterogeneity was found in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of GP73 combined with AFP-L3% was 0.853 and 0.960 respectively. The area under summary receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.948, and the Q index was 0.888.

CONCLUSIONGP73 combined with AFP-L3% can significantly improve the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity to a high level, and can improve the diagnosis rate of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Membrane Proteins ; ROC Curve ; alpha-Fetoproteins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels and influencing factors of phthalate internal exposure in pregnant women (gestation age ≤ 16 weeks).

METHODSDuring April to June in 2013, 1 020 pregnant women (gestation age ≤ 16 weeks) who had established the maternal care manual were recruited in maternal and child health hospital of Siming District, Xiamen city. Participators were asked to complete a questionnaire to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and antenatal examination and to provide a urine sample. Finally, 998 pregnant women who provided a urine sample and completed the questionnaire were enrolled. Adopting systematic sampling method, 100 ones were selected randomly among 998 pregnant women. High performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandern mass was used to determine the concentration of five phthalate monoesters in each urine, including mono-n-methyl phthalate (MMP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP). Based on the measurements and questionnaire data, multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the phthalate monoester levels and potential influential factors.

RESULTSThe detection rates of MMP, MEP, MBP, MBzP and MEHP in 100 pregnant urine samples were 94%, 93%, 87%, 83%, 99%, respectively. And the urinary median uncorrected concentrations of MMP, MEP, MBP, MBzP and MEHP in 100 urine samples were 20.56, 17.62, 10.15, 2.03, and 5.12 ng/ml, respectively. Specific gravity-corrected concentration were 20.81, 20.36, 12.88, 2.58, 5.00 ng/ml, respectively. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that: education degree was negatively associated with urinary concentration of MMP, MEP, MBP, MBzP and MEHP, OR (95% CI) were 0.495 (0.253-0.966), 0.380 (0.191-0.755), 0.379 (0.186-0.774), 0.401 (0.196-0.819), 0.373(0.183-0.762), respectively. Participants who had hair permed and dyed during pregnancy had higher urinary level of MBP and MBzP, OR (95% CI) were 12.867 (1.240-133.525), 15.982 (1.367-186.911), respectively; Participants who use cosmetics during pregnancy had higher urinary level of MEP and MBP, OR (95% CI) were 2.977 (1.012-8.757), 4.440 (1.485-13.272), respectively; plastic bottled water consumption was positively associated with urinary concentrations of MEP and MEHP, OR (95% CI) were 3.780 (1.417-10.083), 2.699 (1.039-7.010), respectively; annual household income was negatively associated with urinary concentration of MMP, OR (95% CI) was 0.597 (0.372-0.959); individuals who took medications during pregnancy had higher urinary level of MEHP than non-takers, OR (95% CI) was 4.853 (1.084-21.732).

CONCLUSIONPregnant women whose gestation age was less than 16 weeks are generally exposed to phthalate. Phthalate internal exposure levels are significantly associated with most measured factors and the influencing factors with different phthalates internal exposure levels are different.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Maternal Exposure ; Phthalic Acids ; urine ; Pregnancy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Mps1 on BRAFWT/MEK/ERK pathway in the presence of wild type BRAF or BRAFV600E in melanoma.

METHODSMelanoma cells harboring BRAFWT genotype were transfected either with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAF-WT and/or pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT or pBabe-puro-GST-BRAFV600E and/or pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, followed by Western blot to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression. The melanoma cells harboring BRAFWT and BRAFV600E genotype were infected with pSUPER-Mps1 retrovirus to knockdown the endogenous Mps1 protein, followed by Western blot to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression. Meanwhile, melanoma cells harboring BRAFV600E genotype were infected with pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1 and Western blot was performed to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression.

RESULTSIn melanoma cells harboring BRAFWT genotype and transfected with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAF-WT and pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, phospho-ERK levels were notably reduced as compared to either negative control or empty vector. However, cells transfected with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAFV600E and pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, phospho-ERK levels did not change significantly compared with either negative control or empty vector. Knockout of Mps1 in BRAF wild-type cell lines led to an increased ERK activity. However, there was no significant change of ERK activity in BRAFV600E cell lines in the absence of Mps1. The expression of p-ERK in BRAFV600E mutant cell lines infected with pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT did not show any significant difference from either negative control or empty vector.

CONCLUSIONSBased on these findings, it suggests that there exists an auto-regulatory negative feedback loop between the Mps1 kinase and BRAFWT/ERK signaling. Oncogenic BRAFV600E abrogates the regulatory negative feedback loop of Mps1 on the MAPK pathway.

Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Melanoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

Objective To study the effect of Mps1 on BRAFWT/MEK/ERK pathway in the presence of wild type BRAF or BRAFV600E in melanoma.Methods Melanoma cells harboring BRAFWT genotype were transfected either with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAF-WT and/or pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT or pBabe-puro-GST-BRAFV600E and/or pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, followed by Western blot to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression.The melanoma cells harboring BRAFWT and BRAFV600E genotype were infected with pSUPER-Mps1 retrovirus to knockdown the endogenous Mps1 protein, followed by Western blot to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression.Meanwhile, melanoma cells harboring BRAFV600E genotype were infected with pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1 and Western blot was performed to detect Mps1 and p-ERK expression. Results In melanoma cells harboring BRAFWT genotype and transfected with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAF-WT and pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, phospho-ERK levels were notably reduced as compared to either negative control or empty vector.However, cells transfected with pBabe-puro-GST-BRAFV600E and pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT, phospho-ERK levels did not change significantly compared with either negative control or empty vector.Knockout of Mps1 in BRAF wild-type cell lines led to an increased ERK activity.However, there was no significant change of ERK activity in BRAFV600E cell lines in the absence of Mps1.The expression of p-ERK in BRAFV600E mutant cell lines infected with pBabe-puro-GFP-Mps1-WT did not show any significant difference from either negative control or empty vector. Conclusions Based on these findings, it suggests that there exists an auto-regulatory negative feedback loop between the Mps1 kinase and BRAFWT/ERK signaling.Oncogenic BRAFV600E abrogates the regulatory negative feedback loop of Mps1 on the MAPK pathway.

In order to confirm the alteration and significance of cigarette smoke exposure on SP-A in rats, 20 Wistar rats were assigned randomly to two groups: an N group (n=10), and an S group (n=10). The ultra-structural change was observed by electron microscopy. The number of cells positive for SPA was by immunohistochemically measured. The mRNA expression in the lung tissues was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The number of cells positive for SPA of the S group (0.52 +/- 0.05) was lower than that of the N group (0.72+/-0.06) (P<0.05). The levels of mRNA of SPA in the lung tissues of the S group (0.3522+/-0.0512) was significantly lower than that of the N group (0.4432+/-0.05628) (P<0.05). It is concluded that cigarette smoke alone decreased the level of SP-A and that might have an important effect on surfactant metabolism and the host defense functions of surfactant in the peripheral airways, which might play a crucial role in the development of chronic obstructive lung disease.
Gene Expression Regulation ; Immunohistochemistry/methods ; Lung/metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A/*biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smoking/*adverse effects ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/*adverse effects

In order to confirm the alteration and significance of cigarette smoke exposure on SP-A in rats, 20 Wistar rats were assigned randomly to two groups: an N group (n=10), and an S group (n=10). The ultra-structural change was observed by electron microscopy. The number of cells positive for SPA was by immunohistochemically measured. The mRNA expression in the lung tissues was deter-mined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The number of cells positive for SPA of the S group (0.52±0.05) was lower than that of the N group (0.72±0.06) (P<0.05). The lev-els of mRNA of SPA in the lung tissues of the S group (0.3522±0.0512) was significantly lower than that of the N group (0.4432±0.05628) (P<0.05). It is concluded that cigarette smoke alone decreased the level of SP-A and that might have an important effect on surfactant metabolism and the host deense functions of surfactant in the peripheral airways, which might play a crucial role in the devel-opment of chronic obstructive lung disease.

To establish a better method of primary culture for alveolar epithelial type Ⅱ cells (AEC Ⅱ) and to study its bionomics, alveolar epithelial type Ⅱ cells were isolated by digestion with tryp- sin and collagenase, which were then purified by plated into culture flask coated with rat immu- noglobulin G. The purified AEC Ⅱ were identified by alkaline phosphatase staining, electron mi-croscopy, immunocytochemical staining of pulmonary surfactant protein A (SPA). The SPA expres-sion and transfection characteristics were compared with those of A549 cell line. The results showed that AEC Ⅱ could be isolated by digestion with trysin and collagenase and purified by adhesive pu- rification by using IgG, with a yield of about 2-3×107, and a purity of about 75%-84 %. Cells could be quickly identified with AKP staining. AEC Ⅱ were different from A549 cell line in terms of SPA expression and transfection characteristics. It is concluded that adhesive purification with IgG can improve the purity of AEC Ⅱ, and AKP staining is simple in cell identification. AEC Ⅱ can not be completely replaced by A549 cells in some studies because the differences between them, such as SPA expression.