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Near-surface ozone is a profoundly reactive and highly oxidizing gas and one of the critical respiratory toxicants. Numerous epidemiological investigations have indicated that asthmatic individuals are the vulnerable group of ozone exposure, and there is a strong correlation between ozone exposure and asthma morbidity and mortality rates. The potential mechanisms include oxidative stress, inflammatory response, autonomic nerve impairment, and immune dysfunction. The present study summarized and discussed the effect of ozone exposure on asthma and its underlying biological mechanisms in order to galvanize public cognizance concerning the perils of ozone pollution and serve as a reference for future research on ozone exposure and asthma.
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Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus extended-release (Tac-ER) in the early stage after kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 68 recipients undergoing kidney transplantation from 34 pairs of renal allografts were retrospectively analyzed. Two recipients who received bilateral kidneys from the same donor were treated with Tac-ER (Tac-ER group) and tacrolimus immediate-release (Tac-IR) (Tac-IR group) as one of the basic immunosuppressant. The changes of tacrolimus dosage and blood concentration, intra-patient variability (IPV), renal function, incidence of acute rejection, recipient and allograft survival rates and adverse events were statistically compared between two groups. Results The average daily dose of tacrolimus in the Tac-ER group was significantly higher than that in the Tac-IR group (F=8.386, P=0.005). In the Tac-ER group, the mean trough concentration at postoperative 4 d was (6.14±4.04) ng/mL, did not reach the target concentration, significantly lower than (9.41±5.47) ng/mL in the Tac-IR group (F=7.854, P=0.007). In the Tac-ER group, the IPV of trough concentration of tacrolimus within postoperative 1 month was significantly higher than that in the Tac-IR group (0.44±0.15 vs. 0.36±0.12, P=0.032). At postoperative 6 months, there was no significant difference in the renal function between two groups [serum creatinine level was (126±26) μmol/L vs. (120±28) μmol/L, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate was (56±13) mL/(min·1.73 m2) vs. (60±15) mL/(min·1.73 m2), both P > 0.05]. The allograft and recipient survival rates were 100% in both groups. The incidence of acute rejection within postoperative 1 month was 18% in the Tac-ER group and 3% in the Tac-IR group, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The overall incidence of adverse events was 94% in the Tac-ER group and 97% in the Tac-IR group, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusions The efficacy and safety of Tac-ER are equivalent to those of Tac-IR, whereas a higher dose of Tac-ER should be orally given to reach the blood concentration similar to that of Tac-IR. During early-stage drug treatment, Tac-ER should be orally given before kidney transplantation or inittally with loading dose, aiming to increase the systemic exposure to tacrolimus early after kidney transplantation and prevent acute rejection caused by insufficient exposure.
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Objective To investigate the selection of treatment strategies and prognostic factors for patients with stage T3 and T4 laryngeal carcinoma. Methods A total of 132 patients with stage T3 and T4 laryngeal cancer admitted to our hospital from March 2010 to March 2019 were retrospectively selected as research objects. According to the different treatment strategies, the patients were divided into simple surgery group (group A, 57 cases), simple chemoradiotherapy group (group B, 32 cases), and surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy group (group C, 43 cases). The general data and clinicopathological features of the three groups were compared, and a survival curve was drawn by the Kaplan–Meier method. The 3-year survival rates of the three groups were compared. Then, the same 132 patients were divided into survival and death groups. The clinical data of the two groups were compared, and the prognostic factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. A back propagation (BP) neural network model was constructed, and its differentiation and accuracy were evaluated. Results The proportions and 3 year survival rates of patients with poor differentiation, lymphatic vascular invasion, and involvement of lymph nodes outside the capsule in group C were significantly higher than those in groups A and B (P < 0.05). The 3 year survival rate of 132 patients was 68.94%(41/132). Poor differentiation, N2-N3 stage, lymphatic vascular invasion, and involvement of lymph nodes outside the capsule were risk factors for death (P < 0.05), whereas surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy were protective factors (P < 0.05). The BP neural network model exhibited good discrimination and high accuracy. Conclusion Surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy can significantly improve survival rate in patients with poor differentiation, lymphatic vascular invasion, and involvement of lymph nodes outside the capsule. Close attention should be paid to patients with stage N2-N3 in the formulation of reasonable treatment strategies.
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ObjectiveThe study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the short-term effects of ultrafine particles (UFPs) exposure on the occurrence and mortality of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. MethodsThe number of daily cases of cardio-cerebrovascular events, including stroke and acute myocardial infarction, and mortality of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, daily concentrations of air pollutants and weather conditions in Minhang, Shanghai from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 were collected. Associations between UFPs and the number of daily cases and deaths were analyzed by the general additive Poisson regression model with the control of meteorological variables, day-of-the-week effects and time trends. Increased percentages of the number of daily cases and deaths and 95%CI were used to indicate the short-term effects of UFPs. ResultsDuring the study period, in the single-pollutant model, an increase of 2022 particles/cm3 showed significant effects with 5.01%(95%CI: 1.22%‒8.94%)and 6.05%(95%CI: 1.53%‒10.80%)increments in the percentages of the number of daily cases and deaths respectively. After adjusting other pollutants in the two-pollutant model, statistically significant associations were also observed. ConclusionUFPs exposure has acute impacts on the occurrence and mortality of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.
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Objective:To investigate the repair effect of electrospun gelatin polycaprolactone (GT/PCL) nanofiber aerogels (NFA) combined with cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) for treatment of cartilage injuries in rabbits.Methods:Firstly, the GT/PCL electrospun membrane was prepared by electrospinning and was ground into the short fiber at high speed. ECM was extracted and separated from fresh bovine articular cartilage, which mixed with the short fiber solution (10 ∶1). Subsequently, it was used to prepared GT/PCL/ECM (NFA) three-dimensional scaffold. Finally, the physical characteristics of the three different scaffolds (GT/PCL, ECM and GT/PCL/ECM) were detected by scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, including the composition, microstructure, swelling rate, porosity, compressive strength and degradation rates. And the biocompatibility research was getting on by co-culturing the scaffold with chondrocytes. Fifteen male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into blank control group (Group A, n=5), ECM group (group B, n=5) and composite scaffold(GT/PCL/ECM)group (Group C, n=5) according to the random number table. An injury model was established and three types of bio-scaffold materials were implanted into different groups. At 3 weeks, the cartilage repair was evaluated among groups by semi quantitative global MRI scoring system (WORMS). After the animals were killed, the knee joints of each group were scored by the international society for cartilage repair histological score (ICRs); the ICRs histological score was performedby HE staining and safranine green staining. Results:Three scaffolds showed a porous three-dimensional structure under the scanning electron microscope. FIRT showed that GT and PCL were introduced into the scaffolds successfully. The GT/PCL NAF was loose and unable to be characterized by materials science. The swelling rate of GT/PCL/ECM scaffold [(1, 092.0±32.2)%] was higher than that of ECM scaffold [(933.6±16.3)%] ( P<0.01). The porosity of GT/PCL/ECM scaffold [(92.3±2.3)%] was higher than that of ECM scaffold [(85.9±2.2)%] ( P<0.05). The compressive strength of ECM scaffold [(2.7±0.1)kPa] and of GT/PCL/ECM scaffold [(2.4±0.1)kPa] showed no statistical difference ( P>0.05). The degradation rate of ECM scaffold was higher than that of GT/PCL/ECM scaffold, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The cytotoxicity rating of GT/PCL/ECM scaffold was grade I, indicating that its biocompatibility was better. At 3 weeks, the MRI WORMS score in Group C [(49.0±11.4)points] was significantly higher than that in Group B [(40.0±6.7)points] and that in Group A [(24.0±6.5) points] ( P<0.05 or 0.01); the general ICRS score of group C was [(7.4±1.1) points], which was significantly higher than that of group B [(4.6±1.1)points] and group A [(3.0±1.2)points] ( P<0.01); The ICRS histological scores of group C and group B were [(6.8±0.8)points] and [(4.2±0.8)points] respectively compared with group A [(2.8±0.8)points] were significantly higher ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusion:GT/PCL/ECM (NFA) scaffold has similar tissue structure to natural cartilage and is superior to traditional ECM scaffold in physical properties and biocompatibility, which provides a stable environment for chondrocyte adhesion and growth, promotes collagen regeneration, and thus accelerates the repair of cartilage injury.
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Objective@#To explore the predictor of lower airway inflammation among the index of nasal inflammation by investigating the expression and association of eosinophils (EOS) in the upper-lower airways and blood of patients with chronic rhinitis.@*Methods@#A total of 162 patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), 117 patients with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) and 104 controls were enrolled from June 2010 to December 2013 from General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command, People′s Liberation Army. All subjects were required detailed medical history collection and nasal resistance measurement. Skin prick test (SPT), blood total immunoglobin E (tIgE) and blood EOS, nasal lavage and induced sputum EOS, nasal provocation and bronchial provocation test (NPT, BPT), nasal and forced exhaled nitric oxide (NNO, FeNO) were performed in all patients. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups. LSD t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between the two groups. Pearson or Spearman related parameter test was used for correlation analysis.@*Results@#The nasal lavage EOS, NNO, induced sputum EOS, FeNO, blood EOS and tIgE were higher in the AR group than that in the NAR group (3.70[1.20, 14.23]/200 HP vs 1.40[0.20, 3.40]/200 HP, 673.50[466.80, 936.00] ppb vs 455.80[248.10, 705.60] ppb, 2.97[0.00, 10.63]% vs 1.00[0.23, 2.00]%, (49.28±26.37)ppb vs (34.07±19.11)ppb, 4.00[2.00, 7.00]% vs 2.00[1.00, 5.00]%, 208.01[61.70, 387.50] IU/ml vs 43.30[19.00, 122.00] IU/ml, F or χ2 value was 11.442, 19.440, 70.727, 69.449, 47.453, 46.525, respectively, all P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in nasal resistance, NPT and BPT between the two groups. Nasal lavage EOS in AR group and NAR group was correlated with induced sputum EOS, FeNO, tIgE and blood EOS (r value of AR group was 0.448, 0.202, 0.159, 0.321, r value of NAR group was 0.442, 0.268, 0.268, 0.334, respectively, all P<0.05), but not with BPT. After adjustment for gender, age, height and weight, nasal EOS was positively correlated with sputum EOS. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that nasal EOS, blood EOS and SPT were factors affecting sputum EOS levels. The optimal threshold for nasal EOS to determine induced sputum EOS was 3.30/200 HP by (receiver operating characteristic,ROC) analysis.@*Conclusion@#The nasal EOS is correlated with multiple lower airway and systemic inflammatory markers, and is a risk factor for the induced sputum EOS, which can be used as an inflammation biomarker to predict the lower air inflammation.
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Objective@#To explore the effect of fine particulate matters (PM2.5) exposure on emergency visits and outpatient visits of 5 hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou from 2013 to 2015.@*Methods@#Using convenient sampling method, 5 general hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou were selected which included Beijing hospital, China-Japan friendship hospital, Xinhua hospital affiliated to Shanghai jiaotong University School of Medicine, the liwan hospital of the third affiliated hospital and the first affiliated hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. The emergency and outpatient data, air pollution monitoring data and meteorological data were collected from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. A generalized additive model was used to analyze the effect of PM2.5 exposure on daily hospital emergency and outpatient visits, and Meta analysis was used to obtain the combined effect value.@*Results@#The number of emergency and outpatient visits of 5 hospitals was 1 378 501 and 18 139 779 in total, respectively. The mean±SD of PM2.5 exposures in Beijing hospital, China-Japan friendship hospital, Xinhua hospital affiliated to Shanghai jiaotong University School of Medicine, the liwan hospital of the third affiliated hospital and the first affiliated hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were (81.8±68.7), (83.2±69.7), (54.4±34.1), (43.5±24.8) μg/m3, respectively. Results of single pollutant model analysis showed that 0-1 day lag concentrations of PM2.5 had the largest effect on emergency visits and outpatient visits. For a 10 μg/m3 increase of PM2.5 concentration, excess risk (ER) (95%CI) of emergency and outpatient visits was 0.56% (0.14%, 0.99%) and0.63% (0.07%, 1.19%), respectively. After adjusting for O3, NO2, SO2, and CO, for a 10 μg/m3 increase of PM2.5 concentrations, the ER (95%CI) of emergency visits was 0.50% (0.10%, 0.90%), 0.34% (-0.02%, 0.69%), 0.36% (0.02%, 0.69%) and 0.56% (0.10%, 1.03%), respectively and the ER (95% CI) of outpatient visits was 0.65% (0.08%, 1.21%), 0.29% (-0.17%, 0.75%), 0.48% (-0.06%, 1.03%) and 0.48%(-0.02%, 0.99%), respectively.@*Conclusion@#Our results suggested that PM2.5 exposure can increase emergency and outpatient visits of 5 hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
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Objective@#To produce latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells and detect the lethal effect of LMP2A CAR-T cells on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells.@*Methods@#The study was conducted from September 2016 to December 2017.Genetic engineering technology was used to construct anti-LMP2A CAR lentiviral expression vector and sequencing was identified. The expression of anti-LMP2A CAR in the 293T cells was confirmed by western blot. CCK8 assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of LMP2A CAR-T cells to NPC cells. ELISA assay was performed to test IL-2 and IFN-γ releasing of activated LMP2A CAR-T cells. The inhibition effect of LMP2A CAR-T cells on NPC xenograft tumor was observed in vivo. Statistical analysis was performed by statistical software SPSS 21.0.@*Results@#The results of PCR and sequencing showed that anti-LMP2A CAR lentiviral expression vector was constructed successfully. The result of western blot indicated the expression of anti-LMP2A CAR in the 293T cells effectively. The results of CCK-8 assay showed that the killing activities of LMP2A CAR-T cells to LV-LMP2A-CNE1 cells were (72.11±9.75)%, (54.65 ±5.42)% and (36.68±3.80)% at 20∶1, 10∶1 and 5∶1 ratio of effective cells to target cells, and had a statistical difference compared to CD19 CAR-T cells and T cells (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the killing activities of LMP2A CAR-T cells to CNE1 cells compared with CD19 CAR-T cells and T cells. The results of ELISA showed that the content of IL-2 and IFN-γ in the co-culture supernatant of LMP2A CAR-T cells and LV-LMP2A-CNE1 cells was significantly higher than that of LMP2A CAR-T cells and CNE1 cells which had statistical difference (P<0.05); In vivo experiment, the volume of LMP2A CAR-T cell group was (80.3±10.0) mm3 which was significantly lower than that of the control groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#LMP2A CAR-T cells are successfully prepared and have an obvious targeting cytotoxicity on LMP2A-positive NPC cells.
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In the past decades, people's work and life styles have dramatically changed during the rapid economic development and urbanization in China. A national survey reported that Chinese adults spend an average of 81% of daily time in indoor environment. Exposure to indoor air pollution plays key roles for human health but is likely to be neglected due on the relatively lower concentration levels and lower awareness among common people. Till now, published studies focus more on the pollution levels or the toxicological effects of indoor air pollutants but there is a lack of disease burden assessment attributable to indoor air pollution. In this review, several international studies were introduced on the disease burden estimation attributable to indoor air pollution, as well as the estimation methods. The current situation of national study was also reviewed. The strengths and limitations of the representative international studies were discussed. This review is helpful in providing data to guide the research on disease burden assessment attributable to indoor air pollution in China, and further helps to prioritize the indoor air pollution control based on disease burden ranking among pollutants and motivate public policies to protect the public health.
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A pregnant lady in her third trimester presented with a rapidly growing right-sided nasal mass associated with epistaxis and nasal obstruction for six months. Examination showed a non tender, protruding mass completely occluding her right nostril. Wide surgical excision was done under anaesthesia. Histopathology revealed capillary haemangioma. In a gravid patient with a rapidly growing intranasal lesion, capillary haemangioma should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Diagnosis, Differential , Epistaxis , Hemangioma, Capillary , Diagnosis , Pathology , Nasal Cavity , Nasal Obstruction , Pathology , Nose Neoplasms , Diagnosis , Pathology , Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic , Diagnosis , PathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To detect the levels of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 Antibodies (LMP1-Ab) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)sera and discuss the clinical significance of this test in diagnosis, prognosis, and immune-targeted therapy of NPC.@*METHOD@#Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot method were used to detect the LMP1-Ab levels in 61 NPC sera, 30 nasopharyngitis sera, and 55 normal sera. The relationship between the LMP1-Ab level and clinical and pathological features of NPC was analyzed.@*RESULT@#ELISA test showed that LMP1 antibodies level was significantly higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma group than those in nasopharyngitis group and in healthy group and there were statistical significances (all P0.05). Western blot test revealed that the expression of LMP1 antibodies was higher in NPC sera than in nasopharyngitis sera and in normal sera.@*CONCLUSION@#LMP1-Ab level was higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma group than in nasopharyngitis group and in normal group. Therefore, LMP1 may be considered as a tumor correlated antigen to help the diagnosis and immune-targeted therapy of NPC.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Antibodies, Viral , Blood , Carcinoma , Case-Control Studies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Herpesvirus 4, Human , Allergy and Immunology , Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma , Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms , Blood , Pathology , Viral Matrix Proteins , Allergy and ImmunologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The study is to investigate the associations between visibility, major air pollutants and daily counts of hospital admission in Shanghai, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Daily data on hospital admission, visibility, and air pollution during 2005-2008 were obtained from the Shanghai Insurance Bureau (SHIB), Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, and Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center, respectively. The generalized additive model (GAM) with penalized splines was used to examine the associations between daily visibility and hospital admission.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among various pollutants, PM(2.5) showed strongest correlation with visibility. Decreased visibility was significantly associated with increased risk of hospital admission in Shanghai. An inter-quartile range decrease in the 2-day (L01) moving average of visibility corresponded to 3.66% (95%CI: 1.02%, 6.31%), 4.06% (95%CI: 0.84%, 7.27%), and 4.32% (95%CI: 1.67%, 6.97%) increase of total, cardiovascular, and respiratory hospitalizations, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our analyses provide the first piece of evidence in China, demonstrating that decreased visibility has an effect on hospital admission, and this finding strengthens the rationale for further limiting air pollution levels in Shanghai.</p>