Prognostic Molecular Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Lesions with Non-Mass Enhancement on MR.

Clustered ring enhancement (CRE) is a new lexicon for non-mass enhancement (NME) of breast MR in the 5th BIRADS, indicating a high suspicion of malignancy. We wonder if the presence of CRE correlates with expression of prognostic molecular biomarkers of breast cancer. A total of 58 breast lesions, which MRI reported with NME, were collected between July 2013 and December 2018.

Polymorphisms Associated with Susceptibility to House Dust Mite-Sensitized Persistent Allergic Rhinitis in a Chinese Population.

Background: Genetic variants in (also known as ) have been reported to have significant associations with asthma and eczema in special populations, but little is known about allergic rhinitis. This study purposes to evaluate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in with house dust mite (HDM)-sensitized persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) in a population of Han Chinese.

Methods: In this hospital-based case-control study, 534 HDM-sensitized PER patients and 451 healthy controls were recruited from East China.

TLR Signaling Pathway Gene Polymorphisms, Gene-Gene and Gene-Environment Interactions in Allergic Rhinitis.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a nasal inflammatory disease resulting from a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The association between Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway and environmental factors in AR pathogenesis remains to be explored. This study aims to assess the genetic association of AR with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLR signaling pathway, and investigate the roles of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in AR.

Pyogenic Liver Abscess Risk in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study.

To date, no comprehensive epidemiological study exists on pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) risk in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) worldwide. We conducted a retrospective cohort study by using data from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to examine the association between newly diagnosed T2DM and PLA. The T2DM cohort included patients newly diagnosed as having T2DM (ICD-9-CM:250) from 2000 to 2009, with follow-up until December 31, 2011.

Polymorphisms in MicroRNA Target Sites of TGF-β Signaling Pathway Genes and Susceptibility to Allergic Rhinitis.

Background: The polymorphisms inside microRNA target sites locating in the 3'-UTR region may introduce the micro-RNA-binding changes, which may regulate the gene expression and correlate with the potential diseases.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether the polymorphisms in microRNA target sites of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway genes are associated with the susceptibility of mite-sensitized allergic rhinitis (AR) in a Han Chinese population.

Methods: In this case-control study, 454 AR patients and 448 healthy controls were recruited.

Characteristics of disrupted topological organization in white matter functional connectome in schizophrenia.

Background: Neuroimaging characteristics have demonstrated disrupted functional organization in schizophrenia (SZ), involving large-scale networks within grey matter (GM). However, previous studies have ignored the role of white matter (WM) in supporting brain function.

Methods: Using resting-state functional MRI and graph theoretical approaches, we investigated global topological disruptions of large-scale WM and GM networks in 93 SZ patients and 122 controls.

Polymorphism -509C/T in Promoter Is Associated With Increased Risk and Severity of Persistent Allergic Rhinitis in a Chinese Population.

Background: Polymorphism -509C/T in the promoter of transforming growth factor beta1 () gene is implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma. This polymorphism might also act to regulate the development of allergic rhinitis (AR).

Objectives: To investigate whether -509C/T is associated with AR susceptibility and severity in a Han Chinese population.

Prolonged international normalized ratio and vascular injury at divisional level predict embolization failures of patients with iatrogenic renal vascular injuries.

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), as an alternative to surgery for iatrogenic renal vascular injury (IRVI), may have unsatisfactory outcomes. Nonetheless, there is inadequate information regarding the predictors of TAE outcomes for IRVI in the literature. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the predictors of TAE outcomes for IRVI.

Longitudinal and Cross-sectional Analyses of Lung Function in Toluene Diisocyanate Production Workers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate lung function among toluene diisocyanate (TDI) production workers.

Methods: One hundred ninety-seven U.S workers performed spirometry from 2006 through 2012.

Incidence of Occupational Asthma and Exposure to Toluene Diisocyanate in the United States Toluene Diisocyanate Production Industry.

Objective: This study examines asthma risk in facilities producing toluene diisocyanate (TDI).

Methods: A total of 197 workers were monitored from 2007 to 2012. TDI air concentrations were used to estimate exposures.

Medical Monitoring for Occupational Asthma Among Toluene Diisocyanate Production Workers in the United States.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe a study of medical monitoring methods and lessons learned in detecting health outcomes in U.S. plants producing toluene diisocyanate (TDI).

Suppression of Lipid Accumulation by Indole-3-Carbinol Is Associated with Increased Expression of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and CYP1B1 Proteins in Adipocytes and with Decreased Adipocyte-Stimulated Endothelial Tube Formation.

This study investigated the effects of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on adipogenesis- and angiogenesis-associated factors in mature adipocytes. The cross-talk between mature adipocytes and endothelial cells (ECs) was also explored by cultivating ECs in a conditioned medium (CM) by using I3C-treated adipocytes. The results revealed that I3C significantly inhibited triglyceride accumulation in mature adipocytes in association with significantly increased expression of AhR and CYP1B1 proteins as well as slightly decreased nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor 2, hormone-sensitive lipase, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression by mature adipocytes.

Small Airway Dysfunction and Abnormal Exercise Responses. A Study in Coal Miners.

Rationale: Coal mine dust exposure can cause symptoms and loss of lung function from multiple mechanisms, but the roles of each disease process are not fully understood.

Objectives: We investigated the implications of small airway dysfunction for exercise physiology among a group of workers exposed to coal mine dust.

Methods: Twenty coal miners performed spirometry, first breathing air and then helium-oxygen, single-breath diffusing capacity, and computerized chest tomography, and then completed cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Association of VDR and CYP2R1 Polymorphisms with Mite-Sensitized Persistent Allergic Rhinitis in a Chinese Population.

Unlabelled: As recent studies have described an association between vitamin D and allergic rhinitis, we hypothesized that vitamin D pathway-related genes may be candidate genes for susceptibility to allergic rhinitis. Thus, we sought to evaluate whether polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and CYP2R1 genes are associated with mite-sensitized persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) in a Han Chinese population. A hospital-based case-control study consisting of 519 patients with mite-sensitized PER and 447 healthy controls was conducted.

α-Naphthoflavone Increases Lipid Accumulation in Mature Adipocytes and Enhances Adipocyte-Stimulated Endothelial Tube Formation.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated factor that regulates biological effects associated with obesity. The AhR agonists, such as environmental contaminants 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and β-naphthoflavone (BNF), inhibit preadipocyte differentiation and interfere with the functions of adipose tissue, whereas the antagonist may have opposite or protective effects in obesity. This study investigated the effects of α-naphthoflavone (α-NF), an AhR antagonist, on adipogenesis- and angiogenesis-associated factors in mature adipocytes and on cross-talk of mature adipocytes with endothelial cells (ECs).

Small mine size is associated with lung function abnormality and pneumoconiosis among underground coal miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of lung function abnormality and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) by mine size among underground coal miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.

Methods: During 2005-2012, 4491 miners completed spirometry and chest radiography as part of a health surveillance programme. Spirometry was interpreted according to American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines, and radiography per International Labour Office standards.

Association study on ADAM33 polymorphisms in mite-sensitized persistent allergic rhinitis in a Chinese population.

Background: The ADAM33 gene has been identified as a potentially important asthma candidate gene and polymorphisms in this gene have been shown to be associated with asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Objective: To assess whether the ADAM33 polymorphisms are associated with persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) due to house dust mites in a Chinese population.

Methods: In a hospital-based case-control study of 515 patients with mite-sensitized PER and 495 healthy controls, we genotyped seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADAM33.

Lung-function impairment among US underground coal miners, 2005 to 2009: geographic patterns and association with coal workers' pneumoconiosis.

Objective: To investigate contemporary geographic distributions of lung-function impairment and radiographic evidence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) and their associations.

Methods: From 2005 to 2009, 6373 underground coal miners completed a health survey, including spirometry testing and chest radiography. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis were determined by NIOSH B readers, using the International Labour Office classification.

Rapid decline in lung function in coal miners: evidence of disease in small airways.

Background: Coal mine dust exposure can cause both pneumoconiosis and chronic airflow limitation. The contributions of various pathophysiologic mechanisms to dust-related lung function decrements remain unclear.

Methods: Clinical and physiological findings were assessed for 15 underground coal miners who had demonstrated accelerated FEV1 losses (decliners) over 6-18 years.

Application of the revised Tumour Node Metastasis (TNM) staging system of clear cell renal cell carcinoma in eastern China: advantages and limitations.

This study was designed to evaluate whether the revised 2010 Tumour Node Metastasis (TNM) staging system could lead to a more accurate prediction of the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. A total of 1216 patients who had undergone radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy for RCC from 2003 to 2011 were enrolled. All of the patients had pathologically confirmed clear cell RCC (ccRCC).

Antiangiogenic activity of indole-3-carbinol in endothelial cells stimulated with activated macrophages.

The effect of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a major indolic metabolite in cruciferous vegetables, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophage-induced tube formation and its associated factors in endothelial EA hy926 cells was investigated. LPS significantly enhanced the capillary-like structure of endothelial cells (ECs) co-cultured with macrophages, but no such effect was observed in single-cultured ECs. I3C, on the other hand, suppressed such enhancement in concert with decreased secretions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

Self-reported hand symptoms: a role in monitoring health care workers for latex sensitization?

Background: The use of powdered natural rubber latex (NRL) gloves increased greatly in the 1980s because of concerns about transmission of blood-borne infections and the subsequent implementation of universal precautions. The most common clinical reactions to glove use are irritant and T-cell-mediated contact dermatitis. However, IgE-mediated immediate reactions to latex have become a serious concern for health care workers (HCWs).

[Studing the health status of workers occupationally exposed to carbon disulfide].

Objective: To study the effects of carbon disulfide (CS(2)) on the health of workers, and to provide the basis for the further preventive measures.

Methods: The occupational health examination of 881 workers exposed to CS(2) in a chemical fiber factory was carried out according to the national technical standard of occupational health surveillance. The time weighted average concentrations (TWA) of CS(2) in the workshops of short silk and long silk exceeded the national standard, The workers in these two workshops served as the high exposure group.

[Clinical characteristics of the patients with occupational chronic carbon disulfide poisoning in a chemical fiber factory of Nanjing].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of 267 cases with occupational chronic carbon disulfide (CS(2)) poisoning and to provide the basis for revising the items of periodical medical examination of workers occupationally exposed to CS(2).

Methods: The subjects of present study were 267 patients with mild CS(2) poisoning diagnosed according to "Diagnostic Criteria of Occupational Chronic Carbon Disulfide Poisoning (GBZ4-2002)" from April in 2006 to May in 2010. All patients were from the same chemical fiber factory.

[Annexin A5 gene polymorphism (-1C/T) and the susceptibility to pneumoconiosis in coal works].

Objective: To explore the role of -1C/T single nucleotide polymorphism within Annexin A5 gene in the genetic susceptibility to coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP).

Methods: Four hundred and seventy CWP Han chinese patients and 428 Han chinese controls were enclosed in present case-control study. All subjects were exposed to coal dusts.