Analysis of monitoring results of benzene series in Jinshan District of Shanghai from 2016 to 2021 / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo understand the concentration levels of benzene， toluene and xylene in the workplaces of enterprises involved in benzene and benzene series in Jinshan District， and to provide the basis for the government to formulate key occupational disease prevention and control strategies. MethodsFrom 2016 to 2021， enterprises involved in benzene and benzene series were sampled individually， and the monitoring results of benzene and benzene series were statistically analyzed through workplace air sampling and laboratory detection. ResultsFrom 2016 to 2021， a total of 80 enterprises were monitored， and the total passing rate of individual monitoring was 87.50%， which decreased first and then increased. The difference was not statistically significant. A total of 387 individuals were sampled with a total passing rate of 95.61% and a detection rate of 73.38% （284 individuals）. The detection rates of benzene， toluene and xylene were 6.46%， 29.97% and 36.95%， respectively. The exceedance rates were 1.03%， 0.26% and 3.10%， respectively. Among the companies exceeding the standard， the metal products industry had the highest rate of exceedance （19.05%）. For individuals， those working in the printing and recording media reproduction industry had the highest rate of exceedance （10.26%）. ConclusionThe passing rate and detection rate of benzene and benzene series are relatively high in Jinshan District. The metal products industry and the printing and recording media reproduction industry have a higher exceedance rate of benzene and benzene series.

Activation of Cannabinoid Receptor 1 in GABAergic Neurons in the Rostral Anterior Insular Cortex Contributes to the Analgesia Following Common Peroneal Nerve Ligation / 神经科学通报·英文版

The rostral agranular insular cortex (RAIC) has been associated with pain modulation. Although the endogenous cannabinoid system (eCB) has been shown to regulate chronic pain, the roles of eCBs in the RAIC remain elusive under the neuropathic pain state. Neuropathic pain was induced in C57BL/6 mice by common peroneal nerve (CPN) ligation. The roles of the eCB were tested in the RAIC of ligated CPN C57BL/6J mice, glutamatergic, or GABAergic neuron cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) knockdown mice with the whole-cell patch-clamp and pain behavioral methods. The E/I ratio (amplitude ratio between mEPSCs and mIPSCs) was significantly increased in layer V pyramidal neurons of the RAIC in CPN-ligated mice. Depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition but not depolarization-induced suppression of excitation in RAIC layer V pyramidal neurons were significantly increased in CPN-ligated mice. The analgesic effect of ACEA (a CB1R agonist) was alleviated along with bilateral dorsolateral funiculus lesions, with the administration of AM251 (a CB1R antagonist), and in CB1R knockdown mice in GABAergic neurons, but not glutamatergic neurons of the RAIC. Our results suggest that CB1R activation reinforces the function of the descending pain inhibitory pathway via reducing the inhibition of glutamatergic layer V neurons by GABAergic neurons in the RAIC to induce an analgesic effect in neuropathic pain.

Diosgenin alleviates NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet in rats via mTOR/SREBP-1c/HSP60/MCAD/SCAD signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to observe the effects of diosgenin on the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c(SREBP-1c), heat shock protein 60(HSP60), medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(MCAD), and short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase(SCAD) in the liver tissue of the rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and explore the mechanism of diosgenin in alleviating NAFLD. Forty male SD rats were randomized into five groups: a control group, a model group, low-(150 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) and high-dose(300 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) diosgenin groups, and a simvastatin(4 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) group. The rats in the control group were fed with a normal diet, while those in the other four groups were fed with a high-fat diet. After feeding for 8 weeks, the body weight of rats in the high-fat diet groups increased significantly. After that, the rats were administrated with the corresponding dose of diosgenin or simvastatin by gavage every day for 8 weeks. The levels of triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), alanine transaminase(ALT), and aspartate transaminase(AST) in the serum were determined by the biochemical method. The levels of TG and TC in the liver were measured by the enzyme method. Oil-red O staining was employed to detect the lipid accumulation, and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining to detect the pathological changes in the liver tissue. The mRNA and protein levels of mTOR, SREBP-1c, HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD in the liver tissue of rats were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot, respectively. Compared with the control group, the model group showed increased body weight, food uptake, liver index, TG, TC, ALT, and AST levels in the serum, TG and TC levels in the liver, lipid deposition in the liver, obvious hepatic steatosis, up-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of mTOR and SREBP-1c, and down-regulated mRNA and protein expression levels of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD. Compared with the model group, the rats in each treatment group showed obviously decreased body weight, food uptake, liver index, TG, TC, ALT, and AST levels in the serum, TG and TC levels in the liver, lessened lipid deposition in the liver, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, down-regulated mRNA and protein le-vels of mTOR and SREBP-1c, and up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD. The high-dose diosgenin outperformed the low-dose diosgenin and simvastatin. Diosgenin may prevent and treat NAFLD by inhibiting the expression of mTOR and SREBP-1c and promoting the expression of HSP60, MCAD, and SCAD to reduce lipid synthesis, improving mitochondrial function, and promoting fatty acid β oxidation in the liver.

Comparative of Forensic DNA Identification Using Cell Lysis Method and Magnetic Beads Method / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To compare the effects of cell lysis method and magnetic beads method in forensic DNA identification and to explore these two methods in forensic DNA identification.@*METHODS@#The genome DNA of THP-1 cells in different quantities was extracted by the cell lysis method and magnetic beads method, and the DNA content was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. The cell lysis method and magnetic beads method were used to type the STR of human blood with different dilution ratios.@*RESULTS@#When the numbers of THP-1 cell were 100, 400 and 800, the DNA content extracted by cell lysis method were (1.219±0.334), (5.081±0.335), (9.332±0.318) ng, respectively; and the DNA content extracted by magnetic beads method were (1.020±0.281), (3.634±0.482), (7.896±0.759) ng, respectively. When the numbers of THP-1 cells were 400 and 800, the DNA content extracted by the cell lysis method was higher than that by the magnetic beads method. The sensitivity of cell lysis method and magnetic beads method was similar in STR typing of human blood at different dilution ratios. Complete STR typing could be obtained at 100, 300 and 500-fold dilutions of blood samples, but could not be detected at 700-fold dilution. STR typing of undiluted human blood could not be detected by cell lysis method.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The cell lysis method is easy to operate and can retain template DNA to the maximum extend. It is expected to be suitable for trace blood evidence tests.

The effects of robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic-assisted radical right hemicolectomy on short-term outcome and long-term prognosis based on propensity score matching / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To compare the short-term and long-term outcomes between robotic-assisted and laparoscopic-assisted radical right hemicolectomy in patients with adenocarcinoma of the right colon. Methods: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database identified 288 right colon cancer patients who underwent either robotic-assisted (n=57) or laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy (n=231) between October 2014 and October 2020 at Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. There were 161 males and 127 females, aging (60.3±12.8) years (range: 17 to 86 years). After propensity score matching as 1∶4 between robotic-assisted and laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy, there were 56 cases in robotic group and 176 cases in laparoscipic group. Perioperative outcomes and overall survival were compared between the two groups using t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, χ2 test, Fisher exact test, Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test, respectively. Results: The total operative time was similar between the robotic and laparoscopic group ((206.9±60.7) minutes vs. (219.9±56.3) minutes, t=-1.477, P=0.141). Intraoperative bleeding was less in the robotic group (50 (20) ml vs. 50 (50) ml, Z=-4.591, P<0.01), while the number of lymph nodes retrieved was significantly higher (36.0±10.0 vs. 29.0±10.1, t=4.491, P<0.01). Patients in robotic group experienced significantly shorter hospital stay, shorter time to first flatus, and defecation (t: -2.888, -2.946, -2.328, all P<0.05). Moreover, the overall peri-operative complication rate was similar between robotic and laparoscopic group (17.9% vs. 22.7%, χ²=0.596,P=0.465). The 3-year overall survival were 92.9% and 87.9% respectively and the 3-year disease-free survival rates were 83.1% and 82.6% with no statistical significance between the robotic and laparoscopic group (P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared to laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy, robot-assisted right hemicolectomy could improve some short-term clinical outcomes. The two procedures are both achieving comparable survival.

A novel alkaloid from Corydalis tomentella / 中国中药杂志

The chemical constituents in the ethyl acetate extract of Corydalis tomentella was isolated and purified with normal and reversed phase silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, MCI, and semi-preparative HPLC. The compound structures were identified based on spectroscopic experiments and reported papers. Finally, eighteen compounds(1-18) were obtained from C. tomentella, including 17 alkaloids and 1 terpenoid. Among them, compound 1(tomentellaine A) was a novel alkaloid. Compounds 2-5, 7-14, and 16-18 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Triple acupuncture at the Qugu acupoint as an adjunctive therapy for type-Ⅲ chronic prostatitis: Analysis of short- and long-term clinical effects / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the short- and long-term effects of triple acupuncture at the Qugu acupoint as an adjunctive therapy on type-Ⅲ chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).@*METHODS@#We equally randomized 90 CP/CPPS patients into a control and a treatment group, both treated with Levofloxacin Mesylate Tablets (0.5 g, tid) + Terazosin Hydrochloride Capsules (2 mg qd) for 4 weeks, while the latter group by triple acupuncture at the Qugu acupoint as an adjunctive therapy twice a week at the same time. Then, we followed up all the patients for 4 weeks, recorded the cases, time and rate of recurrence, obtained the scores in National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), quality of life (QoL) and Zung Depression Scale (ZDS), and compared them between the two groups of patients.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the controls, the patients of the treatment group showed significantly decreased NIH-CPSI scores in pain (8.6 ± 2.12 vs 6.2 ± 2.25, P <0.05), micturition (5.8 ± 1.22 vs 3.1 ± 1.10, P <0.05), and QoL (6.0 ± 1.33 vs 3.4 ± 1.71, P <0.05) and ZDS score as well (43.9 ± 4.53 vs 33.6 ± 3.20, P <0.01). The recurrence rate was markedly lower while the recurrence time remarkably longer in the treatment than in the control group (15.56 vs 35.56% and ［20.0 ± 2.72］ vs ［12.5 ± 3.47］ d, P <0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#As an adjunctive therapy, triple acupuncture at the Qugu acupoint can evidently ameliorate the clinical symptoms, enhance the curative effect of antibacterials, reduce the recurrence rate, and prolong the recurrence time in the treatment of CP/CPPS.

Yijingfang for the treatment of asthenospermia: A randomized controlled clinical trial / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of Yijingfang, a Chinese medicinal liquid, on asthenospermia.@*METHODS@#We randomly divided 450 asthenospermia patients into a treatment group (n = 300) and a control group (n = 150), the former treated with Yijingfang once half a dose, bid, and the latter with Wuziyanzong Pills (9 g, bid) + L-carnitine oral liquid (10 ml, bid), both for 3 months. Before and at 1, 2, and 3 months after medication, we compared the semen volume, sperm concentration, percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) and total motile sperm (TMS), and semen liquefaction time between the two groups of patients.@*RESULTS@#No statistically significant difference was observed in the semen parameters between the treatment and control groups before medication (P >0.05). In comparison with the baseline, the treatment group showed significant differences at 1, 2, and 3 months after medication in sperm concentration (［35.96 ± 8.50］ vs ［49.66 ± 10.91］, ［55.21 ± 11.46］, ［74.90 ± 13.07］ ×10⁶/ml, P 0.05) or semen liquefaction time (［32.31 ± 8.15］ vs ［31.68 ± 3.14］, ［30.38 ± 3.44］, and ［30.86 ± 2.42］ min, P >0.05); the control group exhibited similar results at the three time points in sperm concentration (［36.85 ± 6.88］ vs ［40.53 ± 8.32］, ［47.51 ± 12.73］, and ［56.14 ± 11.98］ ×10⁶/ml, P 0.05) or semen liquefaction time (［30.25 ± 5.20］ vs ［29.36±4.25］, ［28.21±3.26］, and ［28.33±3.59］ min, P >0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups in the increase rates of sperm concentration and TMS after medication (P 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Yijingfang is an effective drug for the treatment of asthenospermia, which can regulate the spermatogenesis, increase the percentage of PMS, and improve the total sperm motility of the patients.

Advances in the application of corneal confocal microscopy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

·Corneal confocal microscopy can be used in the real-time, noninvasive, high-resolution corneal structure at the cellular level, which has been widely used in corneal disease research. This review summarizes recent advances in corneal confocal microscopy in the study of infectious keratitis, dry eye, keratoconus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and clinical studies to guide corneal transplantation.

Clinical efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery in the radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a prospective study / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in the radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Methods The clinical data of 140 patients undergoing radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from April 2011 to June 2013 were prospectively analyzed.A double-blind,randomized,controlled study was performed in the 140 patients,and all of them were divided into the ERAS group (patients undergoing perioperative management according to enhanced recovery rehabilitation program) and the control group (patients undergoing perioperative management) based on a random numble table.The inflammatory markers,nutritional index and postoperative recovery of patients were observed.Patients of the ERAS group were followed up by telephone interview within the first 24 hours after discharge,and by outpatient examination since the second week after discharge.The follow-up was ended at postoperative day 30.Patients of the control group were reexamined at the third week after discharge.The measurement data with normal distribution was presented as x ± s.The comparison between groups was evaluated with an independent sample t test.The trend analyses for variables were done using repeated measures ANOVA.The count data were analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability.Results Eighty patients were screened for eligibility,and were allocated into the ERAS group (40 patients) and the control group (40 patients).The total protein in serum (TP),albumin (Alb),prealbumin,TNF-α,IL-6,c-reactive protein,resting energy expenditure (REE),glycemic index,insulin index and Insulin resistance index in the 2 groups showed a range of variations at postoperative day 1,3,and 5,and these were (61 ±5)g/L,(34 ±3)g/L,(160 ± 18)g/L,(12.3 ±2.3)mmol/L,(101 ±34)ng/L,(43 ± 11)g/L,(1 336 ± 105)kal/d,(7.6 ±0.8)mmol/L,(16.8 ±3.5)mU/L and 5.7 ±1.3 in the ERAS group at postoperative day 1,and (58 ± 4) g/L,(31 ± 4) g/L,(147 ± 18) g/L,(15.3 ± 2.2) mmol/L,(122 ±37)ng/L,(56 ±27) g/L,(1 450 ± 164)kal/d,(9.3 ± 1.4) mmol/L,(30.5 ±6.8) mU/L and 12.5 ±3.2 in the control group,respectively,showing a significant difference between the 2 groups (F =31.63,8.03,67.36,147.04,9.63,6.84,16.10,54.85,104.51,139.47,P ＜0.05).The duration of fever,time to flatus,duration of hospital stay,hospital expenses,numeric rating scale and quality of life (QOL) were (2.9 ±0.9) days,(2.9 ± 0.6) days,(7.6 ± 2.1) days,(28 495 ± 4 722) yuan,1.4 ± 1.0 and 15.4 ± 0.9 in the ERAS group after operation,and (3.8 ±0.6)days,(3.5 ±0.7)days,(8.9 ±2.6)days,(35 318 ±7 610)yuan,2.4 ± 1.1 and 14.4 ± 1.2 in the control group,respectively,with a significant difference between the 2 groups (t =-0.91,-3.66,-2.85,-4.82,-4.20,3.92,P ＜0.05).Two patients were complicated with respiratory diseases,1 patient received reoperation and 1 was readmitted to the hospital at postoperative day 30 in the ERAS group.Three patients had respiratory diseases,1 received reoperation and 2 were readmitted to the hospital at postoperative day 30 in the control group,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions ERAS is safe and feasible for the perioperative treatment of patients with gastric cancer,meanwhile it could reduce the surgical stress,shorten the duration of hospital stay and improve QOL and postoperative complications,ERAS might take effects by reducing insulin resistance and decreasing REE.Registry This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the registry number of ChiCTR-TRC-10001611.

Relationship between the proliferative activity of cancer cells and microvessel density in portal vein thrombosis and transfer of hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the relation between the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and microvessel density (MVD) as well as the influence on portal vein thrombosis and transfer (PVTT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tumor specimens were collected in 36 patients (16 patients with PVTT, the other patients without PVTT and metastasis) undergoing resection of HCC and thrombectomy. PVTT specimens of 16 patients were named Group A1, and HCC of the same patients named Group A2. The other 20 patients belonged to Group B. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate VEGF, PCNA expression and MVD. The intensity was evaluated with a computer image analyzer-cell analysis system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>VEGF mRNA expression was detected in the tumor cells. The expression rates in Group B, A2, and A1 were 30%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Group A2 and A1 were higher than Group B (P<0.01). VEGF protein expression was often detected in the tumor cells, vascular endothelial cells, and fibroblast cells. Invasion was detected in the small vein in Group A2, and more tumor cell colony detected in Group A1. The expression rates of VEGF protein in Group B, A2, and A1 were the same as VEGF mRNA. The intensity of VEGF mRNA and protein were all lower in Group A2 than Group A1 (P<0.01). In Group B, A2, and A1, MVD and PCNA-LI were gradually elevated. PCNA reactive vascular endothelial cells were occasionally observed in Group A2, and often observed in Group A1. There was a statistically significant correlation between the intensity of VEGF expression, PCNA-LI and MVD in Group A2 and A1, and significant correlation between PCNA-LI and MVD in Group B, A2, and A1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Overexpression of VEGF could be an important factor of the high MVD and the highly proliferative activity of cancer cells in HCC and PVTT. High MVD and PCNA-LI associate very well with the formation of PVTT and metastasis in HCC.</p>