[Analysis of the compliance of chronic rhinosinusitis surgical treatment for adults]

Objective:To investigate the factors which effect the compliance of treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis(CRS) patients. Method:Offering disease education to 386 patients who suffered from CRS, then find out the reason why some of them refuse to accept surgery through a half-year follow-up by phone and analysis the clinical information. Result:One hundred and ninety-seven accepted surgery while.Not among 386 patients the compliance rate was 51.04%，we found out that the factors affecting compliance were educational level and VAS scale using χ² test and logistic regression. Conclusion:Patients with higher educational level, lower VAS score,turned to be less compliable; and we should still work on how to improve the patients' compliance.

Factors influencing suicidal ideation among Chinese patients with stomach cancer: qualitative study

AIM

The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the influencing factors of suicidal ideation in Chinese patients diagnosed with stomach cancer.

INTRODUCTION

More recently, links have been made between suicide and cancer. For inpatients with cancer, nurses are at the front line to cope with suicidal issues in clinical settings.

METHOD

This study was part of a larger study that investigated psychological strains and related factors associated with suicidal ideation. Thirty-two patients with stomach cancer participated in a face-to-face interview. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data.

FINDINGS

Four themes were identified as protective factors against suicidal ideation: suicidal denial and fears of stigmatization; positive coping skills; family connectedness; and desire to live well and longer.

DISCUSSION

Consistent with previous research, these four protective factors may encourage participants to think more positively about life and cancer.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest four protective factors for targeted suicide prevention, which may play an important role in future suicide-prevention programmes for Chinese patients diagnosed with stomach cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Nurses may help reduce patients' risk for suicidal ideation more effectively by discussing beliefs, family and meaning in life perspectives, as well as offering health education about positive coping skills.

IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTHY POLICY

Clinical nurses, hospitals and the government should work collaboratively with each other. It is suggested that Chinese national guidelines for working with the high-risk suicide populations should be considered within a future mental health working plan.

[Interleukin-2 signaling pathway regulating molecules in systemic lupus erythematosus]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic systemic autoimmune disease, which characterized by complex immunological abnormalities and multiple tissue and organ damages. The etiology and pathogenesis of SLE have not been entirely recognized. Genetic, environmental and viral infections and other factors might be related to the pathogenetic mechanisms of SLE. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a critical cytokine produced by T cells upon activation and is important for the generation of T regulatory cells and activation-induced cell death. In SLE patients, T cells display decreased capacity to produce IL-2. Impaired IL-2 expression resulted in decreased generation of regulatory T lymphocytes, and defect of activation-induced cell death. Former researches indicated that IL-2 deficiency in SLE is important for the pathogenesis and treatment of SLE. Several regulating molecules can affect the transcription of IL-2 gene and had an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE. These molecules include cyclic AMP-responsive element modulator (CREM), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), E-74 like factor 1 (Elf-1), B lymphocyte induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1) and interferon regulator factor 5 (IRF-5). CREM is a transcriptional inhibitor that can repress the transcription of the IL-2 gene by binding to the promoter of the IL-2 gene. PP2A is a Ser/Thr phosphatase that expressed in eukaryotic cells ubiquitously, it represents a negative regulator of the IL-2 gene promoter activity. Elf-1 belongs to the Ets family of transcription factors and can promote the expression of IL-2. Blimp-1 is a crucial transcription factors for regulating B lymphocyte terminal differentiation, an important function of Blimp-1 in T cells is to repress IL-2 gene transcription directly. Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are distinctive transcriptional regulators of type I interferons (IFNs) and IFN inducible genes, IRF-5 is a member of the IRFs family. IRF-5 is found to be increased in SLE and can regulate the production of IL-2 negatively. PP2A can inhibit the synthesis of IL-2 in two ways: on the one hand, activating the IL-2 transcription inhibitory factor CREMα, on the other hand, inhibiting IL-2 stimulating transcription factor Elf-1. While IRF-5 can activate the IL-2 transcription negative regulator Blimp-1 as to inhibit IL-2 expression. These molecules participate in the regulation of IL-2 through different pathways. This paper reviews the current knowledge of IL-2 signaling pathway regulating molecules in SLE.

Factors influencing aversive learning in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis

Parameters such as the intensity of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli, the inter-trial interval, and starvation time can influence learning. In this study, the parameters that govern aversive learning in the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, a serious pest of fruits and vegetables, were examined. Male flies were trained to associate the attractive odorant methyl eugenol, a male lure, with a food punishment, sodium chloride solution, and the conditioned suppression of the proboscis-extension response was investigated. We found that high methyl eugenol concentrations support a stronger association. With increasing concentrations of sodium chloride solution, a steady decrease of proboscis-extension response during six training trials was observed. A high level of learning was achieved with an inter-trial interval of 1-10 min. However, extending the inter-trial interval to 15 min led to reduced learning. No effect of physiological status (starvation time) on learning performance was detected, nor was any non-associative learning effect induced by the repeat presentation of odor or punishment alone. The memory formed after six training trials could be retained for at least 3 h. Our results indicate that aversive learning by oriental fruit flies can be affected by odor, punishment concentration and inter-trial interval.

[Dihydrotestosterone inhibits foam cell formation via a lectin-like ox-low-density lipoprotein receptor mediated mechanism in J774.1 cell line]

Objective: To investigate the effect of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on lectin-like ox- low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor(LOX-1)expression and foam cell formation in the female macrophage cell line J774.1. Methods: In cultured J774.1 cells, after pretreated with DHT at concentrations of 1×10^-9 mol/L and 1×10^-8 mol/L, ox-LDL-induced LOX-1 expression and foam cell formation were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and oil-red O staining. Results: DHT at concentrations of 1×10^-9 mol/L and 1×10^-8 mol/L inhibited ox-LDL-induced LOX-1 mRNA (2.81±0.46 and 2.29±0.21 vs 4.71±0.31, both P<0.01) and protein expression (1.35±0.06 and 1.09±0.04 vs 1.75±0.11, both P<0.05). The effect was partly reversed by the androgen receptor (AR) blocker flutamide (87.6%, P=0.004). Oil-red O staining also revealed that DHT at concentrations of 1×10^-9 mol/L and 1×10^-8 mol/L suppressed ox-LDL-induced foam cell formation as quantified by the number of foam cells per high-power field (HPF) (36.0±3.0 and 29.1±1.3 vs 45.9±3.7, both P<0.05) and by the area of oil-red O stained particles per HPF (7 983±1 035 and 4 060±390 vs 14 750±2 489, both P<0.05). Conclusion: DHT at concentrations of 1×10^-9 mol/L and 1×10^-8 mol/L decreases LOX-1 expression and foam cell formation via AR.

Large degree of polarization of photoluminescence caused by anisotropic strain in nonpolar a-plane MgxZn1-xO layers grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

A large degree of polarization (ρ) of photoluminescence (PL) approximate to 1 is obtained in each nonpolar a-plane Mg_xZn_1-xO layer grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) with x=0.01, 0.03, and 0.10, respectively. Anisotropic in-plane strains are selectively introduced by using foreign substrates and doping with different Mg contents, which strongly modify the valence band structures, leading to anisotropic optical properties. A polarized Raman measurement shows that anisotropic in-plane strains along the y and z axes increase with the increasing Mg contents. Polarized PL spectra show that ρ gradually increases to 0.97 with decreasing in-plane strains, resulting from an increasing difference in transition energy (ΔE) between E⊥c and E‖c caused by a lift of the degeneracy of valence band structures. The obtained highly polarized emission is close to linear polarized light, which is desirable in the backlighting of liquid crystal displays.

[The effect of locally injected betamethasone on collagen deposition in benign central airway stenosis]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of locally injected betamethasone on cicatricial tissue hyperplasia in patients with benign central airway stenosis.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted with 2 treatment modalities: conventional interventional(CI)therapy, and CI combined with local betamethasone injection(LBI). The average optical density value of TGF-β1 and collagen density in the local airway tissues were compared before therapy and 7 d after the CI treatment and the LBI treatment, respectively.

RESULTS

Six patients were recruited in this study from May 2013 to June 2015.The results showed significant statistical differences by paired t-test in TGF-β1: 92±38 vs 164±47(t=-7.984, P=0.000)before and after the CI treatment, respectively; 128±45 vs 78±40 (t=10.055, P=0.000)before and after the LBI treatment, respectively. The collagen density was 91 932±59 520 vs 150 252±76 673(t=-8.105, P=0.000) before and after the CI treatment, respectively; 107 024±54 880 vs 114 038±50 772(t=-0.621, P=0.54) before and after the LBI treatment, respectively.Trend comparisons made before and after the treatments showed significant statistical differences in TGF-β1(F=712.139, P=0.000) and in the collagen density (F=261.256, P=0.000)between the CI treatment and the LBI treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The CI treatment was shown to stimulate the production of TGF-β1 and the deposition of collagen, while the LBI treatment was shown to reduce the production of TGF-β1 and alleviate the deposition of collagen from the stimulation of the CI treatment.

[The progress in application of parathyroid hormone in craniomaxillofacial bone regeneration study]

Parathyroid hormone(PTH)is synthesized and secreted by chief cell of Gley's glands which possesses dual functions of catabolism and anabolism. It regulates the proliferation and differentiation of multiple cell lines including osteoblast, osteoclast and skeletal lining cells. Furthermore, PTH activates various signaling pathways which control calcium, phosphorous' metabolism and bone conversion, accelerating the bone regeneration and reconstruction. However, the study of PTH in craniomaxillofacial bone regeneration is relatively less and whether the role of parathyroid glands and the mechanism of ossification are consistent with the long bone or not needs further investigation. This review focuses on the progress of PTH in craniomaxillofacial bone regeneration in recent years.

Follicle Loss and Apoptosis in Cyclophosphamide-Treated Mice: What's the Matter?

With increasing numbers of young female cancer survivors following chemotherapy, chemotherapy-induced fertility loss must be considered. Menstrual disorder and infertility are of particular concern in female cancer patients. We showed that treatment with the alkylating agent cyclophosphamide (CTX) could cause severe primordial follicle loss and growing follicle apoptosis, resulting in loss of ovarian reserve. SPF C57BL/6 female mice were treated with a single dose of 120 mg/kg of CTX or saline as a control, and both sides of ovaries were collected three or seven days after injection. Following CTX treatment, the ovaries were mostly composed of collapsed oocytes and presented marked cortical fibrosis and a reduced number of follicles, especially primordial follicles. The loss of primordial follicles was confirmed by primordial follicle counting, immunohistochemistry and Western blot detection of DDx4/MVH. Follicle apoptosis was tested by a TUNEL assay and the number of TUNEL-positive follicle cells increased, as expected, in CTX-treated mice. Furthermore, expression of APAF-1 and cleaved caspase-3 was also increased after CTX treatment. Analysis of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway showed that CTX increased phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR and downstream proteins without affecting total levels. These results demonstrated that the CTX treatment led to the hyperactivation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in ovaries which may be related to primordial follicle loss and growing follicle apoptosis.

Effect of ozone on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and related inflammatory cytokines in rats with diabetic retinopathy

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ozone on inflammatory cytokines in diabetic retinopathy (DR) rats. Male rats (40) weighing 300-360 g were included in this study. Thirty rats were randomly divided into the model and ozone groups after DR was induced by streptozotocin. Ten rats served as the blank group. After the diabetic models were established for one month, the rats in the ozone group were treated with 50 mg/kg ozone coloclysis for one month (three times a week). After the rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection, blood samples from the abdominal aorta were collected, and the supernatant was obtained by centrifugation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammatory cytokine content in the serum was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The values of VEGF, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-a, and IL-6 were significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.05). The cytokine levels in the model group were higher than those in the blank group (P < 0.05). The level of each cytokine in the ozone group was higher than that in the blank group. Compared with the model group, the cytokine levels in the ozone group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Ozone had no effect on the blood glucose of diabetic rats. Treatment with ozone coloclysis may effectively reduce the secretion of VEGF and inflammatory cytokines in diabetic retinopathy rats.

PI3K, AKT, and P-AKT levels in thin endometrium

The aim of this study was to explore the expression of PI3K, AKT, and P-AKT, and to investigate the role of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in thin endometrium. We included 40 women treated in affiliated Shenzhen Nanshan People's Hospital of Guangdong Medical University for endometrial conditions between August 2013 and January 2015, 20 with a normal endometrium, and 20 with thin endometrium. The expression of PI3K, AKT, and P-AKT was evaluated by the immunohistochemical S-P method. The expression of PI3K, AKT, and P-AKT proteins was significantly lower in the thin endometrium group than in the normal endometrium group (P < 0.05). The expression of PI3K and AKT was positively correlated with the expression of P-AKT. The expression of PI3K, AKT, and P-AKT proteins in the thin endometrium decreases during the proliferative phase, and this process could be associated with PI3K/AKT signaling.

Application of the ERK signaling pathway inhibitor PD98059 in long-term in vivo experiments

The aim of this study was to explore methods by which the ERK signaling pathway inhibitor PD98059 (PD) could be used in long-term in vivo experiments. Forty healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into blank control, model control, PD low-dose, PD high-dose, PD blank, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control, DMSO blank, and positive control groups. The corresponding treatments were administered to each experimental group over the course of four weeks, after which, total ERK1/2 and ERK5 protein levels, protein phosphorylation, and gene expression were measured in myocardial tissues. Treatment of rabbits with Adriamycin (doxorubicin) resulted in the significant overall differences in ERK1/2 and ERK5 phosphorylation (P < 0.05). Compared with the model control group, changes in phosphorylated ERK1/2 and phosphorylated ERK5 were lowest in the PD high-dose group (P < 0.05). No significant differences in total protein and mRNA levels of myocardial ERK1/2 and ERK5 were detected between the groups after four weeks (P > 0.05). Continuous intravenous injection of PD98059 significantly reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and that of ERK5. In conclusion, Adriamycin-induced myocardiopathy and abnormal ERK signaling might constitute a valuable model foruse in long-term experiments. These methods may provide a theoretical basis for related in vivo studies of long duration.

Effect of transcription factor ZBTB20 on mouse pituitary development

Pituitary, a critical component in the neuroendocrine system, plays an indispensable role in the regulation of body growth. The transcriptional factor ZBTB20 is widely expressed in brain tissues and participates in hippocampal development; however, the detailed molecular mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ZBTB20 on mouse pituitary development and related mechanisms in ZBTB20 gene knockout mice. The expressional profiles of ZBTB20 in various neuroendocrinal cells during the different developmental stages (from E10 to P0) were described by immunofluorescence staining. A ZBTB20 gene knockout mouse model was then generated. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting assays were used to detect the levels of five hormones: growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). ZBTB20 protein expression was identified from E14 until birth. A majority of the pituitary endocrinal cells were ZBTB20-positive. In ZBTB20 knockout mice, the level of GH decreased by half and PRL expression was eliminated. No significant change was observed in the other three hormones (LH, FSH, and TSH). ZBTB20, an important transcriptional factor in pituitary development, is mainly responsible for the terminal differentiation of prolactin-secreting cells, thereby regulating the secretion of the pituitary hormones.

The silkworm GSTe4 is sensitive to phoxim and protects HEK293 cells against UV-induced cell apoptosis

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs, EC 2.5.1.18) are a family of super enzymes with multiple functions that play a major role in the detoxification of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. In our previous study, we have predicted 23 putative cytosolic GSTs in the silkworm genome using bioinformatic methods. In this study, we cloned and studied the insect-specific epsilon-class GST gene GSTe4 from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The recombinant BmGSTe4 (Bac-BmGSTe4) was overexpressed in SF-9 cell lines, and it was found to have effective GST activity. We also found that the expression of BmGSTe4 was especially down-regulated after the silkworms were fumigated with or ingested phoxim. Moreover, BmGSTe4 protected HEK293 cells against UV-induced cell apoptosis. These results demonstrated that BmGSTe4 has GST activity, is sensitive to phoxim, and plays a role in inhibition of UV-induced cell apoptosis.

Inhibition of adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by erythropoietin via activating ERK and P38 MAPK

We examined whether erythropoietin (EPO) can inhibit adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the mouse bone marrow and its underlying mechanism. We separated and extracted mouse bone marrow MSCs and induced adipogenic differen-tiation using 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, insulin, and dexamethasone. Different concentrations of EPO were added to the cells and observed by Oil Red O staining on the 20th day to quantitatively analyze the degree of cell differentiation. mRNA expression levels of peroxysome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, and adiponectin were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the activity of PPARγ, extracellular sig-nal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) were determined by western blotting. EPO significantly inhibited adipogenic differentiation of MSCs after 20 days and reduced absorbance values by Oil Red O staining without affecting proliferation activity. EPO downregulated the mRNA expression of PPARγ, CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, fatty acid binding protein 4, and adiponec-tin during adipogenesis and increased protein phosphorylation of ERK, p38 MAPK, and PPARγ during differentiation. EPO downregulated the mRNA expression of PPARγ, CCAAT enhancer binding protein α, fatty acid binding protein 4, and adiponectin by increasing protein phosphor-ylation of ERK, p38 MAPK, and PPARγ during differentiation, which inhibited adipogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Effects of modified Shoutaiwai recipe on integrin β3 and leukemia-inhibitory factor in endometrium of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation mice during the implantation window

We investigated the effects of a modified Shoutaiwai recipe on integrin β3 and leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) in the endometrium of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) mice during the implantation window. Seventy non-pregnant mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: a traditional medicine (TCM) treatment group (N = 30), an aspirin treatment (N = 30) group, and a control group (N = 10). After the model was successfully established, mice in the drug treatment groups and the control group were respectively treated with the modified Shoutaiwai recipe, aspirin, or 0.9% physiological saline. During the implantation window of mice, the middle segment of the mouse uterus was recovered, and integrin β3 and LIF expressions in the endometrium were respectively detected using an immunohistological two-step method and reverse transcription-PCR. Expressions of integrin β3 and LIF in the endometrium of mice in the TCM treatment group were significantly increased compared to aspirin-treated and control mice, and those of aspirin-treated mice were increased compared to the control group. Our modified Shoutaiwai recipe may improve the endometrial receptivity of COH mice by increasing the expression of integrin β3 and LIF in the endometrium during the implantation window.

The potential of follicle-stimulating hormone peptide-modified triptolide-loaded nanoparticles to induce a mouse model of premature ovarian insufficiency

The use of triptolide (TP) is limited by its poor water solubility and severe toxicity. In this study, we developed an active drug delivery system (TP-loaded nanoparticles) that could help improve the water solubility of TP and decrease its toxicity. Then, we investigated whether TP-loaded nanoparticles could be used to establish a novel premature ovarian insufficiency mouse model. The mice treated with TP-loaded nanoparticles for 35 days displayed normal growth, decreased serum antimullerian hormone, prominent ovarian fibrosis and vacuolar changes, fewer follicles and corpus lutea, increased collapsed oocytes and follicle apoptosis, and sterility. In conclusion, this model appears to show the reproductive characteristics associated with premature ovarian insufficiency in women and will allow us to study the mechanism of the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on gonadal toxicity.

Comparison of molar intrusion efficiency and bone density by CT in patients with different vertical facial morphology

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between molar intrusion efficiency and bone density in patients with different vertical facial morphology. Thirty-six female patients, with overerupted upper first molars, were divided into two groups according to mandiblular plane angle (FH-MP): hyperdivergent, FH-MP>30° (G1), hypodivergent, FH-MP<22° (G2). Mini-screw implants with elastic chains were used to intrude upper first molars. Spiral CT was used to measure the intrusion degree of upper first molar and bone density, and molar intrusion efficiency was calculated as amount/duration (mm month(-1) ). In addition, each tooth was divided into three portions (cervical, furcation and apical) to measure the bone density. It was found in this study that treatment duration was 3·13 and 4·71 months in G1 and G2 and that the intrusion efficiency was 1·57 and 0·81 in G1 and G2 with significant difference (P < 0·05). There were significant differences in cervical, furcation and apical bone density between two groups (P < 0·05). The bone density was significantly reduced after molar intrusion. In addition, the bone density change was greater in G1 than in G2 (P < 0·05). It was concluded that molars were more easily to be intruded in hyperdivergent than in hypodivergent patients. The difference of bone density and bone density changes during intrusion may account for the variation of molar intrusion efficiency.