Single nucleotide polymorphisms in VEGF gene are associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma

We aimed to assess whether the five common SNPs can affect the risk of osteosarcoma, and its association with demographic characteristics of osteosarcoma. 165 osteosarcoma patients and 330 cancer-free controls were enrolled into our study. Five common SNPs in VEGF gene, -2578C/A (rs699947), -1156G/A (rs1570360), +1612G/A (rs10434), +936C/T (rs3025039) and -634G/C (rs2010963), were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Conditional logistic regression analyses found that individuals with AA genotype and A allele of rs699947 were associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma. Individuals with GG genotype and G allele of rs2010963 were associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma. By stratified analysis, AA genotype of rs699947 was associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma in those with shorter age, males and a family history of cancer, and GG genotype of rs2010963 was correlated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma in those with shorter age, females and a family history of cancer. Our study suggests that rs699947 and rs2010963 polymorphisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma.     

Spontaneous Cutaneous Endometriosis in the Mons Pubis Region

Most cutaneous endometriosis develops at the site of an abdominal surgical scar. Spontaneous cutaneous endometriosis is extremely rare. We report a case of spontaneous cutaneous endometriosis in the mons pubis region. A 41‐year‐old woman presented with a mass in the right mons pubis, causing cyclic pain associated with menses. Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy was performed. The smears contained three cellular components: honeycombed sheets of glandular epithelial cells, fragments of ovoid‐to‐spindle shaped stromal cells, and background inflammatory cells, including hemosiderin‐laden macrophages, histiocytes, and neutrophils. Biphasic clusters of glandular epithelial cells and stromal cells were identified. FNA cytology is a safe and useful adjunctive tool for diagnosing cutaneous endometriosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2014;42:615–618. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Simultaneous quantitation of four androgens and 17-hydroxyprogesterone in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients by LC-MS/MS

BackgroundDue to the low concentration of androgens in women and the limitation of immunoassays, it remains a challenge to accurately determine the levels of serum androgens in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients for clinical laboratories. In this report, a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantitation of testosterone (T), androstenedione (A4), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 17‐hydroxyprogesterone (17‐OHP) that are associated with PCOS.MethodsThe serum samples were processed by protein precipitation and solid phase extraction before analysis with the in‐house developed LC‐MS/MS. The chromatographic separation was achieved with a C18 column, using a linear gradient elution with two mobile phases: 0.02% formic acid in water (phase A) and 0.1% formic acid in methanol (phase B). The separated analytes were detected by positive or negative electrospray ionization mode under multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).ResultsThe assay for all the five analytes was linear, stable, with imprecision less than 9% and recoveries within ±10%. The lower limits of quantification were 0.05, 0.05, 5, 0.025, and 0.025 ng/mL for T, A4, DHEAS, DHT, and 17‐OHP, respectively. In the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analyses with the PCOS (n = 63) and healthy (n = 161) subjects, the AUC of the four‐androgen combined was greater than that of any single androgen tested in PCOS diagnosis.ConclusionsThe LC‐MS/MS method for the four androgens and 17‐OHP showed good performance for clinical implementation. More importantly, simultaneous quantitation of the four androgens provided better diagnostic power for PCOS.     

抗击新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情临床一线支援护士心理体验的质性研究

目的:了解抗击新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情临床一线支援护士的心理体验,旨在为临床制订相应干预措施提供建议和依据。方法:于2020年1月25—27日对参与抗击新型冠状病毒肺炎临床一线支援的10名某三级甲等医院护士应用现象学研究方法进行半结构式访谈,并采用Giorgi现象学分析方法对访谈资料进行分析。结果:本研究临床一线支援护士心理体验可归纳为3个主题,分别为负性心理体验(恐惧、担忧和疲惫)、应对突发公共卫生事件能力不足(对疾病认知不足和应急救援护理技能不足)、对抗击疫情的理性认识(使命感和信心坚定)。结论:临床一线支援护士存在不同程度的负性心理体验,应对突发公共卫生事件能力不足,医院应加强对临床一线支援护士的心理援助和人文关怀,推进应急灾害救援护理培训,提升医院应急管理能力与水平,保障救援工作高效进行。     

锁定接骨板治疗肱骨近端骨折

目的探讨肱骨近端锁定接骨板治疗肱骨近端骨折的临床疗效。方法59例肱骨近端骨折,其中男32例,女27例患者平均年龄50.5岁(22～82岁)。按Neer分类法,二部分骨折23例;三部分骨折24例;四部分骨折12例。结果X线片观察骨折愈合时间7.4周(6～12周)。按照Constant评分标准,功能优34例,良19例,中6例,优良率为89.8%。结论肱骨近端锁定接骨板治疗肱骨近端骨折手术简单、微创、固定可靠、并发症少、骨折愈合率高,别是老年骨质疏松患者首选治疗方法。     

Clinical study on acupuncture treatment of COVID-19: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:COVID-19 is an acute respiratory infectious disease, which makes people difficult to breathe; in addition, it is often accompanied by headache, olfaction, and taste disorders of the neurological manifestations. Acupuncture has been proved to have a therapeutic effect on various neurologic manifestations. This study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the neurologic manifestations in COVID-19.Methods:Randomized controlled trials from December 2019 to July 2021 will be included without restrictions on language or publication date. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Databases (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, and VIP database will be searched. Two researchers will independently select studies, extract data, and evaluate study quality. Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials will be used to assess the risk of bias of included studies. Statistical analyses will be performed using the Review Manager V.5.3 and stata 14.0.Ethics and dissemination:This study will not involve personal information. Ethical approval will not be required. We will publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO Trial registration number:CRD42021265699     

Thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate-based molecular perovskite from TG-DSC-FTIR-MS and ab initio molecular dynamics

(H₂dabco)[NH₄(ClO₄)₃] (DAP, dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) is a recently synthesized ammonium perchlorate-based molecular perovskite energetic material. The high-symmetry perovskite configuration assembles the oxidant ClO₄⁻ and fuel H₂dabco²⁺ into a compact cubic crystal, realizing a high energy-releasing efficiency. In this study, the thermal decomposition of DAP has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) coupled with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy (MS). The TG-DSC profiles show that DAP has an intense one-stage heat release process with a weight loss of 94.7%. The evolved gas products are identified as H₂O, CO₂, CO, HCl, HCN, NH₃, HNCO by FTIR spectrum, in which the infrared characteristic peak at 2283 and 2250 cm⁻¹ is clarified not from N₂O and assigned to HNCO. The principal products are H₂O and CO₂ together with significant amounts of HCl, HCN, NH₃ in MS, while few nitrogen oxides and O₂ are detected. The experimental results show that organic components have been the prominent media for the degradation of ClO₄⁻. To refine the mechanism observed in experiment, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to reveal the atomistic reaction mechanisms. The decomposition of DAP starts with proton transfer from NH₄⁺ and H₂dabco²⁺ to ClO₄⁻. The deprotonated carbon skeleton is preferable to NH₃ in capturing O atoms, realizing a faster consumption of O atoms. Amounts of H atoms enter the environment being active free radicals, realizing an efficient autocatalytic chain propagation of degradation of ClO₄⁻. The atomistic thermal decomposition reaction mechanism of DAP uncovers the role of organic components in promoting the degradation of ClO₄⁻, which will help improve the synthesis strategy of molecular perovskite energetic materials with improved performance.

Organic components realize a more efficient autocatalytic chain propagation for degradation of ClO₄⁻ in the thermal decomposition process of DAP.     

A nanoprecursor method for successfully synthesizing clinoptilolite with high-crystallinity and resultant effects on CO2/CH4 selective adsorption

Nanoprecursors used as a structural promoter (SP) were prepared by a hydrothermal method and named sol-SP. After centrifugation, the supernatant and precipitate were denoted as solution-SP and solid-SP, respectively. The effect of the additive amount on the structures and properties of the synthesized clinoptilolite was investigated using various characterization techniques. The activation energies of crystallization kinetics during induction and growth periods were calculated. The results showed that the induction period is the control step during the synthesis of clinoptilolite, while additive sol-SP or solid-SP was beneficial to shorten the induction period and therefore enhance the formation of the crystal nucleus. When their pre-crystallization time was too long or the additive amount was too much, the impure phase (phillipsite) in the synthesized clinoptilolite was easily generated. Although the addition of solution-SP had no obvious effect on the induction period, it promoted the growth of crystals after nucleation. Finally, the adsorption performances for CO₂ and CH₄ were preliminarily assessed using synthetic clinoptilolite as the adsorbent, showing the promising application for the separation of CO₂/CH₄.

Nanoprecursors used as a structural promoter (SP) were prepared by a hydrothermal method and named sol-SP.