[Effects of preoperative diagnostic hysteroscopy on peritoneal cytology and prognosis in patients with non-endometrioid carcinoma]

Objective: To explore the effects of preoperative hysteroscopic guided biopsy and segmental diagnosis and curettage on the risk of abdominal dissemination and prognosis of non-endometrioid carcinoma. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 97 patients who underwent surgical treatment and were pathologically confirmed as non-endometrioid carcinoma (including serous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, mixed adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma, etc.) from October 2008 to December 2021 in Peking University People's Hospital, were collected for retrospective analysis. According to preoperative diagnostic methods, they were divided into hysteroscopic group (n=44) and non-hysteroscopic group (n=53). The impact of hysteroscopy examination on peritoneal cytology and prognosis was analyzed. Results: (1) There were no statistical differences in age, body mass index, tumor size, pathological characteristics, and treatment methods between the hysteroscopic group and the non-hysteroscopic group (all P>0.05), but the proportion of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ patients in the hysteroscopic group was significantly higher than that in the non-hysteroscopic group [68% (30/44) vs 47% (25/53); χ2=4.32, P=0.038]. (2) Among 97 patients, 25 (26%, 25/97) of them were cytologically positive for ascites. The hysteroscopic group had a lower positive rate of peritoneal cytology than that in the non-hysteroscopy group, which was significantly different [11% (5/44) vs 38% (20/53); χ2=8.74, P=0.003]. Stratification according to surgical and pathological stages showed that the positive rate of peritoneal cytology in the hysteroscopic group (3%, 1/30) was lower than that in the non-hysteroscopic group (12%, 3/25) in the 55 patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, and that in the hysteroscopic group (4/14) was also lower than that in the non-hysteroscopic group (61%, 17/28) in the 42 patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ. There were no significant differences (all P>0.05). (3) The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of the hysteroscopic group and the non-hysteroscopic group were respectively 72.7% and 60.4%, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.186). After stratification according to staging, the 5-year DFS rate were respectively 90.0% and 72.0% (P=0.051) between the hysteroscopic and non-hysteroscopic groups of patients in stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, and 35.7% and 50.0% (P=0.218) between the hysteroscopic and non-hysteroscopic groups of patients in stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, in which there were not statistically significant differences. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate were respectively 86.4% and 81.1% between the hysteroscopic group and the non-hysteroscopic group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.388). The 5-year OS rate were respectively 93.3% and 96.0% in the hysteroscopic group and non-hysteroscopic group for patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ(P=0.872), and 71.4% and 67.9% in the hysteroscopic group and non-hysteroscopic group in patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ (P=0.999), with no statistical significance. Conclusions: Diagnostic hysteroscopy do not increase the rate of positive peritoneal cytology result at the time of surgery in this cohort, and no significant correlation between preoperative hysteroscopy examination and poor prognosis of non-endometrioid carcinoma is observed. Therefore, preoperative hysteroscopic guided biopsy and segmental diagnosis and curettage in non-endometrioid carcinoma maybe safe.

[Prognosis analysis of radical or modified radical hysterectomy and simple hysterectomy in patients with stage Ⅱ endometrial cancer]

Objective: To compare the prognosis and perioperative situation of patients with stage Ⅱ endometrial cancer (EC) between radical hysterectomy/modified radical hysterectomy (RH/mRH) and simple hysterectomy (SH). Methods: A total of 47 patients diagnosed EC with stage Ⅱ [International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009] by postoperative pathology, from January 2006 to January 2021 in Peking University People's Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were (54.4±10.7) years old, and the median follow-up time was 65 months (ranged 9-138 months). They were divided into RH/mRH group (n=14) and SH group (n=33) according to the scope of operation. Then the prognosis of patients between the groups were compared, and the independent prognostic factors of stage Ⅱ EC were explored. Results: (1) The proportions of patients with hypertension in RH/mRH group and SH group were 2/14 and 45% (15/33), the amounts of intraoperative blood loss were (702±392) and (438±298) ml, and the incidence of postoperative complications were 7/14 and 15% (5/33), respectively. There were significant differences (all P<0.05). (2) The median follow-up time of RH/mRH group and SH group were 72 vs 62 months, respectively (P=0.515). According to Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank method, the results showed that there were no significant difference in 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate (94.3% vs 84.0%; P=0.501), and 5-year overall survival rate (92.3% vs 92.9%; P=0.957) between the two groups. Cox survival analysis indicated that age, pathological type, serum cancer antigen 125 (CA₁₂₅), and estrogen receptor (ER) status were associated with 5-year PFS rate (all P<0.05). But the scope of hysterectomy (RH/mRH and SH) did not affect the 5-year PFS rate of stage Ⅱ EC patients (P=0.508). And level of serum CA₁₂₅ and ER status were independent prognostic factors for 5-year PFS rate (all P<0.05). Conclusions: This study could not find any survival benefit from RH/mRH for stage Ⅱ EC, but increases the incidence of postoperative complications. Therefore, the necessity of extending the scope of hysterectomy is questionable.

[Significance of molecular classification in fertility-sparing treatment of endometrial carcinoma and atypical endometrial hyperplasia]

Objective: To investigate the molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) treated with fertility-sparing therapy, and to analyze its relationship with clinicopathological factors and treatment efficacy. Methods: A total of 46 EC and AEH patients who received fertility-sparing therapy and molecular classification tested by next generation sequencing in Peking University People's Hospital from June 2020 to December 2021, were retrospectively collected. The relationships between molecular classification and clinicopathological factors and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Results: (1) Of the 46 patients, including 40 EC and 6 AEH patients, 32 cases (71%, 32/45) had complete response (CR) after treatment, with median CR time of 8 months, 6 cases (13%, 6/45) had partial response, and 8 cases (25%, 8/32) had recurrence. (2) The cases were distributed as no specific molecular profile (NSMP) 34 cases (74%, 34/46) subtype mainly, high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) 7 cases (15%, 7/46), POLE ultra-mutated 3 cases (7%, 3/46), and copy number high (CNH) 2 cases (4%, 2/46). Patients with CNH had the hightest serum cancer antigen 125 (CA₁₂₅) level [(34.3±35.2) kU/L]. MSI-H subtype had more family history of tumors (6/7), more with loss of mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression by immunohistochemical (7/7), and higher nuclear antigen associated with cell proliferation (Ki-67) expression level (3/3). (3) Patients in MSI-H subgroup had the lowest CR rate at 6 months (0/6; P=0.019), and survival analysis showed that they were less likely to achieve CR than those with NSMP subtype (P=0.022). Subgroup analysis of patients with NSMP showed that age ≥30 years related with longer treatment time to CR (P=0.010). In addition, CR was obtained after treatment in 2/3 POLE ultra-mutated cases and 2/2 CNH, respectively. Conclusions: Molecular classification relates with the treatment response in patients with EC and AEH treated with fertility-sparing therapy. Patients with MSI-H subtype have poor treatment efficacy, and patients with NSMP need to be further studied and predict treatment benefit. However, there are few cases in POLE ultra-mutated and CNH subtypes, which need further clinical research.

[Predictive value of plasma TMAO combined with NT-proBNP on the prognosis and length of hospitalization of patients with ischemic heart failure]

Objective: To explore the value of the assessment of plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) combined with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) on predicting the all-cause mortality, length of hospitalization, and hospital cost in ischemic heart failure (IHF) patients. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 189 patients (157 males, mean age (64.0±10.5) years) with a left ventricular ejection fraction<45% caused by coronary artery disease, who hospitalized in our department from March 2016 to December 2020. Baseline data, including demographics, comorbid conditions and laboratory examination, were analyzed. The cumulative rate of all-cause mortality was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between the groups according to the log-rank test. Relative risks were reported as hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) calculated using the Cox proportional-hazards analysis, with stepwise adjustment for covariables. Spearman correlation analysis was then performed to determine the relationship between TMAO combined with NT-proBNP and length of hospitalization and hospital cost. Results: There were 50 patients in the low TMAO+low NT-proBNP group, 89 patients in high TMAO or high NT-proBNP group, 50 patients in high TMAO+high NT-proBNP group. The mean follow-up period was 3.0 years. Death occurred in 70 patients (37.0%), 27 patients (54.0%) in high TMAO+high NT-proBNP group, 29 patients (32.6%) in high TMAO or high NT-proBNP group and 14 patients (28.0%) in low TMAO+low NT-proBNP group. TMAO, in combination with NT-proBNP, improved all-cause mortality prediction in IHF patients when stratified as none, one or both biomarker(s) elevation, with the highest risk of all-cause mortality in high TMAO+high NT-proBNP group (HR=3.62, 95%CI 1.89-6.96, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis further confirmed that TMAO combined with NT-proBNP strengthened the prediction performance on the risk of all-cause death (AUC=0.727(95%CI 0.640-0.813), sensitivity 55.0%, characteristic 83.1%). Spearman correlation analysis showed that IHF patients with high TMAO and high NT-proBNP were positively associated with longer duration of hospitalization (r=0.191,P=0.009), but not associated with higher hospital cost (r=0.030, P=0.686). Conclusions: TMAO combined with NT-proBNP are valuable prediction tool on risk stratification of patients with IHF, and those with two biomarkers elevation face the highest risk of mortality during follow-up period, and are associated with the longer hospital stay.

[Triptolide increases the radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells by inhibiting DNA repair and inducing apoptosis]

Objective: To investigate the effect of triptolide on radiosensitivity of lung cancer cells and its mechanism. Methods: The lung cancer cells H1299, A549, H157 and H838 were cultured. The strongest radio resistance cell line, H1299 was selected by cell clone formation experiment and for the subsequent experiments. 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of triptolide on the proliferation of H1299 cells. The optimal concentration of triptolide was 50nmol/L, and the optimal treatment time was 48 hours. The H1299 cells were divided into the control group, triptolide group (50 nmol/L), 4 Gy group and triptolide+ 4 Gy group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate of H1299 cell. Western Blot was used to detect the proteins expression levels of p-Chk2, p-ATM, p-p53, Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved-Caspase 3. Results: The apoptotic rate and protein levels of Bax, cleaved-Caspase 3, p-Chk2, p-ATM and p-p53 in the 4 Gy group were (12.38±1.34)%, 0.42±0.04, 0.38±0.04, 0.98±0.11, 0.73±0.08, 0.95±0.09, respectively, higher than (3.26±2.43)%, 0.22±0.02, 0.23±0.03, 0.32±0.03, 0.21±0.02, 0.25±0.03 in the control group (P<0.05). However, the protein level of Bcl-2 was (0.52±0.05), lower than (0.93±0.09) of the control group (P<0.05). The survival fraction (0.462) and protein level of Bcl-2 (0.44±0.04) in the triptolide group were lower than those of the control group (0.702 and 0.93±0.09, P<0.05). The apoptotic rate and the protein levels of Bax and cleaved-Caspase 3 in the triptolide group were (9.27±1.08)%, 0.45±0.05, 0.41±0.04, respectively, higher than (3.26±2.43)%, 0.22±0.02, 0.23±0.03 in the control group (P<0.05), and the sensitization ratio in the triptolide group was 1.579. The apoptosis rate, Bax and cleaved Caspase 3 protein expression levels in triptolide + 4 Gy group were (26.53±2.19)%, 0.91±0.09 and 0.79±0.08, respectively, higher than (12.38±1.34)%, 0.42±0.04 and 0.38±0.04 in 4 Gy group (P<0.05). The expression level of Bcl-2 protein was (0.21±0.02), lower than (0.52±0.05) in 4 Gy group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Triptolide increases the radiosensitivity of radiation-induced lung cancer cells by inhibiting DNA repair and inducing apoptosis.

[Application and clinical significance of TCGA molecular classification in endometrial cancer]

Objective: To explore the application and clinical significance of the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) molecular classification in endometrial cancer (EC). Methods: Sixty-six EC patients collected from December 2018 to March 2021 from Peking University People's Hospital were categorized into four subgroups based on TCGA molecular classification tested by next generation sequencing. The correlation among four molecular subgroups and the clinical-pathological features including prognosis were analyzed. Results: (1) Clinical and pathological features: median age at diagnosis was 56 years (range: 24-78 years). The cases were distributed as follows: 3 (5%) cases DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) ultra-mutated, 11 (17%) cases high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) including 2 Lynch syndrome, 42 (64%) cases low copy-number (CN-L) and 10 (15%) cases high copy-number (CN-H). There were significant differences among four subtypes in the combination of other tumors, tumor family history, surgical method, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO, 2009) stage, depth of muscle invasion and lymph vascular space invasion (all P<0.05). The proportions of patients in CN-H subgroup with advanced FIGO stage (stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ), deep muscle invasion and positive lymph-vascular space invasion were significantly increased. There were no significant differences in age, menopausal status, body mass index, metabolic syndrome-related complications, preoperative serum CA₁₂₅ and human epididymis protein 4 levels, tumor size, pathological grade (only endometrioid cancer), and lymph node metastasis among the 4 TCGA molecular types (all P>0.05). (2) Immuno-related molecular analysis: among 66 EC patients, 27 patients underwent immunohistochemical analysis of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein, and 28 patients underwent tumor mutation burden (TMB) detection. POLE and MSI-H subgroups contained TMB than those in CN-L and CN-H (P<0.05).(3) Prognosis: the median follow-up time was 10 months (range: 0-28 months). The progression-free survival rate of TCGA molecular types were 100% (POLE ultra-mutated), 100% (MSI-H), 98% (CN-L), and 80% (CN-H) respectively and had significant differences (P=0.034). The overall survival were 100% (POLE ultra-mutated), 100% (MSI-H), 98% (CN-L), and 90% (CN-H) respectively, but there were not statistically significant difference (P=0.361). POLE ultra-mutated and MSI-H subgroups had the best survival, while CN-H had the worst. Conclusion: TCGA molecular classification has feasibility and clinical value in clinical application of EC, which is helpful to identify the prognosis of patients.

[Prognostic value of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide on all-cause mortality in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction]

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) on all-cause mortality in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) at real world scenarios. Methods: Patients who met the diagnostic criteria of HFpEF in the China National Heart Failure Registration Study (CN-HF) were divided into death and survival groups. The demographic data, physical examination, results of the first echocardiography, laboratory results at admission, complications, drug use and clinical outcomes were obtained from CN-HF. The univariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to screen the variates that might predict prognosis, and then the covariates with statistical significance were included in the multivariate Cox regression model to analyze the predictive value of baseline NT-proBNP on all-cause death. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between NT-proBNP and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), so as to further explore the predictive value of the interaction between renal dysfunction and NT-proBNP on death. Since NT-proBNP did not obey the binary normal distribution, it was expressed by the natural logarithm of NT-proBNP (LnNT-proBNP). Results: A total of 1 846 HFpEF patients were enrolled in this study, with an average age of 71.5 years, 1 017 males(55.1%), median NT-proBNP 860 ng/L, and median eGFR 73.9 ml·min^-1·1.73m^-2. After a median follow-up of 34 months, 213 (11.5%) patients died. Patients in the death group were older, with higher NYHA classification Ⅲ-Ⅳ ratio, longer hospital stay, higher serum potassium and NT-proBNP level, prevalence of complications of diabetes mellitus, arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation, use of angiotensin receptor antagonist(ARB), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), diuretic and digoxin was significantly higher in death group than in survival group. Body mass index (BMI), diastolic blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), hemoglobin, serum cholesterol(TC), serum triglycerides (TG) and eGFR, and use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), statins and aspirin were lower in death group than in survival group. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that NT-proBNP was a predictor of all-cause death in HFpEF patients (HR=2.522, 95%CI 2.040-3.119, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the elevated NT-proBNP remains as the independent predictor of all-cause death in patients with HFpEF (HR=1.230, 95%CI 1.049-1.442, P=0.011) after adjusting for age, BMI, diastolic blood pressure, LVEF, hemoglobin, serum potassium, serum sodium, TC, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), TG, eGFR, atrial fibrillation, as well as the treatment of ACEI/ARB, MRA, diuretics and digoxin. Spearman correlation analysis showed that LnNT-proBNP was negatively correlated with eGFR (r=-0.361, P<0.001), but there was no interaction between NT-proBNP and renal dysfunction in predicting death in HFpEF patients (P>0.05). Conclusion: The elevated level of NT-proBNP at admission is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in HFpEF patients.

[Comparison of various imaging in the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus combined with bland thrombus]

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the clinical and imaging data of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVCTT), and to assess the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound, enhanced computed tomography (CT) and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of RCC with IVCTT combined with bland thrombus was assessed.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and imaging data of 56 RCC patients with IVCTT who underwent radical nephrectomy and IVC thrombectomy between January 2014 and July 2018 in Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital. All the patients underwent US, enhanced CT and enhanced MRI preoperatively, and all the cases were confirmed with RCC with IVCTT by histological evaluation.

RESULTS

The criteria of RCC with IVCTT combined with bland thrombus was confirmed by intraoperative observation and postoperative pathology. The 56 patients were divided into bland thrombus group (n=18) and non bland thrombus group (n=38). Compared the two groups, it was found that the length of IVCTT was longer [(10.50 ± 5.55) cm vs.(6.66 ± 3.73) cm, P=0.014]; the ratio of diameter of IVCTT to maximum coronal diameter of IVC was closer to 1 [1.0 (0.7, 1.0) vs. 0.9 (0.2, 1.0), P=0.004]; the proportion of lower limb edema was higher [66.7(12/8)% vs.5.3%(2/36), P=0.005]；the proportion of segmental resection or interrupt of IVC was higher [66.7%(12/18) vs.15.8%(6/38), P<0.001], with statistical significance. Compared with the three imaging methods of US, enhanced CT and MRI, the highest sensitivity was MRI (77.8%), the highest specificity was enhanced MRI and enhanced CT (97.4%), the highest accuracy was enhanced CT and enhanced MRI (83.9%), the highest positive predictive value was enhanced CT (90.9%) and the highest negative predictive value was enhanced MRI (89.2%).

CONCLUSION

For the patients that RCC with IVCTT combined with bland thrombus, the length of IVCTT is longer, and the ratio of the diameter of IVCTT to the maximum corona diameter of IVC is closer to 1, and more likely to cause lower limb edema. Preoperative comprehensive evaluation of multiple images is needed to improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

Comparison of size-resolved hygroscopic growth factors of urban aerosol by different methods in Tianjin during a haze episode

Size-resolved hygroscopic growth factors of urban aerosol during a haze episode were measured using a Humidified Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (HTDMA) (g_m(RH)). These factors were also derived from size-resolved particulate chemical composition combined with the κ-Köhler theory (g_κ(RH)) and the thermodynamic model ISORROPIA-II running in forward mode (g_iso-f(RH)) and reverse mode (g_iso-r(RH)), respectively. In terms of agreement among these hygroscopic growth factors, g_κ(RH) matched g_m(RH) best, followed by g_iso-r(RH). In contrast, g_iso-f(RH) demonstrated a poorer agreement with g_m(RH). The good consistency among g_m(RH), g_κ(RH), and g_iso-r(RH) was because they only focus on the physical hygroscopic process, whereas g_iso-f(RH) contains not only the direct influence of relative humidity (RH) on particle size but also the influence of gaseous precursor on the particle chemical composition, which indirectly affects the hygroscopicity of the particles. In this sense, size-resolved g_κ(RH) and g_iso-r(RH) in a wide size range are more adequate to investigate the impact of RH on light scattering and aerosol radiative forcing. At RH = 80%, g_κ(RH) for accumulation mode particles was 1.30-1.45 on polluted days and higher than that on clean days (1.2-1.3). Whereas on both polluted and clean days, g_κ(RH) of ultrafine and coarse mode particles were generally lower than 1.25. The strong hygroscopicity of accumulation mode particles observed on polluted days can deteriorate visibility due to their high extinction efficiency.

[Study on the relationship between laparoscopic operation and pseudo vascular invasion in stage Ⅰa endometrial carcinoma]

Objective: To explore relations between pseudo vascular invasion (PVI) and laparoscopic operation in patients with stage Ⅰa endometrial carcinoma. Methods: Details of stage Ⅰa endometrial carcinoma patients' clinical information and pathological sections who received operation treatment between January 2008 and October 2015 were obtained from the Dalian Maternal and Child Health Hospital. There were 515 cases entrolled into this study, including 332 (64.5%) cases performed surgery by laparoscopy and 183 (35.5%) cases undergone abdominal surgery. The vascular invasion rate and the microscopic manifestations of PVI in two groups were retrospectively compared and analyzed. The follow-up period ended February 2017, the adjuvant treatment and prognosis of patients with lympho-vascular space invasion (LVSI) and PVI were analysed. Results: (1) Seventy-five of 515 cases with stage Ⅰa endometrial carcinoma, there were seven-five cases found with tumor cells in lympho-vascular space, including 52 cases of LVSI and 25 cases of PVI (2 cases of both). The incidence of cancer emboli in lympho-vascular space and LVSI in laparoscopic group and laparotomy group were respectively 15.4% (51/332) vs 13.1% (24/183) and 9.6% (32/332) vs 10.9% (20/183), there were no significant differences (all P>0.05). But the rate of PVI between the two group was significantly different [6.3% (21/332) vs 2.2% (4/183), P=0.036], laparoscopic group was higher than that in laparotomy group. (2) Of 332 cases in laparoscopic group, 21 cases was found PVI, containing 8 cases showed tumor tissue with mesenchyme or papillary structures located in large thick wall vessels of the outer lateral myometrium, 13 cases showed the tumor tissue was away from the vessel wall. Among 183 cases in laparotomy group, 3 cases with PVI which the tumor tissue was away from the vessel wall, and 1 with interstitial tissue. (3) During the follow-up period, 7 of 75 cases (both LVSI and PVI) were lost, and 66 cases were relapse-free survival, 2 cases recurred at fifth months and died respectively at 7, 20 months after the operation. This 2 cases were both PVI of laparoscopic group, and the pathological type was endometrioid adenocarcinoma grade 3, and adjuvant treatment was not accepted after the operation. The relapse-free survival with LVSI was 49 months and 46 months for cases with PVI. Conclusion: s Laparoscopic operation could increase PVI in patients with stage Ⅰa endometrial carcinoma, while does not increase LVSI. It is not yet possible to demonstrate that PVI affects the prognosis of patients.

[Value of base excess in predicting the prognosis of patients with paraquat poisoning]

Objective: To explore prognostic factors of acute paraquat poisoning (APP) , analyze the correlation between base excess (BE) and plasma concentration of paraquat (C-PQ) and discuss BE level in evalua-tion of prognosis of acute paraquat poisoning patients. Methods: We retrospectively selected 84 APP patients who admitted to Emergency Intensive Care Unit (EICU) of our hospital from 2009.9.1 to 2015.8.31.Clinical data from 84 APP patients were analyzed. BE、C-PQ、time of gastric lavagesince ingestion、time of hemoperfusion since ingestion、severity index of paraquat poisoning (SIPP) 、white blood cell (WBC) 、percentage of neutrophils (N%) 、hemoglobin (HB) 、creatinine (Cr) 、alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 、aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 、partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)) 、partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO(2)) and other laboratory parameters were measured. A total of 41 patients in non-survivors died during the 30 days after admission and 43 patients in survivors survived during the 30 days. The factors of prognosis in paraquat poisoining and the role of BE in evalu-ating prognosis was analyzed, as well as the correlation between BE and C-PQ. Results: 1.Logistic regression analyses showed BE、C-PQ、ALT、AST、Cr was of prognostic significance[odds ratio (OR) of BE: 0.511, 95%CI 0.267, 0.978; C-PQ:-=0.999, 95%CI 0.999, 1.000; both P<0.05] ; 2.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) of BE、C-PQ and prognosis were 0.775、0.927 respectively, BE≤-1.7 mmol/L was the best cut-off value, the sensitivity、specificity for predicting were 82.9%、62.8%, the evaluation value was lower to C-PQ>3 273.935 ng/ml (AUC 0.927, 78.0%、95.3%) ; 3.BE negative correlated with C-PQ[-1.100 (-4.100, -0.200) , -5.900(-8.650, -2.500) , both P<0.05]. (r=-0.4, P<0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that BE may be useful for the prediction of prognosis in PQ poisoning and BE negative correlated with C-PQ.

The dynamics of caregiving: transitions during a three-year prospective study

This prospective study (n = 476) examined 3 types of caregiving transitions experienced by wives and daughters of older persons: entry, institutionalization, and bereavement. Daughters were more likely to enter the caregiving role than wives, but the impact of entering the role was more pronounced for wives. After becoming a caregiver, wives decreased in their participation in leisure activities, perceptions of quality of family relations, and marital satisfaction. Daughter caregivers were more likely than wives to place their care recipient in an institution, and they increased in social participation and decreased in subjective burden after placement. Roughly the same percentage of wife and daughter caregivers were bereaved during the study period, and for wives bereavement was accompanied by an increase in social involvement and personal growth. The results underscore the highly dynamic nature of the caregiving career and the importance of the kinship relationship between caregiver and care recipient in conditioning the effects of caregiving transitions.

Change in depressive symptoms among daughter caregivers: an 18-month longitudinal study

This longitudinal study investigates, over an 18-month period, the caregiving experience of a probability sample of 115 daughters who provided care to an aging parent. The levels of depressive symptoms manifested by these daughters were relatively low, with only 23.5% scoring in the clinical range during the study. Nevertheless, there was substantive change in depressive symptoms among the daughters during the 18 months. Daughters with higher levels of mastery were more likely to use problem-focused coping strategies, which led to reductions in depression, whereas daughters with lower levels of mastery were more likely to use emotion-focused coping, which led to increased levels of depression. Mastery was higher when the caregiving role was shared with a sibling: it was lower if the daughter had other caregiving responsibilities and if the parent care recipient had elevated levels of behavior problems.

Multiple scattering from gyrotropic bianisotropic cylinders of arbitrary cross sections using the modeling technique

Based on the principle of the equivolumetric model, the multiple scattering from two-dimensional composite gyrotropic bianisotropic cylinders (GBC's) possessing a certain magnetic group of symmetry is studied by using the indirect modeling technique. At first, a mathematical formulation for the problem is carried out and its solution expressed in terms of a system of simultaneous linear equations of infinite order. The normal incident wave can be either TE(z) or TM(z) polarization. The linear equation system is then numerically solved by truncating the infinite series. Its numerical results are obtained and presented to characterize the co- and cross-polarized scattering by some typical composite GBC's. Especially, the multiple interactions among all the modeling cylinders, i.e., the host and guest cylinders as well as the guest and guest cylinders, are examined. Some phenomena of the interactions are found and discussed.

Change in depressive symptoms among daughter caregivers: an 18-month longitudinal study

This longitudinal study investigates, over an 18-month period, the caregiving experience of a probability sample of 115 daughters who provided care to an aging parent. The levels of depressive symptoms manifested by these daughters were relatively low, with only 23.5% scoring in the clinical range during the study. Nevertheless, there was substantive change in depressive symptoms among the daughters during the 18 months. Daughters with higher levels of mastery were more likely to use problem-focused coping strategies, which led to reductions in depression, whereas daughters with lower levels of mastery were more likely to use emotion-focused coping, which led to increased levels of depression. Mastery was higher when the caregiving role was shared with a sibling: it was lower if the daughter had other caregiving responsibilities and if the parent care recipient had elevated levels of behavior problems.

Social support and depressive symptoms: differential patterns in wife and daughter caregivers

This cross-sectional study examined how three types of social support-social participation, emotional support, and caregiving support-were related to depressive symptoms in wives caring for their elderly husband and daughters caring for their elderly parent. We investigated whether different dimensions of social support affect mental health via different mechanisms and whether the context in which the support is needed and received will temper its effects. We found that social participation had a main effect on depressive symptoms for daughters but not for wives. Emotional support buffered the stress emanating from the husband's behavior problems for wives. For daughters, emotional support buffered the stress emanating from both the behavior problems and the ADL/IADL limitations of the parent care recipient. Using caregiving as the example, our data suggested that social support does not have uniform effects; rather, the type of stressor, the type of social support, and the individual context interact to result in the specific effect of support.

The transitions of caregiving: subjective and objective definitions

We examined two indicators of the temporal trajectory of caregiving: (a) duration of caregiving and (b) the perception that caregiving is a new role, an ongoing role, or a role that will end soon. The association between the two depended on the type of onset of the caregiving role (abrupt or gradual) and the type of kinship relationship with the care recipient (wife or daughter). Daughters in later stages of caregiving had a more distant relationship with the care recipient and more subjective burden than daughters in the earlier stages. Wives evidenced the opposite pattern, as those who had been providing care for a longer duration of time reported less burden, and those who perceived themselves to be in the later stages of caregiving reported a closer relationship with their husband.

Differential responsiveness of normal and simian virus 40-transformed BALB/c 3T3 cells to retinoic acid: rapid enhancement of epidermal growth factor receptor binding in a simian virus 40-3T3 variant

The effects of retinoic acid on the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor binding and cell growth of normal and simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed BALB/c 3T3 cells were compared under identical culture conditions. Retinoic acid induced a rapid enhancement of EGF binding to SV40-transformed cells. Half-maximal enhancement occurred at about 7 h after the cells were exposed to 20 ng/ml of retinoic acid, and maximal stimulation (from 2.5- to 3.5-fold over the control) was obtained after 12 h of exposure. The kd of the control and retinoic acid-treated cells was calculated to be 8.0 X 10(-10) M and 8.2 X -10 M, respectively. However, the number of unoccupied EGF binding sites increased from 0.98 X 10(4) to 2.28 X 10(4) per cell. Normal 3T3 cells would not respond to retinoic acid unless they were cultured in serum-containing medium. After 96 h of exposure, only a 50% enhancement of EGF binding was observed. The EGF receptor number of the untreated normal cells was calculated to be 1.82 X 10(4) per cell, twice the number expressed by untreated SV40-transformed cells. The increase of EGF receptor number caused by retinoic acid in SV40-transformed cells was blocked by either actinomycin D or cycloheximide treatment. These results indicated that SV40 transformation of BALB/c 3T3 cells altered the regulatory mechanism governing the complement of cell surface EGF receptors.

Sterol depletion reduces receptor-mediated low-density lipoprotein binding in NS-1 mouse myeloma cells

NS-1 mouse myeloma cells, a cholesterol auxotrophic cell line with a lesion in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway at the demethylation of lanosterol to C-29 sterol, were depleted of cholesterol by incubation in cholesterol-free medium for 24 to 48 h. The low-density lipoprotein receptor activities in untreated and in cholesterol-depleted cells were then compared. The cholesterol-depleted NS-1 cells consistently exhibited a 75 to 90% reduction in receptor-mediated low-density lipoprotein binding compared to untreated cells. The decline of the low-density lipoprotein binding of cholesterol-free medium-incubated NS-1 cells was prevented by addition of free cholesterol or its biosynthetic intermediate, demosterol, to the medium. The addition of lanosterol, an intermediate upstream to the lesion site in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, was completely ineffective. The results indicate that proper membrane cholesterol content is necessary for the maintenance of normal low-density lipoprotein receptor function in NS-1 cells.