[Review on the Long-term and Short-term Effects of Biochar Addition on Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions].

Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by human activities are the main cause of climate warming. Global warming is a severe challenge confronted by human society today. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon sinks are the keys to addressing climate warming. Biochar addition is considered to be a promising way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sinks, due to its unique physical, chemical, and biological properties. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the effects of biochar on soil greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the greenhouse effect and achieve "carbon neutrality." The long-term and short-term effects of biochar on soil greenhouse gas emissions and their influencing mechanism were reviewed. It was found that the effects of biochar on soil greenhouse gas emissions varied with the types of biochar feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, application ratio, and soil and vegetable types. In addition, due to the different aging times and modes and cultivation methods, the mitigation effect of aged biochar on soil greenhouse gas could be enhanced or weakened or even disappeared. Further, based on the deficiencies of the previous research, the direction and focus of future research on the effects of biochar on soil greenhouse gas emissions were analyzed and prospected. It was proposed to strengthen simultaneous research on the effects of biochar on CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration; different aging modes and cultivation methods of biochar; and revealing the influencing mechanism at the process level, through exploring the effects of biochar on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics and tracing the source of greenhouse gases using 13C and 15N tracer technology.

[Material basis and mechanism of Curcuma longa tuberous roots with and without vinegar processing in treating primary dysmenorrhea].

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed to analyze the chemical components in Curcuma longa tuberous roots(HSYJ), C. longa tuberous roots processed with vinegar(CHSYJ), and rat serum after the administration. The active components of HSYJ and CHSYJ absorbed in serum were identified based on the secondary spectrum of database and literature. The targets of primary dysmenorrhea was screened out from database. The protein-protein interaction network analysis, gene ontology(GO) functional annotation, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed for the common targets shared by the drug active components in serum and primary dysmenorrhea, and the component-target-pathway network was constructed. AutoDock was used to conduct molecular docking between the core components and targets. A total of 44 chemical components were identified from HSYJ and CHSYJ, including 18 absorbed in serum. On the basis of network pharmacology, we identified 8 core components(including procurcumenol, isobutyl p-hydroxybenzoate, ferulic acid, and zedoarondiol) and 10 core targets \[including interleukin-6(IL-6), estrogen receptor 1(ESR1), and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2)\]. The core targets were mainly distributed in the heart, liver, uterus, and smooth muscle. The molecular docking results showed that the core components were well bound to the core targets, indicating that HSYJ and CHSYJ may exert therapeutic effect on primary dysmenorrhea via estrogen, ovarian steroidogenesis, tumor necrosis factor(TNF), hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1), IL-17 and other signaling pathways. This study clarifies the HSYJ and CHSYJ components absorbed in serum, as well as the corresponding mechanism, providing a reference for further elucidating the therapeutic material basis and clinical application of HSYJ and CHSYJ.

In-syringe dispersive solid phase filter extraction cleanup followed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for fast determination of colchicine in plasma/urine.

As an effective treatment for acute gouty arthritis and cardiovascular disease, colchicine is also a toxic alkaloid and may cause poisoning or even death in overdose. The study of colchicine elimination and the diagnosis of poisoning etiology need the rapid and accurate quantitative analysis method in biological matrix. An analytical method was developed for colchicine in plasma and urine by in-syringe dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) followed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sample extraction and protein precipitation were proceeded with acetonitrile. The extract was cleaned by in-syringe DSPE. An XBridge™ BEH C18 column（100 mm × 2.1 mm, 2.5 µm）was used to separate colchicine by gradient elution with mobile phase of 0.01% (v/v) ammonia-methanol. The amount and filling sequence of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and primary secondary amine (PSA) suitable for in-syringe DSPE were studied. Scopolamine was screened as the quantitative internal standard (IS) for colchicine analysis according to the consistency of recovery rate, chromatographic retention time and matrix effects. The limits of detection for colchicine in plasma and urine were both 0.06 ng mL-1 and the limits of quantitation were both 0.2 ng mL-1. The linear range was 0.04 - 20 ng mL-1 (Equivalent to 0.2-100 ng mL-1 in plasma or urine) with a correlation coefficient r > 0.999. By IS calibration, the average recoveries at three spiking levels in plasma and urine were 95.3-102.68% and 93.9-94.8% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 2.9-5.7% and 2.3-3.4%, respectively. The matrix effects, stability, dilution effects and carryover for determination of colchicine in plasma and urine were also evaluated. The elimination of colchicine within 72-384 h post-ingestion was studied for a poisoning patient with the doses of 1 mg d-1 for 39 days and then 3 mg d-1 for 15 days).

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of enhanced recovery after surgery among paediatric surgical nurses in China: A Cross-Sectional study.

AIM: To investigate paediatric surgical nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A 34-question survey was developed. An electronic version of the questionnaire was distributed to nurses working in paediatric surgical departments of 22 tertiary hospitals from 14 provinces of China by means of convenience sampling from February to April 2021. A total of 855 nurses' data was used as the final sample. The statistical analysis included nonparametric test, Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: There is still room for improvement regarding the KAP of paediatric surgical nurses, especially in the knowledge of "postoperative recovery" and "preoperative preparation". The influencing factors of KAP were educational level, geographical region (South, Central, North, Northwest), years of work experience, hospital category (general hospital, women and children's hospital), and familiarity with ERAS.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine Qirui Weishu capsule in treating chronic non-atrophic gastritis: A multicentre, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: QiruiWeishu capsule is an herbal preparation from a herbal formula prescribed by an experienced doctor at Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. It has been used clinically for more than 30 years. Abdominal pain, distension, and nausea are common symptoms of chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosion dampness and heat stasis syndrome, and this herbal medicine has been used to treat them. AIM OF THE STUDY: To verify the clinical efficacy and safety of QiruiWeishu capsule in the treatment of chronic non-atrophic gastritis with damp-heat stasis syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a multicenter randomized double-blind clinical trial with positive herbal drug SanjiuWeitai capsule as control and superiority test of main efficacy. A total of 477 subjects with chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosion diagnosed by gastroscopy and pathological biopsy were randomly divided into QiruiWeishu capsule and SanjiuWeitai groups respectively in a ratio of 3:1. During the trial, subjects were required to complete medication for 28 days. The primary outcome was the disappearance rate of epigastric pain from baseline to 4weeks. At baseline, treatment at 1, 2, and 4 weeks, and follow-up at 8 and 16 weeks, the epigastric pain and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores were evaluated; gastroscopy, histopathology, and the helicobacter pylori test were evaluated at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. The safety assessment included blood routine, liver and kidney function, coagulation of laboratory tests, and electrocardiogram (ECG). RESULTS: Both groups of subjects had a high level of medication adherence (defined as treatment completion for over 80%) (346/357, 96.9% in Qirui Weishu group vs 118/120, 98.3% in Sanjiu Weitai group; p > 0.05). The QiruiWeishu capsule was significantly better than SanjiuWeitai capsule in disappearance rate of epigastric pain (64.2%, 229/357vs 46.7%, 56/120; p < 0.001)，especially subgroupsubjects with moderate epigastric pain (65.0%, 89/137 vs 30.4%, 14/46; p < 0.001), grade1 erythema (67.7%, 149/220 vs 51.9%, 42/81; p = 0.011) and grade 2 erythema (57.6%, 70/121 vs37.1%, 13/35; p = 0.050) of gastroscopy, grade 2 erosion (66.7%, 118/177 vs43.9%, 25/57; p = 0.002) of gastroscopy and Helicobacter pylori negative (65.4%, 155/237 vs 42.7%, 35/82; p < 0.001) at baseline. For the scores of TCM symptoms in QiruiWeishu group were significantly lower than those in SanjiuWeitai group after 28 days of treatment (p = 0.002). The number and incidence of adverse events related to the trial drug were 14/355 (3.9%) in QiruiWeishu group, 6/118 (5.1%) in SanjiuWeitai group (p > 0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in the two groups. According to laboratory tests and ECG, there was no discernible effect on heart, liver, kidney, or blood coagulation function. CONCLUSION: Qirui Weishu capsule appears to be more effective in terms of symptoms than the SanjiuWeitai capsule, and its use is both safe and effective for the treatment of chronic non-atrophic gastritis. A further randomized, double-blind, placebo-control trial is warranted to verify its benefit.

Real-Time Tunable Dynamic Range for Calibration-Free Biomolecular Measurements with a Temperature-Modulated Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Sensor in an Unprocessed Actual Sample.

The sensing technologies for monitoring molecular analytes in biological fluids with high frequency and in real time could enable a broad range of applications in personalized healthcare and clinical diagnosis. However, due to the limited dynamic range (less than 81-fold), real-time analysis of biomolecular concentration varying over multiple orders of magnitude is a severe challenge faced by this class of analytical platforms. For the first time, we describe here that temperature-modulated electrochemical aptamer-based sensors with a dynamically adjustable calibration-free detection window could enable continuous, real-time, and accurate response for the several-hundredfold target concentration changes in unprocessed actual samples. Specifically, we could regulate the electrode surface temperature of sensors to obtain the corresponding dynamic range because of the temperature-dependent affinity variations. This temperature modulation method relies on an alternate hot and cold electrode reported by our group, whose surface could actively be heated and cooled without the need for altering ambient temperature, thus likewise applying for the flowing system. We then performed dual-frequency calibration-free measurements at different interface temperatures, thus achieving an extended detection window from 25 to 2500 µM for procaine in undiluted urine, 1-500 µM for adenosine triphosphate, and 5-2000 µM for adenosine in undiluted serum. The resulting sensor architecture could drastically expand the real-time response range accessible to these continuous, reagent-less biosensors.

Primary intratracheal neurilemmoma in a 10-year-old girl: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal tumors are relatively rare in adults and uncommon in children. Tracheal neurilemmoma is a rare condition in adults that usually affects middle-aged people, but it can also occur in children. Because the clinical presentation is nonspecific and insidious, diagnosis is often delayed. The most common symptoms in these patients are stridor or wheezing (especially positional) and cough. A few patients are misdiagnosed and mistakenly treated for asthma. CASE SUMMARY: A 10-year-old girl was admitted to our unit with a 2-mo history of recurrent cough, dyspnea, and tachypnea. Her condition was more severe after exercise. Her symptoms progressed despite treatment with inhaled fluticasone/salmeterol. Flexible electronic laryngoscopy showed a red, smooth, and round mushroom-shaped mass in the trachea, about 1 cm below the vocal cords. The surface of the mass was covered with several small and discontinuous blood vessels. About 90% of the tracheal lumen was occupied by the mass. A multidisciplinary operation was performed. The surgically resected mass was diagnosed as benign neurilemmoma by immunohistochemical analysis. CONCLUSION: Intratracheal neurilemmoma is fairly rare in children. The main symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and dyspnea. The tumor's size, location, and degree of intratracheal and extratracheal invasion can be measured by chest computed tomography. The main treatment strategies used for tracheal neurilemmoma are surgical resection and endoscopic excision. Long-term follow-up is warranted for the evaluation of outcomes and complications.

Temperature-Alternated Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Biosensor for Calibration-Free and Sensitive Molecular Measurements in an Unprocessed Actual Sample.

Frequently calibrating electrochemical biosensors (ECBs) to obtain acceptable accuracy can be cumbersome for the users. Thus, the achievement of calibration-free operation would effectively lead to commercial applications for ECBs in the real world. Herein, we fabricated a temperature-alternated electrochemical aptamer-based (TAEAB) sensor, producing a cycle of "enhanced-responsive and ∼nonresponsive" state at rapidly alternated interface temperatures (5 and 30 °C, respectively). The ratio of peak currents collected at two temperatures overcomes sensor-to-sensor fabrication variations, obviating sensor calibration prior to use due to its good reproducibility. We then demonstrated the capability of TAEAB sensors for improved, sensitive, and calibration-free measurement of different targets within 7 min, which respectively achieved a detection limit of 0.5 µM procaine in undiluted urine and 1.0 µM adenosine triphosphate in undiluted serum. This generalizable approach ameliorates sensitivity without the complicated amplification step, thus simplifying the operation procedure and reducing the detection time, which will effectively improve the clinical utility of biosensors.

MiR-193a-3p inhibits pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell proliferation by targeting CCND1.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) could modulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by promoting mRNA degradation or blocking mRNA translation, thus affecting the occurrence and development of cancer. Methods: In this work, qRT-PCR was conducted to detect the expression of miR-193a-3p and CCND1. The ability of cell proliferation was evaluated via CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were detected by flow cytometry. Bioinformatic techniques were employed to research the regulatory relationship between miR-193a-3p and target genes. The relationship between miR-193a-3p and CCND1 was verified via dual-luciferase reporter assays. Results: MiR-193a-3p expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissue was significantly lower than in non-cancerous tissue. After overexpressing miR-193a-3p in PDAC cells, their multiplication ability was significantly inhibited, apoptosis was accelerated, and the cell cycle was blocked in the G1 and G2/M phases. CCND1 was confirmed to have a targeted relationship with miR-193a-3p. Moreover, CCND1 expression was significantly lower in PDAC cells with an overexpression of miR-193a-3p. Conclusions: MiR-193a-3p targeted CCND1 to suppress tumor growth in PDAC cells. MiR-193a-3p may function as a tumor inhibitor in PDAC development, which could offer a promising therapeutic and prognostic strategy for PDAC treatment.

Biological Effect and Mechanism of the miR-23b-3p/ANXA2 Axis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Accumulating evidence strongly suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) modulate the expression of known tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes. In the present study, we found that the proliferation and invasion ability of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells were significantly suppressed by the overexpression of miR-23b-3p. In addition, there are miR-23b-3p binding sites in annexin A2 (ANXA2). Here, we investigated whether miR-23b-3p had an impact on the progression and metastasis of PDAC by targeting ANXA2. METHODS: Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and cell cycle assays were performed to explore the effect of miR-23b-3p on various malignant phenotypes of pancreatic cancer cells. The size of tumors was observed following miR-23b-3p overexpression in an in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Dual-luciferase reporter, quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemical analyses were used to validate the relationship between miR-23b-3p and ANXA2 in vitro. RESULTS: We observed that miR-23b-3p could bind specifically to the 3' untranslated region of ANXA2 and inhibit its expression. MiR-23b-3p overexpression downregulated the expression of ANXA2 mRNA in PDAC cells and limited the size of tumors or even prevented tumor formation. In addition, there was a negative correlation between miR-23b-3p expression and ANXA2 protein expression in clinical specimens. CONCLUSION: MiR-23b-3p inhibits the development and progression of PDAC by regulating ANXA2 directly.

Necrotizing pneumonia caused by refractory Mycoplasma pneumonia pneumonia in children.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical features of necrotizing pneumonia (NP) caused by refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP). METHODS: A retrospective observational study was carried out in patients with NP caused by RMPP who were admitted to our hospital from January 2008 to December 2015, and the clinical manifestations, laboratory data, imaging performances, hospital courses and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with NP caused by RMPP were collected, with a median age of 5.1 (4.0-7.9) years. The mean duration of fever and hospital stay was 21.0 ± 8.9 and 19.9 ± 9.9 days, respectively. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and interferon-gamma were elevated. Meanwhile, the pleural fluid cell count, LDH and protein were also increased. 80.0% of the patients had pleural effusion; and a high incidence of lobar atelectasis and pulmonary consolidation was found the patients. The mean duration from the onset of symptoms to the discovery of necrotic lesions was 21.0 ± 6.9 days. 80.0% of the patients were administrated corticosteroids, and bronchoalveolar lavage was extracted separately from all patients. Of the 20 patients who presented with pleural effusion, 11 underwent thoracocentesis alone and 2 underwent chest drainage. All patients received prolonged courses of antibiotics (32.2 ± 8.7 days). All patients were dischaged home and recovered without surgical intervention; and chest lesions were resolved or only minimal residual fibrotic changes were residual within 3.0 (2.0-6.0) months. CONCLUSIONS: Necrotizing pneumonia caused by RMPP is severe, however, self-limiting and reversible. Good outcomes can be achieved with appropriate management.

Clinical implication of UCA1 in non-small cell lung cancer and its effect on caspase-3/7 activation and apoptosis induction in vitro.

Since urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) was discovered in human bladder cancer, it has been reported to be dysregulated expressed in various kinds of solid tumors. But the clinical role and the function of UCA1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains incompletely understood. In this study, we mined the data of UCA1 expression in NSCLC from Oncomine, Gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) and cBioPortal to analyze the contribution of UCA1 in the cancer initiation and progression of NSCLC. We also performed a series of in vitro experiments by using NSCLC cells to confirm the biological function of UCA1 in NSCLC, especially its effect on caspase-3/7 activity and apoptosis through RNA interference experiment. From Oncomine, the UCA1 levels were both up-regulated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC), as compared to non-cancerous controls. Higher levels of UCA1 pointed to a poorer overall survival in NSCLC, with the HR being 1.3. Only two genetic alterations, including amplification and deep deletion, were observed for UCA1 as provided by cBioPortal. Both MTS and Cell Titer-blue assays showed an accordant inhibitory effect of UCA1 siRNAs on the cell growth. In conclusion, lncRNA UCA1 might play a substantial role in the occurrence and development of NSCLC, especially in LUAD patients, which is partly due to its effect on caspase-3/7 activity suppression.

Comparison of temporary abdominal aortic occlusion with internal iliac artery occlusion for patients with placenta accreta - a non-randomised prospective study.

BACKGROUND: To compare the efficacy of temporary abdominal aortic occlusion with internal iliac artery occlusion for the management of placenta accreta. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 105 patients with placenta accreta were selected for treatment with temporary abdominal aortic occlusion (n = 57, group A) or bilateral iliac artery occlusion (n = 48, group B). Temporary abdominal aortic and internal iliac artery balloon occlusions were performed during caesarean sections. Data regarding the clinical success, blood loss, blood transfusion, balloon insertion time, fluoroscopy time, balloon occlusion time, foetal radiation dose, and complications were collected. RESULTS: Temporary abdominal aortic occlusion and bilateral internal iliac artery occlusion were technically successful in all patients. The amount of blood loss (P < 0.001), amount of blood transfusion (P < 0.001), balloon insertion time (P < 0.001), foetal radiation dose (P < 0.001) and fluoroscopy time (P < 0.01) in group A were significantly lower than those of patients in group B. No marked differences were found between these 2 groups with respect to age, mean postoperative hospital stay, balloon occlusion time, and Apgar score (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Temporary abdominal aortic balloon occlusion resulted in better clinical outcomes with less blood loss, blood transfusion, balloon insertion time, fluoroscopy time and foetal radiation dose than those in bilateral internal iliac balloon occlusion.
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Serum cytokine profile contributes to discriminating M. pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of serum cytokines in discriminating M. pneumoniae infection in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted. 385 hospitalized patients with CAP had only M. pneumoniae (MP group) infection; 321 hospitalized patients with CAP had no M. pneumoniae and other specific pathogen (control group) infections. Serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In children younger than 5years, serum IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels from MP group were significantly higher than those from control group. However in children 5-15years, serum IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ levels from MP group were significantly higher than those from control group. In the final multivariate logistic regression model for serum cytokine, moderately elevated IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ shows a higher prediction of development of M. pneumoniae pneumonia among CAP patients. CONCLUSIONS: A specific cytokine pattern showed a higher prediction of M. pneumoniae pneumonia among CAP patients, further suggesting that serum cytokine pattern might be useful in differentiating infectious causative agents in children.

Activation of γ-aminobutyric Acid (A) Receptor Protects Hippocampus from Intense Exercise-induced Synapses Damage and Apoptosis in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study has confirmed that one bout of exhaustion (Ex) can cause hippocampus neurocyte damage, excessive apoptosis, and dysfunction. Its initial reason is intracellular calcium overload in hippocampus triggered by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) over-activation. NMDAR activation can be suppressed by γ-aminobutyric acid (A) receptor (GABAAR). Whether GABAAR can prevent intense exercise-induced hippocampus apoptosis, damage, or dysfunction will be studied in this study. METHODS: According to dose test, rats were randomly divided into control (Con), Ex, muscimol (MUS, 0.1 mg/kg) and bicuculline (BIC, 0.5 mg/kg) groups, then all rats underwent once swimming Ex except ones in Con group only underwent training. Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured by Fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester; glial librillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (SYP) immunofluorescence were also performed; apoptosis were displayed by dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) stain; endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis pathway was detected by Western blotting analysis; Morris water maze was used to detect learning ability and spatial memory. RESULTS: The appropriate dose was 0.1 mg/kg for MUS and 0.5 mg/kg for BIC. Ex group showed significantly increased [Ca2+]i and astrogliosis; TUNEL positive cells and levels of GFAP, B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) associated X protein (Bax), caspase-3, caspase-12 cleavage, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), and p-Jun amino-terminal kinase (p-JNK) in Ex group also raised significantly compared to Con group, while SYP, synapse plasticity, and Bcl-2 levels in Ex group were significantly lower than those in Con group. These indexes were back to normal in MUS group. BIC group had the highest levels of [Ca2+]i, astrogliosis, TUNEL positive cell, GFAP, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-12 cleavage, CHOP, and p-JNK, it also gained the lowest SYP, synapse plasticity, and Bcl-2 levels among all groups. Water maze test showed that Ex group had longer escape latency (EL) and less quadrant dwell time than Con group; all indexes between MUS and Con groups had no significant differences; BIC had the longest EL and least quadrant dwell time among all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of GABAA R could prevent intense exercise-induced synapses damage, excessive apoptosis, and dysfunction of hippocampus.

Increased T cell activation in BALF from children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The mechanisms of Mycoplasma pneumoniae induced lung inflammation are not clearly understood yet. This study investigated whether activated T cells in the airway contributed to the pulmonary inflammation in patients with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). METHODS: BALF were collected in all 45 patients with MPP (MPP, n = 45), including mild (Mild, n = 20) and severe (Severe, n = 25) group. BALF in 20 of all 25 severe cases with MPP at the recovery stage (Rec-severe, n = 20) were collected again. The control group consisted of 20 patients with airway foreign body aspiration (Con., n = 20). CD3+ T cells, CD69+, HLA-DR+, CD25+ on CD3+ T cells in BALF were determined by flow cytometry. Levels of IL-6, IL-10 in BALF were determined by ELISA, and percentage of neutrophils was counted. RESULTS: A significant increased percentage of neutrophils and levels of IL-6 and IL-10, decreased percentage of CD3+ T cells, increased expressions of CD69+, HLA-DR+ or CD25+ on CD3+ T cells were observed in children with MPP compared with the control group (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Compared to mild group, the percentage of neutrophils, CD3+ CD25+, IL-6, and IL-10 were increased in children with severe MPP (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Compared to acute stage, an increased percentage of CD3+ T cells, decreased percentage of neutrophils and IL-6 level, and expressions of CD3+ CD69+ or CD3+ CD25+ were observed at the recovery stage in children with severe MPP (P < 0.01 or 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased activation of T cell in BALF may play an important role in the inflammatory response of acute and severe MPP. IL-6 may predict the severity and prognosis and provide a better assessment for patient care. However, the underlying mechanism awaits further detailed investigations.

Nucleostemin and ASPP2 expression is correlated with pituitary adenoma proliferation.

Nucleostemin is a GTP-conjugated protein located in the nucleoli of stem cells and certain cancer cells, and maintains cellular self-renewal. The present study aimed to evaluate nucleostemin as a potential target for pituitary adenoma gene therapy by investigating nucleostemin and apoptosis-stimulating of p53 protein 2 (ASPP2) expression and their effect on pituitary adenoma cell proliferation. A total of 71 samples of pituitary adenomas were collected. Semi-quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of nucleostemin and ASPP2 mRNA in the samples. Immunochemistry techniques were used to examine Ki-67 expression in the paraffin section of the samples. Coherent clinical data were also collected. Nucleostemin and ASPP2 were detectable in all the pituitary adenoma samples. Significant differences were observed in nucleostemin and ASPP2 expression between invasive pituitary adenoma and non-invasive pituitary adenomas (P<0.01) and the Ki-67 labeling index (LI; P>0.05). The difference in the Ki-67 LI between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups was significant (P<0.05). There was positive correlation between nucleostemin gene expression and the Ki-67 LI levels (P<0.05). The correlation between ASPP2 expression and the Ki-67 LI was negative (P<0.05). Negative correlation was demonstrated between nucleostemin and ASPP2 expression (P<0.01). The nucleostemin and ASPP2 genes were expressed in the human pituitary adenoma tissues. The differences in the expression of nucleostemin, ASPP2 and Ki-67 in the various pathological types of pituitary adenomas represented differences in molecular biological character and were associated with invasion. In the pituitary adenomas, the expression of nucleostemin and ASPP2 was correlated with tumor proliferation. Nucleostemin, ASPP2 and Ki-67 may serve as valid clinical detection markers for the invasion of pituitary adenomas.

Clinical characteristics of adenovirus associated lower respiratory tract infection in children.

BACKGROUND: Acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRI) due to adenovirus infection is a low frequency event but often causes severe outcome. This study was undertaken to uncover the clinical and epidemiological features of adenovirus infection in children. METHODS: Hospitalized children with ALRI were analyzed through continuous monitoring from 2006 to 2012. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined by direct immunofluorescence to detect respiratory agents including respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza virus types A/B, parainfluenza virus types 1/2/3. Chlamydia pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumonia and Chlamydia trachomatis were determined by real-time PCR. A retrospective analysis was made of 479 patients with positive infection of adenovirus. RESULTS: The positive detection rate of adenovirus was 0.63% in patients with ALRI. The incidence rate of adenovirus-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection peaked at the second six months of life. The morbidity was much higher in winter, spring and summer than in autumn. Patients with pneumonia accounted for 73.90% of the patients. More than one-third of the patients developed severe pneumonia, whereas no death was found. Features of severe adenovirus-associated lower respiratory tract infection included persistent high fever with serious infective symptoms, and hepatic dysfunction was one of the most common complications. Mixed infection of atypical pathogens was common (18.58%) in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Adenovirus is a critical pathogen that can cause severe respiratory infections even in immunocompetent children. Coinfection of adenovirus with atypical pathogens is common. Antibiotic treatment with azithromycin or erythromycin is necessary in patients with mixed infection of atypical pathogens.

Value of frozen section examination in diagnosis and treatment of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

BACKGROUND: Invasive cancer of the cervix is considered a preventable disease because it has a long pre-invasive state, cervical cytology screening programs are currently available, and treatment of pre-invasive lesions is effective. We tested the accuracy of frozen section examination (FSE) of cone specimens to identify the endocervical margin and rule out invasion in patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). METHODS: For 320 consecutive patients with a preoperative biopsy result of CIN stage 2/3, cold-knife conization (CKC) was performed followed by FSE. The results from analyses of permanent paraffin sections (PS) were compared with the FSE findings. RESULTS: The accuracy of FSE was 87% (278/320). For all of the seven patients with an invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix identified by FSE, the diagnosis was confirmed by PS analysis. For one patient, the FSE result was cervicitis, whereas PS analysis showed microinvasive carcinoma. Appropriate surgery was performed for all patients based on the FSE and biopsy results. The FSE and PS results were not significantly different (P = 0.000). Definitive examination of margin status using PS was concordant with FSE findings in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: FSE is a rapid and reliable method for evaluating CKC specimens. It can identify frank invasion, permit adequate treatment in a one-stage procedure, and reliably detect clear resection margins. Since discrepancies do exist and may result in inappropriate treatment, further research is required to decrease these discrepancies and avoid missing even one case.