[Attention should be paid to sleep disorders in critically ill patients and its recognition and intervention].

The sleep deficiency and sleep disturbance of critically ill patients may result in adverse outcomes, negative effects on early rehabilitation, and may persist well beyond the intensive care unit (ICU). It has been paid more and more attention in clinical practice. The sleep problems of critically ill patients are associated with suffered critical illness, ICU environments, and coexisting sleep disorders before critical illness. Poor sleep quality, insufficient sleep duration, severe sleep fragmentation and irregular circadian rhythms during critical care illness have been extensively described. In addition, ICU patients have been specifically shown to experience atypical sleep and pathologic wakefulness. So the sleep in critical ill patients should be evaluated. Sleep can be evaluated by both subjective assessment and objective measurements, including polysomnography and actigraphy. According to individual situation, comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and personalized interventions, which include treating critical illness, improving ICU environment to reduce interference to sleep, nonpharmacological treatment to relax and stabilize sleep, and treating coexisting sleep disorders, should be taken to improve the patient's sleep and then to promote the early rehabilitation of critically ill patients.

[Association between digestive tract cancer and severity of coronary artery disease].

Objective: To evaluate the association between digestive tract cancer and anatomical severity of coronary artery disease. Methods: This study enrolled 142 patients with digestive tract cancer who underwent coronary angiography in the Department of Cardiology of the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2009 to 2020 as the cancer group. The patients in cancer group were matched with 426 non-cancer patients who underwent coronary angiography at our hospital during the same period in a 1∶3 ratio based on gender and age. All enrolled patients had no previous history of percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The severity of coronary artery disease was documented and assessed using the SYNTAX score based on angiogram. High SYNTAX score (SXhigh) was defined as SYNTAX score≥22 (upper quartile), while low SYNTAX score (SXlow) was SYNTAX score<22. High NLR (NLRhigh) was NLR≥2.287 (median), while low NLR (NLRlow) was NLR<2.287. The association between digestive tract cancer and severity of coronary artery disease was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: This study included a total of 568 patients, with a mean age of (66.6±8.7) years. Among them, 430 patients (75.7%) were male. The cancer group consisted of 142 patients with digestive tract cancers, with a mean age of (66.5±8.4) years. The non-cancer group consisted of 426 patients, with a mean age of (66.7±8.8) years. The proportion of SXhigh in patients with digestive tract cancers (33.1%, 47 patients) was higher than that in non-cancer patients (23.9%, 102 patients) (P=0.032). Compared to non-cancer patients, SXhigh in patients with digestive tract cancers was higher (OR: 1.614, 95%CI: 1.051-2.481, P=0.029). Subgroup analysis stratified by NLR levels revealed that in the NLRhigh group, patients with digestive tract cancers exhibited a higher severity of coronary artery disease compared to non-cancer patients, with an OR of 1.948 (95%CI: 1.005-3.779, P=0.048). In the NLRlow group, there was no significant relationship between digestive tract cancers and the severity of coronary artery disease, with an OR of 1.277 (95%CI: 0.586-2.781, P=0.538). Conclusions: Digestive tract cancer is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease, and patients with digestive tract cancers have a higher risk of severe coronary artery disease than non-cancer patients. Additionally, there is an association between digestive tract cancers and the severity of coronary artery disease under conditions of high levels of inflammation.

Mass Measurement of Upper fp-Shell N=Z-2 and N=Z-1 Nuclei and the Importance of Three-Nucleon Force along the N=Z Line.

Using a novel method of isochronous mass spectrometry, the masses of ^{62}Ge, ^{64}As, ^{66}Se, and ^{70}Kr are measured for the first time, and the masses of ^{58}Zn, ^{61}Ga, ^{63}Ge, ^{65}As, ^{67}Se, ^{71}Kr, and ^{75}Sr are redetermined with improved accuracy. The new masses allow us to derive residual proton-neutron interactions (δV_{pn}) in the N=Z nuclei, which are found to decrease (increase) with increasing mass A for even-even (odd-odd) nuclei beyond Z=28. This bifurcation of δV_{pn} cannot be reproduced by the available mass models, nor is it consistent with expectations of a pseudo-SU(4) symmetry restoration in the fp shell. We performed ab initio calculations with a chiral three-nucleon force (3NF) included, which indicate the enhancement of the T=1 pn pairing over the T=0 pn pairing in this mass region, leading to the opposite evolving trends of δV_{pn} in even-even and odd-odd nuclei.

miR-429 as biomarker for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cancers and its potential action mechanisms: A systematic literature review.

miR-429 is a member of miR-200 family. Accumulated evidence has indicated that miR-429 dysregulation is involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), progression, development, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis and drug resistance of a variety of cancers. miR-429 might specifically function either as a tumor suppressor or promoter candidate for certain cancers depending on the particular types of tumor cells/tissues. miR-429 appears to have a tumor-suppression role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), breast cancer (BC), gastric carcinoma (GC), glioblastoma (GBM), esophageal cancer (EC), osteosarcoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), cervical cancer (CC), pancreatic cancer, tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC), nephroblastoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and soft tissue sarcomas. On the other hand, miR-429 has a tumor-promotion role in endometrial cancer (EmCa), prostate cancer (CaP) and lung cancer (LC). However, miR-429 shows paradoxical role in colorectal cancer (CRC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), bladder cancer and ovarian cancer (OC). This article summarizes the associations between miR-429 and malignant tumors as well as potential action mechanisms. miR-429 has a potential to be used in the future as a biomarker for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of certain cancers.

Identification of the Lowest T=2, J

Masses of ^{52g,52m}Co were measured for the first time with an accuracy of ∼10 keV, an unprecedented precision reached for short-lived nuclei in the isochronous mass spectrometry. Combining our results with the previous ß-γ measurements of ^{52}Ni, the T=2, J^{π}=0^{+} isobaric analog state (IAS) in ^{52}Co was newly assigned, questioning the conventional identification of IASs from the ß-delayed proton emissions. Using our energy of the IAS in ^{52}Co, the masses of the T=2 multiplet fit well into the isobaric multiplet mass equation. We find that the IAS in ^{52}Co decays predominantly via γ transitions while the proton emission is negligibly small. According to our large-scale shell model calculations, this phenomenon has been interpreted to be due to very low isospin mixing in the IAS.

Nutritional status of the elderly in rural North China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the nutritional status of elderly people living in a rural area of North China. DESIGN: Community-based, cross-sectional prevalence survey. SETTING: 3 rural towns of Lvliang City, Shanxi Province, China. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 1845 community residents (29.1% of those eligible) 55 years or older (birth before 1958-01-01). MEASUREMENTS: The participants were assessed regarding demographic characteristics, height, weight, as well as having a physical examination and blood sampling for serum cholesterol, total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, and vitamin B12 levels. RESULTS: 991 (53.7%) were female and 139 (7.5%) did not complete the anthropometric measurement. Prevalence of underweight and obesity was 3.5% and 24.9% in men and 6.7% and 31.0% in women (P = 0.003, P = 0.005, respectively). Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hypocholesterolemia was 13.5% and 52.6% in men and 25.0% and 34.3% in women (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Prevalence of high LDL-c concentrations was 8.8% in men and 16.8% in women (P < 0.001). The mean serum tHcy in men (28.8 ± 20.1 µmmol/l) was significantly higher than in women (21.0 ± 15.1 µmmol/L, P < 0.001). Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (defined as > 15µmmol/L) was 79.7% in men and 65.5% in women (P < 0.001). Prevalence of low folate (defined as < 11 nmol/L) and vitamin B12 levels (defiend as < 185 pmol/L) was 70.8 % and 76.8% in men and 56.5% and 72.6% in women (P < 0.001, P = 0.036, respectively). Correlation coefficients between tHcy, folate, and vitamin B12 indicated an inverse linear correlation (r = -0.21, P < 0.001, r = -0.35, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: As China's economic climate has developed, the nutritional status of elderly people in the rural parts of the country has improved in some aspects. However, the trend toward obesity will lead to a shift in the burden of obesity-related chronic diseases. In addition, rurally-located elderly people are at high risk of death that may be associated with abnormal serum cholesterol. The data also suggest that severe deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 levels exist, as well as there being a high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia. Folate and vitamin B12 supplementation are necessary to prevent related diseases.

Novel insight into the role of GAPDH playing tumor

The role of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) being consistently regarded as the main housekeeping gene and reference gene/protein for expression quantification in tumors has been gradually questioned and challenged by accumulated experiment evidence. The current review notified that the GAPDH expression was deregulated in lung cancer, renal cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, glioma, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, prostatic cancer, pancreatic cancer and bladder cancer. Interestingly, GAPDH was commonly up-regulated in a variety of types of cancer, which was revealed to be potentially required for the cancer cell growth and tumor formation. The relevant mechanisms were also discussed in current review. This work might provide useful insights for future studies on GAPDH in tumors (AU)

The role of annexin A3 playing in cancers

Annexin family proteins are a well-known multigene family of Ca(2+)-regulated phospholipid- and membrane-binding proteins. As one of the annexin family genes/proteins, accumulated researches have begun to reveal that annexin A3 (Anxa3) exhibits important roles in tumor development, metastasis and drug resistance. The summarized research evidences in recent years indicate Anxa3 might specifically functionalize either as a tumor suppressor or as a tumor promoter candidate for different cancers depending on the types of tumor cells and tissues. The up-regulation of Anxa3 was found to be correlated with enhanced drug resistance of ovarian cancer, to promote the developments of colorectal adenocarcinoma and pancreatic carcinoma, and to facilitate the metastases of lung adenocarcinoma and hepatocarcinoma; meanwhile, the decreased Anxa3 expressions was negatively correlated with the developments of prostatic carcinoma and renal carcinoma. It is conceivable that Anxa3 could be regarded as a target for therapeutic intervention and a biological indicator for tumor development, invasion and metastasis as well as for the prognosis of tumor patients (AU)

The association of annexin A2 and cancers

Annexins are a group of calcium- and phospholipid-dependent proteins. As a member of the annexin, annexin A2 (Anxa2) is widely distributed in nucleus, cytoplasm and extracellular surface and mainly expressed in human endothelial cells, mononuclear cells, macrophages, marrow cells and some tumor cells. Accumulated evidences indicated that Anxa2 deregulation was associated with the occurrence, invasion and metastasis of cancers. Anxa2 up-regulation was related to the development, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, acute promyelocytic leukemia and renal cell carcinoma; while Anxa2 down-regulation was associated with prostate cancer, esophageal squamous carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma and sinonasal adenocarcinoma. The association between Anxa2 and malignant tumors as well as the potential action mechanisms were summarized in current work. Anxa2 might be used as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of certain tumors (AU)

Proteomic research progress in lymphatic metastases of cancers

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is recognised as an important factor involved in malignant tumour progression by interfering with a favourable prognosis. It is involved in a variety of cancers. Proteins are believed to play important roles in the LNM of cancers. The rapid achievements of state-of-the-art proteomic techniques have emerged as the key technologies successfully applied to identify markers for cancers at high-throughput level by providing novel targets and creating possible therapeutic interventions in cancer research. This review summarises recent progress in proteomic research in hepatocarcinoma, gastric cancer, oesophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer. Actin, heat-shock proteins (HSPs), annexins, cytokeratin 10 (CK10), CK19, protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) are the most common proteins in lymphatic metastases of cancers revealed by proteomic and protein functional studies. Other protein candidates specifically associated with LNMs of certain cancers are also summarised and discussed (AU)

[Inhibition of transmembrane K(+) currents in mammalian ventricular myocytes by antiarrhythmic agent RP62719].

The effect of RP62719 on the inward rectifier K(+) current (I(K1)),transient outward K(+) current (I(to)) and delayed outward K(+) current (I(K)) in isolated cardiac myocytes was determined using the whole cell patch clamp technique in guinea pig and dog. RP62719 decreased I(K1) with an inhibitory concentration 50 (IC(50) ) of 5.0+/-1.0 micromol/L at -100 mV in guinea pig ventricular cells. In dog ventricular myocytes, RP62719 inhibited Ito by 84+/-4.4% with an IC(50) of 1.2+/-0.51 micromol/L at +40 mV. In guinea pig ventricular cells, RP62719 decreased I(K): I(Kstep) by 50.0+/-8.3%%and I(Ktail) by 56.0+/-4.9% at +40 mV, respectively. RP62719 inhibited I(Kstep) with an IC(50) of 4.2+/-0.8 micromol/L and I(Ktail) with an IC(50) of 3.3+/-0.75 micromol/L. Thus it is suggested that the ionic mechanism of antiarrhymic effect by RP62719 may be due to its inhibition of I(K1),I(to) and I(K).

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis of phospholipase A2 and fibrinolytic enzyme, two enzymes obtained from Chinese Agkistrodon blomhoffii Ussurensis venom.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was used to analyze two enzymes, phospholipase A2 and fibrinolytic enzyme isolated from Chinese Agkistrodon blomhoffii Ussurensis venom. Using sinapinic acid as the matrix, positive ion mass spectra of the enzymes were obtained. In addition to the dominant protein [M + H]+ ions, multimeric and multiply charged ions were also observed in the mass spectra. The higher the concentration of the enzymes, the more multiply charged polymer and multimeric ions were detected. Our results indicate that MALDI-TOFMS can provide a rapid and accurate method for molecular weight determination of snake venom enzymes. Mass accuracies of 0.1 and 0.3% were achieved by analysis of highly dialyzed phospholipase A2 and fibrinolytic enzyme, and these results are much better than those obtained using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. MALDI-TOFMS thus provides a reliable method to determine the purity and molecular weight of these enzymes, which are of potential use as therapeutants.

[Effect of microinjection of GABA into the caudate nucleus on electrical discharges of nociceptive neurons in caudate nucleus of rat].

The characteristics of glass microelectrode recorded electrical activity of nociceptive neurons in the caudate nucleus elicited by microinjection of GABA and blockage by picrotoxin (PIC) were studied in 53 Wistar rats. The results showed that GABA (25, 50, 100 micrograms/2 microliters every 2 min) inhibited the activity of pain excitation neurons (PEN), as shown by decreased frequency and increased latency, but enhanced the activity of pian, inhibition neurons (PIN), as shown by shortened duration and increased discharge frequency. Both activities are highly dose-dependent and could be blocked by PIC (i.p. 250 micrograms, 1 ml/1 min).

Inhibitory effect of tetrahydropalmatine on calcium current in isolated cardiomyocyte of guinea pig.

AIM: To study the effect of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) on calcium channels in ventricular single cells of guinea pig heart. METHODS: Patch-clamp technique (whole cell recording) was used to observe calcium current in ventricular myocytes. RESULTS: THP decreased ICa in ventricular myocytes with a dose and frequency-dependent manner. THP (0.1, 1, and 10 mumol.L-1) decreased ICa from 1.15 +/- 0.22, 0.91 +/- 0.18, and 1.60 +/- 0.42 nA (control) to 0.9 +/- 0.21 (P < 0.01), 0.56 +/- 0.21 (P < 0.01), and 0.83 +/- 0.21 nA (P < 0.05), respectively, number of cells is five in each group (n = 5), and the rates of the depression of ICa were 22%, 38%, and 48%, respectively. The effect was easily reduced by washing the cell with the Tyrode's solution. The current-voltage relation curve showed that the potential producing peak value of ICa was 0 mV at which THP had the most markedly inhibited action on ICa. When the stimulating frequency was changed, ICa varied in a frequency-dependent manner 5 min after THP was given, and the inhibition of THP was stronger at 2 Hz than that at 0.1 Hz. CONCLUSION: THP possessed a Ca2+ channel blocking effect.

[Hyperinsulinemia in obesity and diseases of internal medicine].

We analysed fasting serum insulin levels and its correlation with common internal medical diseases in 91 cases with obesity (BMI > 24) and that in 76 nonobese cases. The mean fasting serum insulin level in obese group was higher significantly than that in nonobese group (P < 0.001). The incidences of hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, combined hyperlipidemia and serum low level of HDL-C in obese group were also higher significantly than that in nonobese group (P < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively). The main cause of many medical diseases coexisted with obesity is hyperinsulinemia. We think that the first choice of therapy to this kind of diseases should be to reduce the body weight and to decrease the insulin resistance.

Reversal of electroacupuncture tolerance by CCK-8 antiserum: an electrophysiological study on pain-related neurons in nucleus parafascicularis of the rat.

Two varieties of neurons were found in nucleus parafascicularis (pf) of the rat: one responds to noxious stimuli with an increase in firing (pain-excited neuron, PEN), the other with a decrease in firing (pain-inhibited neuron, PIN). Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to suppress PEN and excite PIN, which can be taken as an electrophysiological index for EA analgesia. This effect of EA subsided after prolonged (6 h) EA stimulation, suggesting the development of tolerance to EA. Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of CCK-8 antiserum aiming at neutralizing endogenously released CCK-8 resulted in a complete restoration of the EA effect. Normal rabbit serum was not effective. CCK-8 antiserum per se did not affect the firing pattern of the PEN or PIN in nontolerant rat. The results obtained from single neuron recording in anesthetized animals thus confirmed those obtained in intact animals using the tail flick as the end point, implying that an excess of endogenously released CCK-8 may constitute one of the mechanisms for the development of EA tolerance.

Tenascin and fibronectin distribution in human normal and pathological synovium.

Tenascin is a glycoprotein found mainly in the extracellular matrix of developing and malignant tissues. The distribution of this molecule in normal and pathological synovia from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated by indirect immunofluorescence utilizing specific monoclonal antibodies. The same technique was used to study total fibronectin (tFn) in synovial tissues as well as ED-A and ED-B containing fibronectin (Fn) isoforms (A-Fn, B-Fn), generated by alternative splicing of pre-mRNA. Tenascin was found in normal synovium just beneath the whole lining cell layer. However, a higher density and spreading pattern of distribution was observed in OA and RA sections. A-Fn and B-Fn isoforms were prominent and widespread throughout the normal synovial lining; in hypercellular synovial lining (in RA and OA samples), A-Fn and B-Fn were also observed spreading in the sublining, as well as tFn.

[The effect of lovastatin in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia].

The effect of Lovastatin, an HMG. CoA reductase inhibitor, on serum lipids and apolipoproteins was studied in 40 cases of primary hypercholesterolemia in a 4-month period of treatment. The level of serum lipids did not change significantly after a 35-day period of placebo treatment as compared with that of the baseline (P greater than 0.5). The patients then took Lovastatin with the evening meal in a daily dose from 20 to 80 mg for 3 months. The results were as follows: Lovastatin reduced significantly the mean serum level of total cholesterol (TC) by 31.5% (P less than 0.001), LDL-C by 39.8% (P less than 0.001), Apo-B by 27.3% (P less than 0.002), and the ratio TC/HDL-C by 35.9% (P less than 0.01). It also reduced the mean serum level of triglycerides (TG) by 22.1% (P greater than 0.05) and increased that of HDL-C by 6.3% (P greater than 0.2) and Apo-AI by 1.6% (P greater than 0.5), but without much significance. The drug was well tolerated by all the patients. Transient elevation of CPK was noticed in 2 patients and AKP in one patient. 7 patients complained of gastrointestinal discomfort. All these side effects did not necessitate stop of the medication. We are, therefore, of the opinion that Lovastatin is an effective agent for lowering the serum level of TC, LDL-C and Apo-B.