Metabolomics revealed decreased level of omega‐3 PUFA‐derived protective eicosanoids in pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia

Pre‐eclampsia (PE) is considered a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in pregnant women worldwide. Eicosanoids derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might play an important role in the occurrence and development of PE. Omega‐3 PUFAs are nutrients that are popular supplements for pregnant women and can reduce blood pressure. However, the levels of eicosanoids derived from omega‐3 PUFAs in women with PE is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the eicosanoid metabolic signature of PE. We performed a case–control study using data for pregnant women (n = 10) with PE and normotensive pregnant women (n = 10). We investigated the difference in eicosanoid profile between the groups by LC‐MS/MS‐based metabolomics. The plasma levels of arachidonic acid metabolites and some of the lipoxygenase metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) showed an increasing trend, and those of the cytochrome P450 metabolites of EPA and DHA were decreased in women with PE. Levels of leukotriene B4, 14,15‐dihydroxy‐eicosatetraenoate, 16‐hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid and 8,9‐epoxy eicosatetraenoic acid were significantly correlated with PE occurrence. These eicosanoids might take part in the progression of PE in pregnant women.     

Seroprevalence of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus among poultry workers in Jiangsu Province, China: an observational study

Background

Surgical site infection (SSI) are the third most frequently reported nosocomial infection, and the most common on surgical wards. HIV-infected patients may increase the possibility of developing SSI after surgery. There are few reported date on incidence and the preventive measures of SSI in HIV-infected patients. This study was to determine the incidence and the associated risk factors for SSI in HIV-infected patients. And we also explored the preventive measures.

Methods

A retrospective study of SSI was conducted in 242 HIV-infected patients including 17 patients who combined with hemophilia from October 2008 to September 2011 in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. SSI were classified according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria and identified by bedside surveillance and post-discharge follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).

Results

The SSI incidence rate was 47.5% (115 of 242); 38.4% incisional SSIs, 5.4% deep incisional SSIs and 3.7% organ/space SSIs. The SSI incidence rate was 37.9% in HIV-infected patients undergoing abdominal operation. Patients undergoing abdominal surgery with lower preoperative CD4 counts were more likely to develop SSIs. The incidence increased from 2.6% in clean wounds to 100% in dirty wounds. In the HIV-infected patients combined with hemophilia, the mean preoperative albumin and postoperative hemoglobin were found significantly lower than those in no-SSIs group (P<0.05).

Conclusions

SSI is frequent in HIV-infected patients. And suitable perioperative management may decrease the SSIs incidence rate of HIV-infected patients.     

Dexamethasone induces osteogenesis via regulation of hedgehog signalling molecules in rat mesenchymal stem cells

Purpose

Hedgehog signalling plays an important role during the development of tissues and organs, including bone and limb. Dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic and widely used glucocorticoid, affects osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), while the signalling pathway by which DEX affects osteoblast differentiation remains obscure. This study aimed to investigate expressions of hedgehog signalling molecules Shh, Ihh and Gli1 during DEX-induced osteogenesis of rat MSCs in vitro.

Methods

DEX promoted osteoblast differentiation of MSCs at 10⁻⁸ mol/L from seven days to 21 days, demonstrated by enhancing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteoblast-associated marker type I collagen expression during osteoblastic differentiation. Gene and protein expressions of hedgehog signalling molecules, Shh, Ihh and Gli1 were tested by RT-PCR and western blot analysis during osteoblast differentiation.

Results

Shh expression was increased compared to the control while Ihh and Gli1 expressions were decreased on both mRNA and protein level during DEX-induced osteoblast differentiation of MSCs from seven days to 21 days. Altogether, these data demonstrate that DEX can enhance Shh expression via a Gli1-independent mechanism during osteoblast differentiation of MSCs.

Conclusions

These results indicate that different patterns of hedgehog signalling are involved in DEX-induced osteogenesis and these findings provide insights into the mechanistic link between glucocorticoid-induced osteogenesis and hedgehog signalling pathway.     

Associations of self-esteem,dysfunctional beliefs and coping style with depression in patients with schizophrenia: A preliminary survey

Psychological models of depression in schizophrenia have proposed that cognitive structures (e.g., self-esteem, dysfunctional beliefs) may have a role in the development and maintenance of depression. However, it has not been clear what the characteristics of these cognitive structures were in people with schizophrenia and whether they have an independent association with depression, especially in those from a Chinese cultural background. The present investigation examined 133 people with schizophrenia and 50 healthy controls and indicated that compared to the controls people with schizophrenia showed lower self-esteem, higher levels of dysfunctional beliefs and negative coping styles. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that only low frustration tolerance, problem solving and self-blame were found to be the independent correlates of depression in schizophrenia. Results are discussed with the view of clinical implications of cognitive formulation and therapy for schizophrenia in China.     

湖南省2012—2017年学生肺结核登记情况及流行特征

目的分析湖南省学生肺结核患者登记情况,了解流行特征,为完善全省学校结核防治策略提供依据。方法利用2012-2017年中国结核病信息管理系统中登记的资料,统计分析湖南省学生结核病患者登记率及其流行特征。结果2012-2017年湖南省发现学生肺结核患者7 940例,登记发病率为13.23/10万,涂阳肺结核患者2 203例,登记发病率为3.67/10万。2012-2017年学生活动性肺结核登记发病率比较,差异有统计学意义（χ2=80.079,P<0.001）;2012-2017年学生涂阳肺结核登记发病率比较,差异有统计学意义（χ2=112.213,P<0.001）。二季度学生肺结核登记人数最多（占32.2%）,以男性为主（占60.8%）,年龄以15～19岁为主（占61.8%）。2012-2017年各市州学生肺结核登记情况比较,差异有统计学意义（χ2=320.432,P<0.001）,累计登记总数居前三位的分别是长沙市、湘西州、衡阳市。2012-2017年登记学生肺结核患者来源以转诊为主（占38.8%）,99.8%患者接受抗结核治疗,诊断治疗以涂阴患者、非重症、非耐药、初治患者为主,分别占67.9%、95.2%、99.5%、99.3%。结论应加强学校结核病防治工作,加强对高中和大学入学新生的结核病筛查,定期开展学校结核病知识的宣传,提高学校结核病防治的意识。     

Technique Selection of Bricker or Wallace Ureteroileal Anastomosis in Ileal Conduit Urinary Diversion: A Strategy Based on Patient Characteristics

Objectives

This study was designed to establish an individualized selection strategy for the two most common types of ureteroenteric anastomotic techniques (Bricker and Wallace anastomosis) used in ileal conduit (IC) diversion.

Methods

Patients who underwent IC diversion after radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma between January 2009 and December 2011 were prospectively collected. The choice of anastomosis type (Bricker vs. Wallace) was successively based on tumor characteristics, ureteral anomalies, and ureteral length after retrosigmoidal tunneling.

Results

Ninety-nine patients were enrolled in the final study. Fifty-three patients underwent Bricker anastomosis, and 46 underwent Wallace anastomosis. Ureteral stricture developed in 6 (6.1 %) patients and the overall stricture rate for all ureters was 3.1 % (6/196). Strictures occurred at an average of 13.3 months after surgery and were predominately located in the left ureter (66.7 %, 4/6). The difference in the ureter stricture rates between the two groups was not statistically significant: 3.8 % (4/104) and 2.2 % (2/92) for Bricker and Wallace, respectively (p = 0.686). There were no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index (BMI), prevalence of pelvic radiation therapy, length of stay, follow-up time, or time to stricture between the two techniques. Patients in whom stricture developed had a significantly higher mean BMI compared with those without stricture (25.2 vs. 23.3 kg/m², respectively; p = 0.008).

Conclusions

Our preliminary outcomes demonstrate that this selection strategy of Bricker vs. Wallace anastomosis seems to be clinically reliable, providing an acceptable low ureteral stricture rate of 3.1 %. However, the potential advantage for oncologic control of this strategy is needed to further confirm.     

Alpha5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mediates nicotine-induced HIF-1α and VEGF expression in non-small cell lung cancer

By binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), nicotine induces the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previous studies have indicated that α5-nAChR is highly associated with lung cancer risk and nicotine dependence. However, the mechanisms through which α5-nAChRs may influence lung carcinogenesis are far from clear. In the present study, we investigated the roles of α5-nAChR in the nicotine-induced expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of α5-nAChR and HIF-1α in 60 specimens of lung cancer and para-carcinoma tissue. The correlations between the expression levels of α5-nAChR and HIF-1α and other clinicopathological data were analyzed. In a cell line that highly expressed α5-nAChR, the loss of α5-nAChR function by siRNA was used to study whether α5-nAChR is involved in the nicotine-induced expression of HIF-1α and VEGF through the activation of the ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Cell growth was detected using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). α5-nAChR (78.3%) and HIF-1α (88.3%) were both overexpressed in NSCLC, and their expression levels were found to be correlated with each other (P < 0.05). In the A549 cell line, α5-nAChR and HIF-1α were found to be expressed under normal conditions, and their expression levels were significantly increased in response to nicotine treatment. The silencing of α5-nAChR significantly inhibited the nicotine-induced cell proliferation compared with the control group and attenuated the nicotine-induced upregulation of HIF-1α and VEGF, and these effects required the cooperation of the ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. These results show that the α5-nAChR/HIF-1α/VEGF axis is involved in nicotine-induced tumor cell proliferation, which suggests that α5-nAChR may serve as a potential anticancer target in nicotine-associated lung cancer.     

肝细胞癌发病危险因素Logistic回归分析*

目的 探讨肝细胞癌发病的危险因素。方法 2019年1月～2021年1月青海省第四人民医院消化科和青海大学附属医院介入科确诊为肝细胞癌(HCC)患者150例,收集患者临床资料,采用Logistic回归分析法行单因素和多因素分析。结果 单因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄、肝癌家族史、饮酒史、血小板计数、HBsAg阳性、血清HBV DNA和肝硬化等7个因素具有显著性意义,多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄(P=0.001,OR=1.077)、肝癌家族史(P=0.008,OR=4.351)、血小板计数异常(P=0.004,OR=9.071)、HBsAg阳性(P＜0.001,OR=16.418)、HBV DNA(P=0.004,OR=6.345)和肝硬化(P＜0.001,OR=9.315)为HCC发生的独立危险因素。结论 了解HCC发生的危险因素有助于预防,及时抗病毒和预防肝硬化的发生可能非常有意义。