CT Imaging Biomarkers Predict Clinical Outcomes After Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

This study aimed to determine whether changes in contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) parameters could predict postsurgery overall and progression-free survival (PFS) in pancreatic cancer patients. Seventy-nine patients with a final pathological diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included in this study from June 2008 to August 2012. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) CT of tumors was obtained before curative-intent surgery. Absolute enhancement change (AEC) and relative enhancement change (REC) were evaluated on DCE-CT. PFS and overall survival (OS) were compared based on CT enhancement patterns. The markers of fibrogenic alpha-smooth muscle antigen (α-SMA) and periostin in tumor specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. The χ² test was performed to determine whether CT enhancement patterns were associated with α-SMA-periostin expression levels (recorded as positive or negative). Lower REC (<0.9) was associated with shorter PFS (HR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31–0.89) and OS (HR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.25–0.78). The α-SMA and periostin expression level were negatively correlated with REC (both P = 0). Among several CT enhancement parameters, REC was the best predictor of patient postsurgery survival. Low REC was associated with a short progression-free time and poor survival. The pathological studies suggested that REC might be a reflection of cancer fibrogenic potential.     

血浆半乳糖凝集素3检测在急性冠脉综合征患者的应用价值

目的探讨半乳糖凝集素3(Galectin-3)作为炎性标志物评价冠状动脉斑块稳定性的可行性。方法连续入选74名急性心肌梗死患者和115名不稳定心绞痛患者。所有患者均接受冠脉动脉造影检查。造影前抽取桡动脉血,检测血浆中Galectin-3和C反应蛋白(CRP)表达水平。结果急性心肌梗死组中Galectin-3和CRP血浆表达水平显著高于不稳定心绞痛组(P0.05),Galectin-3与CRP表达呈正相关性。Galectin-3和CRP诊断急性心肌梗死的AUC差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论急性心肌梗死患者血浆中Galectin-3表达水平显著升高,对心血管损伤的炎性反应更敏感。     

卫生应急服务覆盖程度及其效果：基于辽宁吉林两省的实证分析

目的分析辽宁吉林两省卫生应急服务覆盖程度及其工作效果，为辽宁吉林两省进一步完善突发公共卫生事件应急处置体系提供理论依据。 方法为了保持量化的原则，选取功能服务与公众需要的匹配程度这一具体指标来反映卫生应急服务覆盖程度，系统收集2000至2017年辽宁吉林两省卫生应急服务相关的文件和文献数据，摘录文件中所涉及的卫生应急服务三级预防功能服务的表述；摘录文献中涉及的卫生应急服务工作效果的表述，采用"五分度评分法"判定工作效果；采用Speraman相关、单因素回归方法分析辽宁吉林两省卫生应急服务覆盖范围与辽宁吉林两省工作效果的关系。 结果2017年，辽宁省卫生应急服务覆盖程度达到56.5%，吉林省达到64.7%。辽宁吉林两省卫生应急服务覆盖程度与卫生应急工作效果都呈正相关关系(P均<0.05)，并且吉林省的显著性更强。 结论吉林省在卫生应急服务覆盖程度表现更佳。同时也验证了卫生应急服务覆盖程度量化方法和工作效果评价方法是可行的，可应用于公共卫生的其他领域。     

Z‐ligustilide ameliorated ultraviolet B‐induced oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine production in human keratinocytes through upregulation of Nrf2/HO‐1 and suppression of NF‐κB pathway

Ultraviolet B (UVB), a harmful environmental factor, is responsible for a variety of skin disorders including skin inflammation through reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory mediator production. Here, we investigated the effect of Z‐ligustilide (Z‐lig), an active ingredient isolated from the medicinal plants Cnidium officinale and Angelica acutiloba, on UVB‐induced ROS generation and inflammatory mediator production in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) as well as its underlying mechanisms. Z‐lig significantly rescued UVB‐induced NHEKs damage in a dosage‐dependent manner. Pretreatment of NHEKs with Z‐lig inhibited UVB‐induced ROS production in NHEKs. Both silencing the nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the supplement of tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), a haeme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) inhibitor, cancelled the inhibitory effect of Z‐lig on UVB‐induced ROS upregulation in NHEKs. Moreover, pretreatment of NHEKs with Z‐lig reduced UVB‐induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB)‐dependent inflammatory mediators (IL‐6, IL‐8 and MCP‐1) production at both mRNA and protein level. In the presence of Z‐lig, UVB‐induced NF‐κB subunit p65 nuclear translocation was abolished, and the IκBα degradation was suppressed. Taken together, these findings suggest that Z‐lig can suppress UVB‐induced ROS generation through Nrf2/HO‐1 upregulation and inflammation by suppressing the NF‐κB pathway, suggesting that Z‐lig may be beneficial in protecting skin from UVB exposure.     

Assessment of osseous morphology of temporomandibular joint in asymptomatic participants with chewing‐side preference

Chewing‐side preference (CSP) may be associated with temporomandibular disorders. However, little information exists regarding whether CSP will lead to osseous changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in asymptomatic participants. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between osseous morphology of TMJ in asymptomatic participants with CSP and without CSP. Of the 121 healthy dentate participants, 35 participants with left CSP, 38 with right CSP and other 48 without CSP were scanned by cone‐beam computed tomography. The dimensions of the reconstructed images of opposing TMJs were compared. Statistical analyses were performed using spss 16.0 software. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the dimensions of bilateral structures of the TMJ (P1 > 0·05) in participants without CSP. However, the posterior–superior, posterior and lateral joint space of the preferred side were smaller than that of the unpreferred side in participants with CSP (P2 < 0·01) and bilateral TMJ in participants without CSP (P3 < 0·01). In addition, width of condylar neck of the unpreferred side both in sagittal and perpendicular to the long axis of condyle views was greater than that of the preferred side in participants with CSP (P2 < 0·01) and bilateral TMJ of participants without CSP (P4 < 0·01). Also, the inclination of articular eminence of the preferred side in view perpendicular to the long axis of condyle was less than that of the unpreferred side (P2 < 0·05). These findings suggest CSP affects osseous morphology of TMJ in asymptomatic participants.     

Two sphingomyelin synthase homologues regulate body weight and sphingomyelin synthesis in female brown planthopper,N. lugens (Stål)

Although sphingomyelins known to be are lipid constituents of the plasma membrane in vertebrates, much remains obscure about the metabolism of sphingomyelins in insects. With ultra performance liquid chromatography‐time‐of‐flight‐tandem mass spectrometry analysis, we revealed for the first time that sphingomyelins are abundant in Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), the brown planthopper (BPH), and their biosynthesis is carried out by sphingomyelin synthase‐like protein 2 (SMSL2), which is homologous to sphingomyelin synthase‐related protein (SMSr). Unlike other insect species, high concentrations of sphingomyelins rather than ceramide phosphoethanolamines exist in the BPH. Two putative genes, which are homologous to SMSr, are named Nilaparvata lugens SMS‐like 1 (NlSMSL1) and 2 (NlSMSL2). Knockdowns of both NlSMSL2 and NlSMSL1 were conducted but only the first decreased concentrations of sphingomyelins in the BPH, indicating that NlSMSL2 plays a role in the biosynthesis of sphingomyelins. Real‐time quantitative PCR analysis revealed both NlSMSL1 and NlSMSL2 are highly expressed in BPH adults, with NlSMSL1 specifically highly expressed in reproductive organs (ovaries and testes) whereas NlSMSL2 was highly expressed in the malpighian tubules. The knockdown of NlSMSL1 or NlSMSL2 increased BPH female body weight but not that of males, suggesting sex‐specific roles for SMSLs in influencing BPH body weight. The results suggest that NlSMSL2 catalyses the synthesis of sphingomyelins and maintains female BPH body weight through alteration of sphingolipid content.