Perineal nerve block versus periprostatic block for patients undergoing transperineal prostate biopsy (APROPOS): a prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled study.

Background: We aimed to investigate perineal nerve block versus periprostatic block in pain control for men undergoing a transperineal prostate biopsy.

Methods: In this prospective, randomised, blinded and parallel-group trial, men in six Chinese hospitals with suspected prostate cancer were randomly assigned (1:1) at the point of local anaesthesia to receive a perineal nerve block or periprostatic block and followed by a transperineal prostate biopsy. Centres used their usual biopsy procedure.

Enhancing diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma using non-recombined T-cell receptor sequences.

Clonality assessment, which can detect neoplastic T cells by identifying the uniquely recombined T-cell receptor (TCR) genes, provides important support in the diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma (TCL). BIOMED-2 is the gold standard clonality assay and has proven to be effective in European TCL patients. However, we failed to prove its sensitivity in Taiwanese TCL patients, especially based on the TCRβ gene.

Role of Long Noncoding RNA Regulator of Reprogramming in Colon Cancer Progression via Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling.

Long intergenic noncoding RNA regulator of reprogramming (linc-ROR) is a novel long noncoding RNA that exhibits significant effects on cancer progression. This research presented that linc-ROR had a crucial part in promoting biological characteristics associated with worse prognosis in colon cancer. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict signaling pathways related to linc-ROR.

Effect and Safety of Acupuncture for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 21 Randomised Controlled Trials.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of acupuncture on hypoglycaemic outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception up to July 2020, to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that enrolled patients with T2DM and compared acupuncture combined with antidiabetic drugs to antidiabetic drugs alone.

Endothelial glycocalyx degradation is associated with early organ impairment in polytrauma patients.

Background: Endothelial glycocalyx (EG) abnormal degradation were widely found in critical illness. However, data of EG degradation in multiple traumas is limited. We performed a study to assess the EG degradation and the correlation between the degradation and organ functions in polytrauma patients.

Role of Farnesoid X Receptor in the Pathogenesis of Respiratory Diseases.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid receptor encoded by the Nr1h4 gene. FXR plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the internal environment and the integrity of many organs, including the liver and intestines. The expression of FXR in nondigestible tissues other than in the liver and small intestine is known as the expression of "nonclassical" bile acid target organs, such as blood vessels and lungs.

The value of red blood cell distribution width, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and hemoglobin-to-red blood cell distribution width ratio in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 85% of all lung cancer cases. Inflammation has been proven to be one of the characteristics of malignant tumors. Chronic inflammatory response mediated by cytokines in the tumor microenvironment is an important factor in tumorigenesis.

Clinical value of exhaled breath condensate let-7 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common causes of tumor-associated mortality worldwide. Early diagnosis is the key focus for improving prognosis. In the present study, the association between exhaled breath condensate (EBC) let-7 and NSCLC diagnosis and clinicopathologic characteristics was investigated in order to explore non-invasive simple technological therapeutic methods.

Five Technologies for Detecting the T790M Mutation in the Circulating Cell-Free DNA of Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Comparison.

Third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were developed to overcome T790M-mediated resistance to earlier generations of epidermal growth factor receptor -targeted TKIs. We compared four well-established and one in-house method for the analysis of the T790M mutation in plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA), in hope to find a better way to select non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients appropriate for 3rd-generation TKI therapy. For sensitivity levels of each method, plasmid DNA with T790M mutations was serially diluted with cfDNA from healthy controls with wild type .

Research and development of safety management information system for neonatal bathroom and its clinical application: (A STROBE-compliant article).

We developed a bathroom safety management information system to decrease adverse nursing events, and observed the application of the self-developed safety management information system in neonatal bathroom.A total of 3482 newborns receiving neonatal bath and rooming in between May 2015 and May 2017, were enrolled in this study. Of the 3482 newborns, 1727 that did not use the safety management information system from May 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016, were considered as control group; and other 1755 that used the safety management information system from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017 were entered in observation group.

Impact on growth, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-related gene transcription of zebrafish after exposure to low concentration of arsenite.

Low concentrations of arsenic (As) contamination in aquatic environment is a worldwide issue, which is of great concern. To evaluate the impact of low concentrations of As on zebrafish, we measured the growth, antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), oxidative damage (malondialdehyde, MDA) and apoptosis-related genes (nrf2, p53 and c-jun) of adult zebrafish after exposing to different AsIII concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100 or 150 μg L) for 28 d. Results indicated that exposure to low AsIII concentrations decreased the zebrafish weight by 14%, increased the activities of SOD and CAT by 23-41% and 31-59%, decreased the contents of MDA by 29-54%, and modulated transcription of apoptosis related genes.

Facile solvothermal fabrication of PtNi nanopolyhedrons for greatly boosting electrocatalytic performances for oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution.

Pt-based bimetallic nanostructures with low content of Pt were considered as one of the attractive nanocatalysts for their high Pt utilization efficiency, remarkable catalytic characters and cost-effectiveness in facilitating the sluggish cathodic reactions in fuel cells. Herein, three-dimensional PtNi nanopolyhedrons (NPHs) with abundant active sites were constructed by a facile one-pot solvothermal strategy, in which cytosine and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) worked as the co-structure directing agents. The PtNi NPHs were mainly characterized by a series of techniques, showing the high catalytic activity and stability towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in comparison to PtNi nanocrystals (NCs), PtNi NCs, commercial Pt black and/or Pt/C catalysts.

Controlled fabrication of well-dispersed AgPd nanoclusters supported on reduced graphene oxide with highly enhanced catalytic properties towards 4-nitrophenol reduction.

To realize the efficient and complete removal of organic pollutants in waste water, it is highly urgent for scalable synthesis of either self-supported bimetallic nanocatalysts or anchored on carbon-based materials. In this study, a simple one-pot coreduction method was developed for preparing well-dispersed AgPd alloyed nanoclusters uniformly dispersed on reduced graphene oxide (AgPd NCs/rGO) at room temperature by utilizing 5-azacytosine as the capping agent. The nanocomposites were characterized by a set of physical characterizations.

Simple synthesis of hierarchical AuPt alloy nanochains for construction of highly sensitive hydrazine and nitrite sensors.

Herein, a single-step co-reduction aqueous route was designed for preparation of hierarchical AuPt alloy nanochains, firstly using amprolium hydrochloride as a new stabilizing agent and structure-director. The morphology, structure, composition, and size of the products were characterized by a series of technique. The growth mechanism of AuPt nanochains was discussed in details.

Green-assembly of three-dimensional porous graphene hydrogels for efficient removal of organic dyes.

Herein, a facile and straightforward green-assembly approach was developed for preparation of nitrogen and sulphur co-doped three-dimensional (3D) graphene hydrogels (N/S-GHs) with the assistance of glutathione. Specifically, graphene oxide is reduced and assembled into 3D porous nanostructures with glutathione as the reducing agent and modifier for its intrinsic structure, along with the nitrogen and sulphur sources in the synthetic process. As expected, the as-obtained N/S-GHs demonstrated superior adsorption performances for organic dyes (e.

Detection of cancer embryo antigen and endothelin-1 in exhaled breath condensate: A novel approach to investigate non-small cell lung cancer.

The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of cancer embryo antigen (CEA) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EBC samples were collected from 143 patients with NSCLC and 119 healthy individuals by using an EBC collector. The CEA and ET-1 levels in the EBC and serum were detected.

The development and application of electronic information system for safety administration of newborns in the rooming-in care.

Objective: To independently research and develop an electronic information system for safety administration of newborns in the rooming-in care, and to investigate the effects of its clinical application.

Methods: By VS 2010 SQL SERVER 2005 database and adopting Microsoft visual programming tool, an interactive mobile information system was established, with integrating data, information and knowledge with using information structures, information processes and information technology. From July 2011 to July 2012, totally 210 newborns from the rooming-in care of the Obstetrics Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were chosen and randomly divided into two groups: the information system monitoring group (110 cases) and the regular monitoring group (100 cases).

Analysis of p16 gene mutations and their expression using exhaled breath condensate in non-small-cell lung cancer.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the mutational status of exons 1 and 2 of the p16 gene in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and determine the feasibility and clinical significance of applying EBC in the diagnosis of NSCLC. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were applied to detect exon 1 and 2 alterations of the p16 gene in EBC by comparing 58 samples from NSCLC patients and 30 from healthy controls. Of the 58 EBC samples from NSCLC patients, 54 were successfully tested and 8 cases of mutations were identified, of which 3 were in exon 1 and 5 in exon 2.

Comparison of the Wells score with the revised Geneva score for assessing suspected pulmonary embolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The Wells score and the revised Geneva score are two most commonly used clinical rules for excluding pulmonary embolism (PE). In this study, we aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of these two rules; we also compared the diagnostic accuracy between them. We searched PubMed and Web of science up to April 2015.

Novel phenol biosensor based on laccase immobilized on reduced graphene oxide supported palladium-copper alloyed nanocages.

Developing new nanomaterials is of key importance to improve the analytical performances of electrochemical biosensors. In this work, palladium-copper alloyed nanocages supported on reduced graphene oxide (RGO-PdCu NCs) were facilely prepared by a simple one-pot solvothermal method. A novel phenol biosensor based on laccase has been constructed for rapid detection of catachol, using RGO-PdCu NCs as electrode material.

[Effect of Qingfei Decoction on Nitric Oxide and 8-isoPG in Exhaled Breath Condensate of ARDS Patients].

Objective: To observe the clinical significance of nitric oxide (NO) and 8-isoprostane (8-isoPG) changes in exhaled breath condensate ( EBC) of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients after treated by Qingfei Decoction (QD).

Methods: Totally 48 ARDS patients receiving mechanical ventilation were equally assigned to the QD treatment group and the control group by random digit table. EBC specimens were collected by modified Ecoscreen breath condensate collector (German JAEGER Company) on the first day and the fifth day after confirmed diagnosis of ARDS.

Facile synthesis of porous bimetallic alloyed PdAg nanoflowers supported on reduced graphene oxide for simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid, dopamine, and uric acid.

Porous bimetallic alloyed palladium silver (PdAg) nanoflowers supported on reduced graphene oxide (PdAg NFs/rGO) were prepared via a facile and simple in situ reduction process, with the assistance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a structure directing agent. The as-prepared nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (PdAg NFs/rGO/GCE) showed enhanced catalytic currents and enlarged peak potential separations for the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) as compared to those of PdAg/GCE, rGO/GCE, commercial Pd/C/GCE, and bare GCE. The as-developed sensor can selectively detect AA, DA, and UA with a good anti-interference ability, wide concentration ranges of 1.

A real-time fluorescent assay for the detection of alkaline phosphatase activity based on carbon quantum dots.

A convenient and real-time fluorometric assay with the assistance of copper ions based on aggregation and disaggregation of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was developed to achieve highly sensitive detection of alkaline phosphatase activity. CQDs and pyrophosphate anions (PPi) were used as the fluorescent indicator and substrate for ALP activity assessment respectively. Richness of carboxyl groups on the surface of CQDs enables their severe aggregation triggered by copper ions, which results in effective fluorescence quenching.