Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast (PSCCB) is a rare type of breast carcinoma, the clinical behavior of which has not been accurately characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate its prevalence, characteristics, prognosis, and effective treatment modalities in patients attending our institution. The records of the Cancer Institute and Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from 1985 to 2013 were searched and 29 patients with PSCCB (0.086 % of all patients with breast cancer) identified. Their clinicopathological features, treatment methods used, and outcomes were analyzed. The median tumor size was 4.50 cm. Axillary lymph nodes metastases were present in 41.4 % of patients. The median overall survival was 39 months (range 7-144 months), with 34.5 % surviving at 5 years. The median relapse-free survival was 32 months (range 4-144 months), with 27.6 % relapse-free surviving at 5 years. According to univariate analysis, the time interval between onset of the first symptom and first presentation to a health professional (TI) (P = 0.017), use of adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.044), and T stage (P = 0.048, T1 vs. T2, T3, T4) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. PSCCB is an extremely aggressive disease associated with large tumor size, rapid progression, frequent relapse, and a high death rate. Imaging findings are nonspecific and easily misinterpreted as benign. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy may be effective. Early diagnosis and treatment of this rare entity are critical to patient prognosis.

[PCR-based genotype classification of Blastocystis hominis isolates from college students of Guangxi].

Fifty-three Blastocystis hominis isolates were separated from the fecal specimens of carriers in college students from Guangxi and cultivated in vitro, and the genetic DNA was extracted. All the isolates were genotyped by PCR using seven pairs of known sequence-tagged site (STS) primers. The results showed there were five subtypes in the 53 isolates. Subtype 3 was the most popular one (32.1%, 17/53), followed by subtype 7 (9.4%, 5/53). Subtypes 1 (7.6%, 4/53), 4 (7.6%, 4/53), and 6 (1.9%, 1/53) were detected, while subtypes 2 and 5 were not detected. The genotypes of the other 22 isolates were unknown which were negative to all the STS primers.

Quantitative health risk assessment of microbial hazards from water sources for community and self-supply drinking water systems.

In low and medium income countries (LMIC) drinking water sources (wells and boreholes) often contain a high number of pathogenic microorganisms, that can pose significant human and environmental health risks. In this study, a quantitative microbial risk assessment approach based on existing literature was conducted to evaluate and compare the quantitative health risks associated with different age groups using various drinking water supply systems. Results showed that both community-supply and self-supply modes exhibit similar levels of risk. However, the self-supply water source consistently showed higher risks compared to the community-supply one. Borehole water was found to be a more suitable option than well water, consistently showing between 5 and 8 lower health risks for E. coli and fecal coliform levels, respectively. The sensitivity analysis further showed the importance of prioritizing the reduction of E. coli concentration in well water and fecal coliform concentration in borehole water. This study offers a fresh perception on quantifying the impact of exposure concentration and age groups, shedding light on how they affect environmental health risks. These findings provide valuable insights for stakeholders involved in the management and protection of water sources.

Bioaerosols emission from source facilities in a wastewater treatment plant: Critical exposure time and sensitivity analysis.

Overexposure of sewage workers to bioaerosol released from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can cause serious infections, but practical method for controlling their health risk is lacking. In this study, reverse quantitative microbial risk assessment was used to estimate the daily critical exposure time (CET) of sewage workers exposing to Staphylococcus aureus bioaerosol emitted by three emission sources facilities in a WWTP based on either U.S. EPA or WHO benchmark, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to analyze the influence of various parameters on the outcomes of CET. The results showed that the CET of females was always 1.12-1.29 times that of males. In addition, the CET after wearing face masks was 28.28-52.37 times as long as before. The working time can be determined based on the CET results of male workers wearing face masks exposed to the inverted-umbrella aeration tank (14.73-550.98 min for U.S. EPA benchmark and 55.07-1972.24 min for WHO benchmark). In each scenario, the variable parameter exposure concentration (ec) always showed the most influence on the CET results. After wearing the face masks, the removal fraction by employing face masks also had a significant effect on the results, only second to ec. Therefore, the wearing of face mask is the most convenient and effective measure to prolong the CET. Furthermore, practical methods to reducing bioaerosol concentration in WWTPs exposure are also necessary to extend CET and safeguard worker health. This study enriches the application range of reverse quantitative microbial risk assessment framework and provides theoretical support for stakeholders to establish reasonable working time threshold guidelines, and practical method and novel perspective to protect the on-site health risks of sewage workers exposing to various facilities.

[Investigation on the infection of Blastocystis hominis in populations in Bama Yao Autonomous County of Guangxi].

497 fecal specimens were collected from 5 randomly selected villages of Bama County in December 2011, and tested for Blastocystis hominis infection using improved centrifugal sedimentation with hydrochloric acid-ether. Data were analyzed by villages, gender, occupation, age groups and ethnic populations. The results showed that 215 people of 497 were positive, with a prevalence of 43.3% (215/497). Pandang village had the highest infection rate of 55.7% (68/122), significantly higher than the other villages (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in genders, occupations, age groups and ethnic populations (P>0.05).

[Genotype analysis and isoenzyme patterns of ten isolates of Blastocystis hominis from Guangxi].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze genotypes and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and esterase (EST) patterns in 10 isolates of Blastocystis hominis collected from Guangxi. METHODS: Ten B. hominis isolates (BhGX1-BhGX10) were obtained from the fecal specimens of patients and cultivated in vitro, and then the genomic DNA was extracted. The isolates were genotyped by PCR using seven pairs of known sequenced-tagged site (STS) primers. Isoenzyme patterns of LDH and EST were investigated by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: Out of the 10 isolates, 8 were identified as genotype I and the genotypes of the other two (BhGX4 and BhGX7) were unknown which were negative to all the STS primers. Among the ten isolates, 10 LDH bands were found, more with Rm37, Rm49, Rm57, Rm68 and Rm92. 12 bands showed in EST patterns: Rm14, Rm18, Rm23, Rm27, Rm35, Rm41, Rm45, Rm50, Rm55, Rm68, Rm77 and Rm82. Difference existed with the LDH and EST patterns among the isolates. CONCLUSION: Genotype I is the major one in the 10 B. hominis isolates from Guangxi, and the isolates show different isoenzyme patterns for LDH and EST.

Establishment of Early Multi-Indicator Prediction Models of Moderately Severe Acute Pancreatitis and Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Background: It is critical to accurately identify patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and moderately SAP (MSAP) in a timely manner. The study was done to establish two early multi-indicator prediction models of MSAP and SAP. Methods: Clinical data of 469 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) between 2015 and 2020, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, and between 2012 and 2020, at the Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed. The unweighted predictive score (unwScore) and weighted predictive score (wScore) for MSAP and SAP were derived using logistic regression analysis and were compared with four existing systems using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Seven prognostic indicators were selected for incorporation into models, including white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, triglyceride, D-dimer, serum potassium, and serum calcium. The cut-offs of the unwScore and wScore for predicting severity were set as 3 points and 0.513 points, respectively. The unwScore (AUC = 0.854) and wScore (AUC = 0.837) were superior to the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score (AUC = 0.526), the bedside index for severity in AP score (AUC = 0.766), and the Ranson score (AUC = 0.693) in predicting MSAP and SAP, which were equivalent to the modified computed tomography severity index score (AUC = 0.823). Conclusions: The unwScore and wScore have good predictive value for MSAP and SAP, which could provide a valuable clinical reference for management and treatment.

Liraglutide protects palmitate-induced INS-1 cell injury by enhancing autophagy mediated via FoxO1.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance and a progressive loss in mass and function of pancreatic ß-cells. In T2DM, lipotoxicity leads to ß-cells dysfunction and decreases its number. Autophagy serves a crucial role in maintaining the normal islet architecture and the function of ß-cells. Moreover, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its analogs have beneficial roles in pancreatic ß-cells. However, the protective effects of GLP-1 agents on palmitate (PA)-induced pancreatic ß-cells and their underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) can prevent pancreatic ß-cells from apoptosis. Whether GLP-1 protects against PA-induced ß-cells injury via FoxO1 remains unknown. The present study exposed INS-1 cells to PA to establish a T2DM injury model. Cell viability was evaluated using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and apoptosis was determined via western blotting. Furthermore, autophagy was examined using western blotting, immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. Silencing FoxO1 was used to inhibit the activities of FoxO1. The results suggested that the GLP-1 analog liraglutide enhanced the cell viability, inhibited the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 and increased the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain3 (LC3) II/I, and FoxO1 in INS-1 cells. The autophagy inhibitor chloroquine inhibited the protective effects of liraglutide on INS-1 cells. Silencing of FoxO1 decreased the expression levels of LC3-II and attenuated the protection of liraglutide on the viability of INS-1 cells. In conclusion, the results indicated that liraglutide ameliorated the PA-induced islet ß-cells injury via the upregulation of autophagy-mediated by FoxO1.

Application of Paclitaxel-loaded EGFR Peptide-conjugated Magnetic Polymeric Liposomes for Liver Cancer Therapy.

Developing the methodologies that allow for safe and effective delivery of therapeutic drugs to target sites is a very important research area in cancer therapy. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated magnetic polymeric liposome (MPL) nanoparticles (NPs) assembled from octadecyl quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan (OQC), PEGylated OQC, cholesterol, and magnetic NPs, and functionalized with epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) peptide, were successfully prepared for in-vivo liver targeting. The two-step liver targeting strategy, based on both magnetic force and EGFR peptide conjugation, was evaluated in a subcutaneous hepatocellular carcinoma model of nude mouse. The results showed that EGFR-conjugated MPLs not only accumulated in the liver by magnetic force, but could also diffuse into tumor cells as a result of EGFR targeting. In addition, paclitaxel (PTX) was incorporated into small EGFR-conjugated MPLs (102.0±0.7 nm), resulting in spherical particles with high drug encapsulation efficiency (>90%). The use of the magnetic targeting for enhancing the transport of PTX-loaded EGFR-conjugated MPLs to the tumor site was further confirmed by detecting PTX levels. In conclusion, PTX-loaded EGFR-conjugated MPLs could potentially be used as an effective drug delivery system for targeted liver cancer therapy.

[Variational Trend and Characteristics of Air Pollution in Baoding City].

To understand the trends and characteristics of air pollution in Baoding in recent years, an analysis of air quality and air pollutant concentrations in Baoding from 2013 to 2018 was carried out. The results showed that: 1 from 2013 to 2018, the comprehensive index of Baoding dropped from 11.6 to 6.6, the days of severe pollution decreased from 114 days to 27 days, and cumulative concentration of pollutants during severe pollution decreased from 57.34% to 20.59%. This indicated that the air quality of Baoding city has improved year on year from 2013 to 2018. Not only has the number of heavy pollution days and the annual average concentration of pollutants decreased, but also the proportion of cumulative concentrations of pollutants during heavy pollution has decreased. the difference between the average concentration level of Baoding city and "2+26" Cities is getting smaller and smaller. ② Summer ρ(O3-8h) increased year on year. In 2017 and 2018, the heavy pollution days caused by O3 accounted for 17.0% and 14.8% of the heavy pollution days of the year, respectively, and the ozone pollution gradually became prominent; the characteristic value of NO2 in autumn was higher than that of SO2, CO, PM2.5, and PM10, indicating that the type of pollution in autumn was more motorized. The sources of pollution in winter changed from the partial combustion of coal in 2013-2014 to a mixed influence of partial combustion of coal and incomplete combustion in 2015-2018. ③ In 2016, 2017, and 2018, a high cumulative concentrations of PM2.5 during the high pollution season that accounted for 5.56%, 6.21%, and 2.58% declined as compared to that during the same period in 2015; this was the largest decline among the six pollutants; PM10 followed; The decreases of SO2 and NO2 were small, indicating that the emergency measures were better in cutting peaks of particulate matter than the gaseous pollutants during heavy pollution in Baoding. In a heavy pollution event during the high pollution season in 2018, partial-burning coal-type pollution increased as compared to that during the high pollution season in 2017, indicating that the coal combustion was still one of the pollution sources that Baoding city needed to control. In summary, Baoding should strengthen the management and control of motor vehicles in autumn, and gradually change from the original coal control measures to a combination of coal control and diesel control in winter; in the future, the focus of air pollution prevention and control should be strengthened toward O3 pollution.

Intranasal dexmedetomidine combined with local anesthesia for conscious sedation during breast lumpectomy: A prospective randomized trial.

Breast lumpectomy is usually performed under general or local anesthesia. To the best of our knowledge, whether conscious sedation with intranasal dexmedetomidine and local anesthesia is an effective anesthetic technique has not been studied. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of conscious sedation with intranasal dexmedetomidine combined with local anesthesia in breast lumpectomy, and to identify its optimal dose. A prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single-center study was designed, and patients undergoing breast lumpectomies were recruited based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients were randomly allocated to four groups: i) Local anesthesia with 0.9% intranasal saline (placebo); local anesthesia with ii) 1 µg.kg-1; iii) 1.5 µg.kg-1; or iv) 2 µg.kg-1 intranasal dexmedetomidine. The sedation status, pain relief, vital signs, adverse events, and satisfaction of patient and surgeon were recorded. Patients in the three dexmedetomidine groups were significantly more sedated and experienced less pain compared with the placebo group 45 min after intranasal dexmedetomidine administration and during 30 min in the post-anesthesia care unit. Patients in the 1.5 µg.kg-1 group were more sedated compared with the 1 µg.kg-1 group (without reaching statistical significance), whereas the 1.5 µg.kg-1 group exhibited a similar level of sedation 45 min after intranasal dexmedetomidine administration compared with the 2 µg.kg-1 group. In addition, patients in the 1 and 1.5 µg.kg-1 group experienced no adverse hemodynamic effects. Patient and surgeon satisfaction were greater in the 1.5 µg.kg-1 group compared with the 1 and 2 µg.kg-1 groups. Taken together, the results of the present study suggested that conscious sedation with intranasal dexmedetomidine and local anesthesia may be an effective anesthetic for breast lumpectomy surgery, and that the optimal dose for intranasal dexmedetomidine administration may be 1.5 µg.kg-1, as it resulted in good sedation and patient satisfaction without adverse effects.

[Influence of Marine Aquaculture Around Coal Power Plant on Mercury Species Change in Auuatic Ecological Environment].

To investigate the influence of marine aquaculture around coal power plant on Hg species change in aquatic ecological environment, the fish farming area in Xiangshan Harbor, Zhejiang province, was studied. The concentrations of different Hg species in sea water collected from marine aquaculture sites (MS) and references sites (RS) were measured. The result showed that the total mercury (THg) concentration in the surface water reached 83.0 pmol x L(-1) +/- 97.1 pmol x L(-1). Dissolved Hg (DHg) in pore water of core sediment decreased with the increasing depth. Meanwhile, the DHg content in pore water above 10 cm was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that below 10 cm, which confirmed the influence of coal-fired power plants on the surrounding areas. THg concentration in MS (96.5 pmol x L(-1) +/- 133 pmol x L(-1)) was higher than that in RS (69.5 pmol x L(-1) +/- 39.4 pmol x L(-1)), which was mainly resulted from the accumulation of sewage discharge by the employees and fish feed material in sediments during breeding that were further released to the overlying water. Methylmercury concentration in pore water of MS (24.0 pmol x L(-1) +/- 16.7 pmol x L(-1)) was also significantly higher than that in RS (6.60 pmol x L(-1) +/- 5.11 pmol x L(-1)), which demonstrated that marine aquaculture activities promoted the methylmercury production by increasing the accumulation of organic matter in sediment.

Comparative analysis of intestinal parasitic infections of outpatients in Guangxi medical university affiliated hospital in 2005 and 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the hospital's status and trends of intestinal parasitic infections and to provide a reference for prevention. METHODS: Stool samples were treated by acid-ether centrifugation; iodine staining and direct-smearing were performed; intestinal parasites were examined under a microscope; characteristics of parasitic infections in population were analyzed using the descriptive epidemiological method. RESULTS: 10 kinds of parasites were detected; the infection rate of clonorchissinensis was the highest, followed by B. hominis, hookworm, whipworm and roundworm in order (x(2) = 131.188, 1261.928, 129.386, P < 0.01); The overall infection rates in 2013 and 2005 were 37.08% and 41.07% respectively, and the infection rate in 2013 was lower than that in 2005 (x(2) = 20.5003, P < 0.01); All the infection rates of clonorchissinensis, hookworm, whipworm and roundworm in 2013 were lower than those in 2005 (x(2) = 18.275, 45.449, 34.855, 12.435, P < 0.01); Both in 2005 and 2013, the male infection rate was higher than that in female (x(2) = 12.859, 24.924, P < 0.01); For male, the infection rate of clonorchissinensis was the highest, followed by B. hominis (x(2) = 313.621, 104.409, P < 0.01); for female, the infection rate of B. hominis was the highest, followed by clonorchissinensis (x(2) = 95.293, 43.357, P < 0.01). For male, the age group of 41~ had the highest infection rate of clonorchissinensis in 2005 (x(2) = 5.734, P < 0.05), and the age groups of 31~ and 41~ had the highest infection rate of clonorchissinensis in 2013 (x(2) = 8.908, P < 0.01); for female, both in 2005 and 2013, the age group of 21~, 31~, 41~ and 51~ had the highest infection rate of clonorchissinensis (x(2) = 6.508, 5.145, P < 0.05). There was no difference in male infection rate of B. hominis in 2005 (x(2) = 10.134, P > 0.05); in 2013, the age group of 0~ had the highest infection rate (x(2) = 3.825, P < 0.05); for women, it was the highest in the age groups of 11~, 21~ and 31~ in 2005 (x(2) = 10.459, P < 0.01), 0~ and 11~ in 2013 (x(2) = 53.669, P < 0.01). For Hookworm infection in male, the highest infection rate was found in the age group of 11~ 21~ and 61~ in 2005 (x(2) = 4.547, P < 0.05), 61~ and ≥ 71~ in 2013 (x(2) = 4.843, P < 0.05); for female, the highest infection rate was found in the age groups of 51~ and 61~ both in 2005 and 2013 (x(2) = 5.709, 5.958, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In Nanning city, although there was a decline in the infection rate of intestinal parasites of attenders compared with 8 years ago, the infection rate was still high and intestinal parasites were various; The infection rate of geohelminthes had been reduced to a low level; Clonorchissinensis and B. hominis were still the insect species with the highest infection rate.