[Study on the related factors of antiviral treatment in previously reported hepatitis C patients based on the Andersen model].

Objective: To understand the basic characteristics of previously reported patients with hepatitis C and analyze the related factors affecting their antiviral treatment. Methods: A convenient sampling method was adopted. Patients who had been previously diagnosed with hepatitis C in the Wenshan Prefecture of Yunnan Province and Xuzhou City of Jiangsu Province were contacted by telephone for an interview study. The Andersen health service utilization behavior model and related literature were used to design the research framework for antiviral treatment in previously reported hepatitis C patients. A step-by-step multivariate regression analysis was used in previously reported hepatitis C patients treated with antiviral therapy. Results: A total of 483 hepatitis C patients, aged 51.73 ± 12.06 years, were investigated. The proportion of male, agricultural occupants who were registered permanent residents, farmers and migrant workers was 65.24%, 67.49%, and 58.18%, respectively. Han ethnicity (70.81%), married (77.02%), and junior high school and below educational level (82.61%) were the main ones. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that married patients with hepatitis C (OR = 3.19, 95% CI: 1.93-5.25, compared with unmarried, divorced, and widowed patients) with high school education or above (OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.54-4.20, compared with patients with junior high school education or below) were more likely to receive antiviral treatment in the predisposition module. Patients with severe self-perceived hepatitis C in the need factor module (compared with patients with mild self-perceived disease, OR = 3.36, 95% CI: 2.09-5.40) were more likely to receive treatment. In the competency module, the family's per capita monthly income was more than 1,000 yuan (compared with patients with per capita monthly income below 1,000 yuan, OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02-2.47), and the patients had a high level of awareness of hepatitis C knowledge (compared with patients with a low level of knowledge, OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.01-2.35), and the family members who knew the patient's infection status (compared with patients with an unknown infection status, OR = 4.59, 95% CI: 2.24-9.39) were more likely to receive antiviral treatment. Conclusion: Different income, educational, and marital statuses are related to antiviral treatment behavior in hepatitis C patients. Family support of hepatitis C patients receiving hepatitis C-related knowledge and their families knowing the infection status is more important in promoting the antiviral treatment of patients, suggesting that in the future, we should further strengthen the hepatitis C knowledge of hepatitis C patients, especially the family support of hepatitis C patients' families in treatment.

[Safety and efficacy of high-power, short-duration superior vena cava isolation in combination with conventional radiofrequency ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: For patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, superior vena cava isolation on the basis of pulmonary vein isolation may further improve the long-term success rate of radiofrequency ablation. We aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of superior vena cava isolation by high-power and short-duration (HPSD) ablation plus conventional radiofrequency ablation (RA) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Methods: It was a prospective randomized controlled study. From January 1, 2019 to June 1, 2020, 180 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in our center were consecutively screened. Patients were eligible if there was a trigger potential and the muscle sleeve length was greater than 3 cm. A total of 60 eligible patients were finally included and randomly divided into HPSD group (HPSD plus RA) and common power and duration (CPD) group (CPD plus RA) by random number table method (n=30 in each group). Efficacy was evaluated by ablation points, isolation time and ablation time. Safety was evaluated by the incidence of POP, cardiac tamponade, phrenic nerve injury, sinoatrial node injury and all-cause. Results: Superior vena cava isolation was achieved by 14 (13, 15) points in the HPSD group, which was significantly less than that in the CPD group (20(18, 22), P<0.001). The superior vena cava isolation time was 8 (7, 9) minutes in the HPSD group, which was significantly shorter than in the CPD group (17(14, 20) minutes, P<0.001). The average ablation time significantly shorter in HPSD group than in CPD group (78.0(71.1, 80.0) s vs. 200(167.5, 212.5)s, P<0.001). The average impedance drop was more significant in the HPSD group than in the CPD group (20.00(18.75, 21.00)Ω (and the percentage of impedance drop was 15%) vs. 12.00(11.75, 13.25)Ω (the percentage of impedance decrease was 12%), P<0.001). There was 1 POP (3.3%) in the HPSD group, and 3 POPs (10.0%) in the CPD group (P>0.05). There was no cardiac tamponade, phrenic nerve injury, sinoatrial node injury and death in both groups. Conclusions: HPSD technique for the isolation of superior vena cava is safe and effective in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing conventional radiofrequency ablation.

[Mechanism of human airway epithelial cell injury induced by Candida albicans infection].

Objective: To investigate the immune mechanism of human airway epithelial cell injury induced by invasion of Candida albicans with different biofilm formation abilities. Methods: Twenty-five strains of Candida albicans isolated and cultured in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from June to December 2019 were selected, and quality control strain SC5314 was used as the standard strain. An in vitro model of Candida albicans biofilm was established, and the biofilm formation ability of different Candida albicans was detected by crystal violet staining and enzyme plate method. The absorbance value at 570 nm (A570) was determined by enzyme plate method. A570≥0.5, 0.250.05). Conclusion: Strong biofilm Candida albican can inhibit cell proliferation, disrupt the integrity of epithelial cells and induce cell damage by down-regulating the expression of cell proliferation-related protein.

[Investigation on the current situation of safety protection of medical staffs for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in medical institutions in Jiangsu Province].

Objective: To investigate the current situation of safety protection of medical staffs in medical institutions in Jiangsu Province, and to provide scientific basis for strengthening the safety protection of infectious diseases and protecting the occupational health of medical staffs. Methods: From September to October 2020, 1274 medical staffs in 43 medical and health institutions were randomly selected as the subjects. The self-made questionnaire for infectious disease prevention and protection was used to analyze the pre-job training and exposure to occupational harmful factors of the respondents. The influencing factors of using protective equipment and occupational injury were analyzed by binary logistic regression. Results: A total of 1216 valid questionnaires were collected with effective recovery of 95.4%. There were 312 males (25.7%) and 904 females (74.3%) , with an average age of (35.8±9.2) years and average working years of (13.6±9.9) years. Among them, 1143 (94.0%) had participated in pre-job training, 535 (44.0%) thought they were exposed to occupational harmful factors of infectious disease prevention, 1082 (89.0%) used protective equipment in daily operation, and 462 (38.0%) had occupational injury. According to binary logistic regression analysis, the utilization rates of protective equipment for medical staffs in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (OR=2.473, 95%CI: 1.327-4.607, P=0.004) , 30-39 years old (OR=1.586, 95%CI: 1.038-2.426, P=0.033) , 40-49 years old (OR=2.257, 95%CI: 1.243-4.098, P=0.007) , 50 years old and above (OR=5.879, 95% CI: 1.755-19.692, P=0.004) and pre-job training (OR=2.580, 95%CI: 1.301-5.116, P=0.007) were higher than their respective control groups. And medical staffs with graduate degree or above (OR=0.342, 95%CI: 0.167~0.699, P=0.003) had lower utilization rate of protective equipment. Female (OR=1.902, 95%CI: 1.364-2.654, P<0.001) , 30-39 years old (OR=1.589, 95%CI: 1.157-2.181, P=0.004) , bachelor degree (OR=2.070, 95%CI: 1.419-3.021, P<0.001) , exposure to occupational harmful factors (OR=2.753, 95%CI: 2.086-3.634, P<0.001) were the risk factors for occupational injury of medical staffs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (OR=0.129, 95%CI: 0.086-0.194, P<0.001) and wearing protective equipment according to regulations (OR=0.597, 95%CI: 0.431-0.827, P=0.002) were the protective factors for occupational injury of medical staffs. Conclusion: At present, the occupational injury rate of medical staffs in Jiangsu Province is high due to various factors in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. It is necessary to pay attention to occupational safety protection, strengthen pre-job training and actively advocate "standard prevention", so as to reduce the exposure risk of harmful factors and promote occupational health of medical staffs.

Investigation of the clinical significance of detecting PTX3 for community-acquired pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of PTX3 in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 170 inpatients diagnosed with CAP from January 2016 to December 2018. The patients were divided into the severe pneumonia group and the mild pneumonia group according to their condition. According to the results of pathogen detection, they were divided into the bacterial infection group, the virus infection group, the mixed infection group, and the other pathogen infection group. Clinical data including C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cell count (WBC), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were collected. Blood was collected within 24 hours, 3 days, and 7 days after admission, and the serum PTX3 level was dynamically monitored. The correlation between different groups was compared, and expression differences and dynamic changes of PTX3 were analyzed. RESULTS: PTX3, PCT, and CRP in the CAP group were higher than those in the healthy control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Compared with the mild group, the increase of PTX3, PCT, and CRP was also different in the severe group (p<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of PTX3 was 0.726 (sensitivity 76.08%, specificity 76.92%) when the threshold value was 32.26 ng/ml. Dynamic monitoring of PTX3 showed that the PTX3 level in severe CAP patients was significantly higher than that in mild patients (p<0.05), and the PTX3 level in both groups gradually decreased with treatment time, but the level in severe CAP patients remained at a high level on the 7th day. The main pathogens in CAP were bacteria (77 cases, 45.7%), and there was no significant difference in the PTX3 level among the patients infected with different pathogenic bacteria (p=0.311). CONCLUSIONS: The serum PTX3 level, especially the dynamic monitoring results, can be used as a biomarker to reflect community acquired pneumonia, which can provide effective auxiliary diagnosis and efficacy in monitoring for clinical practice.

3D Slicer and Sina appilication for surgical planning of giant invasive spinal schwannoma with scoliosis: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of giant invasive spinal schwannomas (GISSs) has been discussed previously, and most cases are treated via the posterior approach. However, when the tumor grows beyond the spine and greatly pushes the surrounding tissues, the combined anterior-posterior approach may be a better choice. However, the anterior approach can be challenging when there is a lack of knowledge regarding the surrounding abdominal structures. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 67-year-old male suffered from slight scoliosis and an unstable spine due to GISS, which led to a long history of lower back pain and abnormal gait. Here, we report a novel method combining the use of 3D Slicer and the Sina application to help surgeons locate such lesions and better understand the three-dimensional (3D) relationship between the tumor and surrounding tissues. The proposed method promotes complete excision, shortens operation time, and reduces related complications. CONCLUSION: We recommend using the combination of 3D Slicer and Sina to assist surgeons in handling accurate 3D information of GISS while simultaneously simulating the surgery.

[Are various theoretical models of membrane anatomy mutually exclusive or inclusive?]

The theory of membrane anatomy is now widely accepted due to the observation of fine anatomical structure with the help of laparoscopic magnifying effect. From the perspective of systematic anatomy, the mesentery is considered as an integral organ in the theory of mesenteric anatomy. Interfascial anatomy belongs to regional anatomy, which focuses on the guiding significance of fascial space for operation. The theory of membrane anatomy belongs to surgical anatomy or applied anatomy, which emphasizes the anatomy of membrane and mesangial bed, and reveals the existence of 'metastasis V' in the mesentery. It is considered that the essence of membrane anatomy operation is to prevent cancer leakage. Various theories of membrane anatomy seek common ground while reserving differences, complement each other, and upgrade iteratively. They help to explain the structure and function of membrane from different perspectives and they are of great benefit to improve the quality of operations. Thus, they should be treated in an eclectic manner.

Trends in malignant melanoma mortality in 31 countries from 1985 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Malignant melanoma (MM) causes the highest absolute number of deaths among skin cancers. An up-to-date analysis of international MM mortality trends is required for assessing the burden of disease, and may support the assessment of the effectiveness of new diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative strategies. OBJECTIVES: To report MM mortality trends between 1985 and 2015 using the World Health Organization (WHO) Mortality Database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used country-level MM mortality data from the WHO Mortality Database for all countries with high usability death registration data. Mortality trends were described using Joinpoint regression modelling. RESULTS: Thirty-one countries met the inclusion criteria. All countries, except the Czech Republic, demonstrated increased age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) in males over the observation period. More countries exhibited decreased or stable MM mortality in females. The median mortality rate for 2013-2015 was 2·57 deaths per 100 000 for males and 1·55 per 100 000 for females. Australia and Norway had the highest ASDRs for males (5·72 per 100 000 and 4·55 per 100 000, respectively). Norway and Slovenia had the highest ASDRs for females (3·02 per 100 000 and 2·58 per 100 000, respectively). MM mortality was greater for males than females in all countries, with sex disparity increasing across the period. Disparity in mortality between older and younger cohorts in several countries was also found. CONCLUSIONS: An overall increase in MM mortality over the past 30 years was observed. However, there was notable variation in mortality trends between countries, as well as between males and females, and between different age groups.

NiS2 nanoparticles anchored on open carbon nanohelmets as an advanced anode for lithium-ion batteries.

Low intrinsic conductivity and large volume expansion seriously restrict the efficient lithium storage performance of metal sulfides. Here, we fabricate a hybrid material of NiS2 nanoparticles/carbon nanohelmets (NiS2/CNHs) to address the above issues. As an anode material in lithium-ion batteries, NiS2/CNHs exhibit excellent cycling stability (490 mA h g-1 after 3000 cycles at 5 A g-1) and rate properties (412 mA h g-1 at 10 A g-1), outperforming other NiS x -based anode materials. These remarkable performances originate from the three-dimensional helmet-like integrated architecture of NiS2/CNHs, which reduces the electrode resistance due to the tight combination between NiS2 and CNHs, provides efficient diffusion paths for the electrolyte and Li+ owing to the amorphous nanoporous carbon structure, and significantly mitigates the aggregation and buffers the large volumetric expansion of NiS2 nanoparticles upon long-term cycling thanks to the open three-dimensional architecture and well-dispersed NiS2 nanoparticles on it.

Improving diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG-PET/CT for assessment of regional nodal involvement in non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM: To assess the diagnostic performance of combined 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18F-FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) mediastinal blood pool (MBP) activity cut-off for staging nodal involvement, and to examine other variables that may improve the diagnostic performance of PET/CT in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed with NSCLC who underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and 18F-FDG-PET/CT between June 2016 and August 2018 were included. Nodal station and nodal staging-based analyses were performed, comparing the MBP cut-off and five other PET/CT parameters (node maximum standardised uptake value [SUVmax], node/MBP SUVmax ratio, node/tumour SUVmax ratio, node short axis diameter, and node SUVmax/node short axis diameter ratio) with histopathology results. The optimal cut-off value for each PET/CT parameter was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients with a total of 321 nodes with pathological sampling were included. Nodal activity above MBP on PET/CT demonstrated 97.4% sensitivity, 35.8% specificity, 32.8% positive predictive value, and 97.8% negative predictive value. Of the five other PET/CT parameters examined, the two most promising were node SUVmax and node/MBP SUVmax. The node SUVmax cut-off of 3.9 demonstrated 90.9% sensitivity and 61.9% specificity, and the node/MBP SUVmax cut-off of 1.7 demonstrated 90.9% sensitivity and 60.7% specificity. CONCLUSION: Compared to the MBP cut-off, use of a higher node/MBP SUVmax ratio cut-off and use of other PET/CT variables can improve the diagnostic performance of PET/CT for NSCLC nodal staging. In particular, specificity for detecting malignant nodal involvement is improved while maintaining high sensitivity.

Eosinophilic esophagitis: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a multifactorial esophageal inflammation, with a genetic predisposition, which combines a deficient esophageal mucosal barrier, an abnormal immune reaction to environmental allergens mediated by Th2 interleukins, immediate esophageal lesions and dysmotility, with secondary remodeling and fibrosis. Symptoms include reflux, abdominal pain, and food impaction, with a variation according to age. Fibroscopy shows major and minor endoscopic and histologic criteria, with a mucosal count≥15 eosinophils/high power field (Eo/hpf). A new entity has been defined, where gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and EoE share responsibility: the PPIs-sensitive form of EoE (PPI-REE). Children with fibroscopy showing≥15 Eo/hpf need a second endoscopy following 8 weeks of PPI treatment. EoE has a strong association with other atopic disorders. Allergy testing (specific IgE blood test and skin prick tests [SPTs]) identifies patients at risk of anaphylaxis (14.8% of cases). The dietary therapy is based on a 4- to 12-week elimination test followed by endoscopy to check the disappearance of eosinophilic infiltration. The "dietary approaches are the amino acid-based formula, the allergy testing-based targeted diet, and the six-food elimination diet (empirical elimination of milk, wheat, soy, eggs, peanut/nuts, and fish/seafood). A recent first-line trial elimination of milk has been suggested, with wheat as a second elimination, if necessary. Dietary therapy allows remission and catch-up growth in 65% of cases. Swallowed topical steroids (budesonide in viscous gel or fluticasone propionate for nebulization) are an alternative, for which efficacy varies according to clinical and/or histological criteria and with relapses occurring at dosage tapering. Their use may be restricted by side effects, such as oral and/or esophageal candidiasis. The impact on long-term bone health and growth is unknown. Maintenance therapy is not standardized and is team-dependent, combining or not elimination diets and long-term steroids. The long-term risk of EoE is esophageal stenosis (25%) and endoscopic dilation may be repeated. Biotherapies have shown isolated histological improvement without significant clinical efficacy.

MiR-210 protects cardiomyocytes from OGD/R injury by inhibiting E2F3.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the change in miRNA-210 expression of cardiomyocytes under hypoxia/reoxygenation status. Also, the effect of miR-210 on the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) and its mechanism through establishing the OGD/R injury model of primary cardiomyocytes in this experiment were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cell model of OGD/R injury was established. The cell apoptosis in each group was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and detection of Caspase-3 activity. The change in miR-210 expression in each group was detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The high-expression and low-expression miR-210 models were established through the transient transfection of miR-210 mimic and inhibitor to detect the relevant indexes of cell apoptosis. At the same time, changes in mRNA and protein expressions of E2F3 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The E2F3 overexpression vector was constructed, and the overexpression vector plasmid and miR-210 mimic were jointly transfected into the cells to detect the relevant indexes of cell apoptosis. RESULTS: After OGD/R treatment, the activity of Caspase-3 was increased, the survival of cardiomyocytes was significantly inhibited and the expression level of miR-210 was up-regulated in OGD/R injury. Transfection of miR-210 mimic for miR-210 overexpression could alleviate the OGD/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury, while the decrease of miR-210 expression could aggravate the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. In addition, the high expression of miR-210 could inhibit the protein expression of E2F3, and co-transfection of E2F3 plasmid and miR-210 mimic could reverse the inhibiting effect of miR-210 on the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that miR-210 can inhibit the OGD/R-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and miR-210, as an upstream factor, plays a protective role in cardiomyocytes through directly inhibiting the protein expression of its target gene E2F3.

Androgen deprivation therapy and risk of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Background: Androgens are generally immunosuppressive, and men with untreated hypogonadism are at increased risk for autoimmune conditions. To date, there has been no evidence linking androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the association between ADT and RA in patients with prostate cancer. Patients and methods: We identified 105 303 men age 66 years or older who were diagnosed with stages I-III prostate cancer from 1992 through 2006 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database, excluding patients with a history of RA. χ2 test was used to compare 5-year Kaplan-Meier rates of RA diagnoses. Competing risk Cox regression using inverse probability of treatment weighting was utilized to examine the association between pharmacologic ADT and diagnosis of RA. Results: The 43% of patients (N = 44 785) who received ADT experienced a higher 5-year rate of RA diagnoses compared with men who did not (5.4% versus 4.4%, P < 0.001). Receipt of any ADT was associated with a 23% increased risk of being diagnosed with RA (hazard ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.40, P = 0.001). The risk of being diagnosed with RA increased with a longer duration of ADT, from 19% with 1-6 months and 29% with 7-12 months to 33% with ≥13 months (Ptrend < 0.001). Conclusions: Consistent with the immunosuppressive properties of androgens, we demonstrated for the first time that ADT was associated with an elevated risk of being diagnosed with RA in this large cohort of elderly men with prostate cancer. The risk was higher with a longer duration of ADT. Linking ADT to an increased risk of being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition adds to mounting evidence of the adverse effects of ADT that should prompt physicians to thoughtfully weigh its risks and benefits.

Risk factors for pulmonary hypertension in patients receiving maintenance peritoneal dialysis

We investigated the risk factors for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients receiving maintenance peritoneal dialysis (MPD). A group of 180 end-stage renal disease patients (124 men and 56 women; mean age: 56.43±8.36) were enrolled in our study, which was conducted between January 2009 and June 2014. All of the patients received MPD treatment in the Dialysis Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Clinical data, laboratory indices, and echocardiographic data from these patients were collected, and follow-ups were scheduled bi-monthly. The incidence and relevant risk factors of PH were analyzed. The differences in measurement data were compared by t-test and enumeration data were compared with the χ2 test. Among the 180 patients receiving MPD, 60 were diagnosed with PH. The remaining 120 were regarded as the non-PH group. Significant differences were observed in the clinical data, laboratory indices, and echocardiographic data between the PH and non-PH patients (all P<0.05). Furthermore, hypertensive nephropathy patients on MPD showed a significantly higher incidence of PH compared with non-hypertensive nephropathy patients (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the proportion of internal arteriovenous fistula, C-reactive protein levels, and ejection fraction were the highest risk factors for PH in patients receiving MPD. Our study shows that there is a high incidence of PH in patients receiving MPD and hypertensive nephropathy patients have an increased susceptibility to PH.

Risk factors for pulmonary hypertension in patients receiving maintenance peritoneal dialysis.

We investigated the risk factors for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients receiving maintenance peritoneal dialysis (MPD). A group of 180 end-stage renal disease patients (124 men and 56 women; mean age: 56.43±8.36) were enrolled in our study, which was conducted between January 2009 and June 2014. All of the patients received MPD treatment in the Dialysis Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. Clinical data, laboratory indices, and echocardiographic data from these patients were collected, and follow-ups were scheduled bi-monthly. The incidence and relevant risk factors of PH were analyzed. The differences in measurement data were compared by t-test and enumeration data were compared with the χ2 test. Among the 180 patients receiving MPD, 60 were diagnosed with PH. The remaining 120 were regarded as the non-PH group. Significant differences were observed in the clinical data, laboratory indices, and echocardiographic data between the PH and non-PH patients (all P<0.05). Furthermore, hypertensive nephropathy patients on MPD showed a significantly higher incidence of PH compared with non-hypertensive nephropathy patients (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the proportion of internal arteriovenous fistula, C-reactive protein levels, and ejection fraction were the highest risk factors for PH in patients receiving MPD. Our study shows that there is a high incidence of PH in patients receiving MPD and hypertensive nephropathy patients have an increased susceptibility to PH.

[Investigation of emergency capacities for occupational hazard accidents in silicon solar cell producing enterprises].

Objective: To investigate and analyze the influential factors of occupational hazard acci-dents, emergency facilities and emergency management in Silicon solar cell producing enterprises, then to pro-vide scientific strategies. Methods: The methods of occupationally healthy field investigating, inspecting of ven-tilation effectiveness, setup of emergency program and wearing chemical suit were used. Results: The mainly occupational hazard accidents factors in the process of Silicon solar cell producing included poisoning chemi-cals, high temperature, onizing radiation and some workplaces. The poisoning chemicals included nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, chlorine, phos-phorus oxychloride, phosphorus pentoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, silane, and so on; the workplaces in-cluded the area of producing battery slides and auxiliary producing area. Among the nine enterprises, gas detec-tors were installed in special gas supplying stations and sites, but the height, location and alarmvalues of gas detectors in six enterprises were not according with standard criteria; emergency shower and eyewash equip-ment were installed in workplaces with strong corrosive chemicals, but the issues of waste water were not solved; ventilation systems were set in the workplaces with ammonia and silane, but not qualified with part lo-cations and parameters in two enterprises; warehouses with materials of acid, alkali, chemical ammonia and phosphorus oxychloride were equipped with positive - pressure air respirator resuscitator and emergency cabi-nets, but with insufficient quantity in seven enterprises and expiration in part of products. The error rate of set-up emergency program and wearing chemical cloth were 30%~100% and 10%~30%, respectively. Among the nine enterprises, there were emergency rescue plans for dangerous chemical accidents, but without profession-al heatstroke and irradiation accident emergency plans, lack of archives of descripting and evaluating for pro-cessing in emergency exercises as well. There were emergency rescue agreements between enterprises and medi-cal institutions which varied in occupational poisoning rescue capacities and were lack of training and exercise regularly. Conclusion: There were a variety of occupational hazard factors in Silicon solar cell producing enter-prises including potential chemical burns, acute poisoning, occupational heatstroke, accident risk of ionizing radiation, and we must strengthen the management of emergency rescue for Silicon solar cell producing enter-prises.

Effects of CD3McAb and rhIL-2 activated bone marrow on the killing and purging of leukemia cells.

We investigated the roles of CD3McAb and rhIL-2 activated bone marrow in the killing and purging of leukemia cells. Cytotoxicity of activated bone marrow was detected with MTT assay. CFU-GM level in activated bone marrow and the destruction of leukemia cells were measured using the semi-solid cell culture. Immune activation markers in activated bone marrow were detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Bone marrow activated by CD3McAb and rhIL-2 displayed significantly upregulated the killing and purging abilities on the leukemia cell line K562 and HL-60. Such effects were superior to that of bone marrow activated by rhIL-2 or CD3McAb alone (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Activation by rhIL-2 and (or) CD3McAb exerted no obvious influence on CFU-GM level in bone marrow. Compared with bone marrow activated by rhIL-2 or CD3McAb alone, the synergistic effect of both CD3McAb+ and hIL-2 caused significant increase of CD3(+), CD8(+), CD19(+), CD25(+), CD38(+), and CD56(+) levels. Our study indicates that CD3McAb enhanced the killing and purging effects of rhIL-2 activated bone marrow on leukemia cells.

Changes in spatial distribution of flexor digitorum superficialis muscle activity is correlated to finger's action.

Multitendoned extrinsic muscles of the human hand can be divided into several neuromuscular compartments (NMCs), each of which contributes to the ability of human finger to produce independent finger movements or force. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the spatial activation of flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) during the fingertip force production with non-invasive multichannel surface electromyography (sEMG) technique. 7 healthy Subjects were instructed to match the target force level for 5s using individual index finger (I), individual middle finger (M) and the combination of the index and middle finger (IM) respectively. Simultaneously, a 2 × 6 electrode array was employed to record multichannel sEMG from FDS as finger force was produced. The entropy and center of gravity of the sEMG root mean square (RMS) map were computed to assess the spatial inhomogeneity in muscle activation and the change in spatial distribution of EMG amplitude related to the force generation of specific task finger. The results showed that the area and intensity of high amplitude region increased with force production, and the entropy increased with force level under the same task finger. The findings indicate that the change of spatial distribution of multitendoned extrinsic hand muscle activation is correlated to specific biomechanical functions.