Under the new development pattern,promoting the balanced development of the regional life service level is the key to attaining the goal of meeting people’s need for an improved life.This study constructed an index s...Under the new development pattern,promoting the balanced development of the regional life service level is the key to attaining the goal of meeting people’s need for an improved life.This study constructed an index system with six dimensions,namely,economic base,innovation drive,living environment,transportation,public services and life security,and explored the balanced characteristics and obstacles of the life service level in the Yangtze River Delta,China in 2020 using the Gini coefficient,the standard deviation ellipse,the global spatial autocorrelation,the equilibrium entropy and the obstacle degree model.Results show that:1)the current overall level of life services in the Yangtze River Delta is in relative equilibrium,and the Gini coefficient of three dimensions,namely,economic base,innovation drive and life security,is relatively low and on the verge of imbalance.2)The spatial pattern of the six dimensions of the overall level of the life service is oriented toward the‘southeast-northwest’direction with significant spatial differentiation and spatial agglomeration.3)At present,most of the cities have a comparative advantage in the coordination of their life services,and the potential of their life service system shows room for further improvement in the future.4)Currently,the quality of economic development,talent concentration,innovation inputs,innovation outputs,basic education,health care,cultural sharing,the living standards of the urban and rural residents and the construction of a transportation system are the main factors constraining the improvement of the level of life services in the Yangtze River Delta.This study attempts to research on the evaluation and measurement of regional life service level in the new era,and provides a reference for the promotion of regional coordination and sustainable development.展开更多
BACKGROUND The central link between septic shock and acute skin failure(ASF)is the inflammatory response,which occurs throughout disease progression and can lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome.Patients oft...BACKGROUND The central link between septic shock and acute skin failure(ASF)is the inflammatory response,which occurs throughout disease progression and can lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome.Patients often experience bad moods,sleep disorders,and other health issues.Despite recognizing these factors,no studies have examined the correlation between inflammatory factors,lactic acid levels,ASF,mood disturbances,and sleep quality in critically ill patients.We hypothesize that higher levels of inflammatory factors and lactic acid are associated with more severe ASF and poorer mood and sleep quality,which may inform clinical treatment for septic shock and ASF.AIM To explore the relationship between inflammatory factors,lactic acid levels,the severity of ASF,bad mood,and sleep quality.METHODS The retrospective study included 150 patients with septic shock from the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University,categorized into ASF(n=35)or non-ASF groups(n=115).We compared the peripheral blood inflammatory factors,including tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin-6(IL-6),lactic acid levels,skin mottling score(SMS),modified early warning score(MEWS),self-rating depression scale(SDS),self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),and Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)scores.Pearson correlation analysis assessed relationships among these variables.RESULTS The ASF group had significantly higher levels of CRP(19.60±4.10 vs 15.30±2.96 mg/mL),IL-6(298.65±48.65 vs 268.66±33.66 pg/L),procalcitonin,lactic acid(8.42±2.32 vs 5.70±1.27 mmol/L),SMS[0(0,1)vs 3(2,3)],MEWS(9.34±1.92 vs 6.48±1.96),SAS(61.63±12.03 vs 53.71±12.48),SDS(60.17±12.64 vs 52.27±12.64),and PSQI scores(14.23±3.94 vs 8.69±2.46)compared with the non-ASF group(all P<0.001).Pearson correlation analysis revealed that IL-6,CRP,TNF-α,and lactic acid were positively correlated with SMS,MEWS,SAS,SDS,and PSQI scores(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Peripheral blood levels of IL-6,CRP,TNF-α,and lactic acid correlate positively with SMS,MEWS,SAS,SDS,and PSQI in critically ill patients with ASF.展开更多
BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)is the preferred treatment for end-stage liver diseases.Early allograft failure(EAF)can result in death or retransplantation.One of the key factors predicting EAF is the degree of g...BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)is the preferred treatment for end-stage liver diseases.Early allograft failure(EAF)can result in death or retransplantation.One of the key factors predicting EAF is the degree of graft injury,which is typically assessed by elevated alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels.Aminotransferase levels exceeding 5000 U/L within 48 hours of LT are indicative of poor short-term graft survival.AIM To investigate outcomes in liver transplant recipients with peak aminotransferase levels exceeding 5000 U/L and to identify predictors of EAF.METHODS Adult patients who underwent LT from a deceased(brain-dead)donor between 2011 and 2024 at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre were screened.Patients with peak AST or ALT levels>5000 U/L post-LT were included,excluding those with vascular thrombosis.EAF was defined as death or retransplantation within 90 days.A receiver operating characteristic curve were generated for each EAF predictor to determine the area under the curve(AUC).Sensitivity,specificity,negative predictive value,and positive predictive value were calculated for each predictor’s best cutoff,as defined by the Youden Index.Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS Between 2011 and 2024,341 patients underwent LT.Of these,29(8.5%)patients had AST and/or ALT levels exceeding 5000 U/L within the first 48 hours post-LT.Four patients were excluded due to vascular thrombosis,resulting in a study cohort of 25 patients.EAF were also observed in 11 patients.One-year and five-year graft survival rates were 51.7%and 42.6%,respectively.For patients without EAF,one-year and five-year graft survivals were 92.3%and 76.2%,respectively.The key predictors of EAF included serum factor V and arterial lactate levels on postoperative day(POD)1,with AUCs of 0.936 and 0.919,respectively.The optimal cutoff for EAF prediction were 26.2%for serum factor V and 9 mmol/L for arterial lactate.CONCLUSION Aminotransferase levels>5000 U/L were associated with high EAF risk.However,favorable graft function indicators on POD 1 were associated with long-term survival comparable to that of general LT recipients.Serum factor V and arterial lactate levels emerged as valuable prognostic markers.展开更多
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a crucial neurotrophic factor that plays a significant role in brain health. Although the vast majority of meta-analyses have confirmed that exercise interventions can increase bra...Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a crucial neurotrophic factor that plays a significant role in brain health. Although the vast majority of meta-analyses have confirmed that exercise interventions can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents, the effects of specific types of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are still controversial. To address this issue, we used meta-analytic methods to quantitatively evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant studies. Our goals were to formulate general conclusions regarding the use of exercise interventions, explore the physiological mechanisms by which exercise improves brain health and cognitive ability in children and adolescents, and provide a reliable foundation for follow-up research. We used the Pub Med, Web of Science, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley Online Library, Weipu, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases to search for randomized controlled trials examining the influences of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. The extracted data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. According to the inclusion criteria, we assessed randomized controlled trials in which the samples were mainly children and adolescents, and the outcome indicators were measured before and after the intervention. We excluded animal experiments, studies that lacked a control group, and those that did not report quantitative results. The mean difference(MD;before versus after intervention) was used to evaluate the effect of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. Overall, 531 participants(60 children and 471 adolescents, 10.9–16.1 years) were included from 13 randomized controlled trials. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q statistic and I^(2) test provided by Review Manager software. The meta-analysis showed that there was no heterogeneity among the studies(P = 0.67, I^(2) = 0.00%). The combined effect of the interventions was significant(MD = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.53–4.22, P < 0.0001), indicating that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels of the children and adolescents in the exercise group were significantly higher than those in the control group. In conclusion, different types of exercise interventions significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. However, because of the small sample size of this meta-analysis, more high-quality research is needed to verify our conclusions. This metaanalysis was registered at PROSPERO(registration ID: CRD42023439408).展开更多
Objective:To explore the associations between income levels,employment risk,lifestyles,occupational stress,and male fertility.Methods:This cross-sectional study analyzed 294 men seeking fertility treatment at fertilit...Objective:To explore the associations between income levels,employment risk,lifestyles,occupational stress,and male fertility.Methods:This cross-sectional study analyzed 294 men seeking fertility treatment at fertility clinics in Terengganu,Pahang,and Kuala Lumpur from November 2021 to June 2023.Data were collected through structured questionnaires covering income levels,lifestyles,employment risks,occupational stress,and semen quality.Multinomial logistic regression was employed to assess predictors of semen quality,with crude and adjusted odds ratios(OR)reported.Results:The lower-income group exhibited higher odds of having abnormal semen quality compared to normal semen quality.Specifically,these participants were more likely to experience azoospermia[crude OR 6.68,95%confidence interval(CI)1.84-52.63;adjusted OR 6.26,95%CI 1.76-51.38],indicating a link between low income and infertility issues.Lifestyle factors did not show significant associations with semen abnormalities after adjustment.High employment risks had significant associations with oligozoospermia after adjustment(crude OR 5.50,95%CI 2.14-14.11;adjusted OR 5.15,95%CI 1.93-13.71),while high occupational stress was linked to asthenozoospermia(crude OR 2.26,95%CI 1.09-4.68;adjusted OR 2.25,95%CI 1.07-4.69).Conclusions:The findings underscore the influence of socioeconomic and occupational factors on male fertility,showing associations between lower income levels,high-risk occupations,and semen abnormalities.In contrast,lifestyle factors did not show significant associations with semen abnormalities after adjustment.Nevertheless,the current findings should be further confirmed through more extensive studies focusing on abnormal semen and lifestyle factors.展开更多
In recent years,the water level in the Mekong Delta(MD)has undergone changes,attributed to the impacts of anthropogenic activities and climate change.Declining water levels have had implications for various aspects of...In recent years,the water level in the Mekong Delta(MD)has undergone changes,attributed to the impacts of anthropogenic activities and climate change.Declining water levels have had implications for various aspects of life and aquatic ecosystems in the lower basin water bodies.Analyzing long-term trends in rainfall and water levels is crucial for enhancing our understanding.This study aims to examine the evolving patterns of water level and rainfall in the region.Data on water levels and rainfall from observation stations were gathered from the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting,Vietnam,spanning from 2000 to 2014.The assessment of homogeneity and identification of trend changes were conducted using the Standard Normal Homogeneity Test(SNHT)and the Mann-Kendall test.The results indicate that changes in water levels at the Tan Chau and Chau Doc stations have been observed since 2010 due to the operation of flow-regulating structures in the upper Mekong River.Following the commencement of upstream dam operations,the water level at the headwater stations of the Mekong River has been higher than the long-term average during the dry season and lower than the average during the flood season.The study findings highlight the influence of altered rainfall patterns under the impact of climate variability(ICC)on water level trends in the study area.While rainfall plays a significant role in increasing water levels during the flood season,the operation of hydropower dams(UHDs)stands out as the primary factor driving water level reductions in the study area.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the salary status of medical doctors who work in county-level hospitals, and analyze the existing problems. We collected the data from questionnaires and applied both EXCEL and SPSS to ...This study aimed to investigate the salary status of medical doctors who work in county-level hospitals, and analyze the existing problems. We collected the data from questionnaires and applied both EXCEL and SPSS to conduct analysis. Doctors working in county level-hospitals received relatively lower salaries, with 78.5% of the doctors making lower than 5000 RMB per month. Influencing factors for the salary levels included personal factors, attributes of the hospitals, workload and performance appraisal. Reasonable adjustment for the salary levels is needed to refine important elements of salary distribution, and to construct a rational performance appraisal system.展开更多
BACKGROUND Diabetes and its associated microvascular complications,such as nephropathy and retinopathy,significantly impact global health.These complications often begin in the prediabetic stage,emphasizing the import...BACKGROUND Diabetes and its associated microvascular complications,such as nephropathy and retinopathy,significantly impact global health.These complications often begin in the prediabetic stage,emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention.Inflammatory pathways are key contributors to these conditions,and recent research has identified members of the tumor necrosis factor(TNF)receptor superfamily as potential biomarkers.However,their association with renal and retinal dysfunction in individuals with intermediate hyperglycemia(IH)remains underexplored.The Early Prevention of Diabetes Complications(ePREDICE)trial provides a valuable cohort to investigate these associations and improve risk assessment strategies.AIM To identify inflammatory biomarkers associated with early renal and retinal dysfunction in individuals with IH.Specifically,we evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of TNF receptor superfamily members[TNF receptor 1(TNF-R1),TNF receptor 2(TNF-R2)],T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3(TIM-3)/HAVCR2,galectin-3,and interleukin-6(IL-6)in detecting kidney dysfunction and retinopathy in this high-risk population.By understanding their roles,we seek to enhance early screening methods and inform personalized intervention strategies.METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of 967 individuals with IH from the ePREDICE trial was conducted.Participants underwent comprehensive anthropometric and biochemical assessments.Key inflammatory biomarkers,including TNF-R1,TNF-R2,TIM-3/HAVCR2,galectin-3,and IL-6,were quantified using immunoassays.Renal function was assessed using estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)and albuminuria,while retinopathy was evaluated through fundoscopic examination.Statistical analyses included adjusted mean comparisons,correlation studies,and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to assess biomarker diagnostic accuracy.RESULTS TNF-R1,TNF-R2,and TIM-3/HAVCR2 were significantly associated with reduced filtration function(eGFR<60 mL/minute/1.73 m^(2))and albuminuria,with area under the curve(AUC)values between 0.815 and 0.845.TIM-3/HAVCR2 emerged as the strongest predictor of retinopathy(AUC=0.737).Strong correlations(r>0.75)were observed among TNF-R1,TNF-R2,and TIM-3/HAVCR2,suggesting a coordinated role in inflammatory pathways.CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the potential of TNF receptor superfamily members as biomarkers for early-stage renal and retinal complications in individuals with IH.Their integration into clinical screening protocols could facilitate earlier detection,improving patient stratification and personalized management strategies.Further longitudinal studies are necessary to validate their predictive value and potential for guiding therapeutic interventions in IH and early diabetes management.展开更多
AIM: To examine circulating growth factor concentrations in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP), and walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN).
BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia(AML)is a disease in which immature hematopoietic cells accumulate in the bone marrow and continuously expand,inhibiting hematopoiesis.The treatment and prognosis of this disease have ...BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia(AML)is a disease in which immature hematopoietic cells accumulate in the bone marrow and continuously expand,inhibiting hematopoiesis.The treatment and prognosis of this disease have always been unsatisfactory.AIM To investigate the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and transforming growth factor-β1(TGFβ1)expression and prognosis in older adults with AML.METHODS This study enrolled 80 patients with AML(AML group),including 36 with complete response(AML-CR),23 with partial response(AML-PR),and 21 with no response(AML-NR).The expression levels of VEGF and TGFβ1 were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in bone marrow mononuclear cells isolated from 56 healthy controls.Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess overall survival(OS)and progression-or disease-free survival(DFS).Prognostic risk factors were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model.RESULTS The AML group showed a VEGF level of 2.68±0.16.VEGF expression was lower in patients with AML-CR than those with AML-PR or AML-NR(P<0.05).TGFβ1 expression in the AML group was 0.33±0.05.Patients with AML-CR showed a higher TGFβ1 expression than those with AML-PR or AML-NR(P<0.05).VEGF and TGFβ1 expression in patients with AML was significantly correlated with the counts of leukocytes,platelets,hemoglobin,and peripheral blood immature cells(P<0.05);Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with high TGFβ1 expression had better OS and DFS than those with low TGFβ1 expression(P<0.05),whereas patients with low VEGF levels showed better OS and DFS than those with high VEGF levels(P<0.05).VEGF,TGFβ1,and platelet count were identified by the Cox proportional hazards model as independent risk factors for OS(P<0.05),while VEGF,TGFβ1,and white blood cell count were independent risk factors for DFS(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Decreased VEGF expression and increased TGFβ1 expression in patients with AML provide valuable references for determining and individualizing clinical treatment strategies.展开更多
The research concluded peasants＇ willingness on homestead exiting and influential factors by questionnaire survey and interviewing in two villages with varied levels of economic development in Anhui Province.Comparis...The research concluded peasants＇ willingness on homestead exiting and influential factors by questionnaire survey and interviewing in two villages with varied levels of economic development in Anhui Province.Comparisons were performed on subjective factors and objective factors were explored by Logistic regression.The results showed that both of education background and homestead use have positive correlation with peasants＇ willingness on homestead exit;the number of family members has negative effects on peasants in advanced village but the number of migrant workers or members living in cities has positive effects;the area of homestead has positive effects on peasants in underdeveloped village.Therefore,the emphasis should be varied on homestead exit upon village economy and it is necessary to reinforce homestead exit promotion at improving immigrants＇ reception work,social security,employment,and education.展开更多
This paper focuses on the dynamic variation of groundwater level in Lhasacity. According to the data, the obvious characteristic of the groundwater level of the city is thatit is changing seasonally. Lhasa is divided ...This paper focuses on the dynamic variation of groundwater level in Lhasacity. According to the data, the obvious characteristic of the groundwater level of the city is thatit is changing seasonally. Lhasa is divided into three districts according to hydrogeologicalconditions: the alluvial plain of the Lhasa-river, the alluvial plain of the Doilung-river, and thealluvial fan of inter mountain, which presents a downward trend, a slight upward trend and basicallystabilizing trend over the years individually. The analysis indicates that meteorological andhydrological factors lead to the obvious dynamic change of the groundwater level. However, more andmore human activities and over-exploitation of the groundwater cause the downward trend inthegroundwater level.展开更多
Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor-C （VEGF-C） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） levels in patients with colorectal carcinoma were determined in order to assess their clinical significance a...Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor-C （VEGF-C） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） levels in patients with colorectal carcinoma were determined in order to assess their clinical significance as a diagnostic tool for monitoring lymph node metastasis. In 66 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 30 healthy controls, circulating VEGF-C and VEGF levels were assessed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Serum VEGF-C and VEGF levels were higher in patients with colorectal carcinoma than in healthy controls. Patients with lymph node metastasis had higher serum VEGF-C and VEGF levels than those without lymph node metastasis. The levels of VEGF-C and VEGF were higher in the invasion group than in the non-invasion group. Serum VEGF-C levels reached a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 76 % with a cutoff value of 1438.0 pg/mL, whereas VEGF levels reached 72 % sensitivity and 74 % specificity at 240.2 pg/ mL. If 66 patients were divided into 4 groups according to the combined determination of VEGF-C and VEGF levels, the positive predictive value was 85.3 %, the negative predictive value was 94.6 %, and accuracy was 93.7 %. It was suggested that circulating VEGF-C levels might provide additional information for distinguishing the absence from presence of lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal carcinoma. The combined determination of VEGF-C and VEGF levels could be used as an important index for preoperatively clinical stage of colorectal carcinoma.展开更多
AIM：To detect the impact of insulin-like growth factor-1（IGF-1）and other risk factors for the early prediction of retinopathy of prematurity（ROP）and to establish a scoring system for ROP prediction by using clini...AIM：To detect the impact of insulin-like growth factor-1（IGF-1）and other risk factors for the early prediction of retinopathy of prematurity（ROP）and to establish a scoring system for ROP prediction by using clinical criteria and serum IGF-1 levels.METHODS：The study was conducted with 127 preterm infants.IGF-1 levels in the 1st day of life,1st,2nd,3rd and4th week of life was analyzed.The score was established after logistic regression analysis,considering the impact of each variable on the occurrences of any stage ROP.A validation cohort containing 107 preterm infants was included in the study and the predictive ability of ROP score was calculated.RESULTS：Birth weights（BW）,gestational weeks（GW）and the prevalence of breast milk consumption were lower,respiratory distress syndrome（RDS）,bronchopulmonarydysplasia（BPD）and necrotizing enterocolitis（NEC）were more frequent,the duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen supplementation was longer in patients with ROP（P〈0.05）.Initial serum IGF-1 levels tended to be lower in newborns who developed ROP.Logistic regression analysis revealed that low BW（〈1250 g）,presence of intraventricular hemorrhage（IVH）and formula feeding increased the risk of ROP.Afterwards,the scoring system was validated on 107 infants.The negative predictive values of a score less than 4 were 84.3%,74.7%and 79.8%while positive predictive values were 76.3%,65.5%and71.6%respectively.CONCLUSION：In addition to BW〈1250 g and IVH,formula consumption was detected as a risk factor for the development of ROP.Breastfeeding is important for prevention of ROP in preterm infants.展开更多
In this study, we searched multiple databases for all relevant original articles (1996-2013). To investigate blood lead levels (BLL) and possible risk factors for lead exposure among children in China A total of 388 a...In this study, we searched multiple databases for all relevant original articles (1996-2013). To investigate blood lead levels (BLL) and possible risk factors for lead exposure among children in China A total of 388 articles met our inclusion criteria. The overall geometric mean (GM) BLL was 71 μg/L, and the prevalence of elevated BLL (EBLL, defined as BLL ≥100 μg/L) was 18.48% among children. The prevalence of EBLL remained significantly higher among boys. In children less than 6 years of age, there were significantly increasing trends in both BLL and prevalence of EBLL in an age-dependent manner. The ban on leaded gasoline significantly reduced the BLL as well as EBLL prevalence; however, children whose parents had lower educational levels or were exposed to lead in the workplace had a higher EBLL prevalence. Despite its decline over time, the average BLL among children in China remains higher than the average level most recently reported in the United States. Childhood lead poisoning remains a public health problem in China.展开更多
Objective: To study the potential role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the development of chronic virus hepatitis B (CH) and hepatitis cir...Objective: To study the potential role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the development of chronic virus hepatitis B (CH) and hepatitis cirrhosis (HC). Methods: The serum concentrations of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 in 18 patients with chronic virus hepatitis B and in 14 patients with hepatitis cirrhosis without as- citic fluid, and the serum and ascites cytokine con- centrations in 22 HC patients with ascitic fluid were detected by enzyme linked immunity sorbed assay. Results: The cytokine concentrations of the patients were significantly higher than those of the controls. The serum levels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 of the 22 patients with ascitic fluid were higer than those of 14 HC patients without ascites. In the 18 patients with CH, the serum cytokine concentrations were the low- est. The serum cytokine concentrations of the 22 HC patients with ascites were significantly higher than those of the 14 HC patients without ascites (P< 0. 01). Their serum cytokine concentrations were sig- nificantly higher than those in the 18 patients with CH (P<0. 01). The concentration of IL-6 in ascites was the highest among all the groups. The serum le- vels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 are correlated with al- anine aminotransferase (ALT) in the patients with CH, but not in those with HC with or without asci- tes. Conclusions: These results indicated that MIF, TNF- α and IL-6 may participate in the pathological process of CH and cirrhosis, that IL-6 seems to play an important role in ascites formation, and that se- rum levels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 appear to reflect the severity of tissue injury in HBV disease.展开更多
Water level variations have caused numerous dam slope collapse disasters around the world,illustrating the large influence of water level fluctuations on dam slopes.The required indoor tests were conducted and a numer...Water level variations have caused numerous dam slope collapse disasters around the world,illustrating the large influence of water level fluctuations on dam slopes.The required indoor tests were conducted and a numerical model of an actual earth-filled dam was constructed to investigate the influences of the water level fluctuation rate and the hysteresis of the soil-water characteristic curve(SWCC)on the stability of the upstream dam slope.The results revealed that the free surface in the dam body for the desorption SWCC during water level fluctuations was higher than that for the adsorption SWCC,which would be more evident at higher water levels.The safety factor of the upstream dam slope initially decreased and then increased for the most dangerous water level as the water level rose and fell.The water level fluctuation rate mainly influenced the initial section of the safety factor variation curve,while the SWCC hysteresis mainly affected the minimum safety factor of the water level fluctuations.The desorption SWCC is suggested for engineering design.Furthermore,a quick prediction method is proposed to estimate the safety factor of upstream dam slopes with identical structures.展开更多
BACKGROUND The incidence of chronic wounds is rising due to an aging population and lifestyle changes in our country.In addition,as the disease spectrum evolves,chronic wounds have become common clinical issues that s...BACKGROUND The incidence of chronic wounds is rising due to an aging population and lifestyle changes in our country.In addition,as the disease spectrum evolves,chronic wounds have become common clinical issues that seriously threaten health and impose significant social and economic burdens.AIM To investigate how depression,anxiety,peripheral blood inflammatory factors,and stress levels affect therapeutic outcomes in patients with chronic wounds.METHODS Retrospectively collected clinical data from 110 patients with chronic wounds treated at Changde Hospital,Xiangya School of Medicine,Central South University(The First People’s Hospital of Changde City)between January 2021 and December 2023,categorizing them into effective and ineffective groups based on treatment effects.Differences between both groups were analyzed using univariate analysis,independent risk factors identified via logistic regression,and their predictive value assessed through receiver operating characteristic analysis.RESULTS Following treatment,95 cases were classified as the effective group(cured or improved),while 15 cases with improvement formed the ineffective group.Significant differences between both groups were noted in wound area,infection status,daily bed time,Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAMA)scores,Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD)scores,and levels of interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-alpha,and superoxide dismutase(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis identified a wound area≥7 cm^(2),HAMA≥9 scores,and HAMD≥8 scores were independent risk factors for ineffective treatment in patients with chronic wounds(P<0.05).The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve for ineffective treatment based on wound area,HAMA,and HAMD was 0.767,0.805,and 0.768 respectively.CONCLUSION Wound size,anxiety,and depression are significant factors influencing the therapeutic outcomes in patients with chronic wounds that require careful attention,alongside the development of appropriate strategies.展开更多
Traumatic brain injury（TBI） can result in poor functional outcomes and death, and overall outcomes are varied. Growth factors, such as angiopoietin-1（Ang-1）, vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）, and granulo...Traumatic brain injury（TBI） can result in poor functional outcomes and death, and overall outcomes are varied. Growth factors, such as angiopoietin-1（Ang-1）, vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）, and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor（G-CSF）, play important roles in the neurological functions. This study investigated the relationship between serum growth factor levels and long-term outcomes after TBI. Blood samples from 55 patients were collected at 1, 3 and 7 days after TBI. Blood samples from 39 healthy controls were collected as a control group. Serum Ang-1, G-CSF, and VEGF levels were measured using ELISA. Patients were monitored for 3 months using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended（GOSE）. Patients having a GOSE score of 〉 5 at 3 months were categorized as a good outcome, and patients with a GOSE score of 1-5 were categorized as a bad outcome. Our data demonstrated that TBI patients showed significantly increased growth factor levels within 7 days compared with healthy controls. Serum levels of Ang-1 at 1 and 7 days and G-CSF levels at 7 days were significantly higher in patients with good outcomes than in patients with poor outcomes. VEGF levels at 7 days were remarkably higher in patients with poor outcomes than in patients with good outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the best cut-off points of serum growth factor levels at 7 days to predict functional outcome were 1,333 pg/mL for VEGF, 447.2 pg/mL for G-CSF, and 90.6 ng/mL for Ang-1. These data suggest that patients with elevated levels of serum Ang-1, G-CSF, and decreased VEGF levels had a better prognosis in the acute phase of TBI（within 7 days）. This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry（registration number： ChiCTR1800018251） on September 7, 2018.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Studies have demonstrated that experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE） onset correlates with increased interferon-v （IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） expression. Oxymatrine （OM...BACKGROUND： Studies have demonstrated that experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE） onset correlates with increased interferon-v （IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） expression. Oxymatrine （OM） has been shown to inhibit autoimmune responses, but there are no reports showing that it could prevent the development of EAE. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of OM on serum levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in a rat model of EAE.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal study was performed at the Experimental Animal Center of Henan Academy of Chinese Medicine and at the Key Disciplines Laboratory Clinical Medicine of Henan Province between July and December 2008. MATERIALS： OM was purchased from Chia-tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical, China; complete Freund＇s adjuvant was purchased from Sigma, USA. METHODS： Forty female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups： EAE model （M）, low-dose OM treatment （OM-L）, high-dose OM treatment （OM-H）, and normal control （N, no immunization）, with 10 rats in each group. EAE was established in the M, OM-L, and OM-H groups following immunization with Guinea pig spinal cord homogenate and complete Freund＇s adjuvant. The M and N groups were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline （6.7 mL/kg per day）, the OM-L group received an intraperitoneal injection of OM （100 mg/kg per day）, and the OM-H group received OM （150 mg/kg per day）. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At 16 days after immunization, the degree of histopathological changes in the spinal cord was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin stanining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum levels of IFN-γ, and radioimmunoassay was utilized to determine serum TNF-α level. Neurological scores were measured on a daily basis according to a 0-5 scale. RESULTS： Daily injections of OM, both high and low doses, resulted in decreased neurological scores in EAE rats （P〈0.01）, as well as reduced cellular infiltration in the spinal cord and decreased levels of serum IFN-γ and TNF-α （P〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： OM reduced the onset and severity of EAE, which correlated with decreased IFN-γ and TNF-α expression.展开更多
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42371185)。
文摘Under the new development pattern,promoting the balanced development of the regional life service level is the key to attaining the goal of meeting people’s need for an improved life.This study constructed an index system with six dimensions,namely,economic base,innovation drive,living environment,transportation,public services and life security,and explored the balanced characteristics and obstacles of the life service level in the Yangtze River Delta,China in 2020 using the Gini coefficient,the standard deviation ellipse,the global spatial autocorrelation,the equilibrium entropy and the obstacle degree model.Results show that:1)the current overall level of life services in the Yangtze River Delta is in relative equilibrium,and the Gini coefficient of three dimensions,namely,economic base,innovation drive and life security,is relatively low and on the verge of imbalance.2)The spatial pattern of the six dimensions of the overall level of the life service is oriented toward the‘southeast-northwest’direction with significant spatial differentiation and spatial agglomeration.3)At present,most of the cities have a comparative advantage in the coordination of their life services,and the potential of their life service system shows room for further improvement in the future.4)Currently,the quality of economic development,talent concentration,innovation inputs,innovation outputs,basic education,health care,cultural sharing,the living standards of the urban and rural residents and the construction of a transportation system are the main factors constraining the improvement of the level of life services in the Yangtze River Delta.This study attempts to research on the evaluation and measurement of regional life service level in the new era,and provides a reference for the promotion of regional coordination and sustainable development.
文摘BACKGROUND The central link between septic shock and acute skin failure(ASF)is the inflammatory response,which occurs throughout disease progression and can lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome.Patients often experience bad moods,sleep disorders,and other health issues.Despite recognizing these factors,no studies have examined the correlation between inflammatory factors,lactic acid levels,ASF,mood disturbances,and sleep quality in critically ill patients.We hypothesize that higher levels of inflammatory factors and lactic acid are associated with more severe ASF and poorer mood and sleep quality,which may inform clinical treatment for septic shock and ASF.AIM To explore the relationship between inflammatory factors,lactic acid levels,the severity of ASF,bad mood,and sleep quality.METHODS The retrospective study included 150 patients with septic shock from the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University,categorized into ASF(n=35)or non-ASF groups(n=115).We compared the peripheral blood inflammatory factors,including tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin-6(IL-6),lactic acid levels,skin mottling score(SMS),modified early warning score(MEWS),self-rating depression scale(SDS),self-rating anxiety scale(SAS),and Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)scores.Pearson correlation analysis assessed relationships among these variables.RESULTS The ASF group had significantly higher levels of CRP(19.60±4.10 vs 15.30±2.96 mg/mL),IL-6(298.65±48.65 vs 268.66±33.66 pg/L),procalcitonin,lactic acid(8.42±2.32 vs 5.70±1.27 mmol/L),SMS[0(0,1)vs 3(2,3)],MEWS(9.34±1.92 vs 6.48±1.96),SAS(61.63±12.03 vs 53.71±12.48),SDS(60.17±12.64 vs 52.27±12.64),and PSQI scores(14.23±3.94 vs 8.69±2.46)compared with the non-ASF group(all P<0.001).Pearson correlation analysis revealed that IL-6,CRP,TNF-α,and lactic acid were positively correlated with SMS,MEWS,SAS,SDS,and PSQI scores(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Peripheral blood levels of IL-6,CRP,TNF-α,and lactic acid correlate positively with SMS,MEWS,SAS,SDS,and PSQI in critically ill patients with ASF.
基金Supported by Financiamento e IncentivoàPesquisa of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre,No.170271.
文摘BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)is the preferred treatment for end-stage liver diseases.Early allograft failure(EAF)can result in death or retransplantation.One of the key factors predicting EAF is the degree of graft injury,which is typically assessed by elevated alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels.Aminotransferase levels exceeding 5000 U/L within 48 hours of LT are indicative of poor short-term graft survival.AIM To investigate outcomes in liver transplant recipients with peak aminotransferase levels exceeding 5000 U/L and to identify predictors of EAF.METHODS Adult patients who underwent LT from a deceased(brain-dead)donor between 2011 and 2024 at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre were screened.Patients with peak AST or ALT levels>5000 U/L post-LT were included,excluding those with vascular thrombosis.EAF was defined as death or retransplantation within 90 days.A receiver operating characteristic curve were generated for each EAF predictor to determine the area under the curve(AUC).Sensitivity,specificity,negative predictive value,and positive predictive value were calculated for each predictor’s best cutoff,as defined by the Youden Index.Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS Between 2011 and 2024,341 patients underwent LT.Of these,29(8.5%)patients had AST and/or ALT levels exceeding 5000 U/L within the first 48 hours post-LT.Four patients were excluded due to vascular thrombosis,resulting in a study cohort of 25 patients.EAF were also observed in 11 patients.One-year and five-year graft survival rates were 51.7%and 42.6%,respectively.For patients without EAF,one-year and five-year graft survivals were 92.3%and 76.2%,respectively.The key predictors of EAF included serum factor V and arterial lactate levels on postoperative day(POD)1,with AUCs of 0.936 and 0.919,respectively.The optimal cutoff for EAF prediction were 26.2%for serum factor V and 9 mmol/L for arterial lactate.CONCLUSION Aminotransferase levels>5000 U/L were associated with high EAF risk.However,favorable graft function indicators on POD 1 were associated with long-term survival comparable to that of general LT recipients.Serum factor V and arterial lactate levels emerged as valuable prognostic markers.
基金supported by the STI 2030-Major Projects,No. 2021ZD0200500 (to XS)。
文摘Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a crucial neurotrophic factor that plays a significant role in brain health. Although the vast majority of meta-analyses have confirmed that exercise interventions can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents, the effects of specific types of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are still controversial. To address this issue, we used meta-analytic methods to quantitatively evaluate, analyze, and integrate relevant studies. Our goals were to formulate general conclusions regarding the use of exercise interventions, explore the physiological mechanisms by which exercise improves brain health and cognitive ability in children and adolescents, and provide a reliable foundation for follow-up research. We used the Pub Med, Web of Science, Science Direct, Springer, Wiley Online Library, Weipu, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases to search for randomized controlled trials examining the influences of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. The extracted data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.3. According to the inclusion criteria, we assessed randomized controlled trials in which the samples were mainly children and adolescents, and the outcome indicators were measured before and after the intervention. We excluded animal experiments, studies that lacked a control group, and those that did not report quantitative results. The mean difference(MD;before versus after intervention) was used to evaluate the effect of exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. Overall, 531 participants(60 children and 471 adolescents, 10.9–16.1 years) were included from 13 randomized controlled trials. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the Q statistic and I^(2) test provided by Review Manager software. The meta-analysis showed that there was no heterogeneity among the studies(P = 0.67, I^(2) = 0.00%). The combined effect of the interventions was significant(MD = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.53–4.22, P < 0.0001), indicating that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels of the children and adolescents in the exercise group were significantly higher than those in the control group. In conclusion, different types of exercise interventions significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in children and adolescents. However, because of the small sample size of this meta-analysis, more high-quality research is needed to verify our conclusions. This metaanalysis was registered at PROSPERO(registration ID: CRD42023439408).
基金supported by Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education through the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme(FRGS)under the reference code FRGS/1/2020/SS0/UMT/02/3 and vote number 59637.
文摘Objective:To explore the associations between income levels,employment risk,lifestyles,occupational stress,and male fertility.Methods:This cross-sectional study analyzed 294 men seeking fertility treatment at fertility clinics in Terengganu,Pahang,and Kuala Lumpur from November 2021 to June 2023.Data were collected through structured questionnaires covering income levels,lifestyles,employment risks,occupational stress,and semen quality.Multinomial logistic regression was employed to assess predictors of semen quality,with crude and adjusted odds ratios(OR)reported.Results:The lower-income group exhibited higher odds of having abnormal semen quality compared to normal semen quality.Specifically,these participants were more likely to experience azoospermia[crude OR 6.68,95%confidence interval(CI)1.84-52.63;adjusted OR 6.26,95%CI 1.76-51.38],indicating a link between low income and infertility issues.Lifestyle factors did not show significant associations with semen abnormalities after adjustment.High employment risks had significant associations with oligozoospermia after adjustment(crude OR 5.50,95%CI 2.14-14.11;adjusted OR 5.15,95%CI 1.93-13.71),while high occupational stress was linked to asthenozoospermia(crude OR 2.26,95%CI 1.09-4.68;adjusted OR 2.25,95%CI 1.07-4.69).Conclusions:The findings underscore the influence of socioeconomic and occupational factors on male fertility,showing associations between lower income levels,high-risk occupations,and semen abnormalities.In contrast,lifestyle factors did not show significant associations with semen abnormalities after adjustment.Nevertheless,the current findings should be further confirmed through more extensive studies focusing on abnormal semen and lifestyle factors.
基金funded by the University of Science,VNU-HCM under grant number T2022-10 project entitled“Water level variability in the Mekong Delta under the impacts of anthropogenic and climatic factors”.
文摘In recent years,the water level in the Mekong Delta(MD)has undergone changes,attributed to the impacts of anthropogenic activities and climate change.Declining water levels have had implications for various aspects of life and aquatic ecosystems in the lower basin water bodies.Analyzing long-term trends in rainfall and water levels is crucial for enhancing our understanding.This study aims to examine the evolving patterns of water level and rainfall in the region.Data on water levels and rainfall from observation stations were gathered from the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting,Vietnam,spanning from 2000 to 2014.The assessment of homogeneity and identification of trend changes were conducted using the Standard Normal Homogeneity Test(SNHT)and the Mann-Kendall test.The results indicate that changes in water levels at the Tan Chau and Chau Doc stations have been observed since 2010 due to the operation of flow-regulating structures in the upper Mekong River.Following the commencement of upstream dam operations,the water level at the headwater stations of the Mekong River has been higher than the long-term average during the dry season and lower than the average during the flood season.The study findings highlight the influence of altered rainfall patterns under the impact of climate variability(ICC)on water level trends in the study area.While rainfall plays a significant role in increasing water levels during the flood season,the operation of hydropower dams(UHDs)stands out as the primary factor driving water level reductions in the study area.
文摘This study aimed to investigate the salary status of medical doctors who work in county-level hospitals, and analyze the existing problems. We collected the data from questionnaires and applied both EXCEL and SPSS to conduct analysis. Doctors working in county level-hospitals received relatively lower salaries, with 78.5% of the doctors making lower than 5000 RMB per month. Influencing factors for the salary levels included personal factors, attributes of the hospitals, workload and performance appraisal. Reasonable adjustment for the salary levels is needed to refine important elements of salary distribution, and to construct a rational performance appraisal system.
基金Supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos Ⅲ(ISCⅢ)Through the Project Co-Funded by the European Union,No.PI20-00487,No.PI23-00119 and No.PI24-01630.
文摘BACKGROUND Diabetes and its associated microvascular complications,such as nephropathy and retinopathy,significantly impact global health.These complications often begin in the prediabetic stage,emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention.Inflammatory pathways are key contributors to these conditions,and recent research has identified members of the tumor necrosis factor(TNF)receptor superfamily as potential biomarkers.However,their association with renal and retinal dysfunction in individuals with intermediate hyperglycemia(IH)remains underexplored.The Early Prevention of Diabetes Complications(ePREDICE)trial provides a valuable cohort to investigate these associations and improve risk assessment strategies.AIM To identify inflammatory biomarkers associated with early renal and retinal dysfunction in individuals with IH.Specifically,we evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of TNF receptor superfamily members[TNF receptor 1(TNF-R1),TNF receptor 2(TNF-R2)],T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3(TIM-3)/HAVCR2,galectin-3,and interleukin-6(IL-6)in detecting kidney dysfunction and retinopathy in this high-risk population.By understanding their roles,we seek to enhance early screening methods and inform personalized intervention strategies.METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of 967 individuals with IH from the ePREDICE trial was conducted.Participants underwent comprehensive anthropometric and biochemical assessments.Key inflammatory biomarkers,including TNF-R1,TNF-R2,TIM-3/HAVCR2,galectin-3,and IL-6,were quantified using immunoassays.Renal function was assessed using estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)and albuminuria,while retinopathy was evaluated through fundoscopic examination.Statistical analyses included adjusted mean comparisons,correlation studies,and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to assess biomarker diagnostic accuracy.RESULTS TNF-R1,TNF-R2,and TIM-3/HAVCR2 were significantly associated with reduced filtration function(eGFR<60 mL/minute/1.73 m^(2))and albuminuria,with area under the curve(AUC)values between 0.815 and 0.845.TIM-3/HAVCR2 emerged as the strongest predictor of retinopathy(AUC=0.737).Strong correlations(r>0.75)were observed among TNF-R1,TNF-R2,and TIM-3/HAVCR2,suggesting a coordinated role in inflammatory pathways.CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the potential of TNF receptor superfamily members as biomarkers for early-stage renal and retinal complications in individuals with IH.Their integration into clinical screening protocols could facilitate earlier detection,improving patient stratification and personalized management strategies.Further longitudinal studies are necessary to validate their predictive value and potential for guiding therapeutic interventions in IH and early diabetes management.
基金Supported by Medical University of Gdansk Grants ST-43,ST-40 and ST-41 and Polpharma(Starogard Gdanski)
文摘AIM: To examine circulating growth factor concentrations in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP), and walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN).
基金the Ethic Committee of Suzhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University(Approval No.C2024003).
文摘BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia(AML)is a disease in which immature hematopoietic cells accumulate in the bone marrow and continuously expand,inhibiting hematopoiesis.The treatment and prognosis of this disease have always been unsatisfactory.AIM To investigate the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and transforming growth factor-β1(TGFβ1)expression and prognosis in older adults with AML.METHODS This study enrolled 80 patients with AML(AML group),including 36 with complete response(AML-CR),23 with partial response(AML-PR),and 21 with no response(AML-NR).The expression levels of VEGF and TGFβ1 were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in bone marrow mononuclear cells isolated from 56 healthy controls.Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess overall survival(OS)and progression-or disease-free survival(DFS).Prognostic risk factors were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model.RESULTS The AML group showed a VEGF level of 2.68±0.16.VEGF expression was lower in patients with AML-CR than those with AML-PR or AML-NR(P<0.05).TGFβ1 expression in the AML group was 0.33±0.05.Patients with AML-CR showed a higher TGFβ1 expression than those with AML-PR or AML-NR(P<0.05).VEGF and TGFβ1 expression in patients with AML was significantly correlated with the counts of leukocytes,platelets,hemoglobin,and peripheral blood immature cells(P<0.05);Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with high TGFβ1 expression had better OS and DFS than those with low TGFβ1 expression(P<0.05),whereas patients with low VEGF levels showed better OS and DFS than those with high VEGF levels(P<0.05).VEGF,TGFβ1,and platelet count were identified by the Cox proportional hazards model as independent risk factors for OS(P<0.05),while VEGF,TGFβ1,and white blood cell count were independent risk factors for DFS(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Decreased VEGF expression and increased TGFβ1 expression in patients with AML provide valuable references for determining and individualizing clinical treatment strategies.
文摘The research concluded peasants＇ willingness on homestead exiting and influential factors by questionnaire survey and interviewing in two villages with varied levels of economic development in Anhui Province.Comparisons were performed on subjective factors and objective factors were explored by Logistic regression.The results showed that both of education background and homestead use have positive correlation with peasants＇ willingness on homestead exit;the number of family members has negative effects on peasants in advanced village but the number of migrant workers or members living in cities has positive effects;the area of homestead has positive effects on peasants in underdeveloped village.Therefore,the emphasis should be varied on homestead exit upon village economy and it is necessary to reinforce homestead exit promotion at improving immigrants＇ reception work,social security,employment,and education.
文摘This paper focuses on the dynamic variation of groundwater level in Lhasacity. According to the data, the obvious characteristic of the groundwater level of the city is thatit is changing seasonally. Lhasa is divided into three districts according to hydrogeologicalconditions: the alluvial plain of the Lhasa-river, the alluvial plain of the Doilung-river, and thealluvial fan of inter mountain, which presents a downward trend, a slight upward trend and basicallystabilizing trend over the years individually. The analysis indicates that meteorological andhydrological factors lead to the obvious dynamic change of the groundwater level. However, more andmore human activities and over-exploitation of the groundwater cause the downward trend inthegroundwater level.
文摘Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor-C （VEGF-C） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） levels in patients with colorectal carcinoma were determined in order to assess their clinical significance as a diagnostic tool for monitoring lymph node metastasis. In 66 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 30 healthy controls, circulating VEGF-C and VEGF levels were assessed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Serum VEGF-C and VEGF levels were higher in patients with colorectal carcinoma than in healthy controls. Patients with lymph node metastasis had higher serum VEGF-C and VEGF levels than those without lymph node metastasis. The levels of VEGF-C and VEGF were higher in the invasion group than in the non-invasion group. Serum VEGF-C levels reached a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 76 % with a cutoff value of 1438.0 pg/mL, whereas VEGF levels reached 72 % sensitivity and 74 % specificity at 240.2 pg/ mL. If 66 patients were divided into 4 groups according to the combined determination of VEGF-C and VEGF levels, the positive predictive value was 85.3 %, the negative predictive value was 94.6 %, and accuracy was 93.7 %. It was suggested that circulating VEGF-C levels might provide additional information for distinguishing the absence from presence of lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal carcinoma. The combined determination of VEGF-C and VEGF levels could be used as an important index for preoperatively clinical stage of colorectal carcinoma.
文摘AIM：To detect the impact of insulin-like growth factor-1（IGF-1）and other risk factors for the early prediction of retinopathy of prematurity（ROP）and to establish a scoring system for ROP prediction by using clinical criteria and serum IGF-1 levels.METHODS：The study was conducted with 127 preterm infants.IGF-1 levels in the 1st day of life,1st,2nd,3rd and4th week of life was analyzed.The score was established after logistic regression analysis,considering the impact of each variable on the occurrences of any stage ROP.A validation cohort containing 107 preterm infants was included in the study and the predictive ability of ROP score was calculated.RESULTS：Birth weights（BW）,gestational weeks（GW）and the prevalence of breast milk consumption were lower,respiratory distress syndrome（RDS）,bronchopulmonarydysplasia（BPD）and necrotizing enterocolitis（NEC）were more frequent,the duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen supplementation was longer in patients with ROP（P〈0.05）.Initial serum IGF-1 levels tended to be lower in newborns who developed ROP.Logistic regression analysis revealed that low BW（〈1250 g）,presence of intraventricular hemorrhage（IVH）and formula feeding increased the risk of ROP.Afterwards,the scoring system was validated on 107 infants.The negative predictive values of a score less than 4 were 84.3%,74.7%and 79.8%while positive predictive values were 76.3%,65.5%and71.6%respectively.CONCLUSION：In addition to BW〈1250 g and IVH,formula consumption was detected as a risk factor for the development of ROP.Breastfeeding is important for prevention of ROP in preterm infants.
基金supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81172628)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2014305020201)
文摘In this study, we searched multiple databases for all relevant original articles (1996-2013). To investigate blood lead levels (BLL) and possible risk factors for lead exposure among children in China A total of 388 articles met our inclusion criteria. The overall geometric mean (GM) BLL was 71 μg/L, and the prevalence of elevated BLL (EBLL, defined as BLL ≥100 μg/L) was 18.48% among children. The prevalence of EBLL remained significantly higher among boys. In children less than 6 years of age, there were significantly increasing trends in both BLL and prevalence of EBLL in an age-dependent manner. The ban on leaded gasoline significantly reduced the BLL as well as EBLL prevalence; however, children whose parents had lower educational levels or were exposed to lead in the workplace had a higher EBLL prevalence. Despite its decline over time, the average BLL among children in China remains higher than the average level most recently reported in the United States. Childhood lead poisoning remains a public health problem in China.
文摘Objective: To study the potential role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the development of chronic virus hepatitis B (CH) and hepatitis cirrhosis (HC). Methods: The serum concentrations of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 in 18 patients with chronic virus hepatitis B and in 14 patients with hepatitis cirrhosis without as- citic fluid, and the serum and ascites cytokine con- centrations in 22 HC patients with ascitic fluid were detected by enzyme linked immunity sorbed assay. Results: The cytokine concentrations of the patients were significantly higher than those of the controls. The serum levels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 of the 22 patients with ascitic fluid were higer than those of 14 HC patients without ascites. In the 18 patients with CH, the serum cytokine concentrations were the low- est. The serum cytokine concentrations of the 22 HC patients with ascites were significantly higher than those of the 14 HC patients without ascites (P< 0. 01). Their serum cytokine concentrations were sig- nificantly higher than those in the 18 patients with CH (P<0. 01). The concentration of IL-6 in ascites was the highest among all the groups. The serum le- vels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 are correlated with al- anine aminotransferase (ALT) in the patients with CH, but not in those with HC with or without asci- tes. Conclusions: These results indicated that MIF, TNF- α and IL-6 may participate in the pathological process of CH and cirrhosis, that IL-6 seems to play an important role in ascites formation, and that se- rum levels of MIF, TNF-α and IL-6 appear to reflect the severity of tissue injury in HBV disease.
基金funded by the Key R&D Program of Science and Technology Bureau of Shangluo City(Grant No.2020-Z-0111)Scientific Research Program of Science and Technology Department of Shaanxi Province(Grant No.2021JQ-844).
文摘Water level variations have caused numerous dam slope collapse disasters around the world,illustrating the large influence of water level fluctuations on dam slopes.The required indoor tests were conducted and a numerical model of an actual earth-filled dam was constructed to investigate the influences of the water level fluctuation rate and the hysteresis of the soil-water characteristic curve(SWCC)on the stability of the upstream dam slope.The results revealed that the free surface in the dam body for the desorption SWCC during water level fluctuations was higher than that for the adsorption SWCC,which would be more evident at higher water levels.The safety factor of the upstream dam slope initially decreased and then increased for the most dangerous water level as the water level rose and fell.The water level fluctuation rate mainly influenced the initial section of the safety factor variation curve,while the SWCC hysteresis mainly affected the minimum safety factor of the water level fluctuations.The desorption SWCC is suggested for engineering design.Furthermore,a quick prediction method is proposed to estimate the safety factor of upstream dam slopes with identical structures.
文摘BACKGROUND The incidence of chronic wounds is rising due to an aging population and lifestyle changes in our country.In addition,as the disease spectrum evolves,chronic wounds have become common clinical issues that seriously threaten health and impose significant social and economic burdens.AIM To investigate how depression,anxiety,peripheral blood inflammatory factors,and stress levels affect therapeutic outcomes in patients with chronic wounds.METHODS Retrospectively collected clinical data from 110 patients with chronic wounds treated at Changde Hospital,Xiangya School of Medicine,Central South University(The First People’s Hospital of Changde City)between January 2021 and December 2023,categorizing them into effective and ineffective groups based on treatment effects.Differences between both groups were analyzed using univariate analysis,independent risk factors identified via logistic regression,and their predictive value assessed through receiver operating characteristic analysis.RESULTS Following treatment,95 cases were classified as the effective group(cured or improved),while 15 cases with improvement formed the ineffective group.Significant differences between both groups were noted in wound area,infection status,daily bed time,Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAMA)scores,Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD)scores,and levels of interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-alpha,and superoxide dismutase(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis identified a wound area≥7 cm^(2),HAMA≥9 scores,and HAMD≥8 scores were independent risk factors for ineffective treatment in patients with chronic wounds(P<0.05).The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve for ineffective treatment based on wound area,HAMA,and HAMD was 0.767,0.805,and 0.768 respectively.CONCLUSION Wound size,anxiety,and depression are significant factors influencing the therapeutic outcomes in patients with chronic wounds that require careful attention,alongside the development of appropriate strategies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81330029(to JNZ),81501057(to YT)the Science&Technology Development Fund of Tianjin Education Commission for Higher Education in China,No.2016YD02(to YW)the Technology Program Fund of Tianjin Health and Family Planning Commission for the Key Field of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No.2018001(to ZGW)
文摘Traumatic brain injury（TBI） can result in poor functional outcomes and death, and overall outcomes are varied. Growth factors, such as angiopoietin-1（Ang-1）, vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）, and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor（G-CSF）, play important roles in the neurological functions. This study investigated the relationship between serum growth factor levels and long-term outcomes after TBI. Blood samples from 55 patients were collected at 1, 3 and 7 days after TBI. Blood samples from 39 healthy controls were collected as a control group. Serum Ang-1, G-CSF, and VEGF levels were measured using ELISA. Patients were monitored for 3 months using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended（GOSE）. Patients having a GOSE score of 〉 5 at 3 months were categorized as a good outcome, and patients with a GOSE score of 1-5 were categorized as a bad outcome. Our data demonstrated that TBI patients showed significantly increased growth factor levels within 7 days compared with healthy controls. Serum levels of Ang-1 at 1 and 7 days and G-CSF levels at 7 days were significantly higher in patients with good outcomes than in patients with poor outcomes. VEGF levels at 7 days were remarkably higher in patients with poor outcomes than in patients with good outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the best cut-off points of serum growth factor levels at 7 days to predict functional outcome were 1,333 pg/mL for VEGF, 447.2 pg/mL for G-CSF, and 90.6 ng/mL for Ang-1. These data suggest that patients with elevated levels of serum Ang-1, G-CSF, and decreased VEGF levels had a better prognosis in the acute phase of TBI（within 7 days）. This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry（registration number： ChiCTR1800018251） on September 7, 2018.
基金a Grant from the Natural Scientific Research Project of the Education Department of Henan Province,No. 2009A350009
文摘BACKGROUND： Studies have demonstrated that experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE） onset correlates with increased interferon-v （IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） expression. Oxymatrine （OM） has been shown to inhibit autoimmune responses, but there are no reports showing that it could prevent the development of EAE. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of OM on serum levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in a rat model of EAE.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal study was performed at the Experimental Animal Center of Henan Academy of Chinese Medicine and at the Key Disciplines Laboratory Clinical Medicine of Henan Province between July and December 2008. MATERIALS： OM was purchased from Chia-tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical, China; complete Freund＇s adjuvant was purchased from Sigma, USA. METHODS： Forty female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups： EAE model （M）, low-dose OM treatment （OM-L）, high-dose OM treatment （OM-H）, and normal control （N, no immunization）, with 10 rats in each group. EAE was established in the M, OM-L, and OM-H groups following immunization with Guinea pig spinal cord homogenate and complete Freund＇s adjuvant. The M and N groups were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline （6.7 mL/kg per day）, the OM-L group received an intraperitoneal injection of OM （100 mg/kg per day）, and the OM-H group received OM （150 mg/kg per day）. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At 16 days after immunization, the degree of histopathological changes in the spinal cord was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin stanining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum levels of IFN-γ, and radioimmunoassay was utilized to determine serum TNF-α level. Neurological scores were measured on a daily basis according to a 0-5 scale. RESULTS： Daily injections of OM, both high and low doses, resulted in decreased neurological scores in EAE rats （P〈0.01）, as well as reduced cellular infiltration in the spinal cord and decreased levels of serum IFN-γ and TNF-α （P〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： OM reduced the onset and severity of EAE, which correlated with decreased IFN-γ and TNF-α expression.
