Associations of allergy-related outcomes with depression in the US adults.

Evidences showed the link between allergy and depression, while the relationships of depression with allergy-related outcomes is insufficient. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the relationship of depression with allergy-related outcomes assessed using two different outcome indicators, in a population-based study. A cross-sectional study was performed of 1094 participants in the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The self-reported allergic symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) status and immunoglobulin E (IgE) were used to evaluate the allergy-related outcomes. The depression disorder was defined as the ≥ 10 points on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Logistic and linear regression models were performed to illustrate the associations of depression and allergy-related outcomes. The prevalence of AR and depression was 34.2% and 6.8%, respectively. The odds of depression were 8.6% higher in participants with AR patients compared those without AR [odds ratio (OR) = 1.739, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.034, 2.933)], while the odds of depression in participants with allergic sensitization and without allergic sensitization were not found significant difference. Allergy is positively associated with depression disorder, and patients with allergy-related outcomes, such as AR, may be at higher risk of depression, while the IgE level was not founded to be related with depression. In the treatment of AR patients with depression symptoms, early detection and management of mental problems are of importance.

Prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among emerging manufacturing workers in Beijing, China.

Objective: The workers in emerging manufacturing are at decreased risk of traditional occupational diseases, while probably at increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of WMSDs among emerging manufacturing workers in Beijing. Methods: A total of 3,359 valid questionnaires were collected from 10 enterprises in the electronics, pharmaceutical, and motor manufacturing industries. The prevalence of WMSDs was assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The work posture load was evaluated through a questionnaire. Results: The results showed that the highest prevalence of WMSDs was observed in part of the neck (15.0%), followed by the lower back (12.5%), shoulders (11.2%), and upper back (7.1%). Female workers, workers aged older than 35 years, workers with a BMI of ≥28 kg/m2, longer working experience, never exercised had a higher prevalence of WMSDs. Logistic regression analysis showed that female workers, workers aged older than 35 years, with a middle school education and college degree, and workers who never exercised had a higher risk of WMSDs. In addition, workers who sat for long during work, worked hard with upper limbs or hands, worked in uncomfortable postures, and performed repetitive operations were positively related with the increased risk of WMSDs. Conclusion: These findings suggested that WMSDs were prevalent among emerging manufacturing workers in Beijing, China, while efforts should be made to reshape the risk factors associated with WMSDs, such as prolonged sitting, uncomfortable positions, and repetitive operations. Encouraging exercise and promoting ergonomic interventions probably be also benefit to induce the risk of WMSDs.

Sodium-Based Cylindrical Plasmonic Waveguides in the Near-Infrared.

Subwavelength optical field confinement and low-loss propagation are of great significance for compact photonic integration. However, the field confinement capability of plasmonic devices is always accompanied by the inherent Ohmic loss. Although recent studies have shown that sodium (Na) exhibits lower loss than noble metals in the near-infrared band, the field confinement ability has not been adequately assessed. Meanwhile, the high chemical reactivity of Na should be regulated for practical application. Two dielectric-coated Na nanowires, consisting of cylindrical Na nanowires with one or two dielectric layers as claddings, are proposed and investigated in this paper. Based on finite element calculations, we thoroughly study the modal fields and low-loss propagation properties of dielectric-coated Na nanowires. The results demonstrate that Na exhibits lower loss and stronger field confinement than the typical plasmonic material silver. These findings indicate the performance of plasmonic devices can be considerably improved by employing the metal Na compared with devices using noble metals, which may promote the applications in subwavelength photonic devices.

Anemoside A3 activates TLR4-dependent M1-phenotype macrophage polarization to represses breast tumor growth and angiogenesis.

The polarization of macrophages has been previously demonstrated to be closely related to immune and inflammatory processes in the tumorigenesis and progression of breast cancer. In the present study, Anemoside A3 (A3), an active compound from Pulsatilla saponins, was screened out and polarized M0 macrophages into the classically activated macrophages (M1-phenotype). We found that A3 is an activator of TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. A3 increased the expression of CD86+ (a marker of M1 macrophage) in M0 macrophage, and increased the typical M1 macrophage pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, and IL-12 expression in a TLR4-dependent manner. A macrophage-cancer cell co-culture system was established to evaluate whether A3 can could switch tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to the M1-phenotype. In the co-culture system, A3 increased the expression of IL-12 in macrophages, whereby suppressing MCF-7 breast cancer cell line proliferation and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. Moreover, A3 induced M1 macrophage polarization in the 4 T1 murine breast cancer model and effectively inhibited tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis. Collectively, these findings indicated that A3 induced M1 macrophages polarization to repress breast tumorigenesis via targeting the TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway. This study provides a rationale for utilizing traditional Chinese medicine extracts in the immunotherapy of breast cancer.

Short- And medium-term outcomes of reduced-port laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with upper rectal cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the short- and medium-term outcomes of using a reduced-port laparoscopic surgery (RPLS), compared to multi-port laparoscopic surgery (MPLS), for the treatment of upper rectal cancer (URC) among elderly patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical and follow-up data of 181 elderly patients with URC, who underwent radical laparoscopic surgery at our hospital, between January 2015 and January 2019. Among these 181 cases, 62 underwent RPLS and 119 MPLS. RESULTS: Compared to MPLS, RPLS decreased the length of surgical incision, lower pain on postoperative days 1 and 2, decreased the time to first flatus after surgery, as well as the time to mobilization after surgery. There was no difference between the short-term outcomes between the two laparoscopic approaches, and no difference in the 3-year disease-free and overall survival rate. CONCLUSION: Compared to MPLS, RPLS provides several advantages for the treatment of URC among elderly individuals, including a shorter length of surgical incision, reduced postoperative pain, shorter time to first flatus after surgery, earlier mobilization, and better cosmetic outcomes. These advantages are achieved with no difference in the length of surgery, nor in the 3-year disease-free and overall survival rate, compared to MPLS.

The synergistic antitumour effect of multi-components from Pulsatilla chinensis saponins in NCI-H460 lung cancer cell line through induction of apoptosis.

Context: Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel (Ranunculaceae) possess antitumour effects; however, its antitumour potential has not been extensively investigated.Objective: To investigate the synergetic effect of multi-components from P. chinensis induced cell apoptosis and explore the mechanism.Materials and methods: The cytotoxicity was measured against NCI-H460, SMMC-7721, HCT-116 and U251 cell lines treated with eight monomers from P. chinensis. The synergetic effect of a combination of Pulsatilla saponin D (PSD), Raddeanoside R13 (R13), and Pulsatilla saponin A (PSA) was assessed using CalcuSyn3.0. Annexin V-FITC/PI and DAPI staining analyzed apoptosis of NCI-H460 cells treated with PSD, R13 and PSA alone or in combination. Proteins differential expression was analyzed using proteomic, DAVID Bioinformatics Resources, R software environment and KEGG database, and verified by western blotting.Results: PSD, R13, and PSA displayed greater antitumor activity with IC50 values of 5.6, 5.1 and 10.5 µM against NCI-H460 cells compared with other monomers. The combination of PSD, R13, and PSA had a synergistic effect at CI = 0.27 and induced 17.53% cells apoptotic detected by flow cytometric. Bioinformatic analysis showed an overview of the differentially expressed proteins and some signalling pathways. Moreover, some candidate proteins (LDHA, PI3K, NOL3 and cleaved-caspase-3) were validated by western blotting.Discussion and Conclusion: These results show PSD, R13, and PSA are good candidates as natural products for use in the treatment of lung cancer. Potential signalling pathways and protein targets need to be further validated. The application of the drug combination approach also provides a therapeutic strategy for cancer.

Preparation and microwave absorption performance of a flexible Fe3O4/nanocarbon hybrid buckypaper and its application in composite materials.

Graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes are promising microwave-absorbing materials. Herein, ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4)/multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and Fe3O4/GO hybrid buckypapers with excellent flexibility and manoeuvrability were coated on the surface of an epoxy substrate to fabricate microwave-absorbing composites. Fe3O4/GO buckypapers show a unique layered structure that differs from the complex network structure of Fe3O4/MWCNT buckypapers. Therefore, the Fe3O4/GO buckypapers exhibit lower tensile strength and toughness than the Fe3O4/MWCNT buckypapers, and the minimum electromagnetic reflection loss of Fe3O4/GO buckypapers is higher than that of Fe3O4/MWCNT buckypapers. Further, Fe3O4/GO buckypapers have a wider effective absorption-frequency band than Fe3O4/MWCNT buckypapers at 2.0-18.0 GHz. Although the mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites coated with Fe3O4/MWCNT or Fe3O4/GO buckypapers show a slight deterioration in comparison with those of the epoxy resin substrate, both buckypapers exhibit improved microwave-absorption performance compared with the epoxy resin substrate.

[Effect of neoflavonoid latifolin isolated from Dalbergia odorifera on acute myocardial ischemia in rats and its mechanism of Nrf2 signaling pathway].

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of latifolin on pituitrin(Pit) or isoproterenol(ISO)-induced myocardial injury in rats, and further investigate its underlying mechanisms. Rats were administrated sublingually with pituitrin or subcutaneously with isoproterenol to induce acute myocardial ischemia in rats, and lead II electrocardiograph was recorded. In rats with isoproterenol, ELISA assay or colorimetric method was used to detect the content or activity of myocardial injury markers in serum, and the SOD activity and MDA content in myocardium were detected by colorimetric assay; histopathological examination was conducted by HE staining; the frozen section of myocardial tissues was used for DCFH-DA fluorescent staining to detect the content of ROS in myocardium; Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1 and NQO1 in myocardium. Results showed that latifolin significantly inhibited ST-segment changes induced by pituitrin or isoproterenol, and increased heart rate. Further mechanism study showed that latifolin reduced cardiac troponin I(cTnI) level, aspartate transaminase(AST) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activities in serum, increased myocardial superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity and reduced myocardial malondialdehyde(MDA) level, and protected myocardium with less necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells and fracture of myocardial fibers. Furthermore, latifolin obviously reduced ROS level in myocardium, inhibited the expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1(Keap1), increased the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2(Nrf2), and promoted the expression of Heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) in myocardial tissues. Our data suggest that latifolin has a potent protective effect against pituitrin or isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury, which may be related to inhibition of oxidative stress by activating Nrf2 signaling pathway.