The influence of tobacco retailers on adolescent smoking: prevention and policy implications

BACKGROUND

Smoking rates are higher among adolescents in South Korea than among those in other Asian countries. Researchers have reported associations between the presence of licensed tobacco retailers and adolescent smoking rates. However, few researchers have examined the factors that influence adolescent smoking including those that are intrapersonal, interpersonal or related to the tobacco retailers' environment.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to describe factors related to the students, the licensed tobacco retailers and the schools and how those factors are associated with adolescent smoking outcomes such as tobacco marketing receptivity, lifetime smoking and current smoking.

METHODS

The survey data were gathered from 740 South Korean adolescents, and geographic data for 3488 licensed tobacco retailers were also used. Geographic Information Systems and multilevel modeling were used to describe the variables and determine the factors associated with smoking outcomes in the sample.

RESULTS

The factors that influenced receptivity to tobacco marketing included the presence of peers who smoke and the frequencies of licensed tobacco retailers passed on the way to school. The factors that influenced lifetime smoking included gender, perceived economic status, weekly income, the presence of siblings or peers who smoke and frequencies of licensed tobacco retailers passed on the way to school. The factors that influenced current smoking included gender, weekly income, and the presence of siblings or peers who smoke.

CONCLUSIONS

These factors will guide adolescent tobacco prevention programs and policies.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND HEALTH POLICY

The study's implications for nursing practice and health policy are that school nurses and public health nurses need to be encouraged to use retailer-related factors in adolescent smoking-prevention programs. There is also a need for zoning and licensing regulations to restrict licensed tobacco retailers in areas that adolescents frequent, including schools.

[Prevalence and clinical characteristics of blood eosinophilia in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of peripheral blood eosinophilia (EOS) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods: From July 2014 to June 2016, AECOPD patients in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University, were retrospectively stratified into two groups according to two standards of eosinophilic exacerbations (the peripheral blood eosinophil count ≥2% or ≥3% on admission). Demography, clinical symptoms, laboratory results, length of stay, total hospitalization expenses, and defined daily expenses were compared between groups. Results: A total of 559 cases with AECOPD were finally recorded, the prevalence of eosinophilia was 43.1% (241 cases by EOS≥2%) and 27.2% (152 cases by EOS≥3%), respectively. According to either standard, there were no significant differences in sexes, age, course of disease (P>0.05), and there were no significant differences in global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) grades, parameters of pulmonary function, modified british medical research council (mMRC) scores, rate of antibiotic use, systemic glucocorticoids administration, and average daily expenses (P>0.05). According to 2% standard, leucocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, hs-CRP were lower than non-eosinophilic patients [(5.9±2.0)×10(9)/L vs (8.2±4.0)×10(9)/L, (3.9±1.6)×10(9)/L vs (6.5±3.8)×10(9)/L, (0.446±0.169)×10(9)/L vs (0.501±0.276)×10(9)/L, (25.8±35.9) vs (46.2±55.6) mg/L, all P<0.01]; basophils, lymphocytes were higher than non-eosinophilic patients [(0.043±0.025)×10(9)/L vs (0.029±0.021) ×10(9)/L, (1.3±0.6) ×10(9)/L vs (1.1±0.6) ×10(9)/L, both P<0.01]; length of stay, total hospital expense were shorter (or lower) than non-eosinophilic patients [(10.6±5.0) vs (11.6±5.8) d, (11 851±7 491) vs (14 254±10 751) RMB, both P<0.05]. According to 3% standard, leucocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, hs-CRP were lower than non-eosinophilic patients (all P<0.05), and basophil were higher than non-eosinophilic patients (P<0.01), but no significant differences were observed in lymphocytes, length of stay and total hospital expense (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Eosinophilia is of relative high prevalence in AECOPD patients, and basophil in eosinophilic patients is higher than non-eosinophilic patients.

Retention and relapse in clinical practice

Maintaining teeth in their corrected positions following orthodontic treatment can be extremely challenging. Teeth have a tendency to move back towards the original malocclusion as a result of periodontal, gingival, occlusal and growth related factors. However, tooth movement can also occur as a result of normal age changes. Because orthodontics is unable to predict which patients are at risk of relapse, those which will remain stable and the extent of relapse that will occur in the long-term, clinicians need to treat all patients as if they have a high potential to relapse. To reduce this risk, long term retention is advocated. This can be a significant commitment for patients, and so retention and the potential for relapse must form a key part of the informed consent process prior to orthodontic treatment. It is vital that patients are made fully aware of their responsibilities in committing to wear retainers as prescribed in order to reduce the chance of relapse. If patients are unable or unwilling to comply as prescribed, they must be prepared to accept that there will be tooth positional changes following treatment. There is currently insufficient high quality evidence regarding the best type of retention or retention regimen, and so each clinician's approach will be affected by their personal, clinical experience and expertise, and guided by their patients' expectations and circumstances.

[The relation between cochlear distortion products and frequency tuning characteristics revealed by laser interferometery]

Objective:To explore the relation between distortion products and frequency tuning charateristics in cochlear basilar membrane.Method:Time variances curves of distortion products and frequency tuning curves of basilar membrane response were measured by laser interferometery in situ guinea pig cochlea.Result:Response sensitivity and tuning sharpness of basilar membrane response decreased with distortion product amplitude and become most low and flat when distortion products disappeared.Conclusion:Distortion products in cochlea are related with hearing sensitivity and frequency tuning. They are indicator whether function of cochlear hearing sensitivity enhancing and frequency tuning sharpening is still at work.

Effects of curcumin plus Soy oligosaccharides on intestinal flora of rats with ulcerative colitis

To explore the therapeutic effect of curcumin (Cur) and soybean oligosaccharides (SBOS) on ulcerative colitis (UC) through testing the intestinal flora and ulcerative colitis (UC). 80 male SD rats were selected divided into four groups with 20 rats in each group: normal group, sulfasalazine (SASP) group, model group and group of curcumin plus soy oligosaccharide. All animals were treated for 4 weeks. In the fifth week rats were decapitated. Macroscopic damage scores of colonic mucosa were calculated. A 4mL blood sample was taken to detect the contents of serum tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) by the double antibody sandwich ABC-ELISA method (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Colonic tissues with the most obvious lesions were obtained using a surgical scissor. A routine hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining method was used to stain pathological specimens and images of staining results were obtained. Histological injury scores of colonic mucosa were calculated. Ulcerative colitis model rats had the highest macroscopic damage scores and histological injury scores of colonic mucosa. After treatment the contents of TNF-α and IL-8 decreased significantly in the group of curcumin plus soy oligosaccharide compared with the model group with statistical significance (P <0.01) while the contents were close to those in the SASP group. There was no statistical significance (P> 0.05). The treatment could decrease TNF-α and IL- 8 expression and reduce colonic mucosa inflammation and tissue damage.

MicroRNA-143 inhibits cell growth by targeting ERK5 and MAP3K7 in breast cancer

This study aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of microRNA-143 (miR-143) in the occurrence and development of breast cancer (BC). A total of 30 BC tissues, 30 corresponding noncancerous tissues, and 10 normal control (NC) breast tissues were obtained to detect the levels of miR-143, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) and mitogen-activated protein 3 kinase 7 (MAP3K7) using RT-qPCR, western blotting or immunohistochemistry. The correlation of miR-143 with ERK5 or MAP3K7 was evaluated using Pearson correlation analysis. MCF-7 cells were transiently transfected with miR-143 mimic, miR-143 inhibitor, miR-143 mimic/inhibitor + si-ERK5, si-MAP3K7 or si-cyclin D1. Then, cell growth was evaluated by MTT assay and the expressions of phospho-ERK5 (p-ERK5), ERK5, p-MAP3K7, MAP3K7 and cyclin D1 were detected by western blotting. Results showed that, compared with noncancerous tissues or NC breast tissues, miR-143 level was decreased, while p-ERK5, ERK5, p-MAP3K7 and MAP3K7 expressions were increased in BC tissues (all P<0.01). The miR-143 level was negatively correlated with the mRNA level of ERK5 or MAP3K7 (r=-4.231 or r=-4.280, P<0.01). In addition, up-regulated miR-143 significantly decreased the expressions of p-ERK5, ERK5, p-MAP3K7, MAP3K7 and cyclin D1 (all P<0.01), as well as cell viability in MCF-7 cells (all P<0.05) while the effect of down-regulated miR-143 was the opposite. In conclusion, both ERK5 and MAP3K7 may be the target genes of miR-143. Increased expression of miR-143 can inhibit cell growth, which may be associated with ERK5 and MAP3K7 expressions in BC.

Tanshinone IIA ameliorates chronic arthritis in mice by modulating neutrophil activities

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune inflammatory disease mediated by the influx of immune cells into the synovial joint space. As Tanshinone IIA (TIIA) has potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, we used the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) murine model of RA to investigate the impact of TIIA on RA and immune cell activation. The anti-arthritic activity of TIIA was investigated in an adjuvant-induced arthritis model of RA in mice. Myeloperoxidase and neutrophil elastase expression levels were assessed in ankle joints by immunohistochemistry analysis. Immune cell infiltration was evaluated in air pouch experiments. Proinflammatory cytokines expression levels were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were assessed by immunostaining and confocal microscopy. Treatment with TIIA alleviated cartilage erosion and neutrophil infiltration in the ankle joints of AA mice and reduced proinflammatory cytokine expression levels in sera. TIIA suppressed interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α expression and release in neutrophils and promoted neutrophil apoptosis. TIIA also inhibited the NET formation of neutrophils. Our findings demonstrated that TIIA can ameliorate RA effectively by targeting neutrophils, indicating that TIIA may act as a potential therapeutic for RA.

Total gastric necrosis: A case report and literature review

Total gastric necrosis is a rare disease and easy to misdiagnose. Here we report a rare case of total gastric necrosis. The patient, an 89-year-old male, had epigastric pain for 5 days. He was transferred to our hospital because of intraperitoneal hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock. We performed an emergency laparotomy. During the surgery, we found a total of 3500ml unclotted blood in the abdomen, splenic infarction and gastric necrosis. Total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostromy and splenectomy was performed. However, the patient died on the second day after the surgery. This case suggests that surgical treatment should be performed as early as possible when ischemia of abdominal organs is suspected.

MicroRNA-92a-3p regulates the expression of cartilage-specific genes by directly targeting histone deacetylase 2 in chondrogenesis and degradation

OBJECTIVE

Increased activity of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) has been found in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and cartilage matrix degradation and has been shown to mediate the repression of cartilage-specific gene expression in human chondrocytes. We aimed to determine whether microRNA-92a-3p (miR-92a-3p) regulates cartilage-specific gene expression via targeted HDAC2 in chondrogenesis and degradation.

METHODS

miR-92a-3p expression was assessed in vitro in a human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) model of chondrogenesis and in normal and OA primary human chondrocytes (PHCs), and in normal and OA human cartilage by in situ hybridization. hMSCs and PHCs were transfected with miR-92a-3p or its antisense inhibitor (anti-miR-92a-3p), respectively. PHCs were transfected with miR-92a-3p or anti-miR-92a-3p for 24 h before chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was performed with anti-ac-H3 antibody. Direct interaction between miR-92a-3p and its putative binding site in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of HDAC2 mRNA was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

miR-92a-3p expression was elevated in chondrogenic and hypertrophic hMSC, while reduced in OA cartilage compared with normal cartilage. The overexpression of miR-92a-3p suppressed the activity of a reporter construct containing the 3'-UTR and inhibited HDAC2 expression in both hMSCs and PHCs, while treatment with anti-miR-92a-3p enhanced HDAC2 expression. ChIP assays showed that miR-92a-3p enhances H3 acetylation on aggrecan (ACAN), cartilage oligomeric protein (COMP) and Col2a1 promoter, and also promotes relative cartilage matrix expression.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that miR-92a-3p regulates cartilage development and homeostasis, which directly targets HDAC2, indicating histone hyperacetylation plays an important role in increased expression of cartilage matrix.

[Identification of HLA class Ⅱ susceptible alleles and genotypes in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults]

Objective: To identify human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 susceptible alleles and genotypes in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) patients of Chinese Han nationality. Methods: All subjects including 652 LADA patients and 1 181 healthy controls from 1999 to 2015 in Han nationality region of Hunan province were genotyped with high resolution at HLA-DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 locus by PCR-sequence based typing (PCR-SBT). Frequencies of genotypes between patients and controls were compared by chi square test. Results: The DQA1 susceptible allele was DQA1*03 (OR=1.23, P(c)=0.028); the DQB1 susceptible alleles were DQB1*0201 (OR=2.24, P(c)<0.001), DQB1*0303 (OR=1.30, P(c)=0.030), DQB1*0304 (OR=10.23, P(c)=0.004) and DQB1*0401(OR=1.94, P(c)<0.001); and the DRB1 susceptible alleles were DRB1*0301 (OR=2.10, P(c)<0.001), DRB1*0405(OR=1.89, P(c)<0.001) and DRB1*0901(OR=1.36, P(c)=0.008), respectively in Chinese Han nationality LADA patients. The HLA-Ⅱ susceptible genotypes were DQA1*03/05 (OR=1.81, P(c)=0.007), DQB1*0201/0201(OR=5.74, P(c)<0.001), DQB1*0201/0303 (OR=2.58, P(c)=0.010), DRB1*0301/0901(OR=3.43, P(c)=0.028) and DRB1*0901/0901 (OR=1.82, P(c)=0.021), respectively in LADA patients. DQB1*0201 and DRB1*0301 were shared susceptible alleles for Chinese Han and Caucasian LADA patients, while DQA1*03, DQB1*0303, DQB1*0304, DQB1*0401, DRB1*0405 and DRB1*0901 were specific susceptible alleles for Chinese Han LADA patients. Interestingly, the DQB1*0303 allele was susceptible in Chinese while protective in Caucasian (OR: 1.30 vs 0.29). Conclusion: Susceptible alleles are DQA1*03, DQB1*0201, DQB1*0303, DQB1*0304, DQB1*0401, DRB1*0301, DRB1*0405 and DRB1*0901, and susceptible genotypes are DQA1*03/05, DQB1*0201/0201, DQB1*0201/0303, DRB1*0301/0901 and DRB1*0901/0901 in Chinese LADA patients.

Hepatic epithelioid angiomyolipoma: clinical features and imaging findings of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and CT

AIM

To evaluate the clinical features and imaging findings of epithelioid angiomyolipoma (EAML) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During January 2006 to November 2015, six patients with histopathologically proven hepatic EAML were evaluated using both CECT and ultrasonography. Six patients underwent CEUS and four patients had CECT images. Patients' demographics, clinical presentations, laboratory test results, and imaging appearances were collected and analysed.

RESULTS

Six patients were female, and the mean age was 43.5 years. All hepatic EAMLs were solitary. None of patients had specific symptoms, and laboratory tests were normal in all patients. The maximal diameter of the lesions ranged from 3.1 to 6.5 cm (mean 4.4 cm). Baseline ultrasound revealed that 50% of hepatic EAMLs were hypo-echoic and 50% were mixed echoic. CEUS showed that 100% of the hepatic EAMLs displayed homogeneous hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and 67% (4/6) showed hypo-enhancement in the late phase. On CECT, 100% (4/4) of the neoplasms were significantly hyperenhanced in the arterial phase and washout in the portal phase. There was no recurrence or metastasis after a mean follow-up period of 11.8 months.

CONCLUSION

Hepatic EAML shows similar enhancement patterns to that of hepatocellular carcinoma. It should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in female patients without viral hepatitis infection.

Bronchopleural fistula after lung ablation: Experience in two cases and literature review

BACKGROUND

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) complicating lung tumor ablation is rare but severe. The purpose of this article was to study its characteristics and treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two of 682 (0.3%) sessions of lung microwave ablation (MWA) were complicated with BPF and documented. Two electronic databases were searched for reported cases of BPF after lung tumor ablation. Case selection and data collection were done by 3 independent reviewers.

RESULTS

A 56-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman developed BPF after MWA and died. Thirteen cases (mean age 63.8, 61.5% male) of BPF with adequate information were identified from 8 articles. Of the 13 cases, 5 (38.5%) had pulmonary co-morbidity, 3 (23.1%) had a history of pulmonary surgery, 7 (53.8%) had a target tumor adjacent or abutting pulmonary pleura, and 6 (46.2%) developed severe infections. After chest tube placement, pleurodesis, endoscopic therapy, surgery, and other treatments, 12 were cured and 1 died of BPF and pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

BPF is a rare but severe complication of lung ablation, and the management needs a multidisciplinary and individualized treatment strategy.

Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of acute kidney injury in patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and is also an important cause for poor outcome. This study aimed at investigating the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of AKI in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). A total of 1167 patients with HBV-related ACLF from January 2010 to January 2015 were enrolled and divided into two groups, AKI group (n=308) and non-AKI group (n=859). All patients were followed up to investigate clinical characteristics, long-term overall survival (OS) and risk factors. AKI occurrence was found to be 26.4% in patients with HBV-related ACLF. The patients in the AKI group and the non-AKI group had a 30-day OS of 44.8% and 70.3%, 90-day OS of 17.9% and 55.4%, and 1-year OS of 15.6% and 51.2%, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the 30-day, 90-day and 1-year OS among subgroups with different AKI stages. It was found that high WBC, neutrophil, ALT and MELD score were risk factors for 30-day mortality, whereas hepatic encephalopathy, high MELD score, mean arterial pressure and PLT were risk factors for 90-day mortality. Two criteria, the KDIGO and AKIN, showed parallel results in staging AKI in patients with HBV-related ACLF (κ=0.807, P<.001). AKI is closely associated with increased short-term mortality in Chinese HBV-related ACLF patients, particularly in those with infection and high MELD score. Both KDIGO and AKIN criteria can be used for staging AKI in patients with HBV-related ACLF.

Kidney Transplantation From Brain-Dead Donors: Initial Experience in China

BACKGROUND

Experience with kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors remains limited in China. Our objective was to evaluate the outcomes of kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors (group 1), compared with those from living ones of the same age (group 2).

METHODS

Clinical data of kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors and living donors in the same age range (18-45 years) performed between May 2007 and December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Recipients were analyzed for posttransplantation serum creatinine, creatinine clearance (calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula), the number of acute rejection episodes and delayed graft function, and patient/graft survival.

RESULTS

Mean donor age was comparable between the 2 groups (31.9 ± 6.5 vs 32.8 ± 7.0 years; P = .268). The terminal serum creatinine level of donors was 125.5 ± 63.5 μmol/L in group 1 (n = 30) and 65.1 ± 13.7 μmol/L in group 2 (n = 110; P = .000). Recipient creatinine clearance was comparable between the 2 groups 1 month posttransplantation and thereafter. Acute rejection episodes were seen in 7 cases in recipients of group 1 (15.9%) and in 15 cases in recipients of group 2 (13.6%; P = .716). The incidence of delayed graft function was higher in recipients of group 1 (18.2%) than that of group 2 (3.6%; P = .002). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year patient/graft survival rate was comparable between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated kidney transplantation from brain-dead donors achieved acceptable graft function and patient/graft survival in the 5-year follow-up, encouraging the use of this approach.

Artesunate modulates expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors as well as collagen-IV to attenuate pulmonary fibrosis in rats

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of artesunate on extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation and the expression of collagen-IV, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) to understand the pharmacological role of artesunate in pulmonary fibrosis. Eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups that were administered saline alone, bleomycin (BLM) alone, BLM + artesunate, or artesunate alone for 28 days. Lung tissues from 10 rats in each group were used to obtain lung fibroblast (LF) primary cells, and the rest were used to analyze protein expression. The mRNA expression of collagen-IV, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in lung fibroblasts was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The protein levels of collagen-IV, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 protein in lung tissues were analyzed by western blotting. Artesunate treatment alleviated alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in rats, as indicated by a decreased lung coefficient and improvement of lung tissue morphology. Artesunate treatment also led to decreased collagen-IV protein levels, which might be a result of its downregulated expression and increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein and mRNA levels. Increased TIMP-1 and TIMP- 2 protein and mRNA levels were detected after artesunate treatment in lung tissues and primary lung fibroblast cells and may contribute to enhanced activity of MMP-2 and -9. These findings suggested that artesunate attenuates alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis by regulating expression of collagen-IV, TIMP-1 and 2, as well as MMP-2 and -9, to reduce ECM accumulation.