Relationship between emotional intelligence and job stressors of psychiatric nurses: A multi-centre cross-sectional study.

AIM: To investigate the impact of socio-demographic factors and job stressors on the emotional intelligence of psychiatric nurses. BACKGROUND: Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in enabling nurses to effectively manage their own emotions, comprehend the emotions of others and assist individuals in dealing with diverse stressors. Nevertheless, a comprehensive conceptualization of the relationship between job stressors and emotional intelligence remains lacking. DESIGN: This study employs a multi-centre cross-sectional design. METHODS: A multi-centre cross-sectional survey involving 1083 registered nurses from 11 psychiatric hospitals across four provinces in China was conducted. Non-probability sampling was utilised. The survey encompassed assessments of nurse job stressors, emotional intelligence using a scale and socio-demographic characteristics using a questionnaire. A multiple linear regression model was applied to identify significant variables associated with emotional intelligence based on demographic attributes and various nurse job stressors. The study adhered to the STROBE checklist. RESULTS: The findings revealed a noteworthy negative correlation between nurse job stressors and emotional intelligence. Socio-demographic factors and job stressors of certain nurses were able to predict emotional intelligence and its dimensions among psychiatric nurses, with percentages of 44.50%, 40.10%, 36.40%, 36.60% and 34.60%. CONCLUSION: Providing emotional intelligence training for psychiatric nurses could enhance their capacity to cope effectively with workplace stress, particularly among younger nurses who engage in limited physical activities. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The analysis of the relationship between emotional intelligence and nurse job stressors could facilitate early detection and intervention by managers based on pertinent factors. This, in turn, could elevate the emotional intelligence level of psychiatric nurses. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study did not recruit participants, so details of participants were not be involved.

Calixarene-Protected Titanium-Oxo Clusters and Their Photocurrent Responses and Photocatalytic Performances.

Three photosensitive tert-butylcalix[n]arene (TBC[n], n = 4, 6, 8)-protected titanium-oxo clusters (TOCs), formulated as [Ti4(µ3-O)2(TBC[4])2(OiPr)4(DEF)2]·DEF (1, TBC[4]-Ti4, DEF = N,N-diethylformamide), [Ti4(µ4-O)TBC[6](OCH3)9]·H2O (2, TBC[6]-Ti4), and [Ti4(µ3-O)2(OiPr)4TBC[8](DEF)2]·DEF (3, TBC[8]-Ti4), were successfully synthesized and characterized. Because of the generation of charge transfer from TBC[n] to the TiO core, the three TBC[n]-decorated TOCs show a broadened visible-light absorption and narrowed optical band gap based on the UV-visible spectra and density functional theory calculations. The corresponding photosensitive electrodes prepared using these three TOCs exhibit stable photocurrent responses. Furthermore, their photocatalytic performances for hydrogen evolution and methylene blue degradation were evaluated, and all of the materials display excellent photocatalytic activity and stability. The calixarene-Ti coordination is therefore an effective strategy to enlarge the visible-light absorption band of Ti-O materials and improve their photoelectric/photocatalytic performances.

Risk factors for the frequent attendance of older patients at community health service centers in China: a cross-sectional study based on stratified sampling.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of frequent attenders (FAs) among older patients in Shanghai, China, and explore the associated factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in six community health service centers in Shanghai, China, from August to December 2018 based on stratified sampling. On the basis of our preliminary study, FAs were defined as those attending at least four consultations in a month. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the clinicodemographic data of the participants. Social support, pain severity, depression, and anxiety were evaluated using the Social Support Revalued Scale, six-point Behavioral Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, respectively. RESULTS: This study included 619 patients aged > 60 years. Among these patients, 155 (25%) were FAs to a community health service center, 366 (59.1%) had 1 or 2 chronic diseases, 179 (28.9%) had ≥3 chronic diseases, 313 (50.4%) opted for a family doctor service, and 537 (86.8%) chose a community health service center for the first consultation. The following were identified as independent risk factors for frequent attendance: widowed status, unmarried status, the presence of > 3 chronic diseases, first consultation at a community health service center, high medical expenses, frequent attendance of the spouses, long-term medication, the use of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine services, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: This study summarizes the characteristics of older FAs to community health service centers in China and identifies 10 risk factors significantly associated with frequent attendance.

Screening of Beauveria bassiana with high biocontrol potential based on ARTP mutagenesis and high-throughput FACS.

Beauveria bassiana is a promising biocontrol agent due to its entomopathogenic activities and residue-free characteristics. However, its susceptibility to abiotic stresses and naturally low virulence limit the effective application of this fungus. To effectively obtain fungal strains with high biocontrol potential, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to screen mutant libraries generated by atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP). Among about 8000 mutants obtained by ARTP mutagenesis, six candidate mutants were selected according to the forward scatter (FSC) signal readings of FACS. B6, with a 37.4% higher FSC reading than wild-type (WT), showed a 32.6% increase in virulence. It also presented a 13.5% decrease in median germinating time (GT50) and a 12.1% increase in blastospore production. Comparative analysis between insect transcriptional responses to B6 and WT infection showed that the immune response coupled with protein digestion and absorption progress was highly activated in B6-infected Galleria mellonella larvae, while fatty acid synthesis was suppressed after 3 days of infection. Our results confirmed the feasibility of sorting B. bassiana with high biocontrol potential via the combination of ARTP and FACS and facilitated the understanding of insect-pathogen interactions, highlighting a new strategy for modifying entomopathogenic fungi to improve the efficiency of biological control.

Characterization of trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase in trehalose biosynthesis, asexual development, stress resistance and virulence of an insect mycopathogen.

Biological control potential of entomopathogenic fungi depending on conidiation capacity, conidial stress tolerance and virulence can be improved through genetic engineering. To explore a possible role of trehalose biosynthesis pathway in improving fungal pest-control potential, we characterized biological functions of trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (BbTPP) in Beauveria bassiana, an insect mycopathogen that serves as a main source of fungal insecticides. Deletion of BbTPP resulted in abolished trehalose biosynthesis, reduced conidiation capacity, decreases in conidial thermotolerance and UV-B resistance, increased hyphal sensitivities to chemical stresses, and attenuated virulence. By contrast, over-expression of BbTPP led to increased trehalose accumulation, decreased T6P accumulation, and enhanced stress tolerance and virulence despite little impact on growth and conidiation under normal conditions. These results indicate that BbTPP serves as not only a key player in control of trehalose biosynthesis required for multiple cellular functions but also a potential candidate to be exploited for genetic improvement of fungal potential against insect pests.

Evaluation of the Spring Seedling Project-Zhaotong Program: A study of a novel continuing medical education program for rural doctors in China.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Spring Seedling Project-Zhaotong program, a novel continuing medical education program, to improve the knowledge and skills of rural doctors in China. DESIGN: An uncontrolled single-group pre- and post-intervention design based on quantitative and qualitative methods. SETTING: Zhaotong is a prefecture-level city located in Yunnan, China. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1866 country doctors practising in Zhaotong were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: The Zhaotong program consisted of three stages: remote education, workshops conducted in Zhaotong and field training in Shanghai. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effectiveness of the remote education and Zhaotong workshop stages was assessed based on differences between pre- and post-training test scores. Qualitative comments were collected to assess the experience of country doctors following the Shanghai field training stage. RESULTS: In total, 1866 country doctors (46.9% males; mean age: 38.2 ± 9.2 years) participated in the program. The average score of the post-training test was higher than that of the pre-training test, both online (P < .001) and offline (P < .001). In regard to the Zhaotong workshops, with the exception of incisions/suturing, the average scores of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, gynaecological examinations and child growth/development were improved after training (P < .001). Qualitative analysis showed that Shanghai field training enhanced understanding of general practice, with the majority of country doctors indicating that they would apply what they learned in daily practice. CONCLUSION: This study introduced an comprehensive form of continuing medical education for rural doctors in Zhaotong and proved the effectiveness of this program and also provided a reference point for the future development of continuing medical education.

Quality of life and its contributing factors in an elderly community-dwelling population in Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the relationship between quality of life and the factors that may influence it in an elderly community-dwelling population in Shanghai. METHODS: From August to October 2014, elderly individuals were enrolled from three randomly selected communities in Shanghai. Participant information was collected from responses to a general questionnaire and to the Lubben Social Network Scale-6, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics, Patient Health Questionnaire, and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey. The factors influencing quality of life were explored in a multivariate stepwise linear regression model. RESULTS: Physical and mental component summary scores for the elderly in Shanghai communities were 50.1 ± 10.1 and 47.3 ± 7.9, respectively. Physical component summary scores in the rural area were higher than those in the urban-rural intersection area (a place where urban and rural transitions are taking place) (52.32 ± 9.81 vs 49.63 ± 9.33, P < 0.05) and the urban area (52.32 ± 9.81 vs 47.34 ± 10.18, P < 0.05). Additionally, mental component summary scores in the rural area were higher than those in the urban-rural intersection area (52.63 ± 9.28 vs 48.43 ± 9.42, P < 0.05) and the urban area (52.63 ± 9.28 vs 48.13 ± 10.69, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Depression, self-care ability, and medical care burden were found to be significantly associated with the quality of life of elderly individuals in Shanghai, China. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the mental health of this elderly population.

Reliability and validity of 12-item Short-Form health survey (SF-12) for the health status of Chinese community elderly population in Xujiahui district of Shanghai.

BACKGROUND: The 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) is the abridged practical version of SF-36. AIMS: This cross-sectional study was aimed to assess the reliability and validity of SF-12 for the health status of Chinese community elderly population. METHODS: The Chinese community elderly people in Xujiahui district of Shanghai were investigated. The internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability coefficients. Construct validity was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Spearman's correlation coefficient (ρ) was used for the evaluation of criterion, convergent, and discriminant validity with Spearman's ρ ≥ 0.4 as satisfactory. Comparisons of the SF-12 summary scores among populations that differed in demographics were performed for discriminant validity. RESULTS: Total 1343 individuals aged ≥60 and <85 years old (response rate: 91.3 %) were analyzed. The Cronbach's α value (0.910) and the split-half reliability coefficient (0.812) reflected satisfactory internal consistency reliability of SF-12. EFA extracted a two-factor model (physical and mental health). About 60.7 % of the total variance was explained by the two factors. CFA showed that the two-factor solution provided a good fit to the data. Good convergent validity and discriminant validity of SF-12 were proved by the correction analyses (Spearman's ρ > 0.4) and the comparisons of the SF-12 summary scores among populations (P < 0.05). SF-12 summary scores were significantly correlated with the SF-36 summary scores (Spearman's ρ > 0.4, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, SF-12 had satisfactory reliability and validity in measuring health status of Chinese community elderly population in Xujiahui district of Shanghai.

The Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking Among Rural-to-Urban Migrants in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The increasing rural-to-urban migrant population in China may be linked to the susceptibility to tobacco use. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of smoking among rural-to-urban migrants in China. METHODS: Major English and Chinese databases were searched for original studies on smoking prevalence among rural-to-urban migrants in China. A validated quality assessment tool was used to evaluate these studies. Subsequently, data were extracted to calculate the overall pooled estimate of prevalence using random effect model, and then stratified by gender, definition, location, and occupation. Meta-regression analysis was used to identify the source of heterogeneity among variables. RESULTS: We identified 17 eligible studies involving 32,694 migrants. The overall pooled prevalence estimate of smoking among rural-to-urban migrants was 27.25% (95% CI: 23.34, 31.34), with significant heterogeneity (I(2) = 98.2, p < .01). In stratified analysis, specific pooled prevalence estimates were 46.71% for male (95% CI: 40.51, 52.97) and 5.34% for female (95% CI: 2.90, 8.45); 26.71% (95% CI: 17.00, 37.71), and 24.96% (95% CI: 18.65, 31.86) in current and daily smoking group, respectively; 21.89% (95% CI: 15.80, 28.66) and 30.59% (95% CI: 20.04, 42.28) for migrants in North and South China, respectively; 48.34% (95% CI: 24.63, 72.46) in construction industry, 31.77% (95% CI: 15.54, 50.67) in manufacturing industry and 18.69% (95% CI: 11.37, 27.32) in service industry, respectively. Meta-regression analysis revealed that gender and occupation differences contributed to high heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking is still prevalent among rural-to-urban migrants, which may be influenced by gender and occupations. Policies should be designed and conducted to control smoking prevalence among these populations.

Diabetes is an Independent Risk Factor for Stroke Recurrence in Stroke Patients: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the association between diabetes and risk of stroke recurrence (especially ischemic stroke recurrence) and to evaluate whether diabetes was an independent predictor for stroke recurrence in stroke patients with diabetes. METHODS: The relevant studies were identified through searching databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to evaluate the association between diabetes and risk of stroke recurrence. Funnel plot and Egger's regression tests were used to assess publication bias. All statistical analyses were conducted in Stata 12.0. RESULTS: Eighteen studies containing totally 43,899 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that stroke recurrence risk of all stroke patients with diabetes was significantly higher than those without diabetes (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.32-1.59), similar results were achieved in ischemic stroke patients (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.28-1.61), and there were no regional differences (Europe: HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13-1.44; USA: HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.53-2.33; Asia: HR, 1.57, 95% CI, 1.28-1.92, respectively) and age differences (mean age <70 years: HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.34-1.86; mean age ≥70 years: HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.11-1.45, respectively). The heterogeneity of all included studies was not statistically significant, and no publication bias was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows that diabetes is an independent risk factor for stroke recurrence in stroke patients.

A new flavonone from seeds of Alpinia katsumadai and its neuroprotective effect on PC12 cells.

A new flavonone, named as (2R, 3S)-pinobanksin-3-cinnamate(1), together with six known compounds, pinocem-brin (2), pinobanksin (3), 3-O-acetylpinobanksin (4), galangin (5), kumatakenin(6), and 3-methylkaempferol (7), were isolated from a 95% ethanol extract of seeds of Alpinia katsumadai through a combination of various chromatographic techniques, including silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis. Compound 1 exhibits a potent neuroprotective effect against the corticosterone-damaged PC12 cells, which may be underlying the effect by scavenging intracellular ROS.

[The curative effect of task-oriented approach in combination with articulation approach on spastic dysarthria].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of task-oriented approach in treating patients with spastic dysarthria. METHODS: A randomized control trial was undertaken in 44 inpatients diagnosed with spastic dysarthria at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in West China Hospital. All of the participants received basic medical therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and an articulation approach for speech therapy by a professional speech therapist over a one month period. A task-oriented approach was added to the speech therapy regime of the test group of participants by another professional speech therapist over the same period of time. The outcomes of speech therapy were measured by the Frenchay dysarthria assessment (FDA). RESULTS: Significant improvements were found in the test group in relation to 15 FDA items, such as dribbling, lips spread, and palate maintenance (P<0. 05). The performance of the participants in the test group on the rest of FDA items also demonstrated an improvement trend compared with that of the controls (P>0. 05) except for the three items in relation to cough, lips at rest and jaw in speech. CONCLUSION: Task-oriented approach for speech therapy is effective in treating patients with spastic dysarthria. A task-oriented approach in combination with an articulation approach can produce better patient outcomes compared with the articulation approach alone. Further studies are warranted.

Three new bioactive diterpenoids from the roots of Croton crassifolius.

Phytochemical investigation of Croton crassifolius led to the isolation of two new halimane diterpenoids (1 and 2), a new nor-clerodane diterpenoid (3), along with three known analogues (4-6). Their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and CD analysis. All isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, and compound 1 exhibited moderate inhibition of NO production with an IC50 value of 25.8 ± 0.9 µM.

The Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review of Clinical Application and Mechanism.

As a reproductive endocrine disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has influenced billions of women during childbearing age worldwide. Owing to its complex etiology and ambiguous pathogenesis, there is still not a specific method to cure it. Clinical treatments, such as hormone therapy and surgical treatment, have side effects. Therefore, it is essential and urgent to seek alternative treatment to solve these problems. The satisfactory efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), immunotherapy, medicinal foods, vitamin therapy, diet therapy, psychotherapy, spa, and oxygen therapy, in treating PCOS, has aroused an increasing number of medical workers' concern and gradually become the mainstream. This paper reviews the application of CAM in the treatment of PCOS, especially from the perspective of TCM. Meanwhile, the limitations of the literature about CAM in the treatment of PCOS are mentioned and analyzed as well.

High-performance reversible aqueous zinc-ion battery based on iron-doped alpha-manganese dioxide coated by polypyrrole.

The development of zinc-ion storage cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) is a necessary step for the construction of large-scale electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. Iron-doped alpha-manganese dioxide (α-MnO2) nanocomposites were achieved in this study via pre-intercalation of Fe3+ during the formation of α-MnO2 crystals. A polypyrrole (PPy) granular layer was fabricated on the surface of α-MnO2 using acid-catalyzed polymerization of pyrroles. The pre-intercalation of Fe3+ effectively enlarges the lattice spacing of α-MnO2 and consequently decreases the hindrance for Zn2+ insertion/extraction in the iron-doped α-MnO2 coated by PPy (Fe/α-MnO2@PPy) composite. Meanwhile, the PPy buffer layer can ameliorate electron and ion conductivity and prevent dissolution of α-MnO2during the charge/discharge process. This unique structure makes the Fe/α-MnO2@PPy composite an efficient zinc-ion storage cathode for AZIBs. The targeted Fe/α-MnO2@PPy cathode achieves superior performance with reversible specific capacity (270 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1) and exhibits highdiffusioncoefficientof 10-10-10-14 cm-2 s-1. Therefore, a feasible approach is implemented on advanced electrode materials using in AZIBs for practical applications.

Two-Dimensional Large Gap Topological Insulators with Tunable Rashba Spin-Orbit Coupling in Group-IV films.

The coexistence of nontrivial topology and giant Rashba splitting, however, has rare been observed in two-dimensional (2D) films, limiting severely its potential applications at room temperature. Here, we through first-principles calculations to propose a series of inversion-asymmetric group-IV films, ABZ2 (A ≠ B = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb; Z = F, Cl, Br), whose stability are confirmed by phonon spectrum calculations. The analyses of electronic structures reveal that they are intrinsic 2D TIs with a bulk gap as large as 0.74 eV, except for GeSiF2, SnSiCl2, GeSiCl2 and GeSiBr2 monolayers which can transform from normal to topological phases under appropriate tensile strain of 4, 4, 5, and 4%, respectively. The nontrivial topology is identified by Z2 topological invariant together with helical edge states, as well as the berry curvature of these systems. Another prominent intriguing feature is the giant Rashba spin splitting with a magnitude reaching 0.15 eV, the largest value reported in 2D films so far. The tunability of Rashba SOC and band topology can be realized through achievable compressive/tensile strains (-4 ~ 6%). Also, the BaTe semiconductor is an ideal substrate for growing ABZ2 films without destroying their nontrivial topology.

[Composition and Distribution of Antibiotics in Soils with Different Land Use Types in a Typical Peri-urban Area of the Yangtze River Delta].

Antibiotics have been widely used for agriculture, aquaculture, and livestock, as well as for human disease treatment, in recent decades. However, antibiotics cannot be completely absorbed, and most of them are excreted through urine and feces. A substantial part of the antibiotics enter soils through fertilization and irrigation. Antibiotics persist in the soil environment and threaten human and ecological security. Identifying the composition, distribution, and factors affecting antibiotics in soils with different land use types can help in understanding the spatial distribution and migration processes of antibiotics. In this study, a typical peri-urban catchment located in the Yangtze River delta was selected as the study area, and 82 sampling sites were selected based on land use and topographical features. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0-40 cm at each sampling site. The types and quantity of antibiotics in each soil sample were identified and analyzed by using HPLC-MS/MS in the laboratory. The composition and concentration of antibiotics in different soil layers and the land use types were compared, and the factors affecting the spatial distribution of soil antibiotics were analyzed. Results from this study showed that the total concentration of antibiotic compounds (total) ranged from 0.05 µg·kg-1 to 395.55 µg·kg-1 in the study area, and a significant spatial distribution of antibiotics was found between different land use types. The total in cropland ranged from 0.35 µg·kg-1 to 395.55 µg·kg-1, and tetracyclines (TCs) were the dominant antibiotics (81.45%). The total in forestland ranged from 0.07 µg·kg-1 to 3.65 µg·kg-1, with values significantly lower than those in cropland (P<0.05). The total in orchard soil were significantly lower than in cropland (P<0.05), and no significant differences in antibiotics were found between orchards and forestland (P>0.05). The analysis of the composition and quantity of antibiotics in the soils showed that tetracyclines (TCs) and quinolones (QNs) were the dominant antibiotic types in orchards (TCs:67.63%, QNs:29.55%) and forestland (TCs:13.25%, QNs:70.04%). The indices, including distance to town, distance to road, elevation, and C/N value in soils, were selected to explore the influence of human activity on soil antibiotic concentration. Results of the correlation analysis showed that the concentration of soil antibiotics decreased with increasing values of the four indices. This indicated that the concentrations of soil antibiotics in peri-urban areas were dominantly affected by land use and its spatial distribution, and the concentrations increased with the intensity of human activities. Results of this study can provide scientific guidance for soil management and soil security.

Exploring the impact of EGFR T790M neighboring SNPs on ARMS-based T790M mutation assay.

The present study aimed to explore the influence of T790M neighboring single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on the sensitivity of amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-based T790M mutation assay. Three ARMS-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) systems (system 1 had a forward ARMS primer without rs1050171, system 2 included a forward ARMS primer with rs1050171 and system 3 contained the above two forward ARMS primers) were used to detect the T790M mutation in two series plasmid samples and genomic DNA (gDNA) of the cell line H1975. A total of 670 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples from non-small cell lung cancer patients were used to detect the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene T790M mutation by direct sequencing and ARMS-qPCR. The ARMS-qPCR system 1 effectively detected samples with as low as 1% T790M mutant plasmid 1 (without rs1050171) and with 50% T790M mutant plasmid 2 (with rs1050171), while the ARMS-qPCR system 2 detected samples with 20 and 50% T790M mutant plasmid 1, in addition to samples with 1% T790M mutant plasmid 2. For the ARMS-qPCR system 3, samples with as low as 1% T790M mutant plasmids 1 or 2 were effectively detected. For gDNA analysis of the cell line H1975, the T790M mutation was effectively detected by the ARMS-qPCR systems 2 and 3 (~50% mutation rate), but was detected with a low mutation abundance by the ARMS-qPCR system 1 (~1% mutation rate). Of the 670 FFPE samples, 5 cases were identified to have the T790M mutation by sequencing and by the ARMS-qPCR system 1. One sample (named N067), which was considered as T790M-negative by sequencing, was demonstrated to have the T790M mutation using the ARMS-qPCR system 1. Sample N094, which was variant homozygous for rs1050171 and was indicated to be T790M-negative by sequencing and by the ARMS-qPCR system 1, was identified to have the T790M mutation with the ARMS-qPCR system 3. The A-variant allele frequency of rs1050171 was observed to be 28.2% in the 670 FFPE tumor samples, while the presence of rs148188503 (c. C2355T, p. T785T) was observed in sample N558, and a novel SNP with a base substitution (c. T2375C) at position 792 (p. L792P) in exon 20 of the EGFR gene was observed in sample N310. rs1050171 is a high-frequency SNP located near T790M, and the mutation statuses of rs1050171 appear to influence the sensitivity of the ARMS-based T790M detection system, thus generating a 14.3% false-negative rate (1/7). The present study proposes the risk that target neighboring SNPs (as far as 8 bp away in the present study) may exert on the sensitivity of ARMS-based detection methods.

Pulmonary migratory infiltrates due to mycoplasma infection: case report and review of the literature.

Pulmonary migratory infiltrates (PMI) are observed in a few diseases. We report here a case of PMI attributed to Mycoplasma pneumonia (Mp) infection. The patient's past medical history was characterized by fleeting and/or relapses of patchy opacification or infiltrates of parenchyma throughout the whole lung field except for left lower lobe radiographically. Serological assays revealed an elevation of IgG antibody specific to Mp and its fourfold increase in convalescent serum. Histopathological findings showed polypoid plugs of fibroblastic tissue filling and obliterating small air ways and interstitial infiltrates of mononuclear inflammatory cells in the vicinal alveolar septa. The patient was treated with azithromycin which resulted in a dramatic improvement clinically and imageologically. In spite of the increasing incidence of Mp, the possible unusual imaging manifestation and underlying mechanism haven't attracted enough attention. To our knowledge, there are rare reports of such cases.

[Research on expression of miRNA-21 in the peripheral blood of coronary heart disease and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression difference in MicroRNA-21 (miRNA-21) levels of the plasma between the patients with coronary heart disease and the subjects without coronary artery lesions, and its clinical significance. METHODS: Plasma was obtained from the patients with coronary heart disease(trial group,56 cases) and the subjects without coronary artery lesions(control group, 10 cases), patients with coronary disease were divided into angina(AP, 39 cases) and acute myocardial infarction(AMI, 17 cases)subgroup, the contents of miRNA-21 were detected using qRT-PCR method, and the differential expression of miRNA-21 in each group was analyzed. The levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), high sensitive troponin I(cTnI), B type natriuretic peptide urea (BNP), Gensini, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), integral value of coronary left ventricular end diastole diameter (LV) and homocysteine (HCY) were determined and the correlation between miRNA-21 and these clinical indexes was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with control group, there was a significant difference in expression of miRNA-21 in patients with angina and AMI (P < 0.05), and miRNA-21 expression in AMI group was much higher than that in AP group. There was statistical significance in CK, CK-MB, cTnI, Genisis integral comparison between AMI group and control group (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between expression of CK, CK-MB, cTnI and the level of circulating miRNA-21 in patients with acute myocardial infarction. And there was a negative correlation between BNP, Gensini integral, LVEF value of coronary artery, LV and circulating miRNA-21. CONCLUSION: miRNA-21 was significantly elevated in acute myocardial infarction subgroup than the control group. The level of miRNA-21 associates with the degree of coronary artery stenosis, and might be a potential marker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. miRNA-21 may play an important role in protecting myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion injury.