The "5Ts" screening tool: Enhancements and threshold values for effective TMD identification.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to enhance the quintessential "five temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms" (5Ts) screener by incorporating frequency options and distinguishing between TMJ and muscle pain. The diagnostic accuracy along with cut-off points for the effective identification of TMDs was also established. METHODS: Participants, aged ≥18 years, were recruited from a university-based hospital. After completing surveys encompassing demographic data and the enhanced 5Ts (with frequency options [5Ts-F] and differentiation of TMJ/muscle pain [6Ts-F]), protocolized interviews and clinical examinations were performed following DC/TMD. The diagnostic accuracy and best cut-off points were determined with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs). RESULTS: 324 participants were recruited (mean age 30.0 ± 11.4 years). Among these, 86.4% had TMDs. 5Ts exhibited high diagnostic accuracy for detecting all TMDs (AUC = 0.92) with sensitivity/specificity values of 83.9%/88.6%. Both 5Ts-F and 6Ts-F had slightly better accuracy (AUCs = 0.95/0.96), comparable sensitivity, and superior specificity (97.7%) compared to 5Ts. The best cut-off points were 1.5 for 5Ts and 2.5 for 5Ts-F/6Ts-F. CONCLUSIONS: Although all three TMD screeners presented high diagnostic accuracy, 5Ts-F/6Ts-F had notably improved specificity. 5Ts scores of >1.5 and 5Ts-F/6Ts-F scores of >2.5 are to be applied for screening the presence of TMDs.

[Multicenter real world study on the efficacy and safety of eribulin for the treatment of advanced breast cancer].

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of real-world eribulin in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Methods: From December 2019 to December 2020, patients with advanced breast cancer were selected from Beijing Chaoyang District Sanhuan Cancer Hospital, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Baotou Cancer Hospital, Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University, and Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test were used for survival analysis, and Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) of 77 patients was 5 months, the objective response rate (ORR) was 33.8%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 71.4%. The ORR of patients with triple-negative breast cancer was 23.1%, and the DCR was 57.7%; the ORR of patients with Luminal breast cancer was 40.0%, and the DCR was 77.8%; the ORR of patients with HER-2 overexpression breast cancer was 33.3%, and the DCR was 83.3%. ORR of 50.0% and DCR of 66.7% for patients treated with eribulin as first to second line treatment, ORR of 29.4% and DCR of 76.5% for patients treated with third to fourth line and ORR of 28.6% and DCR of 71.4% for patients treated with five to eleven line. The ORR of patients in the eribulin monotherapy group was 40.0% and the DCR was 66.0%; the ORR of patients in the combination chemotherapy or targeted therapy group was 22.2% and the DCR was 81.5%. Patients with a history of treatment with paclitaxel, docetaxel, or albumin paclitaxel during the adjuvant phase or after recurrent metastasis had an ORR of 32.9% and a DCR of 69.9% when treated with eribulin. The treatment efficacy is an independent prognostic factor affecting patient survival (P<0.001). The main adverse reactions in the whole group of patients were Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ neutrophil decline [29.9% (23/77)], and other adverse reactions were Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ fatigue [5.2% (4/77)], Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ peripheral nerve abnormality [2.6% (2/77)] and Grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ alopecia [2.6% (2/77)]. Conclusions: Eribulin still has good antitumor activity against various molecular subtypes of breast cancer and advanced breast cancer that has failed multiple lines of chemotherapy, and the adverse effects can be controlled, so it has a good clinical application value.

[The influence of sacroiliac joint reduction quality on the clinical effect of bionic reduction and internal fixation for pelvic ring injury].

Objective: To examine the influence of sacroiliac joint reduction quality on the clinical effect of bionic reduction and internal fixation for pelvic ring injury. Methods: From January 2014 to February 2019,the clinical data of 78 patients diagnosed with pelvic ring injury involving sacroiliac joints and treated with bionic reduction and internal fixation at Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University were retrospectively analyzed.There were 48 males and 30 females,aged (48.3±8.3)years (range:28 to 68 years).After bionic reduction and internal fixation,the patients were grouped according to the maximum displacement distance (d) of sacroiliac joint residual on the damaged side measured by CT examination. Patients with d≤5 mm were included in anatomical bionic reduction group,and patients with d>5 mm were included in non-anatomical bionic reduction group.In non-anatomical bionic reduction group,according to the direction of residual displacement,the patients were divided into separation displacement group and anterior-posterior displacement group. The X-ray examination was performed immediately and at the last follow-up after operation.If sacroiliac joint was relocated,or internal plant loosening,displacement,fracture and re-displacement of fracture,it was defined as internal fixation failure.Majeed pelvic fracture scoring system was used to evaluate the postoperative functional status of the two groups,and visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the postoperative pain.Comparison between groups was performed by completely random design ANOVA,χ2 test,Fisher's exact test,Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: According to the CT examination,28 cases were included in anatomical bionic reduction group,and 50 cases were included in non-anatomical bionic reduction group.In non-anatomical bionic reduction group,27 cases were divided into separation displacement group and 23 cases were in anterior-posterior displacement group.There was no significant difference in general data among anatomical bionic reduction group,separation displacement group and anterior-posterior displacement group (P>0.05). The follow-up time was (37.8±6.6) months (range:25 to 51 months). At the last follow up,the excellent and good rate of Majeed score in anatomical bionic reduction group was 96.4%(27/28),which was better than that in separation displacement group(74.1%(20/27)) and anterior-posterior displacement group (30.4%(7/23)),the difference was statistically significant (Z=-6.479,P<0.01;Z=-6.256,P<0.01); and the good rate of the separation displacement group was better than that of the anterior-posterior displacement group(Z=-3.607,P<0.01).The VAS of anatomical bionic reduction group (17 cases with 0 point, 11 cases with 1 to 3 points) were lower than that of the displacement group (6 cases with 0 point,16 cases with 1 to 3 points,5 cases with 4 to 6 points) and anterior-posterior displacement group (3 cases with 0 point,7 cases with 1 to 3 points,13 cases with 4 to 6 points),the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.515,P<0.01;Z=-3.506,P<0.01),and there was no difference between separation displacement group and anterior-posterior displacement group.Total of 8 cases of internal fixation failure occurred,and the failure rate of anatomical bionic reduction group (0,0/28) was lower than that of the separation displacement group (11.1%,3/27) and anterior-posterior displacement group (21.7%,5/23) (P=0.111,P=0.014),and there was no difference between separation displacement group and anterior-posterior displacement group(P=0.444). Conclusions: In the bionic reduction and internal fixation of pelvic fracture involving sacroiliac joint injury,the functional status,pain and internal fixation failure rate of patients with anatomical bionic reduction of sacroiliac joint are significantly better than those in the non-anatomical bionic reduction.The functional recovery of patients with separation displacement is better than that of the patients with anterior and posterior displacement.

[Expression of SQSTM1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its influence on invasion, migration and proliferation of papillary thyroid cancer cells].

Objective: To investigate the expression of SQSTM1 in thyroid papillary carcinoma and its influence on the invasion and migration of thyroid papillary carcinoma cells TPC-1. Methods: From April to June 2019, cancer tissues and adjacent tissues of 21 cases with thyroid papillary carcinoma in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were collected, and the expression of SQSTM1 was detected by RT-qPCR. SQSTM1 knockdown cell line SQSTM1-KD-TPC-1 was constructed in TPC-1 cells by lentivirus transfection. RT-qPCR was used to detect SQSTM1 expression in TPC-1 cells and SQSTM1-KD-TPC-1 cells. The changes of invasion and migration before and after SQSTM1 knockdown in TPC-1 cells were detected by transwell test. The proliferation of TPC-1 and SQSTM1-KD-TPC-1 cells were detected by MTT and clone formation test. RT-qPCR was used to detect the gene expression of proliferation related proteins. Results: The expression of SQSTM1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal adjacent tissues, and 76.2%(16/21) of the petients showed high mRNA expression. Knock down SQSTM1 significantly inhibited the ability of tumor proliferation, invasion and migration, and the expression of proliferation-related proteins were significantly decreased (P<0.01), indicating that SQSTM1 was involved in the regulation of proliferation related pathway mechanism. Conclusion: SQSTM1 significantly promotes invasion, migration and proliferation in thyroid papillary cancer cells TPC-1 and may be a potential gene therapy target.

Graphene gas sensing using a non-contact microwave method.

We report a non-contact CVD graphene gas sensing method that utilises a high Q microwave dielectric resonator perturbation technique. A graphene sample is coupled to the evanescent field of a dielectric resonator whereupon nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a p-doping gas, is detected by monitoring the change in the linewidth and frequency of the resonant mode. The resonant peak shape is dependent on the number of carriers in the graphene sheet. Therefore, the linewidth perturbation can be converted to a measurement of the graphene sheet resistance. To demonstrate the strength of this technique, sensor response curves for NO2 at different concentrations and temperatures are measured showing sub ppm sensitivity. This technique eliminates interactions between the trace gas and metal contacts that otherwise effect the sensor response of the graphene device.

Development and validation of an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometric method for determination of phenylethyl resorcinol in new topical nanoemulsions.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a rapid, simple and efficient ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometric method for the quantification of phenylethyl resorcinol (PR), a potent skin-lightening agent, incorporated into new topical nanoemulsions, and to validate this method according to International Commission for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. METHODS: UV-vis spectrophotometric method for quantification of PR in new topical nanoemulsions was developed and validated in terms of specificity, linearity, sensitivity, precision and accuracy. The method was applied to determine PR content (extraction recoveries) in the nanoemulsions and entrapment efficiencies. RESULTS: The calibration curve for PR was linear in the range of 10-60 µg mL-1 , with a determination coefficient (r2 ) which is higher than 0.999. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 1.55 and 4.69 µg mL-1 , respectively. The method was shown to be specific, precise [intraday, interday and reproducibility levels relative standard deviation < 3%] and accurate (between 91.90 ± 1.28% and 104.73 ± 0.60%). The extraction recoveries of PR in nanoemulsions were 97.07%, 96.64% and 103.54% at concentrations of 3, 6 and 9 mg mL-1 , respectively. The entrapment efficiencies were nearly 100%, which agrees with the oil core location of PR in nanoemulsions. CONCLUSION: This developed method was confirmed to be rapid, simple, cost-effective, specific, precise, accurate and suitable for determination of PR content in nanoemulsions and entrapment efficiencies.

Emerging of canine kobuvirus in dogs in China, 2015.

Canine kobuvirus (CaKoV) is a newly emerging virus in dogs, which relates to the diarrhea of dogs. To investigate the CaKoV infection in dog population, fecal samples of dogs were collected from three provinces of China in 2015. The results of genetic analysis based on the complete VP1 gene showed that six CaKoVs isolates in this study were closely related with the Chinese canine originated isolate CH1 (90.6%-91.9% nucleotide identities). The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the Chinese isolates clustered into a unique branch compared with isolates from other countries. The present study suggested that the CaKoVs had established infection in Chinese dog population. The systematic epidemiological investigation should be further carried out to evaluate the prevalence of the CaKoV infection in China.

Application of Finite Element Method in Traffic Injury and Its Prospect in Forensic Science.

The finite element method （FEM） is a numerical computation method based on computer technology, and has been gradually applied in the fields of medicine and biomechanics. The finite element analysis can be used to explore the loading process and injury mechanism of human body in traffic injury. FEM is also helpful for the forensic investigation in traffic injury. This paper reviews the development of the finite element models and analysis of brain, cervical spine, chest and abdomen, pelvis, limbs at home and aboard in traffic injury in recent years.

Detection of serum anti-melanocyte antibodies and identification of related antigens in patients with vitiligo.

We detected autoantibodies against melanocytes in serum samples obtained from 50 patients, including 4 with HBV, with vitiligo and identified the associated membrane antigens. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and anti-tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1) antibody levels were analyzed. The associated antigens in normal human melanocyte were identified by immunofluorescence. Autoantibodies against melanocyte membrane and cytoplasmic proteins were detected by western blot. Membrane antigens with higher frequencies were identified by protein mass spectrometry. The HSP70 and anti-TRP-1 antibody levels (N = 70; 10 with HBV) were detected by ELISA. The specific antigens were detected in melanocyte cytoplasm and membrane (40/50; 80% incidence; western blot). The autoantibodies reacted with several membrane antigens with approximate molecular weights (Mr) of 86,000, 75,000, 60,000, 52,000, and 44,000 (strip positive rates: 36, 58, 22, 2, and 2%, respectively). Thirty percent of the patients showed the presence of cytoplasmic antigens (Mr: 110,000, 90,000, 75,000, 50,000, and 400,000; strip positive rates: 12, 4, 12, 10, and 2%, respectively). Fifteen and 5% of the healthy subjects showed positive expression of membrane and cytoplasmic antigens, respectively. Protein mass spectrometry predicted membrane proteins with Mr of 86,000 and 75,000 and 60,000 to be Lamin A /C and Vimentin X1, respective. High titers of anti-TRP-1 antibody were detected and showed positive correlation with HSP70 (r = 0. 927, P < 0. 01). This study identified a novel membrane antigen associated with vitiligo, which might assist future investigations into autoimmune pathogenesis of vitiligo and formation of autoantibodies. HBV infection was correlated to vitiligo.

Author Correction: A bibliometric analysis and visualization of retinopathy of prematurity from 2001 to 2021.

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2024; 28 (2): 477-501-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202401_35047-PMID: 38305595, published online on January 31, 2024. After publication, the authors have found a mistake in the affiliation No. 1. Affiliation No. 1 has been corrected as follows: The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/35047.

A bibliometric analysis and visualization of retinopathy of prematurity from 2001 to 2021.

OBJECTIVE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disease with the potential to cause blindness, primarily affecting premature infants with low birth weight. This study analyzed the etiology, primary location, and research advances in ROP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used bibliometric techniques and searched the Web of Science Core Collection for "retinopathy of prematurity." We found 4,018 original articles and reviews with 69,819 references. We analyzed the data using HistCite (12.03.17), VOSviewer (1.6.16), CiteSpace (6.1. R5), and the Bibliometrix Package (4.1.0). RESULTS: The amount of literature in this area has increased between 2001-2021. An analysis of references and journal co-citations highlights this field's most influential articles and related topics. Hellström, from the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), is the most prolific researcher; Harvard University is the most prolific research institution, and the USA is the most productive country. "Threshold ROP" and "cryotherapy" are the keywords with the highest burst strength. The future research hotspots are artificial intelligence, zone II, ROP development, ranibizumab, and type 1 retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: This article offers a comprehensive review of the present status of ROP research, along with insights into emerging concepts and potential international collaborations in this field.

[Establishment and efficiency test of a clinical prediction model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia associated pulmonary hypertension in very premature infants].

Objective: To develop a risk prediction model for identifying bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) associated pulmonary hypertension (PH) in very premature infants. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. The clinical data of 626 very premature infants whose gestational age <32 weeks and who suffered from BPD were collected from October 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2021 of the Seventh Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital as a modeling set. The clinical data of 229 very premature infants with BPD of Hunan Children's Hospital from January 1 st, 2020 to December 31st, 2021 were collected as a validation set for external verification. The very premature infants with BPD were divided into PH group and non PH group based on the echocardiogram after 36 weeks' corrected age in the modeling set and validation set, respectively. Univariate analysis was used to compare the basic clinical characteristics between groups, and collinearity exclusion was carried out between variables. The risk factors of BPD associated PH were further screened out by multivariate Logistic regression, and the risk assessment model was established based on these variables. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under curve (AUC) and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to evaluate the model's discrimination and calibration power, respectively. And the calibration curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of the model and draw the nomogram. The bootstrap repeated sampling method was used for internal verification. Finally, decision curve analysis (DCA) to evaluate the clinical practicability of the model was used. Results: A total of 626 very premature infants with BPD were included for modeling set, including 85 very premature infants in the PH group and 541 very premature infants in the non PH group. A total of 229 very premature infants with BPD were included for validation set, including 24 very premature infants in the PH group and 205 very premature infants in the non PH group. Univariate analysis of the modeling set found that 22 variables, such as artificial conception, fetal distress, gestational age, birth weight, small for gestational age, 1 minute Apgar score ≤7, antenatal corticosteroids, placental abruption, oligohydramnios, multiple pulmonary surfactant, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS)>stage Ⅱ, early pulmonary hypertension, moderate-severe BPD, and hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) all had statistically significant influence between the PH group and the non PH group (all P<0.05). Antenatal corticosteroids, fetal distress, NRDS >stage Ⅱ, hsPDA, pneumonia and days of invasive mechanical ventilation were identified as predictive variables and finally included to establish the Logistic regression model. The AUC of this model was 0.86 (95%CI 0.82-0.90), the cut-off value was 0.17, the sensitivity was 0.77, and the specificity was 0.84. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed that P>0.05. The AUC for external validation was 0.88, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test suggested P>0.05. Conclusions: A high sensitivity and specificity risk prediction model of PBD associated PH in very premature infants was established. This predictive model is useful for early clinical identification of infants at high risk of BPD associated PH.

Characterization and luminescence of Eu3+ ions doped 12CaO 7Al2O3 nanopowders.

Eu3+ ions doped 12CaO 7Al2O3 (C12A7) powders with different Eu3+ concentrations were prepared by sol-gel combined with solid state reaction method. The results of XRD and Raman spectra showed that single cubic phase polycrystalline C12A7:Eu3+ powders were prepared. The absorption peaks attributed to f-f transition of Eu3+ ion can be observed, indicating that Eu3+ had been incorporated into C12A7 lattice site. Visible PL peaks around 578, 588, 614 nm were ascribed to 5D0 --> 7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2) transitions of Eu3+ under the excitation of 488 nm line. The PL of C12A7:Eu3+ showed the strongest emission intensity at Eu3+ concentration of 0.5 at%. Two different types of Eu3+ centers were identified by the two lines from 5D0 --> 7F0 transition emission. The doping mechanism of C12A7:Eu3+ might be attributed to Eu3+ ions substitution for two types of Ca2+ lattice sites in C12A7. The temperature dependent PL spectra of Eu-doped C12A7 were measured in the range from 100 to 300 K under the excitation of 488 nm laser line. The PL intensities as a function of temperature were well fitted by using a unified theoretical model, considering thermal activation and nonradiative energy transfer processes.

Luminescence and energy transfer characteristics of Ce3+- and Tb3+-codoped nanoporous 12CaO 7Al2O3 phosphors.

The novel green-emitting phosphors of 12CaO 7Al2O3:Ce3+ , Tb3+ (C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+) were synthesized by a solid-state reaction. Upon the excitation of Ce3+ at 350 nm, the C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor shows intense green emissions located at 543 nm assigning to 5D4-7F5 transitions of Tb3+ ions, and weak blue emissions centered at 434 nm due to the transitions of Ce3+ 5d-4f. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of Ce3+ decrease with increasing Tb3+ concentration, indicating the effective energy transfer (ET) occurred from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+. The ET efficiency between Ce3+ and Tb3+ in the optimum composition reaches to 99%. Based on Dexter's ET theory, we have demonstrated that the efficient ET is a resonant type via dipole-dipole mechanism with an energy transfer critical distance of 4.02 A. Our results suggested that C12A7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor would be a promising green-emitting phosphor for UV-converting white light-emitting diodes.

The effects of Mn2+ doping on the luminescence properties of 12CaO 7Al2O:Eu2+ nanocrystal phosphor.

The long lasting blue phosphorescence (LLP) and photostimulated luminescence (PSL) after ultraviolet light irradiation at room temperature in 12CaO 7Al2O3:xEu2+, yMn2+ (x = 0, 0.001; y = 0, 0.01) prepared by the chemical co-precipitation method were observed. It was shown that novel oxide 12CaO 7Al2O3:Eu2+, Mn2+ (C12A7:Eu2+, Mn2+) with unique nanocage structure can store energy when irradiated with 365 nm photons. And photon energy can be subsequently released by exposed to 980 nm light. The codopant Mn2+ enhances the intensity of the persistent phosphorescence and PSL due to the existence of more shallow and new deeper electron traps in C12A7: Eu2+, Mn2+. A model for energy storing and recovering and the detailed mechanism of PSL are presented through comparing with the luminescence properties of the co-doped C12A7:Eu2+, Mn2+ and C12A7:Eu2+.

[Study on Cep63 expression and apoptosis of thyroid papillary carcinoma cell lines TPC-1].

Objective: To investigate the effect of centrosomal protein Cep63 on the apoptosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cell lines TPC-1 and underlying mechanism. Methods: With collected PTC tissues and adjacent tissues, Cep63 expression was detected by RT-qPCR and its relationship with clinicopathological factors was analyzed. The experiment included negative control group (NC), low expression group (Cep63(-)) and overexpression group (Cep63(+)), and wild-type TPC-1 cells were transfected with Cep63 lentivirus. The efficiency of Cep63 was detected by western blot (WB) and qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation ability was detected by plate cloning experiment and MTT assay. Cell apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry, and expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry and WB. The t-test was used to compare the differences in the means between the two groups, the one-way analysis of variance was used to compare multiple groups, and the chi-square test was used to analyze the association between gene expression levels and pathological factors. Results: Compared with NC group, cell proliferation ability was significantly decreased in Cep63(-) group (3.18±0.07 vs. 2.14±0.09, t=8.54, P<0.01) and significantly increased in Cep63(+) group (3.18±0.07 vs. 3.58±0.10, t=3.21, P<0.05). Apoptotic rates in NC, Cep63 (-) and Cep63 (+) groups were respectively 3.03%±0.24%, 8.66%±0.44% and 1.17%±0.44%, and the flow cytometry showed that the low expression of Cep63 significantly increased the apoptosis TPC-1 cells (F=157.7, P<0.001). Bcl-2 protein expression levels of NC, Cep63 (-) and Cep63 (+) groups were respectively 1.07±0.03, 0.49±0.01 and 1.99±0.09, and BAX protein expression levels of three groups were respectively 0.64±0.02, 1.06±0.01 and 0.21±0.03. WB showed that the expression level of Bcl-2 decreased (F=183.2, P<0.001), while the expression level of BAX was significantly up-regulated (F=283.7, P<0.001). Conclusion: Cep63 may regulate the apoptotic process of TPC-1 cells through Bcl-2/BAX pathway and Cep63 may be a potential oncogene of PTC.

[Consistency of peripheral whole blood and venous serum procalcitonin in children: a multicenter parallel controlled study].

Objective: To explore the consistency of peripheral whole blood and venous serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels, and the value of peripheral whole blood PCT in evaluating pediatric bacterial infection. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional parallel control study was conducted in 11 children's hospital. All the 1 898 patients older than 28 days admitted to these hospitals from March 2018 to February 2019 had their peripheral whole blood and venous serum PCT detected simultaneously with unified equipment, reagent and method. According to the venous serum PCT level, the patients were stratified to subgroups. Analysis of variance and chi-square test were used to compare the demographic characteristics among groups. And the correlation between the peripheral blood and venous serum PCT level was investigated by quantitative Pearson correlation analysis.The PCT resultes were also converted into ranked data to further test the consistency between the two sampling methods by Spearman's rank correlation test. Furthermore, the ranked data were converted into binary data to evaluate the consistency and investigate the best cut-off of peripheral blood PCT level in predicting bacterial infection. Results: A total of 1 898 valid samples were included (1 098 males, 800 females),age 27.4(12.2,56.7) months. There was a good correlation between PCT values of peripheral whole blood and venous serum (r=0.97, P<0.01). The linear regression equation was PCTvenous serum=0.135+0.929×PCTperipheral whole blood. However, when stratified to 5 levels, PCT results showed diverse and unsatisfied consistency between the two sampling methods (r=0.51-0.92, all P<0.01). But after PCT was converted to ordinal categorical variables, the stratified analysis showed that the coincidence rate of the measured values by the two sampling methods in each boundary area was 84.9%-97.1%. The dichotomous variables also showed a good consistency (coincidence rate 96.8%-99.3%, Youden index 0.82-0.89). According to the severity of disease, the serum PCT value was classified into 4 intervals（<0.5、0.5-<2.0、2.0-<10.0、≥10.0 µg/L）, and the peripheral blood PCT value also showed a good predictive value (AUC value was 0.991 2-0.997 9). The optimal cut points of peripheral whole blood PCT value 0.5、1.0、2.0、10.0 µg/L corresponding to venous serum PCT values were 0.395, 0.595, 1.175 and 3.545 µg/L, respectively. Conclusions: There is a good correlation between peripheral whole blood PCT value and the venous serum PCT value, which means that the peripheral whole blood PCT could facilitate the identification of infection and clinical severity. Besides, the sampling of peripheral whole blood is simple and easy to repeat.

[Factors affecting the near-infrared autofluorescence intensity of parathyroid glands and intraoperative identification of parathyroid glands].

Objective: To evaluate the potential factors influencing the parathyroid autofluorescence intensity of near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) and further value of NIRF in identifying the parathyroid during surgery. Methods: The clinical data of 51 patients who underwent thyroid or parathyroid surgery in the Department of Thyroid Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from April to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 16 males and 35 females, aged 18 to 74 years.The fluorescence intensity (FI) of the parathyroid glands, thyroid glands and background, and the number of parathyroid glands detected by NIRF and white light were measured. Variance analysis, two independent samples t test and Spearman rank correlation analysis were used to analyze the relationship between standardized parathyroid FI and clinical variables. Chi square test was used to analyze the difference of parathyroid detection rate between NIRF and white light. Results: In the 51 patients, the mean standardized parathyroid FI was greater than the standardized thyroid FI (1.72 ± 0.68 vs. 1.25 ± 0.40, t=6.555, P<0.001). The standardized parathyroid FI was not associated with gender, age, operation type, BMI, preoperative serum Ca(2+), parathyroid hormone and calcitonin (all P>0.05), but it was associated with disease type (F=2.636, P<0.05). The mean standardized parathyroid FI of SHPT was lower than that of PTC, PTC with nodular goiter or NG(0.70±0.28 vs. 1.86±0.70, 1.69±0.49, 1.64±0.44, t value was 3.023, -1.129,-2.019, respectively, all P<0.05). There was no difference in the standardized parathyroid FI between SHPT and PHPT (1.34±0.18, t=1.218, P>0.05). There was no difference in standardized parathyroid FI between PHPT, PTC, NG, and PTC with NG(all P>0.05). Except for 3 cases of SHPT, 117 parathyroid glands were detected by NIRF and 101 parathyroid glands were detected by white light. The detection rate of parathyroid glands detected by NIRF was higher than that detected by white light (98.32% vs. 84.87%, χ(2)=13.974, P<0.001). In SHPT, the detection rate of parathyroid gland by NIRF was 25.00%. Conclusions: Except SHPT, parathyroid FI is not affected by other clinical variables. NIRF can improve the detection rate of parathyroid glands during operation.

CircRNA_100395 protects breast carcinoma deterioration by targeting MAPK6.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to uncover the differential expression of circRNA_100395 in breast carcinoma specimens, and its regulatory effect on cancer cell phenotypes. The role of circRNA_100395 in affecting breast carcinoma progression and the molecular mechanism are explored as well. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CircRNA_100395 expressions in breast carcinoma and paracancerous tissues were detected. The influence of circRNA_100395 level on clinical indicators of breast carcinoma patients was analyzed. In vitro regulations of circRNA_100395 on phenotypes of breast carcinoma cells were examined by CCK-8, colony formation, and transwell assay. The interaction between circRNA_100395 and MAPK6 was confirmed by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay and rescue assays. RESULTS: CircRNA_100395 was downregulated in breast carcinoma tissues and cell lines. Its level was negatively correlated to tumor staging and tumor size of breast carcinoma. Overexpression of circRNA_100395 in SKBR3 and MDA-MB-231 cells weakened proliferative and migratory abilities. MAPK6 was the target gene of circRNA_100395. Overexpression of MAPK6 reversed the anti-cancer effect of circRNA_100395 on breast carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: CircRNA_100395 serves as an anti-cancer gene in breast carcinoma progression by targeting MAPK6, and its level is negatively correlated to tumor staging and tumor size of breast carcinoma. CircRNA_100395 can be utilized as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target of breast carcinoma.

Association of mutations in a lysosomal protein with classical late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Classical late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease whose defective gene has remained elusive. A molecular basis for LINCL was determined with an approach applicable to other lysosomal storage diseases. When the mannose 6-phosphate modification of newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes was used as an affinity marker, a single protein was identified that is absent in LINCL. Sequence comparisons suggest that this protein is a pepstatin-insensitive lysosomal peptidase, and a corresponding enzymatic activity was deficient in LINCL autopsy specimens. Mutations in the gene encoding this protein were identified in LINCL patients but not in normal controls.