Correlation analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise test indices and conditions of overweight patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The cardiopulmonary function of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is significantly lower than that of patients with simple snoring and is significantly related to the severity of OSA. Currently, only a few studies have been conducted on cardiopulmonary exercise testing in overweight patients with OSA. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) indices and the condition of overweight patients with OSA. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine. METHODS: This study included 73 hospitalized overweight patients. The patients were divided into no, mild, moderate, and severe OSA groups. Differences in the CPET indices among the four groups were compared. The correlation between the CPET indices and conditions was analyzed. RESULTS: No, mild, moderate, and severe OSA groups had 18 men and 5 women, 11 men and 3 women, 12 men and 2 women, and 21 men and 1 woman, respectively (P > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in resting pulmonary function among the four groups (P > 0.05). In the CPET, the anaerobic threshold, maximum oxygen uptake, and oxygen pulse were significantly lower in the severe OSA group than those in the normal OSA group (P < 0.05). Moreover, CPET indices negatively correlated with the apnea-hypopnea index. CONCLUSION: Changes in CPET indices occurred earlier than changes in resting pulmonary function in patients with OSA. CPET might be a potential method for evaluating the severity of OSA combined with overweight status.

Low vision among children and adolescents in Tujia inhabited areas / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand the prevalence of low vision among Tujia and Han children and adolescents in Tujia inhabited areas, and to provide reference for the prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents in minority areas.@*Methods@#A cluster sampling of Tujia and Han primary school students from two primary schools in Lichuan City, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province (2 466 Tujia and 971 Han) were selected for visual acuity assessment. Univariate χ 2 test and multivariate Logistic analysis were used. Low vision and associated factors between Tujia and Han nationality were compared.@*Results@#The overall detection rate of low vision among children and adolescents in Tujia inhabited areas was 44.9%. There were differences in the degree of low vision in the left and right eyes of individuals, and the detection rate of low vision varied significantly by ethnic, gender and grade ( χ 2=22.10, 18.43, 19.06, 17.97 for the left eye, 17.52, 20.44, 21.49, 18.61 for the right eye, P < 0.05). There were many factors affecting low vision among children and adolescents in Tujia inhabited areas, overweight and obesity were negatively associated with low vision ( OR=1.81, 1.70, 95%CI=1.76-1.92, 1.66-1.82, P <0.01).@*Conclusion@#Low vision is highly prevalent in Tujia children and adolescents. Effective intervention measures should be taken to treat and prevent myopia in children and adolescents.

Effect of beinaglutide treatment on weight loss in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight/obesity

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect of beinaglutide on weight loss and plasma protein patterns of inflammation/obesity relevant cytokines and biomarkers. Materials and methods: This study involved 36 adult patients with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 24 kg/m2 and T2DM. Beinaglutide was administered for three months. Changes in body weight, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level, 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2h-PG) level, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, BMI and visceral and subcutaneous fat areas were measured at baseline and after three months of treatment. In addition, relevant inflammation/obesity cytokines and biomarkers were measured. Results: After three months, beinaglutide treatment led to significant changes, including in body weight, BMI, FPG level, HbA1c level, visceral and subcutaneous fat areas. In addition, serpin E1, leptin, C-reaction protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) also decreased significantly. The plasma protein concentrations of CRP (Log2 transformed) were found to be positively correlated with the percentage of weight loss (R = 0.514 and p-value = 0.021). Conclusion: Beinaglutide treatment resulted in weight loss, plasma glucose control and anti-inflammatory effects in patients with T2DM and overweight/obesity.

Occupational health risk assessment of dust in cement production enterprises / 预防医学

Objective@#To evaluate the occupational health risk of key posts exposed to cement dust in four cement production enterprises, and to provide reference for cement pneumoconiosis prevention and control. @*Methods@#Four Chinese typical cement enterprises and key posts exposed to cement dust were selected to carry out occupational health investigation and detection, and three risk assessment methods were used to assess their occupational health risk levels, including semi-quantitative comprehensive index method, semi-quantitative contact ratio method and risk rating method of International Mining and Metal Commission ( ICMM ). Meanwhile, the differences and consistencies among different assessment methods were compared. @*Results@#Dust free silica content ranged from ( 4.70±2.01 ) % to ( 5.63±2.48 ) %,and the total and respirable dust concentrations exposed by bagged cement loaders and cement baggers exceeded Chinese permissible concentration-time weighted average（ PC-TWA ）. The results of semi-quantitative comprehensive index method showed that all the types of work were at high risk of total and respirable dust, while the results of the other two assessment methods showed that bagged cement loaders and cement baggers were at a extremely high or intolerable risk. There were no significant differences among three risk assessment methods whether in terms of total dust or respirable dust ( P>0.05 ). ICMM risk rating method and contact ratio method showed highly positive correlation in term of respirable dust ( rs=0.894, P=0.016 ), but not in term of total dust ( rs=0.733, P=0.097 ). However, the correlations of comprehensive index method with the other two methods were unable to conduct.@*Conclusion@#Bagged cement loaders and cement baggers are at high occupational health risk levels. Moreover, semi-quantitative contact ratio method and ICMM risk rating method have high positive correlation in term of respirable dust, the applicability of comprehensive index method still needs further study.

Dimethyl sulfide, a metabolite of the marine microorganism, protects SH-SY5Y cells against 6-hydroxydopamine and MPP+-induced apoptosis / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) has been historically recognized as a metabolite of the marine microorganism or a disgusting component for the smell of halitosis patients. In our recent study, DMS has been identified as a cytoprotectant that protects against oxidative-stress induced cell death and aging. We found that at near- physiological concentrations, DMS reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cultured PC12 cells and alleviated oxidative stress. The radical-scavenging capacity of DMS at near-physiological concentration was equivalent to endogenous methionine(Met)-centered antioxidant defense. Methionine sulfoxidereductase A (MsrA), the key antioxidant enzyme in Met-centered defense, bound to DMS and promoted its antioxidant capacity via facilitating the reaction of DMS with ROS through a sulfonium intermediate at residues Cys72, Tyr103, Glu115, followed by the release of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). MTT assay and trypan blue test indicated that supplement of DMS exhibited cytopro?tection against 6-hydroxydopamine and MPP + induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, MsrA knockdown abolished the cytoprotective effect of DMS at near- physiological concentrations. The present study reveals new insight into the potential therapeutic value of DMS in Parkinson disease.

Crisis resource management training in anaesthesia / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Anesthesia safety plays an important role in the medical safety of the perioperative.At present the medical institutions in many countries apply crew resource management model for training and assessment in anesthesiology,surgery and emergency.It emphasizes the training of nontechnical skills,called crisis resource management(CRM).This article analyzes the causes of human error incidents and preventive measures and introduces CRM principles in medical principles and anesthesia correlation and applications.CRM helps to foresee the crisis of environment and deal with the crisis source to ensure the safety of patients.

A cross-sectional study about the effects of residential exposure to power transmission line on human nervous system symptoms and hematology / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possible effects on nervous system and health condition under the exposure to electromagnetic field.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Take the resident around the power transmission line as the objects and were divided into 3 groups by the distance from the power transmission line 20 m, 100 m and 500 m, respectively. Some living conditions and health conditions were recorded by face-to-face the questionnaire survey, and Hematological indices of each groups were examined including IgG, IgM, leukocyte formulae, erythrocyte, hemoglobin and platelet.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in each group, according exposure of daily life, such as drinking and smoking (P > 0.05). Compared with the each distance groups, it was presented significant difference between the distance from the power transmission line and the incidence of headache or dizziness, insomnia and easy weary and so on (P < 0.05). In hematology aspect, with the horizontal distance from the power transmission line decreasing, PLT level of residents was reductive and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001), whereas leukocyte formulae, erythrocyte, hemoglobin, IgG and IgM had no significant difference among each group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Closely exposure to electromagnetic field may induce headache and so on and decrease the level of PLT.</p>

Breast Cancer Associated Fibroblasts Promote MCF-7 Invasion in vitro by Secretion of HGF / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study was aimed to explore the influence of breast cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in migration and invasion of breast cancer cell line MCF-7,and investigate whether hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is involved in this process.Primary breast CAFs and their corresponding normal breast fibroblasts (NFs) were obtained by collagenase digestion.On the basis of the co-culture,the migration and invasion capacity of MCF-7 cells was compared between CAFs and NFs by Transwell.The difference in the HGF expression between them was detected by ELISA.The secretion of HGF was knocked down by using RNA interference technology in CAFs.Then the changes of migration and invasion capacity of MCF-7 cells were investigated by Transwell.Eventually,we isolated high-purity CAFs and NFs,and the CAFs had a stronger ability in promoting MCF-7 migration and invasion than the NFs.ELISA results demonstrated that CAFs secreted higher HGF,and the capacity of MCF-7 migration and invasion was declined after knocking down the secretion of HGF in CAFs by RNA interference.It is suggested that CAFs can promote MCF-7 migration and invasion through HGF in vitro.

Association of adiponectin gene polymorphism with obesity in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the distribution characteristics of adiponectin gene +45 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in Chinese children, and to determine the role of adiponectin gene +45 polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of childhood obesity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 147 Chinese obese and 118 healthy children were randomly selected and enrolled to identify adiponectin gene SNP+45 polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Plasma adiponectin levels were determined using ELISA. Waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), percentage of body fat (%BF), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), plasma fasting insulin (FINS), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The allelic frequency of adiponectin gene SNP+45 in children with obesity and healthy controls were 40.5% and 25.4%, respectively. There were significant differences in the distribution of genotypes and the allelic frequency between the two groups (P<0.05). The plasma adiponectin levels were significantly higher, in contrast, %BF, HOMA-IR, TC and LDL-C levels were significantly lower in obese children with TT genotype than those in obese children with TG or GG genotype.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The adiponectin gene SNP+45 polymorphism may be associated with pathogenesis of obesity in children. T→G variance may be associated an increased risk of childhood obesity and result in a decreased level of adiponectin.</p>

Outcome analysis of screening on high arsenic water source in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To survey the arsenic content of drinking water in Jingzhou City, to provide basis for prevention and control of endemic arsenic disease. Methods According to historical data, the .arsenic content of water was detected in 357 villages from 6 counties of Jianglin, Songzi, Gongan, Shishou, Jianli, Honghushi in Jinzhou City in 2007 and 2008, The past have been found to have high arsenic water villages, villages known to have high concentration of arsenic were put into census. Villages not found to have high-arsenic wells were sampled 10 percent of the whole water resources at five directions of east, west, south, north and the center. Using sampling investigation, water arsenic was determined by half -quantitative fast reagent kit. All samples of water with arsenic exceeding the standard were re-determined using silver diethyl dithiocarbamate using silver diethyl dithiocarbamate colorimetric mothod. Survey on the disease was carried out in the villages with arsenic exeeeding the standard. Results All 6074 water samples was inspected. Arsenic in 210 samples outnumbered 0.05 mg/L, 51 natural villages were high arsenic areas;The maximum level of arsenic content in drinking water was 0.7 mg/L 3.2% (152/4784) of the wells no deeper that 30 meters and 4.9%(58/1184) between 30 to 100 m had arsenic exceeding the standard The water arsenic content was normal when the wells was deeper that 100 m. The abnormal percentages of water arsenic was related with the depth of wells with a significant difference(χ2 = 12.29,P < 0.01). Medical examination 84 064 residents in 51 villages having high arsenic water 31 neighboring villages was made, No Patients was found suffering from endemic arsenic poisoning. Conclusions High arsenic source has been found in Jingzhou City ,but no endemic arsenic poisoning patient in Jingzhou City. It is suggested that necessary preventive measures should be taken in high arsenic area, low-arsenic water should be spotted or high arsenic water improved. Moreover, wells should be drilled for more than 100 meters or more in depth.

Plasma levels of adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in children with obesity / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine plasma adiponectin (ADPN) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels and their correlation in children with obesity in order to investigate the roles of both in the development of childhood obesity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty-seven children with obesity and 118 normal children who were randomly sampled from five primary schools from the Kaifu District in Changsha were enrolled. Physical shape indexes, including height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Blood pressure was measured. Percentage of body fat (%BF) was measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Plasmal levels of ADPN and TNF-alpha were detected using ABC-ELISA. Blood concentrations of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by automatic biochemistry analyzer. Fasting blood glucose level was measured by glucose oxidase method. Fasting blood insulin level was assayed by radioimmunity. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Plasma ADPN levels in obese children significantly decreased compared with those in normal children (8.12+/-2.54 mg/L vs 12.22+/-4.68 mg/L; p<0.05), and had a negative correlation with plasma TNF-alpha levels, BMI, WHR and HOMA-IR (p<0.01), and with %BF, fasting insulin, systolic blood pressure and TG (p<0.05). Plasma TNF-alpha levels in obese children significantly increased compared to normal children (171.38+/-34.33 ng/L vs 91.07+/-21.60 ng/L; p<0.01) and positively correlated with BMI, WHR, %BF, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TG and systolic blood pressure (p<0.01), and negatively with HDL (p<0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that ADPN, BMI and TNF-alpha were main influential factors for %BF (R2=0.926, p<0.01). There was a significant interaction between ADPN and TNF-alpha (p<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Plasma ADPN levels decreased and plasma TNF-alpha levels increased in children with obesity and both were main influential factors for %BF in children. There was an interaction between ADPN and TNF-alpha, suggesting that they both participate in the development of childhood obesity.</p>

Serum leptin level and its association with bone mineral density in obese children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate serum leptin level and its relationship with bone mineral density in obese children from Changsha City.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and nineteen obese children and 103 normal children aged 7 to 12 years from five primary schools of Changsha City were enrolled. Obesity was assessed based on the body mass index (BMI). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to determine bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition. Serum leptin level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The obesity group had higher height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio (WHR) compared with the normal group (p<0.01). BMD, bone mineral content (BMC), lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), percentage of body fat (%BF) and leptin concentration in the obesity group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (p<0.01). Serum leptin level was positively correlated with BMD, BMC, LM and FM (r=0.528-0.903, p<0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that BMI and %BF were independent influencing factors for serum leptin level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Obese children have higher serum leptin level. Serum leptin concentration is significantly correlated with BMD and body composition. BMI and %BF are independent influencing factors for serum leptin level in children.</p>

Obesity and its influencing factors in primary school students from Kaifu District of Changsha City / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence of obesity and the influencing factors for obesity in primary school students from Kaifu District of Changsha City.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 4 140 students aged 7 to 12 years sampled randomly from Kaifu District of Changsha City were enrolled. Obesity was identified based on the body mass index (BMI). The influencing factors for obesity were investigated by non-logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 9.76% and 7.39% respectively, and the prevalence of obesity in boys and girls were 9.37% and 5.13% respectively (P<0.05). The obese children had significantly higher BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio(WHR), percentage of body fat (%BF), systolic blood pressure, and serum triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels but significantly lower serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level compared with the children with normal weight. BMI, %BF, WC and WHR were all positively correlated to serum levels of TG and LDL-C in obese children. Binge overeating, increased television viewing time, fast speed of eating and increased consumption of fried foods are all risk factors for the development of obesity. Preference for physical activity and sufficient physical activity were protective factors for obesity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prevalence of obesity of primary school students from Kaifu District of Changsha City is high in China. The development of childhood obesity is associated with poor eating behaviors, less physical activity and increased television viewing time. The control of childhood obesity may be beneficial to early prevention of some adult chronic diseases.</p>

Silicon dioxide-upregulated plasminogen activators inhibitor-1 protein expression is dependent on activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/activator protein-1 signaling pathway / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling pathway in SiO(2)-induced plasminogen activators inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) protein expression in human lung epithelial cells A549.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A549 cells were cultured and then stimulated with 200 microg/ml SiO(2) for 0 approximately 24 h. To prevent AP-1 activity, Curcumin was added into culture medium before incubating with SiO(2) and transient TAM-67 transfection was performed. In addition, PD98059 was pretreated with cells to prevent ERK activity. The PAI-1 protein expression and ERK activity were evaluated by Western blot. The AP-1 DNA binding activity was tested by EMSA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) At 4, 8 and 16 h after exposure to SiO(2), the fold change of AP-1 DNA binding activity (relative to the control group) were 1.3, 1.3, and 2.1, respectively (P < 0.05). 10, 25, 50 micromol/L Curcumin inhibited SiO(2)-induced PAI-1 protein expression (inhibition ratio: 20%, 63%, 65%; P < 0.05). TAM-67 downregulated SiO(2)-induced PAI-1 protein expression (inhibition ratio: 59%, P < 0.05). (2) SiO(2) activated ERK and PD98059 downregulated SiO(2)-induced PAI-1 protein expression (inhibition ratio: 51%, P < 0.05). (3) PD98059 downregulated SiO(2)-induced AP-1 DNA binding activity (inhibition ratio: 73%, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ERK/AP-1 signaling pathway is responsible for SiO(2)-induced PAI-1 protein expression.</p>

AP-1 regulates TGF-beta1-induced secretion of Type I collagen in human lung fibroblasts / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the role of AP-1 in the secretion of Type I collagen in TGF-beta1-stimulated human lung fibroblasts.@*METHODS@#Human lung fibroblasts cell line (HLF-02) was cultured, and then stimulated with 10 microg/L TGF-beta1 at different time points. Curcumin was added into the culture medium to inhibit the AP-1 activity before incubating with TGF-beta1. AP-1 DNA binding activity was assayed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and the expression of Type I collagen was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR.@*RESULTS@#TGF-beta1 could induce the transcription and secretion of Type I collagen in HLF-02 cells(P<0.05). TGF-beta1 could upregulate the AP-1 DNA binding activity ( P<0.05). Curcumin ( 5, 10, 15, and 20 micromol/L) could inhibit the AP-1 DNA binding activity in TGF-beta1-stimulated cells (the inhibition ratio was 17.1%, 17.6%, 24.2%, and 31.3%; P<0.05). Curcumin (5, 10, 15, and 20 micromol/L) could also inhibit the secretion of Type I collagen significantly (the inhibition ratio was 62.1%, 58.8%, 62.1%, and 59.6%; P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#AP-1 is responsible for the secretion of TGF-beta1-induced Type I collagen in human lung fibroblasts.

p38/ERK signal pathways regulating the expression of type I collagen and activity of MMP-2 in TGF-beta1-stimulated HLF-02 cells / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of TGF-beta(1)/MAPK signaling pathways in the expression of type I collagen and activity of MMP-2, 9 in human lung fibroblasts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human lung fibroblasts cell line (HLF-02) was cultured and and then stimulated with 10 ng/ml TGF-beta(1) for different time; SB203580 or PD98059 was added into culture medium to block p38 or ERK kinase pathway before incubated with TGF-beta(1); the expression of type I collagen was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR; zymogram analysis was used to analyze the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In the process of stimulation by TGF-beta(1), the type I collagen mRNA level of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h group was: 1.33 +/- 0.07, 2.46 +/- 0.09 and 2.39 +/- 0.08 respectively; and the type I collagen protein level of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h group was: 114.89 +/- 8.95, 208.16 +/- 6.75 and 211.46 +/- 8.05 respectively; and the activity of MMP-2 of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h group was: 190.33 +/- 5.86, 214.33 +/- 8.39 and 212.67 +/- 11.59 respectively. (2) SB203580 significantly inhibited the TGF-beta(1)-induced expression of type I collagen mRNA, protein and MMP-2 activity (inhibition ratio: 51%, 24% and 20%); (3) PD98059 also significantly attenuated the TGF-beta(1)-induced expression of type I collagen mRNA, protein and MMP-2 activity (inhibition ratio: 42%, 13% and 16%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TGF-beta(1) is capable of inducing the expression of type I collagen mRNA and protein and up-regulating MMP-2 activity in HLF-02 cells. p38 and ERK kinase signaling pathways play important role in regulation and control for this process.</p>

Mental workload for mental arithmetic on visual display terminal / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possibility of subjective rate, primary task evaluation and psychophysiology evaluation as methods for mental workload assessment of mental arithmetic on visual display terminal (VDT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The indexes including Cooper-Harper scale score, correct rate, speed in answering questions, heart rate variability, pupil size and blink rate were recorded during the performance of three different difficult tasks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the variable number of formula increasing, the Cooper-Harper scale score increased, the right rate decreased, the speed decreased, pupil size increased, and blink rate significantly decreased. In comparison with rest, the value of TP, VLF, LF, LFnorm, LF/HF decreased remarkably in the mental arithmetic task, the value of HFnorm, HF/TP, rMSSD increased. However, the difference was not significant among three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>With the variable number of formula increasing, the participant's mental workload increases. Every method of mental workload evaluation can assess the mental workload information for three tasks at various different levels in a way. Multi-indexes may be appropriate for mental load assessment.</p>

Effects of silicon dioxide on expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in human lung fibroblasts / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of SiO(2) on the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in human lung fibroblasts in vitro and vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The experimental group comprised 32 rats while 32 rats were included in the control. In vivo, the expression of alpha-SMA in lung tissues of rats exposed to SiO(2), the supernate of RAW264.7 cells, SiO(2) and the growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) were investigated, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) alpha-SMA positive myofibroblasts appeared in the lung tissues of the 28th day groups exposed to SiO(2). (2) The expression of alpha-SMA in HLF-02 cells was unregulated by TGF-beta(1) and supernate of RAW264.7 cells exposed to SiO(2). (3) The expression of alpha-SMA in HLF-02 cells was not induced by SiO(2).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Myofibroblasts related to silicosis, and the appearance of myofibroblasts (in vitro) are independent on direct stimulation by SiO(2), but related to the mediator (TGF-beta(1)) secreted by SiO(2) stimulated macrophages.</p>

Transforming growth factor-beta1 induced phenotypic differentiation of human lung fibroblasts through mitogen activated protein kinase-dependent pathway / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of MAPK signal transduction in TGF-beta1 induced phenotypic differentiation of human lung fibroblasts.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Human lung fibroblasts cell line (HLF-02) were cultured and then stimulated with 10 ng/ml TGF-beta1 for different time; SB203580 or PD98059 was added into culture medium to prevent p38 or Erk kinase pathway before incubating with TGF-beta1; the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR; Western blotting was used to assay phosphorylation of p38, Erk, and JNK kinase.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In the process of stimulation by TGF-beta1, the alpha-SMA mRNA expression levels of 24, 48 and 72 h groups were 1.87 +/- 0.11, 2.49 +/- 0.10, 3.02 +/- 0.15 respectively; and the alpha-SMA protein expression levels of 24, 48 and 72 h groups were 3.20 +/- 0.14, 3.96 +/- 0.21, 4.57 +/- 0.13 respectively. (2) TGF-beta1 induced p38, Erk kinase phosphorylation but not JNK kinase. (3) The inhibitors SB203580 and PD98059 suppressed TGF-beta1-induced p38 kinase and Erk phosphorylation respectively. (4) SB203580 significantly attenuated TGF-beta1-induced alpha-SMA mRNA and protein expression (inhibition rate: 30% and 40%); PD98059 also significantly inhibited TGF-beta1-induced alpha-SMA mRNA and protein expression (inhibition rate: 10% and 20%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TGF-beta1 is capable of inducing the phenotypic differentiation of HLF-02, which is regulated by p38 and Erk kinase signal pathway.</p>

Expression of early growth response gene-1 in macrophages stimulated by silicon dioxide / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression and localization of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) in macrophages after stimulation by silicon dioxide in vivo and in vitro and to discuss the role of Egr-1 in the development of silicosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of Egr-1 in animal model of silicosis was analyzed by using immunohistochemistry. Western-blot, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR analysis were used to detect the expression and localization of Egr-1 protein and the dynamic changes of Egr-1 mRNA in cultured macrophages RAW264.7, after stimulation by silicon dioxide.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In animal model with induced silicosis, there was an increased expression of Egr-1 in pulmonary macrophages. The expression levels peaked at the 14th day. In vitro, the transcription of Egr-1 increased in RAW264.7 macrophages during 15 to 240 minutes after the administration of silicon dioxide. The response peaked at 15 minutes and diminished to a minimal level at 480 minutes. Nuclear translocation was most apparent at 60 minutes, lasted till 120 minutes and diminished gradually. During the period from 60 to 120 minutes, the expression of Egr-1 protein also reached a peak.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Silicon dioxide can activate the nuclear transcription factor Egr-1 in vivo and in vitro in macrophages. Egr-1 may thus play an important pathogenetic role in the development of silicosis.</p>