ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the epidemiology of paediatric hand injuries treated in emergency departments (EDs) in Foshan City, as well as to supply data for the development of preventive strategies in South China and similar developing areas. Methods: From July 2010 to June 2011, a multicentre study was prospectively designed and conducted in five large hospital EDs in Foshan. An anonymous questionnaire was specially designed for data collection. Results: A total of 317 (95.48%) subjects with paediatric hand injuries completed questionnaires within the one-year study period. Most subjects were injured at home or work (40.69% vs 36.60%). The majority of paediatric hand injuries occurred in daily activities (164, 51.74%) or were caused by crushing (144, 45.43%). There were significant statistical differences among age groups and places of occurrence (p < 0.05). Most subjects got their fingers injured (174, 54.89%). About 116 (36.59%) subjects were injured while at work and 106 (91.38%) subjects had medical insurance. About 59 (50.86%) subjects had < 0.5 year of job tenure. However, only less than half of the subjects (46.55%) had the related experience of safety training. Upon the occurrence of hand injuries, the subjects had been working for 4.49 ± 3.05 hours without rest. Among them, 19 (5.99%) subjects were younger than 16 years old and should not be employed, according to the Chinese labour law. Conclusions: Epidemiology data enhance our knowledge of paediatric hand injuries and facilitate prevention and treatment in the future, thus reducing loss of hand function as well as psychological and economic burden.

RESUMEN Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue investigar la epidemiología de las lesiones de mano pediátricas tratadas en departamentos de emergencias (DE) en la ciudad de Foshan, así como suministrar datos para el desarrollo de estrategias preventivas en el sur de China y áreas de desarrollo similar. Métodos: De julio de 2010 a junio de 2011 de junio, se diseñó y realizó prospectivamente un estudio multicéntrico en cinco DE hospitalarios mayores de Foshan. Un cuestionario anónimo fue especialmente diseñado para la recolección de datos. Resultados: Un total de 317 (95.48%) sujetos con lesiones de mano pediátricas completaron cuestionarios dentro del período de estudio de un año. La mayoría de los sujetos recibieron lesiones en el hogar o en el trabajo (40.69% vs 36.60%). La mayoría de las lesiones de mano pediátricas ocurrieron en actividades diarias (164, 51.74%) o fueron causadas por aplastamiento (144, 45.43%). Hubo diferencias estadísticas significativas entre los grupos por edad y los lugares de ocurrencia (p < 0.05). La mayoría de los sujetos se lesionaron los dedos (174, 54.89%). Alrededor de 116 (36.59%) sujetos resultaron heridos durante el trabajo y 106 (91.38%) sujetos tenían seguro médico. Alrededor de 59 (50.86%) sujetos tenían < 0.5 año de permanencia en el empleo. Sin embargo, sólo menos de la mitad de los sujetos (46.55%) tenían experiencia en relación con entrenamiento de seguridad. Cuando ocurrieron las lesiones en las manos, los sujetos habían estado trabajando por 4.49 ± 3.05 horas sin descanso. Entre ellos, 19 (5.99%) sujetos tenían menos de 16 años de edad, y no debían estar empleados de acuerdo con las leyes laborales en China. Conclusiones: Los datos epidemiológicos mejoran nuestro conocimiento sobre las lesiones de mano pediátricas, y facilitan la prevención y el tratamiento futuros, reduciendo así la pérdida de la función de la mano y la consiguiente carga psicológica y económica.

The epithelium is a highly dynamic system, which plays a crucial role in the homeostasis of the intestinal tract. However, studies on the physiological and pathophysiological functions of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) have been hampered due to lack of normal epithelial cell models. In the present study, we established a reproducible method for primary culture of mouse IECs, which were isolated from the viable small intestinal crypts of murine fetuses (on embryonic day 19), using type I collagenase and hyaluronidase in a short span of time (≤20 min). With this method, continuously growing mouse IECs, which can be subcultured over a number of passages, were obtained. The obtained cell lines formed a tight cobblestone-like arrangement, displayed long and slender microvilli, expressed characteristic markers (cytokeratin 18 and Notch-1), and generated increasing transepithelial electrical resistance and low paracellular permeability during in vitro culture. The cells also had enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase and sucrase-isomaltase, and secreted various cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), responding to the stimulation of Escherichia coli. These results show that the primary-cultured mouse IECs obtained by the method established here had the morphological and immunological characteristics of IECs. This culture system can be a beneficial in vitro model for studies on mucosal immunology and toxicology.

The aim of this study was to determine the proliferation and osteogenic activity of fibroblasts induced with fibronectin and their possible dose-dependent relationship. The fibroblasts obtained by tissue explants adherent method were induced with fibronectin at different concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 μg/mL for 14 days. The 3H-thymidine and 3H-proline incorporation test was used to evaluate the synthesis of DNA and collagen by fibroblasts, respectively. The mineralized nodules and osteocalcin secretion, as vital osteogenic indicators, were detected with tetracycline labeling and 125I-labeled competitive immunoassay, respectively. Fibronectin significantly increased the synthesis of DNA and collagen by fibroblasts, especially at the concentration of 40 μg/mL (P<0.05). The increased secretion of osteocalcin in the supernatant was also statistically significant at the concentration of 40 μg/mL (P<0.05). The mineralized nodules with trabecula-like structure derived from induced fibroblasts were positive for tetracycline labeling. The granulation tissue-derived fibroblasts induced with fibronectin exhibited increased proliferative, functional and osteogenic potential. Fibroblasts are considered a possible in situ stem cell in tissue engineering.

In an effort to eliminate the hazard posed by coal seam gas and increase the efficiency of coal seam gas drainage in an underground coal mine, a high-pressure waterjet fracturing technique has been developed, optimized experimentally and numerically, and trialled underground. Numerical and laboratory results indicate that the slotting capacity of the high-pressure waterjet fracturing system can be improved by optimizing the geometrical structure and parameters of the nozzle. The results from field investigation showed that the gas production rate can be more than doubled by using the high-pressure waterjet-assisted method before and during longwall extraction.

18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is widely used to diagnose and stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the predictive ability of different FDG standardized uptake values (SUVs) in 74 patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC. 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed and different SUV parameters (SUVmax, SUVavg, SUVT/L, and SUVT/A) obtained, and their relationship with clinical characteristics were investigated. Meanwhile, correlation and multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine the primary predictor of SUVs for NSCLC. Age, gender, and tumor size significantly affected SUV parameters. The mean SUVs of squamous cell carcinoma were higher than those of adenocarcinoma. Poorly differentiated tumors exhibited higher SUVs than well-differentiated ones. Further analyses based on the pathologic type revealed that the SUVmax, SUVavg, and SUVT/L of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma tumors were higher than those of moderately or well-differentiated tumors. Among these four SUV parameters, SUVT/L was the primary predictor for tumor differentiation. However, in adenocarcinoma, SUVmax was the determining factor for tumor differentiation. Our results showed that these four SUV parameters had predictive significance related to NSCLC tumor differentiation; SUVT/L appeared to be most useful overall, but SUVmax was the best index for adenocarcinoma tumor differentiation.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most common acquired diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in preterm infants. Some randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) have indicated that probiotics may potentially lower the incidence of NEC and mortality. However, debate still remains about the safety of probiotics and their influence on normal infant growth. We performed this meta-analysis to assess the safety and benefits of probiotic supplementation in preterm infants. We searched in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for English references, and in Wanfang, VIP, and CNKI databases for Chinese references. Ultimately, 27 RCTs (including 9 Chinese articles) were incorporated into this meta-analysis. Relative risk (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) were calculated using a random-effects or fixed-effects model, depending on the data type and heterogeneity. A total of 6655 preterm infants, including the probiotic group (n=3298) and the placebo group (n=3357), were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis. For Bell stage ≥I and gestational age <37 weeks, risk of NEC incidence was significantly lower in the probiotic group [RR=0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.27-0.44, P<0.00001]. For Bell stage ≥II or gestational age <34 weeks, there were likewise significant differences between the probiotic and placebo groups concerning NEC incidence (RR=0.34, 95%CI=0.25-0.48, P<0.00001; and RR=0.39, 95%CI=0.27-0.56, P<0.00001). Risk of death was significantly reduced in the probiotic group (RR=0.58, 95%CI=0.46-0.75, P<0.0001). In contrast, there was no significant difference concerning the risk of sepsis (RR=0.94, 95%CI=0.83-1.06, P=0.31). With respect to weight gain and the age at which infants reached full feeds, no significant differences were found between the probiotic and placebo groups (WMD=1.07, 95%CI=−0.21-2.34, P=0.10; and WMD=−1.66, 95%CI=−3.6-0.27, P=0.09). This meta-analysis has shown that, regardless of gestational age and NEC stage, probiotic supplementation could significantly reduce the risk of NEC in preterm infants. Analysis also indicated that such supplementation did not increase the incidence risk of sepsis or of mortality. Finally, the study showed that probiotic supplementation may have no adverse effect on normal feeding and growth.