Expression and clinical significance of B cell translocation gene 2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is widely known as a highly fatal cancer, and thus it is important to identify tumor-specific and radiosensitivity-specific markers in ESCC. B cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) has been considered a novel tumor suppressor gene or radiotherapy sensitivity-associated gene. However, the relationship between BTG2 and ESCC development and radiotherapy sensitivity is uncertain. The present study aims to explore the expression and clinical significance of B cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2) in ESCC by analyzing the RNAseq data from the TCGA and immunohistochemical staining of ESCC samples. We found that the level of BTG2 mRNA was significantly decreased in ESCC patients, and further decreased significantly in radiotherapy resistant patients compared to sensitive patients. The positive expression rate of BTG2 protein was 56.0% (103/184) in 184 ESCC tissue samples and 84.0% (42/50) in normal esophageal mucosal samples, respectively. The positive ratios of BTG2 expression in radiotherapy-sensitive group and radiotherapy resistant group were 57.9% (22/38) and 23.5% (4/17), respectively. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that the expression level of BTG2 significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical staging in ESCC patients. A multivariate analysis with Cox regression model showed that BTG2 level was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of ESCC patients. Above all, the downregulation of BTG2 may be used as a molecular marker to identify and predict ESCC progression and radiosensitivity.     

Concurrent Validity and Reliability of a Low-Cost Dynamometer to Assess Maximal Isometric Strength in Neck Movements

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the concurrent validity and reliability of a low-cost digital dynamometer to assess maximal isometric strength in neck movements.MethodsTwelve recreationally active participants (6 women, 6 men; age: 24.1 ± 3.4 years; height: 1.71 ± 0.06 m; weight: 64.6 ± 11.7 kg) performed neck flexion, extension, and lateral flexion, and maximal isometric strength was simultaneously measured using an isokinetic dynamometer (gold standard) and a digital dynamometer to evaluate the concurrent validity of the latter. One week later, all the participants repeated 3 trials of each neck movement (3 minutes apart) registered only with the digital dynamometer. The first and second trial were guided by tester 1 and the third trial was guided by tester 2.ResultsThe concurrent validity of the digital dynamometer showed a nearly perfect correlation between both devices (r > 0.986, P < .001), with Bland-Altman plots showing absolute agreement. Intertester and intratester reliability were nearly perfect for all neck movements (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.86).ConclusionThe low-cost digital dynamometer showed valid and reliable measurements of maximal isometric strength in neck movements.     

Fast volumetric imaging of bound and pore water in cortical bone using three‐dimensional ultrashort‐TE (UTE) and inversion recovery UTE sequences

We report the three‐dimensional ultrashort‐TE (3D UTE) and adiabatic inversion recovery UTE (IR‐UTE) sequences employing a radial trajectory with conical view ordering for bi‐component T₂* analysis of bound water (T₂*^BW) and pore water (T₂*^PW) in cortical bone. An interleaved dual‐echo 3D UTE acquisition scheme was developed for fast bi‐component analysis of bound and pore water in cortical bone. A 3D IR‐UTE acquisition scheme employing multiple spokes per IR was developed for bound water imaging. Two‐dimensional UTE (2D UTE) and IR‐UTE sequences were employed for comparison. The sequences were applied to bovine bone samples (n = 6) and volunteers (n = 6) using a 3‐T scanner. Bi‐component fitting of 3D UTE images of bovine samples showed a mean T₂*^BW of 0.26 ± 0.04 ms and T₂*^PW of 4.16 ± 0.35 ms, with fractions of 21.5 ± 3.6% and 78.5 ± 3.6%, respectively. The 3D IR‐UTE signal showed a single‐component decay with a mean T₂*^BW of 0.29 ± 0.05 ms, suggesting selective imaging of bound water. Similar results were achieved with the 2D UTE and IR‐UTE sequences. Bi‐component fitting of 3D UTE images of the tibial midshafts of healthy volunteers showed a mean T₂*^BW of 0.32 ± 0.08 ms and T₂*^PW of 5.78 ± 1.24 ms, with fractions of 34.2 ± 7.4% and 65.8 ± 7.4%, respectively. Single‐component fitting of 3D IR‐UTE images showed a mean T₂*^BW of 0.35 ± 0.09 ms. The 3D UTE and 3D IR‐UTE techniques allow fast volumetric mapping of bound and pore water in cortical bone. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

降气和胃通腑法对肠癌患者术后胃肠功能及免疫功能的影响

目的:观察针灸和中药恢复肠癌术后患者胃肠功能和免疫功能的临床疗效.方法:将肠癌根治性手术后的105例患者随机分成对照组、中药组和针灸组,各35例.对照组给予术后常规处理;中药组给予术后常规处理和术后第1天营养管推入四磨汤口服液20mL,每日3次,治疗10 d;针灸组给予术后常规处理和术后第1天针灸治疗,每日1次,治疗1...     

The effect of folic acid on genetic damage induced by ethanol in human lymphoblast cell line

目的:探讨叶酸(folic acid,FA)对乙醇(ethanol,EtOH)诱发的人成淋巴细胞遗传损伤的影响.方法:人成淋巴细胞株GM12593培养在含有不同FA浓度(20、200、2 000 nmol/L)的RPMI-1640培养基中,并同时在每种FA浓度的培养体系中分别加入0.09％、0.36％和1.34％ (V/V)的EtOH,8 d后用细胞松弛素B(cytochalasin B,CB)处理28 h,胞质阻断微核细胞组分析(cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay,CBMN Cyt)比较不同培养条件下的细胞遗传损伤,包括微核化双核细胞(micronucleated binueleated cell,MNed BNC)、核芽(nuclear bud,BUD)、核质桥(nucleoplasmic bridges,NPB)的频率差异.结果:乙醇在受试细胞中诱发MNed BNC、BUD和NBP频率显著升高(P＜0.01)；2 000 nmol/L的叶酸能显著降低由乙醇诱发的MNed BNC、BUD和NBP频率(P＜0.01).结论:乙醇对细胞遗传物质具有损伤效应,叶酸对乙醇的遗传毒性具有防护效应.     

Terapia con estimulación del nervio vago en pacientes con epilepsia fármaco-resistente y callosotomía previa

ObjectiveTo analyse the results of vagus nerve stimulation in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and previous corpus callosotomy.Materials and methodsWe prospectively reviewed data from patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who showed persistence of disabling seizures after undergoing corpus callosotomy, in whom it was not possible to identify an epileptogenic focus and who were subsequently treated with vagus nerve stimulation.Variables analysed included: age, gender, aetiology of epilepsy, frequency and characteristics of the crises and Engel scale classification, before and after vagal stimulator implant. Furthermore, the percentage differences in seizure frequency changes were also calculated.ResultsFour patients were identified: two male and two female. The total seizure frequency had decreased between 20% and 81% after corpus callosotomy in three patients and one of them did not show any favourable response (Engel IVB). Following implantation of the stimulator they became reduced to between 57% and 100% after a mean follow-up period of 8.3 months (range: 3 to 12 months). Generalised seizures decreased between 71.4% and 100%, and focal seizures between 57.7% and 100%.ConclusionsVagus nerve stimulation therapy proved to be an alternative for the reduction of seizure frequency in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who suffered disabling seizures despite undergoing corpus callosotomy as primary surgery.     

护理干预对幼年强直性脊柱炎病人生活质量的影响

[目的]探讨护理干预对幼年强直性脊柱炎病人生活质量的影响。[方法]选择2009年—2013年在我院住院的强直性脊柱炎幼年病人65例实施护理干预,并对干预前及干预后半个月、1个月、3个月临床指标进行比较。[结果]护理干预前与干预后半个月、1个月、3个月晨僵时间、腰骶部压痛得分、有效睡眠时间、胸廓扩张度、脊柱侧弯、指地距比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05或P0.01)。[结论]护理干预可有效改善强直性脊柱炎幼年病人的生活质量,干预过程中对个体差异的评估及严格监督实施计划尤为重要。