Mediating effects of attitude on the relationship between knowledge and willingness to organ donation among nursing students.

Background: The current rate of organ donation in China falls significantly below the global average and the actual demand. Nursing students play a crucial role in supporting and promoting social and public welfare activities. This study primary aims to analyze the levels of knowledge, attitudes, willingness toward organ donation, and attitudes toward death among nursing students, and investigate the mediating role of attitude in the relationship between knowledge and willingness. The secondary aims to identify factors that may influence the willingness. Methods: A convenience sample of nursing students completed online-administered questionnaires measuring the level of knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward organ donation before and after clinical internship. Spearman correlation and mediation analyses were used for data analyses. Results: Before the clinical internship, there were 435 nursing students who had not yet obtained their degrees and were completing their clinical internships. After the internship, this number decreased to 323. The mean score for knowledge before and after the clinical internship (7.17 before and 7.22 after, with no significant difference), the attitude (4.58 before and 4.36 after, with significant difference), the willingness (12.41% before and 8.67% after, with significant difference), the Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) score (94.41 before and 92.56 after, with significant difference). The knowledge indirectly affected nursing students' willingness to organ donation through attitude. Knowledge had a direct and positive impact on attitudes (ß = 1.564). Additionally, nursing students' attitudes positively affected their willingness (ß = 0.023). Attitudes played a mediating role in the relationship between knowledge and willingness (ß = 0.035). Additionally, attitude toward death, fear of death, and acceptance of the concept of escape were found to be correlated with their willingness. Conclusion: Organ donation willingness was found to be low among nursing students. Positive attitudes were identified as a mediating factor between knowledge and willingness. Additionally, DAP-R was a related factor. Therefore, it is recommended to focus on improving knowledge and attitude, as well as providing death education to help nursing students establish a positive attitude toward death. These efforts can contribute to the promotion of organ donation.

Reduction of NADPH oxidase 4 in adipocytes contributes to the anti-obesity effect of dihydroartemisinin.

Artemisinin derivatives have been found to have anti-obesity effects recently, but the mechanism is still controversial. Herein, long-term DHA treatment in obese mice significantly reduced the body weight and improved glucose metabolism. However, short-term DHA treatment did not affect glucose metabolism in obese mice, suggesting that the improved glucose metabolism in mice with DHA treatment could be secondary to body weight reduction. Consistent with previous reports, we observed that DHA inhibited the differentiation of adipocytes. Mechanistically, DHA significantly reduced the expression of NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) in white adipose tissue (WAT) of mice and differentiated adipocytes, and using NOX4 siRNA or the NOX4 inhibitor GKT137831 significantly attenuated adipocyte differentiation. Over-expression of NOX4 partially reversed the inhibition effect of DHA on adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes. In addition, targeted proteomics analysis showed that DHA improved the abnormality of metabolic pathways. In conclusion, DHA significantly reduced fat mass and improved glucose metabolism in obese mice, possibly by inhibiting NOX4 expression to suppress adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation in adipocytes.

Anti-inflammatory role of fenofibrate in treating diseases.

Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of several diseases. Fenofibrate, known as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor - α (PPAR-α) agonist, is a classic drug for treating hyperlipidemia. In addition to its lipid-lowering effect, fenofibrate has also been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects with complicated underlying mechanisms of action. In general, the anti-inflammatory effect of fenofibrate is secondary to its lipid-lowering effect, especially for the inflammation caused by hyperlipidemia in the circulatory system. Some anti-inflammatory actions may also come from its regulatory effects on intracellular lipid metabolism by activating PPAR-α. In addition, some roles in anti-inflammation might be mediated by its direct regulation of inflammatory signaling pathways. In order to understand anti-inflammatory activities and the underlying mechanisms of fenofibrate action in disease better, we herein reviewed and discussed the anti-inflammatory roles and its subserving mechanisms in various diseases of different organ systems. Thus, this review offers insights into the optimal use of fenofibrate in the clinical setting.

Analysis and countermeasures of the status of post-doctor management in a grade A tertiary pubic hospital in Beijing / 中华医学科研管理杂志

Objective:Medical post-doctors are important young talents in the field of medical research, to whom the management and training play an important roles in promoting the development of medical research. To improve the academic capacity and training quality of medical post-doctor, this article analyzed the status and problems of post-doctor management, and put forward countermeasures in a grade A tertiary pubic hospital in Beijing.Methods:Questionnaire survey and in-depth interview were used to survey the source, training mode, stress and satisfaction among 17 postdocs from 2016 to 2020.Results:The source of postdocs was limited, and there were a few interdisciplinary postdocs. After scientific research training, many postdocs can significantly improve their scientific research capacity; Most of the postdocs were under great pressure, which is mainly caused by scientific research and economic pressure. Key disciplines and cooperative supervisors are scientific research talents, which have high academic requirements for postdocs. Most postdocs are satisfied with their salary. Cooperative supervisors generally give full play to scientific research and clinical guidance, but lack of mental health guidance; Most postdocs have a low sense of belonging.Conclusions:The article proposed following measurements, including intensity propaganda, strengthen three-level management, enhance the sense of belonging, strengthen the management of cooperative supervisors, pay more attention to psychological counseling, relieve pressure, to improve the scientific research capacity and quality of medical postdocs.

Covered Stenting Is an Effective Option for Traumatic Carotid Pseudoaneurysm with Promising Long-Term Outcome

Objective@#: Covered stenting is an optional strategy for traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm, especially in malignant conditions of potential rupture, but the long-term outcomes are not clear. Our aim was to determine if covered stenting is an effective option for traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm with promising long-term outcomes. @*Methods@#: Self-expanding Viabahn and balloon-expandable Willis covered stents were separately implanted for extra- and intracranial traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm. The covered stent was placed across the distal and proximal pseudoaneurysm leakage under roadmap guidance. Procedural success was defined as technical success (complete exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and patency of the parent artery) without a primary end point (any stroke or death within 30 days after the procedure). Longterm outcomes were evaluated as ischemic stroke in the territory of the qualifying artery by clinical follow-up through outpatient or telephone consultation and as the exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and patency of the parent artery by imaging follow-up through angiography. @*Results@#: Five patients with traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm who underwent covered stenting were enrolled. The procedural success rate was 100%. No ischemic stroke in the territory of the qualifying artery was recorded in any of the five patients during a mean clinical follow-up of 44±16 months. Complete exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and patency of the parent artery were maintained in all five patients during a mean imaging follow-up of 39±16 months. @*Conclusion@#: Satisfactory procedural and long-term outcomes were obtained, suggesting that covered stenting is an effective option for traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm.

Theoretical and Clinical Evidences of Dispelling Wind and Eliminating Dampness Therapy for Allergic Rhinitis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The pathological mechanism of allergic rhinitis (AR) involves hierarchically acute and chronic reactions among antigens, immunocytes, immunoglobulins and inflammatory factors. AR, which is characterized by heterogeneity, reacts differently to the current treatment on diverse individuals. Some patients receive unsatisfying clinical outcomes after the treatment. Chinese herbal medicine has become a frequent option to treat AR because it can improve clinical symptoms with excellent safety. The description of Biqiu in ancient Chinese medical literatures is very similar to the clinical manifestation of AR. The major pathogeneses of Biqiu included infection of wind-cold pathogens, deficiency and cold in the lung, and evil depression into heat and wind. Therefore, in modern traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）, Biqiu is considered as an integration of AR, allergic sinusitis and vasomotor rhinitis. According to the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of Biqiu (including AR), this disease belongs to wind disease in TCM. But modern TCM focuses on deficiency of internal organs and ignores wind evil in syndrome differentiation, contrary to the fact that wind medicine is always used in treating AR. This even leads to an abnormal phenomenon that clinical studies attach little importance to syndrome differentiation. In this paper, we started from the phenomenon that wind medicine is always used in TCM for AR, considering TCM literatures and the study results of modern therapy for wind diseases, and put forward the ideas as follows: AR belongs to exogenous wind disease in TCM, and wind pathogen is the major pathogen, in clinical syndrome differentiation, we should attach more importance to wind evil, and dispelling wind and eliminating dampness is the key to treatment. Meanwhile, based on the fact that most of the classical prescriptions with good effectiveness for AR originated from Treatise on Febrile Disease, mainly including the wind medicines for treating exogenous diseases, it can be inferred that the wind-dispelling and itch-arresting effects of wind medicines are helpful to alleviate or block the allergic reaction of nasal mucus and achieve the goal of relieving itching and sneezing, and the wind-dispelling and dampness-eliminating effects are helpful to alleviate the edema of nasal mucus and achieve the goal of relieving running nose and nasal obstruction. In modern researches, it is also found that classical prescriptions which take wind medicine as a principle component and wind medicine used in AR treatment have good anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and immune function adjusting effects. This indicates that dispelling wind and eliminating dampness and the wind medicine treatment under its instruction not only correspond to TCM theory, but also have modern science evidences.

DL-CNV: A deep learning method for identifying copy number variations based on next generation target sequencing.

Copy number variations (CNVs) play an important role in many types of cancer. With the rapid development of next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, many methods for detecting CNVs of a single sample have emerged: (i) require genome-wide data of both case and control samples, (ii) depend on sequencing depth and GC content correction algorithm, (iii) rely on statistical models built on CNV positive and negative sample datasets. These make them costly in the data analysis and ineffective in the targeted sequencing data. In this study, we developed a novel alignment-free method called DL-CNV to call CNV from the target sequencing data of a single sample. Specifically, we collected two sets of samples. The first set consists of 1301 samples, in which 272 have CNVs in ERBB2 and the second set is composed of 1148 samples with 63 samples containing CNVs in MET. Finally, we found that a testing AUC of 0.9454 for ERBB2 and 0.9220 for MET. Furthermore, we hope to make the CNV detection could be more accurate with clinical "gold standard" (e.g. FISH) information and provide a new research direction, which can be used as the supplement to the existing NGS methods.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Acute Lung Injury Through Inducing M2 Macrophage Polarization / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】 To investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells （MSC）can alleviate acute lung injury by inducing alveolar macrophages to polarize to M2 phenotype. 【Methods】 Umbilical cord MSC was extracted by adherent method and cell phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. The differentiation along osteogenic and adipogenic pathways were assessed by histological staining in vitro. Mouse alveolar macrophage cell line（MH- S cells）which was stimulated by LPS was isolated co-culture with MSC and MSC soluble factor inhibitor was added. We set up three groups （LPS， LPS+MSC ，and MSC inhibitor）. After being cultured for 48 hours ，the macrophage polarization was analyzed by flow cytometry and qPCR. Thirty balb/c male mice were randomly divided into control group（n = 10），ALI group（n = 10）， and ALI+MSC group（n = 10）. LPS was instilled intranasally to establish acute lung injury model in mice. After treatment with MSC for 48 hours ，HE staining of lung tissue was performed for damage assessment. The alveolar lavage fluid （BALF）was obtained and the cells in BALF were analyzed by flow cytometry and qPCR to detect the expression of M2-type macrophage markers including CD206，IL10 and Arg1. The concentration of M1-type macrophage marker TNF-α in the supernatant was measured by ELISA. 【Results】 MSC showed adherent growth and had the ability of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. MSC can induce MH- S cells to polarize to M2 type and with a significant increase of CD206 positive proportion cells （P<0.05）. Prostaglandin E2 （PGE2） inhibitors can reverse this effect. Mouse ALI model was successful. After treatment with MSC，the pathology and lung injury score was significantly improved. The proportion of CD206 positive macrophages in alveolar lavage fluid in ALI + MSC group was significantly higher than that in ALI group. The expression of CD206 and IL-10 in mRNA level was significantly higher in ALI+MSC group than that in ALI group. The concentration of inflammatory cytokine TNF- α in alveolar lavage fluid was significantly lower in the ALI+ MSC group than in the ALI group（P<0.05）.【Conclusion】Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can effectively alleviate acute lung injury induced by LPS in mice via PEG2 to induce macrophage to polarize to M2 type.

Anticoagulant effects of Rivaroxaban after surgical fixation of spinal fracture.

In recent years, the concept of treatment after surgery in the department of orthopedics has changed from hemostasis to anticoagulant. This article analyses the safety and effectiveness of anticoagulants for prophylactic anticoagulants after spinal fractures. By analyzing the incidence of bleeding and VTE in 2 weeks after operation, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05), but the incidence of VTE in rivaroxaban group was significantly lower than that in control group. In conclusion, the rivaroxaban oral anticoagulants are stable, safe and easy to use. It significantly reduced the incidence of VTE after spinal fracture and nerve injury, and did not increase the risk of bleeding. It is an ideal type of prophylactic anticoagulant after the operation of spinal fracture, which is worthy of further clinical study.

Effects of thickness of osteotomy on biomechanics of tibia cross-section in total knee arthroplasty / 医用生物力学

Objective To obtain biomechanical conditions of the tibia section with different osteotomy thickness under different activity states, so as to provide theoretical basis for osteotomy thickness in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and activities of patients after operation. Methods The three-dimensional models of the lower limb were reconstructed and the proximal tibia was resected by 0 mm,5 mm,7 mm,9 mm respectively based on the principle of bone resection in TKA. The tibia model after osteotomy were assigned the material properties and the stress and strain of the tibia cross-section were analyzed under the following activity states: standing, walking, running and going upstairs. Results The stress and displacement of the tibia cross-section increased with the increase in osteotomy thickness under the same activity state. The maximum stress and displacement of tibia cross-section increased in general with the same osteotomy thickness, when the strength of activity increased. Conclusions During TKA in clinic, the stress and strain on tibia cross-section became larger as the tibia osteotomy became thicker and the postoperative activity became stronger. Excessive osteotomy in TKA and high intensive activity after TKA should be avoided, so as to reduce stress and strain of the tibia plateau and promote long-term life of the prosthesis.

Effect of miR-155 on AngII-induced Mice Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Switching With its Mechanism / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To observe the effect of miR-155 on angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ)-induced mice vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype switching with its possible mechanism. Methods: Primary cultured mice VSMCs were treated by AngⅡ at different concentrations and time periods, relevant expressions of miR-155 were examined by RT-PCR. qRT-PCR was conducted to determine miR-155 changes in Blank control group, miR-155 mimics group, miR-155 mimics negative control (NC) group, miR-155 inhibitor group and miR-155 inhibitor NC group. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the effect of miR-155 on AngⅡ-enforced ERK1/2 and mTOR signaling pathway in Blank control group, AngⅡ group, miR-155 mimics group, AngⅡ+miR-155 mimics group, miR-155 inhibitor group and AngⅡ+miR-155 inhibitor group; to detect the impact of miR-155, rapamycin (Rap) and U0126 on AngⅡ promoted VSMC phenotype switching in Blank control group, AngⅡ group, miR-155 mimics group, AngⅡ+miR-155 mimics group, AngⅡ+U0126 group and AngⅡ+Rap group, and to detect protein expressions of SM22α, α-SM-actin (contractile phenotype marker protein) and OPN (synthetic phenotype marker). Results: AngⅡ decreasing miR-155 expression was in a dose- and time-dependent manner. miR-155 could reduce the basal and AngⅡ-promoted ERK1/2, mTOR signaling pathway, while miR-155 inhibitor could elevate the above effect. Rap, U0126 and miR-155 could inhibit AngⅡ-attenuated expressions of SM22α, α-SM-actin and meanwhile inhibit AngⅡ-enforced expression of OPN. Conclusion: miR-155 could inhibit mice AngⅡ-promoted VSMC phenotype switching which might be via inhibiting the activations of mTOR and ERK1/2.

Effect of miR-155 on AngII-induced Mice Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Switching With its Mechanism / 中国循环杂志

Objective: To observe the effect of miR-155 on angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ)-induced mice vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype switching with its possible mechanism. Methods: Primary cultured mice VSMCs were treated by AngⅡ at different concentrations and time periods, relevant expressions of miR-155 were examined by RT-PCR. qRT-PCR was conducted to determine miR-155 changes in Blank control group, miR-155 mimics group, miR-155 mimics negative control (NC) group, miR-155 inhibitor group and miR-155 inhibitor NC group. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the effect of miR-155 on AngⅡ-enforced ERK1/2 and mTOR signaling pathway in Blank control group, AngⅡ group, miR-155 mimics group, AngⅡ+miR-155 mimics group, miR-155 inhibitor group and AngⅡ+miR-155 inhibitor group; to detect the impact of miR-155, rapamycin (Rap) and U0126 on AngⅡ promoted VSMC phenotype switching in Blank control group, AngⅡ group, miR-155 mimics group, AngⅡ+miR-155 mimics group, AngⅡ+U0126 group and AngⅡ+Rap group, and to detect protein expressions of SM22α, α-SM-actin (contractile phenotype marker protein) and OPN (synthetic phenotype marker). Results: AngⅡ decreasing miR-155 expression was in a dose- and time-dependent manner. miR-155 could reduce the basal and AngⅡ-promoted ERK1/2, mTOR signaling pathway, while miR-155 inhibitor could elevate the above effect. Rap, U0126 and miR-155 could inhibit AngⅡ-attenuated expressions of SM22α, α-SM-actin and meanwhile inhibit AngⅡ-enforced expression of OPN. Conclusion: miR-155 could inhibit mice AngⅡ-promoted VSMC phenotype switching which might be via inhibiting the activations of mTOR and ERK1/2.

Thickness of osteotomy affecting biomechanics of tibia cross-section in total knee arthroplasty / 医用生物力学

Objective To obtain different biomechanical conditions of the tibia section with different osteotomy thickness under different activity states,so as to provide theoretical basis for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and patient activities after operation.Methods The three-dimensional models of lower limb were reconstructed and the proximal tibia was resect by 0 mm,5 mm,7 mm,9 mm,respectively,based on the principle of bone resection in TKA.The tibia models after osteotomy were assigned with the material properties,and the stress and strain of the tibia cross-section were then analyzed under the following activity states:standing,walking,running and climbing upstairs.Results The stress and displacement of the tibia cross-section increased with the increase of osteotomy thickness under the same activity state.The maximum stress and displacement of tibia cross-section with the same osteotomy thickness showed an increasing trend when the strength of activity increased.Conclusions For TKA in clinic,the stress and strain on tibia cross-section become larger with the thicker tibia osteotomy and the stronger postoperative activity.Excessive osteotomy in TKA and activity too intensively after TKA should be avoided,so as to reduce stress and strain of the tibia plateau and promote long-term life of the prosthesis.

Thickness of osteotomy affecting biomechanics of tibia cross-section in total knee arthroplasty / 医用生物力学

Objective To obtain different biomechanical conditions of the tibia section with different osteotomy thickness under different activity states,so as to provide theoretical basis for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and patient activities after operation.Methods The three-dimensional models of lower limb were reconstructed and the proximal tibia was resect by 0 mm,5 mm,7 mm,9 mm,respectively,based on the principle of bone resection in TKA.The tibia models after osteotomy were assigned with the material properties,and the stress and strain of the tibia cross-section were then analyzed under the following activity states:standing,walking,running and climbing upstairs.Results The stress and displacement of the tibia cross-section increased with the increase of osteotomy thickness under the same activity state.The maximum stress and displacement of tibia cross-section with the same osteotomy thickness showed an increasing trend when the strength of activity increased.Conclusions For TKA in clinic,the stress and strain on tibia cross-section become larger with the thicker tibia osteotomy and the stronger postoperative activity.Excessive osteotomy in TKA and activity too intensively after TKA should be avoided,so as to reduce stress and strain of the tibia plateau and promote long-term life of the prosthesis.

Identification of Risk Pathways and Functional Modules for Coronary Artery Disease Based on Genome-wide SNP Data.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a complex human disease, involving multiple genes and their nonlinear interactions, which often act in a modular fashion. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiling provides an effective technique to unravel these underlying genetic interplays or their functional involvements for CAD. This study aimed to identify the susceptible pathways and modules for CAD based on SNP omics. First, the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC) SNP datasets of CAD and control samples were used to assess the joint effect of multiple genetic variants at the pathway level, using logistic kernel machine regression model. Then, an expanded genetic network was constructed by integrating statistical gene-gene interactions involved in these susceptible pathways with their protein-protein interaction (PPI) knowledge. Finally, risk functional modules were identified by decomposition of the network. Of 276 KEGG pathways analyzed, 6 pathways were found to have a significant effect on CAD. Other than glycerolipid metabolism, glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, and cardiac muscle contraction pathways, three pathways related to other diseases were also revealed, including Alzheimer's disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and Huntington's disease. A genetic epistatic network of 95 genes was further constructed using the abovementioned integrative approach. Of 10 functional modules derived from the network, 6 have been annotated to phospholipase C activity and cell adhesion molecule binding, which also have known functional involvement in Alzheimer's disease. These findings indicate an overlap of the underlying molecular mechanisms between CAD and Alzheimer's disease, thus providing new insights into the molecular basis for CAD and its molecular relationships with other diseases.

Pathway-based analysis tools for complex diseases: a review.

Genetic studies are traditionally based on single-gene analysis. The use of these analyses can pose tremendous challenges for elucidating complicated genetic interplays involved in complex human diseases. Modern pathway-based analysis provides a technique, which allows a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying complex diseases. Extensive studies utilizing the methods and applications for pathway-based analysis have significantly advanced our capacity to explore large-scale omics data, which has rapidly accumulated in biomedical fields. This article is a comprehensive review of the pathway-based analysis methods-the powerful methods with the potential to uncover the biological depths of the complex diseases. The general concepts and procedures for the pathway-based analysis methods are introduced and then, a comprehensive review of the major approaches for this analysis is presented. In addition, a list of available pathway-based analysis software and databases is provided. Finally, future directions and challenges for the methodological development and applications of pathway-based analysis techniques are discussed. This review will provide a useful guide to dissect complex diseases.

Brain protection of isoflurane preconditioning on the rat liver against ischemia-reperfusion / 中国医师杂志

Objective To investigate the brain protective effect of isoflurane preconditioning on the rat liver against ischemia-reperfusion through determining the content of S-100β protein in peripheral blood in combination with mitochondrial ultrastructure in rat brain.Methods A total of 45 SD rats were randomly divided into three groups,sham group (group S):the only separation of the hepatoduodenal ligament,but did not block the hepatic portal blood supply; ischemia-reperfusion group (group I/R):liver ischemia 60min,reperfusion 120 min; isoflurane preconditioning group (group ISO):60 min before liver I/R,ISO pretreatment for 30 min,elution in the air after 30 min; 24 h after recirculation the forebrain tissues were rapidly removed.The changes of mitochondrial ultrastructure were observed by electron microscopy.The content of S-100β protein in serum was measured before ischemia and reperfusion 120 min through the application of Elisa kit.Results Marked swelling of mitochondria with disrupted cristae and damaged matrix were observed in group I/R,while relative intact mitochondria were seen in sham and ISO groups.The content of S-100β protein in serum was significantly higher in I/R group [(1.52 ±0.26) μg/ml] than in sham [(0.31 ±0.05)μg/ml] and ISO [(0.79 ± 0.21) μg/ml] groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The liver ischemia-reperfusion may injure the brain of the rat and isoflurane preconditioning can protect the rat brain from injury.

Long non-coding RNA SPRY4-IT1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its effects on cell growth / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:This study aimed to clarify the correlation of SPRY4-IT1 expression with the clinicopathological character-istics and prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), as well as the role of SPRY4-IT1 in promoting ES-CC cell growth. Methods:Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for SPRY4-IT1 expression was performed on 50 paired can-cerous and adjacent non-cancerous esophageal specimens. Small interfering RNA was used to suppress SPRY4-IT1 expression to fur-ther explore its role in tumor progression. Cell viability was tested in vitro by MTT assay (OD=490 nm), and cell apoptosis and cell cy-cle were investigated by flow cytometry. Results:We found markedly elevated SPRY4-IT1 expression in cancerous tissues compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues (90%, P0.05). Further experiments showed that SPRY4-IT1 expression levels were significantly higher in three ESCC cell lines than in the normal human esophageal epithelial cell line Het-1A. In vitro assays of the ESCC cell line KYSE30 demonstrated that knockdown of SPRY4-IT1 expression by small interfering RNA reduced cell growth, mediated cell cycle arrest at the G0-G1 phase, and promoted cell apoptosis (all P<0.01). Conclusion:SPRY4-IT1 was overexpressed in ESCC tissues and ESCC cell lines and promoted the growth of ESCC cells. The dysregulated expression of long non-coding RNA SPRY4-IT1 may play an important role in the process of ESCC development and may be developed as a useful biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of ESCC.

Expression of Toll-like receptor 4 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and its effects on patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: TLR4 has been shown to mediate inflammation in animal models of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). Here we hypothesized that TLR4 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) may be involved in the inflammatory response in this type of clinical event. METHODS: Seventy two patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent thrombolysis were assigned into reperfusion group (n = 43) and non-reperfusion group (n = 29) according to recanalization of infarct-related artery (IRA) and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this experiment. Eight mL of venous blood was taken from all patients 0 h before and 2, 6, 12, and 24 h after thrombolysis. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect TLR4 protein expression and real-time quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine TLR4 mRNA and myeloid differentiation protein-88 (Myd88) mRNA expression. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in plasma was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with controls, all detected indicators in AMI patients were upregulated before thrombolysis (p <0.01). After thrombolysis, they were further increased. In reperfusion group, all attained their peaks in earlier hours and the peak values were lower compared with non-reperfusion group. In both cases, either reperfusion or non-perfusion, TLR4 mRNA expression was positively correlated with the levels of Myd88 mRNA (r = 0.886 and 0.694, p <0.01), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TLR4 expression on PBMCs was markedly elevated in AMI patients either reperfused or non-reperfused. Inflammatory reaction by activated TLR4 in MI/RI in patients may be through TLR4-Myd88-dependent signal pathway.

“哮喘之家”在哮喘康复治疗中的作用初探 / 中国康复理论与实践

@#目的为了更好地进行哮喘的防治,探索哮喘康复治疗的新模式。方法成立“哮喘之家”,每月举办1期活动,每期设独立的专题,由集中授课、示范实习、讨论交流3部分组成,从哮喘发病、防治及管理等方面进行较系统全面的教育。结果参加6期教育以上的患者自我管理知识技能以及治疗依从性比教育前显著提高(P<0.001),哮喘发病情况、医疗费用比教育前显著降低(P<0.001)。结论“哮喘之家”既是哮喘康复治疗的重要途径,又是一种新的医疗服务模式,值得提倡。