Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Stomach Cancer among Male Adults: A Case-Control Study in Northern Viet Nam

Objective: This study investigated the association between fruit and vegetable intake and stomach cancer, with considering the impacts of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and tobacco smoking. Methods: A case-control study featuring 80 male incident stomach-cancer cases and 126 male controls was conducted in a general hospital in Viet Nam. A semi-quantitative food frequency and demographic lifestyle questionnaire were used; and venous blood samples were collected to determine H. pylori status by IgG ELISA. The respective associations between fruit and vegetable intake and stomach cancer were examined using unconditional logistic regression analysis with adjustments for possible cofactors. Results: Fruit intake and stomach cancer showed a weak inverse association when this became non-significant after adjusting for H. pylori infection (OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.22–1.12, p trend = 0.094). Stratifying by H. pylori status returned a negative trend for fruit intake and stomach cancer among H. pylori-negative participants (OR = 0.21, 95%CI: 0.06–0.69, p trend = 0.010), but no significant interaction for H. pylori-positive participants (OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.21–2.68, p trend = 0.670). Vegetable intake and stomach cancer showed no association, regardless of H. pylori status. Compared to ever-smokers with low intake, never-smokers with high vegetable (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.06–0.95) and fruit intake (OR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.06–0.65) showed the lowest odds of stomach cancer. Conclusions: Fruit, but not vegetable, intake showed a weak inverse association with stomach cancer. H. pylori infection and tobacco-smoking status may influence the protective effects of fruit and vegetable intake on stomach cancer.     

Increased Morbidity and Mortality of Emergency Laparotomy in Elderly Patients

Background

There is an increasing incidence of elderly patients requiring emergency laparotomy. Our study compares the outcomes of elderly patients undergoing emergency laparotomy against the outcomes of non-elderly patients.

Methodology

Patients who underwent emergency laparotomy between 2015 and 2017 from the National University Hospital, Singapore, were included. Apart from demographic data, indication of surgery and surgical procedure performed were collected. Prospectively collected nutritional scores were evaluated. Outcome measures included duration of surgery, length of ICU and total hospital stay, post-operative complications, and mortality indices. We performed multivariate Cox regression analysis to determine the contribution of various risk factors towards overall survival following emergency laparotomy.

Results

A total of 170 emergency laparotomies were performed. Compared to non-elderly patients, elderly patients had a significantly longer mean stay in hospital (31.5 vs. 18.6 days, p = 0.006) and mean stay in ICU (13.1 vs. 5.3 days, p = 0.003). More elderly patients suffered from post-laparotomy complications compared with non-elderly patients (65.8% vs. 37.4%, p < 0.001). 30-day mortality (31.5% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.019) and 1-year mortality (27.9% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.023) were higher in elderly patients compared with non-elderly patients. Interestingly, there was no statistically significant difference between elderly and non-elderly groups in both the global 3-MinNS as well as the global SGA nutritional scores. ASA status (HR 2.61, 95% CI 1.05–6.45, p = 0.038) was an independent risk factor for decreased survival following emergency laparotomy. Notably, while age ≥ 65 demonstrated a significant correlation with survival on univariate analysis (HR 1.03 (1.01–1.05), p = 0.003), this effect was lost following multivariate regression (HR 1.01 (0.453–2.23), p = 0.989).

Conclusion

Elderly patients suffer worse morbidity and mortality following emergency laparotomy. This is likely contributed by comorbidities resulting in higher ASA status.

     

健脾温肾软坚解毒方、康艾注射液联合低剂量化疗治疗老年脾肾两虚型晚期非小细胞肺癌的临床研究

目的观察健脾温肾软坚解毒方、康艾注射液联合低剂量化疗对老年脾肾两虚型晚期非小细胞肺癌患者瘤灶、免疫功能及无进展生存期的影响。方法将80例老年脾肾两虚型晚期非小细胞肺癌患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组40例。对照组予常规剂量化疗,治疗组予健脾温肾软坚解毒方、康艾注射液联合低剂量化疗。化疗2个周期后,观察两组患者瘤灶、免疫功能的变化情况,随访患者的无进展生存期。结果①试验期间,对照组脱落2例,试验组无脱落,最终完成试验者78例,其中治疗组40例,对照组38例。②两组实体瘤疗效比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。③化疗1个周期与化疗前组内比较,两组血清NK、CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+水平差异无统计学意义(P0.05);化疗2个周期与化疗前组内比较,治疗组血清CD8~+水平升高(P0.05),对照组血清NK、CD3~+、CD4~+水平降低(P0.05)。化疗1个周期后组间比较,治疗组血清CD3~+、CD4~+水平高于对照组(P0.05);化疗2个周期后组间比较,治疗组血清NK、CD3~+、CD4~+水平高于对照组(P0.05)。④两组患者中位无进展生存时间均为4.5个月,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论健脾温肾软坚解毒方、康艾注射液联合低剂量化疗能有效控制老年肺肾两虚型晚期非小细胞肺癌患者的瘤灶变化,并有利于稳定血清NK、CD3~+和CD4~+水平,保护患者的免疫功能。     

清热化瘀汤对急性脑出血患者血清hs-CRP、血浆S100β蛋白和NSE的影响

目的:探究清热化瘀汤联合依达拉奉对急性脑出血患者血清超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、血浆S100β蛋白和神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)的影响。方法:选择2017年5月—2019年5月在我院神经内科就诊符合纳入标准的80例急性脑出血患者,随机分为联合组(40例)和依达拉奉组(40例),两组均给予基础治疗和依达拉奉静脉滴注治疗,联合组则在此基础上加用清热化瘀汤。观察并比较两组的临床疗效、神经功能缺损程度评分(NIHSS)、格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS)、hs-CRP、S100β蛋白和NSE水平及脑血肿量。结果:联合组的总有效率为95%(38/40),显著高于依达拉奉组的总有效率75%(30/40)(P<0.05)。治疗后,两组NIHSS评分降低,GCS评分升高,且联合组NIHSS评分明显低于依达拉奉组(P<0.05),GCS评分高于依达拉奉组(P<0.05)。治疗后,两组hs-CRP、S100β蛋白和NSE水平及均脑血肿量均低于治疗前,且联合组hs-CRP、S100β蛋白和NSE水平及脑血肿量明显低于依达拉奉组(P<0.05)。结论:清热化瘀汤联合依达拉奉对急性脑出血患者具有良好的疗效,可显著改善其神经缺损,降低hs-CRP、S100β蛋白和NSE水平及脑血肿量。     

泼尼松联合丙种球蛋白对重症肌无力患者外周血 乙酰胆碱受体抗体水平及转化生长因子 -β1 的影响

目的：观察泼尼松联合丙种球蛋白对重症肌无力（MG）患者外周血乙酰胆碱受体抗体（AChR-Ab）水平及转 化生长因子 -β1（TGF-β1）的影响。方法：选择 94 例 MG 患者为观察对象，按随机数表法分为观察组和对照组各 47 例。 对照组给予泼尼松口服，观察组采用泼尼松联合丙种球蛋白治疗，比较治疗前及治疗 1 个月后两组患者外周血 AChRAb、TGF-β1 水平变化，并分析两组患者治疗 1 个月后的疗效及治疗 1 个月内的不良反应情况差异。结果：治疗 1 个月后， 观察组疗效明显高于对照组（P＜0.05）；两组外周血 AChR-Ab 水平均较治疗前明显降低，且观察组明显较同期对照组 低（P＜0.05），两组 TGF-β1 水平均较治疗前明显升高，且观察组明显较对照组高（P＜0.05）。治疗 1 个月内，两组 药物不良反应率比较无明显差异（P＞0.05）。结论：丙种球蛋白联合泼尼松治疗 MG 有效，可显著提高 TGF-β1 水平 并降低外周血 AChR-Ab 水平，且安全性良好，不易发生不良反应。     

Effects of box handle position and carrying range on bi-manual carrying capacity for females

This study utilizes a psychophysical approach to examine the effects on carrying capacity for bi-manual carrying tasks involving different handle positions and carrying ranges. A total of 16 female subjects participated in the experiment in groups of two people, and each group of subjects performed the tasks in a random order with 12 different combinations of carrying task. The independent variables are handle position (upper, middle, lower) and carrying range (F–F: floor height carried to floor height, F–W: floor height carried to waist height, W–W: waist height carried to waist height, W–F: waist height carried to floor height), the dependent variable is the maximum acceptable carried weight (MAWC), heart rate (HR), and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). The results show that the handle position has a significant effect on MAWC and overall RPE but no significant effect on HR. Carrying range has a significant effect on the MAWC and HR, but no significant effect on overall HR. The handle position and carrying range have a significant interaction on the MAWC and HR. The RPE for different body parts shows significant differences, and the hands feel the most tired. Overall, this study confirms that the lower handle position with the W–W carrying range is the best combination for a two-person carrying task.     

Exploration of D022-Type Al3TM(TM = Sc,Ti, V,Zr, Nb,Hf, Ta): Elastic Anisotropy,Electronic Structures,Work Function and Experimental Design

The structural properties, elastic anisotropy, electronic structures and work function of D0₂₂-type Al₃TM (TM = Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zr, Nb, La, Hf, Ta) are studied using the first-principles calculations. The results indicate that the obtained formation enthalpy and cohesive energy of these compounds are in accordance with the other calculated values. It is found that the Al₃Zr is the most thermodynamic stable compound. The mechanical property indexes, such as elastic constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and Vickers hardness are systematically explored. Moreover, the calculated universal anisotropic index, percent anisotropy and shear anisotropic factors of D0₂₂-type Al₃TM are analyzed carefully. It demonstrates that the shear modulus anisotropy of Al₃La is the strongest, while that of Al₃Ta is the weakest. In particular, the density of states at Fermi level is not zero, suggesting that these phases have metal properties and electrical conductivity. More importantly, the mechanisms of correlation between hardness and Young’s modulus are further explained by the work function. Finally, the experimental design proves that D0₂₂-Al₃Ta has an excellent strengthening effect.     

碘乙酸钠诱导的大鼠膝骨关节炎模型肠道菌群变化及其潜在影响

目的:研究碘乙酸钠诱导的大鼠膝骨关节炎(KOA)模型肠道菌群变化情况,探究肠道菌群与KOA的潜在联系。方法:将SPF级大鼠分为空白对照组和KOA组,通过膝关节局部注射碘乙酸钠制造大鼠KOA模型。通过16SrDNA检测大鼠粪便中的肠道菌群变化情况,蛋白印记法检测结肠组织中NF-κB和TNF-α蛋白表达,RT-qPCR检测结肠组织中Caspase-1和IL-1β基因表达情况,苏木精-伊红染色观察结肠黏膜通透性变化,苏木精-伊红染色观察关节滑膜和软骨组织的病理变化情况。ELISA检测血液上清中LBP,IL-1β,TNF-α及IL-10炎症因子水平。结果:与空白对照组相比,从KOA组中筛选出明显变化的肠道菌群,以Akkermansia和疣微菌门变化最为显著,结肠黏膜通透性增加,结肠组织中NF-κB p65及TNF-α蛋白表达升高,结肠组织中Caspase-1和IL-1β基因表达升高,血液中促炎因子LBP,IL-1β及TNF-α蛋白含量升高,抗炎因子IL-10蛋白含量降低。结论:KOA病理状态下肠道菌群发生变化,结肠炎症反应增强,结肠炎症反应或许在提高全身炎症反应水平、促进与肠道菌群相关的KOA的病理进程中起到重要的桥梁作用。