The correlation between No. 6 and No. 14v lymph node metastasis and the value of dissecting these lymph nodes in radical gastrectomy / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy has been widely performed as the standard surgery for patients with gastric cancer in major medical centers in China and abroad. However, the exact extent of lymph node dissection is still controversial. In the latest version of the Japanese Gastric Cancer Treatment Guidelines, No. 14v lymph nodes (along the root of the superior mesenteric vein) are again defined as loco-regional lymph nodes, and it is clarified that distal gastric cancer presenting with infra-pyloric regional lymph node (No.6) metastasis is recommended for D2+ superior mesenteric vein (No. 14v) lymph node dissection. To explore the relevance and clinical significance of No.6 and No.14v lymphadenectomy in radical gastric cancer surgery, a review of the national and international literature revealed that No.6 lymph node metastasis was associated with No.14v lymph node metastasis, that No.6 lymph node status was a valid predictor of No.14v lymph node negative status and false negative rate, and that for gastric cancer patients with No. 14v lymph node negative and No.6 lymph node positive, the dissection of No.14v lymph node may also have some significance. The addition of No. 14v lymph node dissection in radical gastrectomy is safe, but it is more important to distinguish the patients who can benefit from it. Professor Liang Han of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital is currently leading a multicenter, large-sample, prospective clinical trial (NCT02272894) in China, which is expected to provide higher level evidence for the clinical significance of lymph node dissection in No.14v.

Application of miniSTR Loci and Its Detection System for Degraded Materials in Forensic Medicine / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To establish multiplex system of 16 miniSTR loci, and explore its application value for the degraded materials in forensic medicine.@*METHODS@#The multiplex system of 16 miniSTR loci was established using a six-dye fluorescence labeling technology and its application value in forensic medicine was assessed.@*RESULTS@#A six-dye fluorescence labeling miniSTR amplification kit was developed, which enabled 15 autosomal STR loci, Amelogenin locus and DYS391 to be typed simultaneously. This method showed good specificity and could provide stable and accurate typing results with a sensitivity of 50 pg. This system also provided a good test result for the normal biological sample of actual cases.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The multiplex system of 16 miniSTR loci has application value for degraded and trace materials with the advantages of high sensitivity and database compatibility, which can be used for forensic casework.

The clinical value of China Savin pollen extract used for skin prick test / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of China Savin pollen extract which was used for skin prick test (SPT) in the diagnosis of China Savin pollen allergy. Patients with diagnosis of allergic diseases were collected from Allergy Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. All patients were given SPT with China Savin pollen extract, and the mean wheal diameter (MWD) was measured after 15 minutes. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed based on the results of serum specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE). The effectiveness of SPT in the diagnosis of China Savin pollen allergy was evaluated under different diagnostic cutoff values. Adverse events were also recorded to evaluate the safety. A total of 1 029 patients were enrolled in this study without drop out case. There were 1 007 patients in full analysis set (FAS) and 765 patients in per protocol analysis set (PPS). The elimination rate was 25.66%. The area under the ROC curve of FAS is 0.814 (95%: 0.788-0.839); which of PPS is 0.829 (95%: 0.801-0.857). Based on the ROC curve of PPS, the optimal and the 95% specificity diagnostic cutoff values of MWD were 3.25 mm and 4.75 mm respectively. Based on different diagnostic cutoff value (3.00, 3.25 and 4.75 mm), the sensitivities of SPT with China Savin pollen extract were 0.740 0 (95%: 0.701 6-0.778 4), 0.700 (95%: 0.659 8-0.740 2) and 0.532 (95%: 0.488 3-0.575 7) respectively, whereas the specificity was gradually increased in sequence, which was 0.769 8 (95%: 0.719 1-0.820 5), 0.826 4 (95%: 0.780 8-0.872 0) and 0.950 9 (95%: 0.924 9-0.976 9) respectively. There were 7 adverse events observed among 6 patients (rate: 0.583%, 6/1 029). The manifestation was mild. There was no severe adverse event. SPT with China Savin pollen extract is an effective and safe tool for the diagnosis of China Savin pollen allergy. The effectiveness of diagnosis could be improved based on integration of medical history and different diagnostic threshold values of SPT.

Effects of low dose radiation on the expression of proteins related to DNA repair requiring caveolin-1 in human mammary epithelial cells

Background: Radiotherapy is an effective and important therapeutic method for breast cancer, but at the same time it has a radiation-induced bystander effect on normal tissue around the tumor. Repair of double-strand breaks [DSBs] by normal cells can reduce the extent of damage caused by this effect. Caveolin-1 [Cav-1] is an important regulatory molecule in cell signal transduction. However, the response of normal human mammary epithelial cells following low dose radiation [LDR]- induced DSBs and the role of Cav-1 in the repair of the DSBs are not clear. The present study examined the DNA damage repair mechanism triggered by LDR in human mammary epithelial cells

Materials and Methods: Human mammary epithelial [MCF10A] and Cav-1 haplo-insufficiency [MCF10A-ST1] cells were irradiated with LDR gamma rays and the effect of this radiation on cell proliferation was determined by cytometric method. Western blot analysis was then used to measure the expression levels of different proteins associated with cell proliferation and DNA repair

Results: LDR enhanced the radiation responsiveness of MCF10A cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At a dose of 100 cGy, LDR increased the expression levels of several proteins involved in DNA repair pathways, such as ATM, p53, DNA-PKcs and also activated Cav-1-mediated cell proliferation and survival pathways, such as the MAPK and AKT pathways. The expression of the various DNA repair related proteins was changed after down-regulating the Cav-1 expression

Conclusion: LDR could increase the radiation responsiveness of human mammary epithelial cells through activating the DNA repair pathways, including both HR and NHEJ pathways, as well as triggering the cell proliferation and survival pathways, both of which required Cav-1

Detection and differentiation of wild-type and vaccine strains of canine distemper virus by a duplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

Canine distemper virus [CDV] is the cause of canine distemper [CD] which is a severe and highly contagious disease in dogs. In the present study, a duplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] method was developed for the detection and differentiation of wild-type and vaccine strains of CDV. Four primers were designed to detect and discriminate the two viruses by generating 638- and 781-bp cDNA products, respectively. Furthermore, the duplex RT-PCR method was used to detect 67 field samples suspected of CD from Guangdong province in China. Results showed that, 33 samples were to be wild-type-like. The duplex RT-PCR method exhibited high specificity and sensitivity which could be used to effectively detect and differentiate wild-type and vaccine CDV, indicating its use for clinical detection and epidemiological surveillance

Distribution and fractions of phosphorus and nitrogen in surface sediments from Dianchi lake, China

Dianchi Lake is one of the most three seriously eutrophic lakes in China. In the present study, the phosphorus [P] and nitrogen [N] fractions in 37 surface sediments samples collected in the Dianchi Lake were investigated. The total phophorus [TP] in sediments was divided into two parts: inorganic P [IP] and residual P [Res-P]. The results showed that the total phosphorus content in surface sediments ranged from 1465.27 to 3650.12 mg/kg, IP was the major component of TP and the Ca bound P was the main fraction of IP. The bio-available phosphorus [BAP] in Dianchi Lake was first estimated in this study. BAP ranged from 215.66 to 678.02 mg/kgand the mean concentration was 382.78 +/- 89.77 mg/kgfor all 37 samples. The nitrogen fractions for the whole Dianchi Lake were firstly studied. It was shown that the sediment had been an important N nutrient source of the water, owing to the high content of transferable nitrogen forms in the sediment

Behavior pattern as the indicator of reproductive success of Alpine musk deer

To establish the behavioral indicator of reproductive success of female captive Alpine musk deer [Moschus sifanicus], the focal sampling was used to record the individual behaviors at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm [XMDF], Gansu province, China. Conducted between June 2008 and January 2009, 31 adult females were observed, of which 26 had successfully bred in the previous year, and five of which were barren. The frequencies of 12 behaviors were recorded and compared to explore variation in reproductive success and general behavior patterns. The results showed that there were differences in behavioral frequencies between females barren and fawned in the previous year. Compared to successful individuals, barren females expressed environment sniffing more frequently during non-mating season, but less frequently during mating season [P<0.05]. Females which had previously fawned expressed ano-genital sniffing less frequently than barren females in non-mating season [P<0.05]. Furthermore, both female groups elicited the male specific tail-pasting behavior, although the demonstration levels were not different significantly between both. The above behavioral differences have implications for musk deer farming practices, whereby females should be grouped and separated by their previous reproduction history, to maximize future reproductive success

Birth defects data from surveillance hospitals in hubei province, china, 2001 - 2008

To determine the prevalence and characteristics of birth defects in perinatal infants in Hubei Province during 2001-2008. The prevalence of birth defects in perinatal infants delivered after 28 weeks or more was analyzed in Hubei surveillance hospitals during 2001-2008. The incidence of birth defects in perinatal infants from 2001 to 2008 was 120.0 per 10,000 births, and was increased by about 41% from 81. 1 in 2001 to 138.5 per 10,000 births in 2008. The incidence in the first 4 years [2005-2008] was much higher than the latter four [2001-2004] [chi[2]=77.64, P <0.05]. The difference in prevalence between urban and rural was of no significance in 2008 [chi[2]=0.03, P >0.05], but that between male and female was significant [chi[2]=5.24, P <0.05], as the former prevalence was much higher. The prevalence of birth defects was slightly higher among mothers over 35 years old than those under 35 years old, but with no significance [chi[2]=1.98, P >0.05]. The two leading birth defects were cleft lip and/or palate and polydactyly, followed by congenital heart disease, hydrocephaly, external ear malformation and neural tube defects. The prevalence of congenital heart disease was rising. Eight years' birth defects data indicate that the birth defect rate was on the rise and the birth defects prevalence in Hubei province should be valued

Biodegradation of cypermethrin by a newly isolated actinomycetes HU-S-01 from wastewater sludge

A new cypermethrin degrading strain was isolated from wastewater sludge using enrichment technique. On the basis of morphological, physiological, biochemical characteristics tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the strain was determined to be a Streptomyces species, probably a strain of Streptomyces parvulus, so it was designated as Streptomyces sp. HU-S-01. The strain Streptomyces sp.HU-S-01 is aerobic and optimum growth temperature for the strain was found to be 26-28°C with initial pH range 6.0-9.0 and pH 7.5 was found to be the optimum. This strain can also completely degrade 3-phenoxybenzoic acid within 96 h at the concentration of 50 mg/L. The kinetic constants Vmax, Km, Kcat and Kcat/ Km of enzyme for cypermethrin were 1.236 micro mol/min, 6.418 micro mol/mL, 13.493 min and 2.102 mL/mol.min, respectively. The degradation products of cypermethrin were identified using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometric [GC-MS] analysis. The degradation pathway followed by HU-S-01 involves oxidative as well as hydrolyzing. Biodegradation ability of strain Streptomyces sp. HU-S-01 without toxic byproducts reveals its potential for further study as a biological agent for the remediation of soil, water or crops, contaminated with cypermethrin

Melatonin reduces the expression of chemokines in rat with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis

To investigate the effect of melatonin on the colon inflammatory injury of rats with colitis and determine whether this effect is associated with inhibition of chemoattractant molecules interleukin [IL-8] and monocyte chemoattractant protein [MCP-1]. The study was designed and implemented in JingMen No.1 People's Hospital, HuBei Province, from May 2006 to April 2007. It involved 72 animals divided into 6 groups of 12 each: normal group, model group, 5-aminosalisalicylic acid group,and melatonin group [dose of 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0mg/kg]. Rat colitis model was established by 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid [TNBS] enema. Interlukin-8 and MCP-1 proteins in colon tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The messenger-RNA expressions of chemokines were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid enema resulted in pronounced pathological changes of colonic mucosa in model rats, which were in accordance with the significantly elevated myeloperoxidase activity. Expressions of chemokines were up-regulated in colitis. Melatonin treatment reduced colonic lesions and improved colitis symptom, and decreased the protein and mRNA expressions of IL-8 and MCP-1 significantly in colon tissues of rats with colitis. Chemokines IL-8 and MCP-1 are elevated in mucosal tissues in colitis and play an important role in the perpetuation of tissue destructive inflammatory processes; melatonin reduces colonic inflammatory injury of rats colitis through down-regulating the expressions of chemokines. Melatonin can be considered as a novel therapeutic alternative for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease