Radiological model based on the standard magnetic resonance sequences for detecting methylguanine methyltransferase methylation in glioma using texture analysis.

This study aims to build a radiological model based on standard MR sequences for detecting methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation in gliomas using texture analysis. A retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken in a cohort of 53 glioma patients who underwent standard preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Conventional visual radiographic features and clinical factors were compared between MGMT promoter methylated and unmethylated groups. Texture analysis extracted the top five most powerful texture features of MR images in each sequence quantitatively for detecting the MGMT promoter methylation status. The radiomic signature (Radscore) was generated by a linear combination of the five features and estimates in each sequence. The combined model based on each Radscore was established using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, nomogram, calibration, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the model. No significant differences were observed in any of the visual radiographic features or clinical factors between different MGMT methylated statuses. The top five most powerful features were selected from a total of 396 texture features of T1, contrast-enhanced T1, T2, and T2 FLAIR. Each sequence's Radscore can distinguish MGMT methylated status. A combined model based on Radscores showed differentiation between methylated MGMT and unmethylated MGMT both in the glioblastoma (GBM) dataset as well as the dataset for all other gliomas. The area under the ROC curve values for the combined model was 0.818, with 90.5% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity, in the GBM dataset, and 0.833, with 70.2% sensitivity and 90.6% specificity, in the overall gliomas dataset. Nomogram, calibration, and DCA also validated the performance of the combined model. The combined model based on texture features could be considered as a noninvasive imaging marker for detecting MGMT methylation status in glioma.

Comparison of Radiomics Analyses Based on Different Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequences in Grading and Molecular Genomic Typing of Glioma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of radiomics analyses based on different magnetic resonance (MR) sequences in the noninvasive evaluation of glioma characteristics for the differentiation of low-grade glioma versus high-grade glioma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1 mutation versus IDH1 wild-type, and mutation status and 6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation (+) versus MGMT promoter methylation (-) glioma. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with untreated glioma who underwent a standard 3T-MR tumor protocol were included in the study. A total of 396 radiomics features were extracted from the MR images, with the manually delineated tumor as the volume of interest. Clinical imaging diagnostic features (tumor location, necrosis/cyst change, crossing midline, and the degree of enhancement or peritumoral edema) were analyzed by univariate logistic regression to select independent clinical factors. Radiomics and combined clinical-radiomics models were established for grading and molecular genomic typing of glioma by multiple logistic regression and cross-validation. The performance of the models based on different sequences was evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic curves, nomograms, and decision curves. RESULTS: The radiomics model based on T1-CE performed better than models based on other sequences in predicting the tumor grade and the IDH1 status of the glioma. The radiomics model based on T2 performed better than models based on other sequences in predicting the MGMT methylation status of glioma. Only the T1 combined clinical-radiomics model showed improved prediction performance in predicting tumor grade and the IDH1 status. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that state-of-the-art radiomics analysis methods based on multiparametric MR image data and radiomics features can significantly contribute to pretreatment glioma grading and molecular subtype classification.

Sewage sludge biochar influence upon rice (Oryza sativa L) yield, metal bioaccumulation and greenhouse gas emissions from acidic paddy soil.

Biochar addition to soil has been proposed to improve plant growth by increasing soil fertility, minimizing bioaccumulation of toxic metal(liod)s and mitigating climate change. Sewage sludge (SS) is an attractive, though potentially problematic, feedstock of biochar. It is attractive because of its large abundance; however, it contains elevated concentrations of metal(loid)s and other contaminants. The pyrolysis of SS to biochar (SSBC) may be a way to reduce the availability of these contaminants to the soil and plants. Using rice plant pot experiments, we investigated the influence of SSBC upon biomass yield, bioaccumulation of nutrients, and metal(loid)s, and green housegas (GHG) emissions. SSBC amendments increased soil pH, total nitrogen, soil organic carbon and available nutrients and decreased bioavailable As, Cr, Co, Ni, and Pb (but not Cd, Cu, and Zn). Regarding rice plant properties, SSBC amendments significantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased shoot biomass (71.3-92.2%), grain yield (148.8-175.1%), and the bioaccumulation of phosphorus and sodium, though decreased the bioaccumulation of nitrogen (except in grain) and potassium. Amendments of SSBC significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced the bioaccumulation of As, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, and Pb, but increased that of Cd and Zn, though not above limits set by Chinese regulations. Finally regarding GHG emissions, SSBC significantly (P < 0.01) reduced N2O emissions and stimulated the uptake/oxidation of CH4 enough to make both the cultivated and uncultivated paddy soil a CH4 sink. SSBC can be beneficial in rice paddy soil but the actual associated benefits will depend on site-specific conditions and source of SS; long-term effects remain a further unknown.

Blood translation elongation factor-1δ is a novel marker for cadmium exposure.

Translation elongation factor-1d (TEF-1δ) has been identified as a novel cadmium-responsive proto-oncogene. However, it is still unclear whether TEF-1δ could be a potential biomarker of cadmium exposure. Rats were treated with CdCl2 at different concentrations (high dose 1.225, mid-dose 0.612 and low dose 0.306 mg/kg body weight, respectively) for 14 weeks, and the cadmium levels, weight coefficients, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCR), 24-h urine protein (24hPro), urinary creatinine (Cr) and pathological features were determined. The TEF-1δ expression in white blood cells and multiple organs were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were also confirmed with fluorescence quantitative PCR. A cadmium dose-dependent increase (p < 0.05) of cadmium levels in blood, urine, liver, kidney, heart and lung, and the weight coefficients was observed. The liver and renal function indictors including AST, ALT, SCR, BUN and 24hPro, were elevated in a cadmium dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Significant pathological changes in liver, kidney, heart and lung were indicated. The TEF-1δ expression was up-regulated in both blood and organs (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expression level of blood TEF-1δ was positively correlated to TEF-1δ expression level, cadmium level and toxicity in the organs (p < 0.01). This study indicates that blood TEF-1δ is a novel valuable biomarker for cadmium exposure and its organ toxicity.

Alterations in the expression of translation factors as molecular markers in cadmium-exposed workers.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) and elongation factor 1δ (eEF-1δ) are novel cadmium (Cd) responsive proto-oncogenes. This research investigated the expression of these genes in Cd-exposed workers (n = 58), and to evaluate their usefulness as biomarkers of Cd exposure. According to urinary Cd concentration, the subjects were divided into four groups (urinary Cd concentration ≥0.1 µg/g.Cr, ≥1.0 µg/g.Cr, ≥5.0 µg/g.Cr and ≥50.0 µg/g.Cr). Subjects exhibited increased severe health problems with higher urinary Cd concentrations. The eIF3 and eEF-1δ expression in the blood were investigated with real-time PCR. PCR data showed a strong positive correlation between blood eEF-1δ and urinary Cd concentrations (r = 0.788, p < 0.01), and a weak positive correlation between blood eIF3 expression and urinary Cd concentrations (r = 0.569, p < 0.05). These findings, for the first time, demonstrate that the blood eEF-1δ overexpression can be used as a molecular biomarker of Cd-exposed population.

Association of vision and hearing status with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese adults.

Objective: Long-term untreated vision and hearing impairments can negatively impact physical and mental wellbeing. We investigated the association of vision and hearing status with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 9,492 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) carried out in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. This study used self-reported vision and hearing status to determine the degree of impairment. Depressive symptoms were examined using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), with a total score of ≥ 12 indicating depressive symptoms. A Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, residence, marital status, educational level, smoking history, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, digestive disease, arthritis, wearing glasses, and hearing aids was used to estimate the association of vision and hearing status with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Results: Of the 9,492 participants [mean (SD) age at CHARLS baseline, 58.12 (9.00) years], 3,238 (34.11%) participants reported incident depressive symptoms during the 7-year follow-up period. Participants who self-reported only vision impairment [hazard ratios (HR): 1.14, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.05-1.24], only hearing impairment (HR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.06-1.46), and both vision and hearing impairments (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.08-1.45) were independently associated with a greater increase in the hazard risk of incident depressive symptoms compared to those without vision and hearing impairments. An increase in participants' vision and hearing scores was associated with a significant increase in the hazard risk of incident depressive symptoms (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.06). Conclusion: Vision and hearing status was associated with increased depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Chinese adults during the 7-year follow-up period. Participants' use of glasses and hearing aids did not improve their depressive symptoms. Our findings may facilitate the development of effective treatments to prevent and treat vision and hearing impairments, thereby enhancing the physical and mental wellbeing of middle-aged and older adults.

An Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Dimerization Inhibitor Prevents the Progression of Osteoarthritis.

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease. Excessive nitric oxide (NO) mediates the chondrocyte inflammatory response, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation during the occurrence and development of OA. NO in chondrocytes is mainly produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The aim of this study was to design and synthesize an iNOS dimerization inhibitor and evaluate its effects on chondrocyte inflammation and articular cartilage injury in OA via in vitro and in vivo experiments. Design: The title compound 22o was designed, synthesized, and screened based on a previous study. The effects of different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 µM) of compound 22o on chondrocyte inflammatory response and ECM anabolism or catabolism were evaluated by Western blot and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using the rat chondrocyte model of IL-1ß-induced OA. Furthermore, different doses (40 and 80 mg/kg) of compound 22o were administered by gavage to a rat OA model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), and their protective effects on the articular cartilage were evaluated by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Results: Compound 22o showed effective iNOS inhibitory activity by inhibiting the dimerization of iNOS. It inhibited the IL-1ß-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) in the chondrocytes, decreased NO production, and significantly increased the expression levels of the ECM anabolic markers, aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen type II (COL2A1). Gavage with compound 22o was found to be effective in the rat OA model induced by ACLT, wherein it regulated the anabolism and catabolism and exerted a protective effect on the articular cartilage. Conclusions: Compound 22o inhibited the inflammatory response and catabolism of the chondrocytes and reduced articular cartilage injury in the rat OA model, indicating its potential as a disease-modifying OA drug.

Clinical relevance of genetic polymorphisms in WNT signaling pathway (SFRP1, WNT3A, CTNNB1, WIF-1, DKK-1, LRP5, LRP6) on pulmonary tuberculosis in a Chinese population.

The present study was performed to evaluate the association of WNT signaling pathway genes variants with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) risk in Chinese Han population. Our study subjects were composed of 452 PTB patients and 465 normal controls, and seventeen SNPs of seven genes in WNT signaling pathway (SFRP1, WNT3A, CTNNB1, WIF-1, DKK-1, LRP5, LRP6) were genotyped by SNPscan technique. We found no significant relationship of SFRP1 rs10088390, rs4736958, rs3242, WNT3A rs752107, rs3121310, CTNNB1 rs2293303, rs1798802, rs4135385, WIF-1 rs1026024, rs3782499, DKK-1 rs2241529, rs1569198, LRP5 rs3736228, rs556442, LRP6 rs2302685, rs11054697, rs10743980 polymorphisms with PTB susceptibility. While, WIF-1 rs3782499 variant was associated with susceptibility to PTB under recessive model, and haplotype analysis showed that DKK-1 GA haplotype frequency was significantly increased in PTB patients. The WNT3A rs3121310, CTNNB1 rs2293303 polymorphisms were respectively associated with drug-induced liver injury (DILI), sputum smear-positive in PTB patients. The rs3782499 in WIF-1 gene was related to fever, leukopenia, and the rs1569198 in DKK-1 was linked to sputum smear-positive in PTB patients. In LRP5 gene, rs3736228, rs556442 variants respectively affected the occurrence of DILI, fever, and LRP6 gene rs2302685, rs10743980 variants respectively influenced the development of hypoproteinemia, sputum smear-positive in PTB patients. Our results revealed that WNT signaling pathway genes variation were not associated with the susceptibility to PTB, while WNT3A, CTNNB1, WIF-1, DKK-1, LRP5, LRP6 genetic variations might be closely related to the occurrence of several clinical characteristics of PTB patients.

Isolation and characterization of an AP2/ERF-RAV transcription factor BnaRAV-1-HY15 in Brassica napus L. HuYou15.

Transcriptional regulation is thought to be important for stress tolerance and response of transcription factors. RAV subfamily transcription factor contains an AP2- and B3-DNA binding domain, which belongs to the AP2/ERF family. It encodes transcriptional regulators with a variety of functions involved in the developmental and physiological processes in plants. Here, a RAV-like gene, BnaRAV-1-HY15, was isolated from Brassica napus L. cv HuYou15. Sequence homology analysis revealed that the BnaRAV-1-HY15 factor belongs to the RAV subfamily of the AP2/ERF family, and it shares high identity with the AtRAV2 of Arabidopsis. Sequence and three-dimensional structural analyses revealed that BnaRAV-1-HY15 contains two distinct DNA-binding domains, one AP2 domain together with one B3 domain. The AP2 domain composed of 54 amino acids and present in N-terminal region. In addition to AP2 domain, 117 amino acids show significant sequence similarity to the B3 domain present in C-terminal region. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that the BnaRAV-1-HY15 gene is induced by cold, NaCl and PEG treatments. Under ABA stress, the expression of BnaRAV-1-HY15 gene was not detected. The gene expression was also not traceable from the tissues of pod, bud, petal, leaf, stem and root of normally grown B. napus L. HuYou15 plant at the period of flowering and seed development.

Discovery and expression profile analysis of AP2/ERF family genes from Triticum aestivum.

Throughout its development, common wheat, Triticum aestivum responds to different kinds of adverse abiotic and biotic stress by expressing specific genes that allow it to adapt to these stresses. In this process, genes in the AP2/ERF family encode transcriptional regulators involved in diverse developmental and physiological processes play critical roles. Here, we established an extensive picture of the AP2/ERF family genes in wheat. From 960, 174 ESTs of T. aestivum, 117 putative AP2/ERF family genes were identified by in silico analysis based on the presence of the conserved AP2/ERF domain amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana. Based on the model species A. thaliana, the AP2/ERF TFs from T. aestivum were classified into five subfamilies with the following number of members: DREB (57), ERF (47), AP2 (9), RAV (3) and Soloist (1). Using the available EST information as a source of expression data, the putative AP2/ERF family genes from T. aestivum were detected in nine kinds of tissues. Transcripts of the genes were shown to be most abundant in leaves, followed by roots and seeds, and the least abundant in stem. Most of the T. aestivum AP2/ERF family genes showed some tissue specificity.

Safety of Surgery in benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients on Antiplatelet or Anticoagulant Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: The management strategies of anticoagulant (AC) or antiplatelet (AP) therapy in the preoperative period of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is still controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the surgical safety for BPH patients on AC or AP therapy was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protocol for the review is available on PROSPERO (CRD42018105800). A literature search was performed by using MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane library, and Embase. Summarized odds ratios (OR), mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess the difference in outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 13 trials with a total of 3767 patients. An intragroup significant difference was found in bleeding complications and blood transfusions when undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). For laser surgery, the intragroup significant difference was found in the result of blood transfusion. Bridging therapy would not cause a higher risk of bleeding complications and blood transfusion during the perioperative period. Besides, no difference existed in operation time, catheterization time, hospitalization, and thromboembolic events. CONCLUSION: Patients with BPH on perioperative AC/AP therapy would have a risk of postoperative hemorrhage after TURP or laser treatments. To reduce the risk of hemorrhage, bridging therapy could be a good choice.

SNHG1 Promotes Malignant Progression of Glioma by Targeting miR-140-5p and Regulating PI3K/AKT Pathway.

PURPOSE: To explore the regulatory mechanism of long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) in glioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of SNHG1 and miR-140-5p in glioma tissues and glioma cell lines (LN-18, KNS-81, and KALS-1) was determined, and the effect of the two on cell proliferation, invasion, and PI3K/AKT pathway was analyzed. RESULTS: SNHG1 was overexpressed in glioma tissues, while miR-140-5p was underexpressed in them, and there was a significant negative correlation between SNHG1 and miR-140-5p. In addition, both down-regulation of SNHG1 and up-regulation of miR-140-5p significantly inhibited the malignant proliferation and invasion of glioma, intensified the apoptosis, and also significantly suppressed the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. The dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay, and RIP determination all confirmed that there was a targeting relationship between SNHG1 and miR-140-5p, and there was no difference between KNS-81 and KALS-1 cells transfected with SNHG1+mimics and si-SNHG1+inhibitor and those in the si-NC group with unrelated sequences in terms of cell malignant progression. CONCLUSION: SNHG1/miR-140-5p axis and its regulation on PI3K/AKT pathway might be a novel therapeutic direction to curb the malignant progression of glioma.

Job Burnout and Occupational Stressors among Chinese Healthcare Professionals at County-Level Health Alliances.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the degrees of job burnout and occupational stressors and their associations among healthcare professionals from county-level health alliances in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in county-level health alliances in Qinghai Province, China, in November 2018. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and the 38-item Chinese version of the "Scale for occupational stressors on clinicians" were used. Medical staff in four health alliances from two counties were invited to complete the questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 1052 (age: 34.06 ± 9.22 years, 79.1% females) healthcare professionals were included, 68.2% (95% CI: 65.2-71.0%) of the participants had job burnout symptoms. Occupational stressors had positive associations with moderate (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.05-1.07) and serious (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.13-1.19) level of job burnout. Stressors from vocational interest produced the greatest magnitude of odds ratio (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.62-1.92) for serious degree of burnout, followed by doctor-patient relationship, interpersonal relationship as well as other domains of occupational stressors. CONCLUSIONS: Job burnout was very common among healthcare professionals working in Chinese county-level health alliances, different occupational stressors had associations with job burnout. Appropriate and effective policies and measures should be developed and implemented.

Effects of health education on HIV/AIDS related knowledge among first year university students in China.

BACKGROUND: The number of new HIV infections has increased and implementation of school-based health education programs on AIDS have been advocated for a long time. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of an intervention of HIV/AIDS on the knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention and control among first year university students. METHODS: An awareness questionnaire was adopted to assess awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS pre- and post-health education among first year university students in Qinghai, China. Independent sample t-test, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression analyses were used. RESULTS: A total of 2,165 and 2,062 first year university students were respectively recruited pre- and post- HIV/AIDS health education. The awareness rate increased significantly after the health education intervention (from 48.59%, 95%CI: 46.47%-50.72% to 76.24%, 95%CI: 74.35%-78.06%). Students from Hui and Tibetan ethnicities, and those holding prejudices against AIDS patients were less knowledgeable than their counterparts regarding HIV/AIDS related knowledge, whereas urban-dwellers and those with higher paternal education were positively associated with awareness of HIV/AIDS related knowledge (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: HIV/AIDS awareness among first year university students improved greatly after receiving an education intervention, which underscores its utility as part of the approaches of HIV/AIDS control and prevention.

Effects of respiratory syncytial virus infection on nasal epithelial barrier function in chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)infection on the expression of key factors in the epithelial barrier of the human nasal epithelial cells(hNECs)derived from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps(CRSwNP)and normal control mucosa.METHODS RSV with different multiplicity of infection(MOI)(0.1 and 0.3)infected hNECs derived from patients with CRSwNP(n=21)and normal control mucosa(n=9)for 24 h and 48 h,respectively.To detect the gene expression ZO-1,ZO-2,Claudin-1,Claudin-4,Occludin,E-cadherin and N-cadherin,total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed into cDNA for real-time fluorescence quantification PCR.RESULTS The relative expression level of ZO-1,ZO-2,Claudin-1,Claudin-4,Occludin,E-cadherin and N-cadherin were decreased in hNECs post RSV infection.However,there was a statistical difference only in hNECs derived from CRSwNP(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in hNECs infected with RSV between eosinophilic CRSwNP(ECRSwNP)and non-eosinophilic CRSwNP(nonECRSwNP).CONCLUSION RSV infection could disrupt the epithelial barrier of the nasal mucosa,and patients with CRSwNP are more severely affected by RSV infection compared to healthy controls.The impact of RSV infection on mucosa between ECRSwNP group and nonECRSwNP group was no significant difference.

Effect of hand hygiene intervention on healthcare-associated case infection incidence from 2014 to 2022 / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To observe the effect of multi-modal hand hygiene(HH)intervention on HH compliance,as well as the relationship between HH compliance and the healthcare-associated(HA)case infection incidence.Methods From 2014 to 2022,the infection control team in a tertiary first-class hospital implemented multi-modal HH intervention for health care workers(HCWs).The changing trend of HH monitoring data,the correlation be-tween HH compliance rate and HA case infection incidence were analyzed retrospectively.Results The consump-tion of HH products in the wards showed a stable upward trend;HH compliance rate increased from 64.98％in 2014 to 85.01％in 2022(P＜0.001),and HA case infection incidence decreased from 1.21％to 0.83％(P＜0.05).HH compliance rate was negatively correlated with HA case infection incidence(r=-0.369,P=0.027).HH compliance rates in different regions and job posts in each quarter were increased(P＜0.001).For 5 different HH moments in each quarter,HH compliance rate fluctuated slightly before sterile manipulation and after touching patient;presented rising trend after touching surroundings around patient,and decreased before touching patient and after touching patient's body fluid since 2020(P＜0.001).Conclusion Multi-modal HH intervention can im-prove the HH compliance of HCWs,improving their HH awareness is conducive to reducing HA case infection incidence.

2-Hexyl-4-Pentylenic Acid (HPTA) Stimulates the Radiotherapy-induced Abscopal Effect on Distal Tumor through Polarization of Tumor-associated Macrophages / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Objective@#The aim of this study was to explore the effects of 2-hexyl-4-pentylenic acid (HPTA) in combination with radiotherapy (RT) on distant unirradiated breast tumors.@*Methods@#Using a rat model of chemical carcinogen (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene,DMBA)-induced breast cancer, tumor volume was monitored and treatment response was evaluated by performing HE staining, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and western blot analyses.@*Results@#The results demonstrated that HPTA in combination with RT significantly delayed the growth of distant, unirradiated breast tumors. The mechanism of action included tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration into distant tumor tissues, M1 polarization, and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by IFN-γ.@*Conclusion@#The results suggest that the combination of HPTA with RT has an abscopal effect on distant tumors

Effect of moxibustion on expression of GAP-43 in sciatic nerve trunk and ventral horn of spinal cord of rats with primary sciatica and its nerve repair function / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of moxibustion at "Huantiao" (GB 30) on the expression of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in the sciatic nerve trunk and ventral horn of spinal cord (L@*METHODS@#A total of 48 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 12 rats in each group. The rat model of primary sciatic pain was established by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in the model group and the moxibustion group. On the 8th day of the experiment, moxibustion was adopted at "Huantiao" (GB 30) in the moxibustion group for 5-10 min, once a day for 14 consecutive days. Sciatic nerve function index (SFI) was measured and compared in each group at day 1, 7, 14 and 21. On the 21st day of the experiment, HE staining was used to observe the morphology of ventral horn of rat spinal cord and sciatic nerve trunk. Immunohistochemical method and real-time PCR were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of GAP-43 in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve trunk of rats.@*RESULTS@#On day 7, 14 and 21, there was no statistical difference in SFI between the sham operation group and the normal group (@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion at "Huantiao" (GB 30) could improve the sciatic nerve function in rats with primary sciatica and its mechanism may be related to improving the expression of GAP-43 and enhancing the self-repair ability of the sciatic nerve after injury.

Effect of moxibustion on cognitive function and proteins related with apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with vascular dementia / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of moxibustion on proteins related with apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with vascular dementia (VD), and to explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion on improving VD.@*METHODS@#Thirty SD rats were selected from 100 rats (3 rats were excluded) and randomly divided into a normal group and a sham operation group, 15 rats in each group. The remaining 67 rats were treated with ischemia-reperfusion method at bilateral common carotid artery to establish VD model. The 45 rats with successful VD model were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medication group, 15 rats in each group. On the 7th day after successful modeling, the rats in the moxibustion group were treated with suspended moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Dazhui" (GV 14), 15 min per acupoint, once a day; there was 1 d of rest after 6 d of moxibustion, and the treatment was given for 4 weeks. The rats in the medication group was treated with nimodipine tablets by gavage, 2 mg/kg per day, 3 times a day for 4 weeks. Before and after intervention, the Morris water maze test was used to detect the escape latency of rats in each group; after the intervention, the TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis rate of neurons in hippocampal CA1 area; the immunofluorescence double labeling method was used to detect the number of co-expression positive cells of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)/NeuN in hippocampal CA1 area; the immunofluorescence single labeling method was used to detect cytochrome C (cytC) and outer mitochondrial membrane receptor Tom20 (Tom20) in hippocampal CA1 area; the Western blot method was used to detect the p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) in hippocampus.@*RESULTS@#Before intervention, compared with the normal group and the sham operation group, the escape latency in the model group, the moxibustion group and the medication group was prolonged (@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion could improve the cognitive function of VD rats, which may be related to reducing the expression of Bax, cytC, Tom20 and PUMA protein in hippocampal CA1 area, promoting the release of Bcl-2 and inhibiting the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.

Application of sewage sludge and sewage sludge biochar to reduce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and potentially toxic elements (PTE) accumulation in tomato.

The effects of sewage sludge (SS) and its derived biochar (SSBC) on the availability and uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potential toxic elements (PTEs) by Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) fruits grown in contaminated urban soil were investigated. Increasing application rates of SS and SSBC (2, 5, and 10%) decreased PAH availability and, correspondingly, PAH accumulation (22-39 and 48-62%, respectively) into tomato. SSBC was more effective in this regard. The available concentrations of PAHs (Σ16PAH) in the SSBC treatments were significantly reduced (from 30.0-47.3%) as compared to the control treatment. The availability of high-molecular-weight PAHs (containing four to six benzene rings) was greatly affected, while low-molecular-weight PAHs (containing two to three benzene rings) was less affected by SSBC amendments. The addition of SSBC showed the least effect on bioaccumulation of naphthalene (two-ring PAH; 24.5-32.6%), while the highest effect was observed for benzo(b)fluoranthene (five-ring PAH; 3.1-86.8%) and benzo(g,h,i)perylene (six-ring PAH; 51.8-84.2%). In contrast, increasing application rates of SS successively increased PTE (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) availability and accumulation (15-139%) into tomato while SSBC successively decreased PTE availability and accumulation (17-91%). Changes in accumulation varied with PTE and the extent to which PTE concentrations in soil was elevated.