Childhood maltreatment influences suicidal behavior: Rumination mediates and regulatory emotional self-efficacy moderates.

To investigate the mediating role of rumination in the association between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behavior, and the moderating role of regulatory emotional self-efficacy, university students (N = 1,458) from 5 universities in China completed questionnaires in classrooms. Path analyses showed emotional maltreatment had the greatest positive association with suicidal behavior and rumination compared with other types of childhood maltreatment. Rumination partly mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and suicidal behavior. High regulatory emotional self-efficacy moderated the relation between ruminating childhood maltreatment and suicidal behavior.

The relationship between different types of caries and periodontal disease severity in middle-aged and elderly people: findings from the 4th National Oral Health Survey of China.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between dental caries and periodontal disease is still controversial. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between different types of caries and periodontal disease severity in middle-aged and elderly people in China. METHODS: The study population consisted of 4407 middle-aged and 4117 elderly subjects. Caries were divided into the following three types: type A, crown caries; type B, lesions involving both the crown and root, representing mixed-type caries; and type C, root caries. These three types together represent the overall caries situation, which we call type ABC. Caries were quantitated by decayed and filled teeth (DFT index). Periodontitis was evaluated by clinical attachment loss. RESULTS: Middle-aged people with periodontitis had a significant association with DFT type B (OR: 1.21, 95% CI 1.17-1.25) and type C (OR: 1.40, 95% CI 1.24-1.56). Elderly people with periodontitis had a significant association with DFT type C (OR: 1.28, 95% CI 1.21-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: In China, caries types B/C were positively correlated with periodontitis in the middle-aged group, and only caries type C was positively correlated with periodontitis in the elderly group.

A two-week single-group longitudinal test of a new sonic-powered toothbrush simulating the 'bass brushing technique' with tapered bristles on the brush head for reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a new powered toothbrush with tapered bristles on the brush head for the reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis. METHODS: This was a single-centre, single-group, longitudinal clinical trial. Thirty-two participants who were typical manual toothbrush users were recruited and assigned the sonic-powered brush. Interviews were arranged on the 1st , 4th , and 15th days which represented the baseline (T1 ), middle (T2 ) and final (T3 ) time points, respectively. At each visit, the plaque index (PlI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) were recorded for the Ramfjord index teeth, gingival crevicular fluid(GCF) samples were collected and the proportions of eight periodontal pathogenic bacteria were analysed. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparisons at different time points. RESULTS: PlI was significantly reduced by 41.67% from T1 to T2 (p<0.001) and decreased by 18.57% from T2 to T3 (p=0.003). GI also varied significantly from T1 to T2 (p=0.018) and T1 to T3 (p=0.037). A 35.86% reduction in the BOP percentage occurred after using the sonic-powered toothbrush for 3 days (p=0.001). However, no significant difference was observed in the mean values of PD at different examination intervals (p=0.529). There was no significant difference in the proportions of bacteria between T1 and T3 (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: This research demonstrated the efficacy of the sonic-powered brush handle together with tapered bristles on the brush in reducing plaque and gingivitis within a short time period.

DNA methylation mechanism of intracellular zinc deficiency-induced injury in primary hippocampal neurons in the rat brain.

OBJECTIVE: To explore Zn2+ deficiency-induced neuronal injury in relation to DNA methylation, providing valuable data and basic information for clarifying the mechanism of Zn2+ deficiency-induced neuronal injury. METHODS: Cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to the cell membrane-permeant Zn2+ chelator N,N,N',N'-Tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN) (2 µM), and to TPEN (2 µM) plus ZnSO4 (5 µM) for 24 hours. We analyzed intracellular Zn2+ levels, neuronal viability, and protein/mRNA levels for DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), DNA (cytosine-5-) methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3a), methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible, beta (GADD45b) in the treated neurons. RESULTS: We found that exposure of hippocampal neurons to TPEN (2 µM) for 24 hours significantly reduced intracellular Zn2+ concentration and neuronal viability. Furthermore, DNMT3a, DNMT1, BDNF, and GADD45b protein levels in TPEN-treated neurons were significantly downregulated, whereas MeCP2 levels were, as expected, upregulated. In addition, DNMT3a and DNMT1 mRNA levels in TPEN-treated neurons were downregulated, while MeCP2, GADD45b, and BDNF mRNA were largely upregulated. Addition of ZnSO4 (5 µM) almost completely reversed the TPEN-induced alterations. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that free Zn2+ deficiency-induced hippocampal neuronal injury correlates with free Zn2+ deficiency-induced changes in methylation-related protein gene expression including DNMT3a/DNMT1/MeCP2 and GADD45b, as well as BDNF gene expression.

Relationship between the genetic polymorphisms of vicR and vicK Streptococcus mutans genes and early childhood caries in two-year-old children.

BACKGROUND: The VicRK two-component signalling system regulates virulence and cariogenicity in Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). The purpose of this study was to explore the genetic polymorphisms of the vicR and vicK genes, which are associated with dental caries in children with S. mutans. METHODS: In this study, 121 (from each group) clinical S. mutans strains were isolated from caries-free children and children with high-severity caries to sequence the vicR and vicK genes. Genomic DNA was extracted from S. mutans strains and amplified using PCR. The PCR products were purified and sequenced. A chi-squared test and ABI Variant Reporter software were used to analyse the sequencing results. RESULTS: The 242 clinically isolated S. mutans strains contained the full-length vicR and vicK genes. No nucleotide sequence insertions or deletions were observed in the two genes. Four silent point mutations were identified in the vicR genes, and no missense mutations could be detected. Forty-one mutations were identified in the vicK genes. In addition to 32 silent mutations, 9 missense mutations at the 173, 337, 470, 1051, 1132, 1258, 1260, 1277, and 1348 bp positions were found. The distribution frequencies of the missense mutations were not significantly different between the groups, except for the C470T mutation. The frequency of the C470T missense mutation was higher in the high-severity caries group than in the caries-free group. CONCLUSIONS: vicR sequences are highly conserved in S. mutans clinical isolates. The locus 470 missense mutation of the vicK gene may be related to caries in children with S. mutans.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 protects against renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury by attenuating mitochondrial damage and proinflammatory signalling.

Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (I/RI) is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The molecular basis underlying I/RI-induced renal pathogenesis and measures to prevent or reverse this pathologic process remains to be resolved. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is reported to have protective roles of myocardial infarction as well as in several other I/R related disorders. Herein we present evidence that FGF2 exhibits robust protective effect against renal histological and functional damages in a rat I/RI model. FGF2 treatment greatly alleviated I/R-induced acute renal dysfunction and largely blunted I/R-induced elevation in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, and also the number of TUNEL-positive tubular cells in the kidney. Mechanistically, FGF2 substantially ameliorated renal I/RI by mitigating several mitochondria damaging parameters including pro-apoptotic alteration of Bcl2/Bax expression, caspase-3 activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and KATP channel integrity. Of note, the protective effect of FGF2 was significantly compromised by the KATP channel blocker 5-HD. Interestingly, I/RI alone resulted in mild activation of FGFR, whereas FGF2 treatment led to more robust receptor activation. More significantly, post-I/RI administration of FGF2 also exhibited robust protection against I/RI by reducing cell apoptosis, inhibiting the release of damage-associated molecular pattern molecule HMBG1 and activation of its downstream inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-6 and TNF α. Taken together, our data suggest that FGF2 offers effective protection against I/RI and improves animal survival by attenuating mitochondrial damage and HMGB1-mediated inflammatory response. Therefore, FGF2 has the potential to be used for the prevention and treatment of I/RI-induced AKI.

[Research on Temperature Detection System Based on Improved Fiber Bragg Grating].

Traditional temperature detection system based on Fiber Bragg Grating is suitable for large-scale, real-time multi-point temperature detection field. But its stability of temperature response is poor, shift amount of Bragg grating center wavelength is poor linearity with temperature variation. In order to improve the stability for system and temperature detection accuracy of the system, an improved temperature detection system based on Fiber Bragg Grating was designed. The method of dual fiber parallel acquisition for temperature data was used on the same point, and then center wavelength data was differentially processed. It was realized that the random errors of the system were effectively real-time eliminated in the process temperature. The function relationships of center wavelength shift amount of Fiber Bragg Grating and temperature variation was derived in this mode, and the new structure of the probes for Fiber Bragg Grating was designed. In the experiments, measurement data of Improved temperature detection system based on Fiber Bragg Grating was compared with the data of traditional system. Experimental results show that temperature measurement accuracy of improved system was up to 0.5 degrees C, and its accuracy has been improved compared to conventional systems. Meanwhile, the measurement error was significantly better than traditional systems. It proved that the design can improve the stability of temperature detection for the system.

[A Method to Measure the Velocity of Fragments of Large Equivalence Explosion Field Based on Explosion Flame Spectral Analysis].

The deflagration fire lasting for a long time and covering a large area in the process of large equivalent explosion makes it difficult to obtain velocity parameters of fragments in the near-field. In order to solve the problem, it is proposed in this paper a photoelectric transceiver integrated method which utilize laser screen as the sensing area. The analysis of three different types of warhead explosion flame spectral distribution of radiation shows that 0.3 to 1.0 µm within the band is at relatively low intensity. On the basis of this, the optical system applies the principle of determining the fixed distance by measuring the time and the reflector technology, which consists of single longitudinal mode laser, cylindrical Fresnel lens, narrow-band filters and high-speed optical sensors, etc. The system has its advantage, such as transceiver, compact structure and combination of narrowband filter and single longitudinal mode laser, which can stop the spectrum of fire from suppressing the interference of background light effectively. Large amounts of experiments in different models and equivalent have been conducted to measure the velocity of difference kinds of warheads, obtaining higher signal-to-noise ratio of the waveform signal after a series of signal de-noising and recognition through NI company data acquisition and recording system. The experimental results show that this method can complete the accurately test velocity of fragments around center of the explosion. Specifically, the minimum size of fragments can be measured is 4 mm while the speed can be obtained is up to 1 200 m x s(-1) and the capture rate is better than 95% comparing with test results of target plate. At the same time, the system adopts Fresnel lenses-transparent to form a rectangular screen, which makes the distribution of rectangular light uniform in vertical direction, and the light intensity uniformity in horizontal direction is more than 80%. Consequently, the system can distinguish preliminarily the correspondence between the velocity and the sizes of prefabricated fragments.

Ginsenoside-Rg1 inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats.

AIM: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) are implicated in many fibrotic diseases, including renal fibrosis. Whether Ginsenoside-Rg1 (G-Rg1) could attenuate renal fibrosis via suppression of ER stress and UPR has not been reported. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of G-Rg1 on ER stress and UPR-induced apoptosis in kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rat model. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and G-Rg1 treatment group. G-Rg1 was administered to rats by intraperitoneal injection. Renal interstitial fibrosis in the model group was developed by UUO in rats. Renal function was estimated by the levels of serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Renal pathological damage was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome staining. The ER stress was assessed with glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78 expression, and the proapoptotic response was detected with CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and caspase-12 expressions by Western Blot. The number of apoptotic cells was determined by Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Mediated Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) analysis. RESULTS: UUO for 14 days aggravated renal function, renal damage and renal interstitial fibrosis, activated ER stress response (induction of GRP78 protein), enhanced the proapoptotic response (increase in CHOP and caspase-12 proteins) and increased the number of apoptotic cells (shown by the TUNEL assay). Treatment with G-Rg1 significantly ameliorates the renal pathological lesions and decreases expressions of ER stress-associated proteins and the level of apoptotic cells in kidneys. CONCLUSION: G-Rg1 suppresses renal cell apoptotic and fibrotic process partly through inhibition of ERS- and UPR-related apoptotic pathway in the kidneys after UUO.

Genetic polymorphisms of the sortase A gene and social-behavioural factors associated with caries in children: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the primary etiological agent of dental caries. Sortase is a transpeptidase that anchors several surface proteins to the S. mutans cell wall and has been shown to play a major role in cariogenicity. The purpose of this study was to explore the genetic polymorphisms of the sortase gene (srtA) and the social-behavioural factors associated with dental caries in children with S. mutans. METHODS: In this case-control study, 121 S. mutans strains were separately selected from caries-free children and high-severity caries children for sequencing of the srtA gene. Social and behavioural data were collected by self-administered questionnaires. Genomic DNA was extracted from S. mutans strains and amplified by PCR to obtain the srtA gene. The purified PCR products were sequenced and analysed for mutations with ABI Variant Reporter software. The distribution of missense mutations and the mean of social-behavioural factors were compared between the groups. A multiple logistic regression model was used to control for confounding factors. RESULTS: The mutation frequencies at loci 168 (P = 0.023) and 470 (P = 0.032) were significantly different between the groups. The best-fitting model showed that greater age, high frequencies of solid sugar consumption, prolonged breastfeeding, a high proportion of visible plaque, and S. mutans with a T at locus 168 of the srtA gene were associated with high-severity caries in children (P < 0.05). Children carrying a G at locus 168 of S. mutans had a decreased risk for high-severity caries (OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.12-0.86) compared with those carrying a T. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggested that the locus 168 missense mutation of the srtA gene may correlate with caries susceptibility in children with S. mutans. In addition, age, duration of breastfeeding, solid sugar consumption, and poor oral hygiene contributed to this complex disease.

[Comparison of phenotypic features between patients with X-linked and autosomal recessive Alport syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To further improve the recognition of Alport syndrome. METHODS: The patients with COL4A3, COL4A4 or COL4A5 mutations, admitted to Department of Pediatric, Peking University First Hospital from 2005 to 2009, were retrospectively studied. Their clinical and ultrastructural characteristics were compared between the male patients with X-linked dominant inheritance Alport syndrome (XLAS) and the patients with autosomal recessive inheritance Alport syndrome (ARAS). RESULTS: There were 54 male patients with XLAS and 14 patients with ARAS. Compared with the male patients with XLAS, episodic gross hematuria was prominent (P<0.001) in patients with ARAS. Family history was also different between the two groups (P=0.016). However, there was no significant difference in the age of identification of symptoms, initial manifestations, levels of proteinuria, extrarenal signs and ultra-structural glomerular basement membrane changes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: There are some features that distinguish between the patients with XLAS and the patients with ARAS.

[Analysis of mineral elements in different organs at different harvesting times of Schizonepeta tenuifolia on ICP-AES].

UNLABELLED: To study the main storage organ of each mineral element in Schizonepeta tenuifolia, and explain its reasonable harvesting time and medicinal parts in view of mineral elements. The mineral elements of Schizonepeta tenuifolia in different organs at different harvesting times were determined by ICP-AES technique. The mineral elements, K, Ca, Na, P, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mo, were determined in the study. The results showed that at different harvesting times, (1) the contents of K, P, Cu in fringe and the contents of Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn in leaf were highest among different organs. (2) among the macroelements, the contents of K and Ca were highest while the content of Na was lowest; among the microelements, the content of Fe was highest while the content of Mo was lowest. (3) in item, the proportion of K:P was highest while the proportion of Zn: Cu was lowest; in fringe, the proportions of Ca:Mg and Fe:Mn were lowest. (4) within the harvest period, variations of the mineral elements were not obvious. CONCLUSIONS: In the stem of Schizonepeta tenuifolia, the contents of every mineral elements were lower than other organs, including leaves and spikes. Considering the mineral elements, the correlations of harvesting time and content change were not remarkable.

[HPLC specific chromatograms of drug pair of schizonepetae herba and saposhnikoviae radix].

In this experiment, the HPLC specific chromatogram was adopted, with Agilent Extend-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) as the chromatographic column, and 0.5 per thousand trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase for gradient elution, so as to establish specific chromatograms for drug pair of Schizonepetae Herba and Saposhnikoviae Radix from different producing area, identify 12 common characteristic peaks, and obtain the comparison specific chromatography of drug pair of Schizonepetae Herba and Saposhnikoviae Radix. The method is simple, accurate and highly reproducible, and thus can be used as the basis for the quality control of the drug pair.

Upstream and downstream regulators of Klotho expression in chronic kidney disease.

Klotho is a critical protein that protects the kidney. Klotho is severely downregulated in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and its deficiency is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of CKD. Conversely, an increase in Klotho levels results in improved kidney function and delays CKD progression, supporting the notion that modulating Klotho levels could represent a possible therapeutic strategy for CKD treatment. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms responsible for the loss of Klotho remain elusive. Previous studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic modifications can modulate Klotho levels. These mechanisms result in a decrease in Klotho mRNA transcript levels and reduced translation, thus can be grouped together as upstream regulatory mechanisms. However, therapeutic strategies that aim to rescue Klotho levels by targeting these upstream mechanisms do not always result in increased Klotho, indicating the involvement of other regulatory mechanisms. Emerging evidence has shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, the unfolded protein response, and ER-associated degradation also affect the modification, translocation, and degradation of Klotho, and thus are proposed to be downstream regulatory mechanisms. Here, we discuss the current understanding of upstream and downstream regulatory mechanisms of Klotho and examine potential therapeutic strategies to upregulate Klotho expression for CKD treatment.

Potential application of Klotho as a prognostic biomarker for patients with diabetic kidney disease: a meta-analysis of clinical studies.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a serious diabetic complication and the performance of serum Klotho in DKD's prognostic evaluation is controversial. Objective: To assess the association of serum Klotho with adverse kidney and non-kidney clinical outcomes in patients with DKD. Design: Clinical studies regarding the relationship of serum Klotho with DKD were included. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Subgroup and sensitive analyses were performed to search for the source of heterogeneity. Data sources and methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases up to 27 September 2022. The associations of Klotho with albuminuria, such as the urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), kidney outcomes such as persistent albuminuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate decline, and non-kidney outcomes such as diabetic retinopathy, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality, were evaluated. The indicators, such as the correlation coefficient (r), odds ratio (OR), relative risk, and hazard ratio, were retrieved or calculated from the eligible studies. Results: In all, 17 studies involving 5682 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. There was no significant association of serum Klotho with UACR in DKD patients [summary r, -0.28 (-0.55, 0.04)] with high heterogeneity. By contrast, a strong association was observed regarding serum Klotho with kidney outcomes [pooled OR, 1.60 (1.15, 2.23)], non-kidney outcomes [pooled OR, 2.78 (2.11, 3.66)], or combined kidney and non-kidney outcomes [pooled OR, 1.96 (1.45, 2.65)] with moderate heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis indicated that age, study design, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate may be the sources of heterogeneity. Conclusion: A decreased serum Klotho level is possibly associated with an increased risk of developing kidney and non-kidney clinical outcomes in DKD patients; thus, Klotho may be a possible biomarker to predict DKD clinical outcomes. Additional studies are needed to clarify and validate Klotho's prognostic value.

[Application of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in gene diagnosis of X-linked Alport syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) in the gene diagnosis of X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS). METHODS: MLPA was used to detect and confirm large deletion mutations in COL4A5 gene in 3 XLAS patients with deletion mutation from cDNA. RESULTS: Patient 1 had a deletion from exons 22 to 24 in COL4A5 gene, patient 2 a deletion of exon 30 in COL4A5 gene and patient 3 a deletion of exons 1 and 2 in COL4A5 gene and exons 1 and 2 in COL4A6 gene. All these mutations were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and MLPA coincidently. CONCLUSION: As a new method for gene diagnosis of XLAS, MLPA can be used to detect large deletion mutations in COL4A5 gene.

Prognostic value of PaO2/FiO2, SOFA and D-dimer in elderly patients with sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value for predicting mortality of partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2), the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and D-dimer in elderly patients with sepsis. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled elderly patients with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between January 2019 and October 2020. Patients were divided into a survival group and a non-survival group. Biomarkers, SOFA, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Glasgow Coma Scale scores were recorded within 24 h after admission to the ICU. RESULTS: A total of 135 elderly patients with sepsis were enrolled in the study: 89 were in the survival group and 46 were in the non-survival group at 28 days. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that PaO2/FiO2, SOFA and D-dimer were independently associated with 28-day mortality. The predictive performance for mortality of the combination of PaO2/FiO2, SOFA score and D-dimer (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.926) was higher than the values for the individual factors (0.761, 0.745 and 0.878, respectively). CONCLUSION: The combination of PaO2/FiO2, SOFA score and D-dimer represents a promising tool and biomarker for predicting 28-day mortality of the elderly patients with sepsis.

The controversy of klotho as a potential biomarker in chronic kidney disease.

Klotho is an identified longevity gene with beneficial pleiotropic effects on the kidney. Evidence shows that a decline in serum Klotho level occurs in early chronic kidney disease (CKD) and continues as CKD progresses. Klotho deficiency is associated with poor clinical outcomes and CKD mineral bone disorders (CKD-MBD). Klotho has been postulated as a candidate biomarker in the evaluation of CKD. However, the evidence for the clinical significance of the relationship between Klotho and kidney function, CKD stage, adverse kidney and/or non-kidney outcomes, and CKD-MBD remains inconsistent and in some areas, contradictory. Therefore, there is uncertainty as to whether Klotho is a potential biomarker in CKD; a general consensus regarding the clinical significance of Klotho in CKD has not been reached, and there is limited evidence synthesis in this area. To address this, we have systematically assessed the areas of controversy, focusing on the inconsistencies in the evidence base. We used a PICOM strategy to search for relevant studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scoring to evaluate included publications. We reviewed the inconsistent clinical findings based on the relationship of Klotho with CKD stage, kidney and/or non-kidney adverse outcomes, and CKD-MBD in human studies. Subsequently, we assessed the underlying sources of the controversies and highlighted future directions to resolve these inconsistencies and clarify whether Klotho has a role as a biomarker in clinical practice in CKD.

[Relationship between BRCA1 mRNA expression in tumor cells from malignant effusions and chemosensitivity to cisplatin in patients with metastatic malignant effusions].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mRNA expression of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) in tumor cells isolated from malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions, and the predictive role of BRCA1 related to the efficacy of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. METHODS: Tumor cells were isolated from malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions of 31 cancer patients. The response of these tumor cells to cisplatin was determined by CCK8 assay. Real time quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the BRCA1 mRNA level in the primary culture cancer cells. RESULTS: The expression level of BRCA1 mRNA was 0.618 (0.014 - 18.063) in primary culture tumor cells. The IC(50) of DDP was 2.809 µg/ml in the primary culture tumor cells (0.118 - 19.439 µg/ml). Both BRCA1 mRNA expression and the tumor cells IC(50) of DDP were not significantly related with patient age, gender, the type of primary tumor, whether to accept the chemotherapy and effusion type (P > 0.05). The level of BRCA1 mRNA was negatively correlated with the chemosensitivity in terms of IC(50) of cisplatin (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Assessment of expression level of BRCA1 mRNA may be useful in predicting the efficacy of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic malignant effusions.

Multicenter analysis and a rapid screening model to predict early novel coronavirus pneumonia using a random forest algorithm.

ABSTRACT: Early determination of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia from numerous suspected cases is critical for the early isolation and treatment of patients.The purpose of the study was to develop and validate a rapid screening model to predict early COVID-19 pneumonia from suspected cases using a random forest algorithm in China.A total of 914 initially suspected COVID-19 pneumonia in multiple centers were prospectively included. The computer-assisted embedding method was used to screen the variables. The random forest algorithm was adopted to build a rapid screening model based on the training set. The screening model was evaluated by the confusion matrix and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in the validation.The rapid screening model was set up based on 4 epidemiological features, 3 clinical manifestations, decreased white blood cell count and lymphocytes, and imaging changes on chest X-ray or computed tomography. The area under the ROC curve was 0.956, and the model had a sensitivity of 83.82% and a specificity of 89.57%. The confusion matrix revealed that the prospective screening model had an accuracy of 87.0% for predicting early COVID-19 pneumonia.Here, we developed and validated a rapid screening model that could predict early COVID-19 pneumonia with high sensitivity and specificity. The use of this model to screen for COVID-19 pneumonia have epidemiological and clinical significance.