Enhanced stability and kinetic performance of sandwich Si anode constructed by carbon nanotube and silicon carbide for lithium-ion battery.

Owing to highly theoretical capacity of 3579 mAh/g for lithium-ion storage at ambient temperature, silicon (Si) becomes a promising anode material of high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the large volume change (∼300 %) during lithiation/delithiation and low conductivity of Si are challenging the commercial developments of LIBs with Si anode. Herein, a sandwich structure anode that Si nanoparticles sandwiched between carbon nanotube (CNT) and silicon carbide (SiC) has been successfully constructed by acetylene chemical vapor deposition and magnesiothermic reduction reaction technology. The SiC acts as a stiff layer to inhibit the volumetric stress from Si and the inner graphited CNT plays as the matrix to cushion the volumetric stress and as the conductor to transfer electrons. Moreover, the combination of SiC and CNT can relax the surface stress of carbonaceous interface to synergistically prevent the integrated structure from the degradation to avoid the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) reorganization. In addition, the SiC (111) surface has a strong ability to adsorb fluoroethylene carbonate molecule to further stabilize the SEI. Consequently, the CNT/SiNPs/SiC anode can stably supply the capacity of 1127.2 mAh/g at 0.5 A/g with a 95.6 % capacity retention rate after 200 cycles and an excellent rate capability of 745.5 mAh/g at 4.0 A/g and 85.5 % capacity retention rate after 1000 cycles. The present study could give a guide to develop the functional Si anode through designing a multi-interface with heterostructures.

Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states assisted by asymmetric Coulomb repulsion in a bipartite molecular device.

Interfacing magnetism with superconducting condensates are promising candidates holding Majorana bound states with which fault-tolerant quantum computation could be implemented. Within this field, understanding the detailed dynamics is important both for fundamental reasons and for the development of innovative quantum technologies. Herein, motivated by a molecular magnet Tb2Pc3interacting with a superconducting Pb(111) substrate, which results in spin-orbital Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states, as is affirmed by a theoretical simulation with the aid of the numerical renormalization group technique (see Xiaet al2022Nat. Commun.136388), we study the YSR states and quantum phase transitions (QPTs) in a bipartite molecular device adsorbed on ans-wave superconducting substrate. We highlight the effect of asymmetric Coulomb repulsion by computing the spectrum function and spin correlation function in various parameter regimes. We demonstrate that if one impurity is non-interacting, there are no YSR states in both impurities with any repulsion value in the other impurity. Whereas if the repulsion in one impurity is strong, the YSR states are observed in both impurities, and a QPT arises as the repulsion in the other impurity sweeps, assisted by the competition between the superconducting singlet (Cooper pair) and the Kondo singlet. The evolution of YSR states distinguishes from the single impurity case and can be well interpreted by the energy scales of the isotropic superconducting gap parameter, as well as the two Kondo temperatures. Our findings provide theoretical insights into the phase diagram of two magnetic impurities on a superconducting host and shine light on the effects induced by asymmetric Coulomb repulsion on many-body interactions.

Use of a tissue clearing technique combined with retrograde trans-synaptic viral tracing to evaluate changes in mouse retinorecipient brain regions following optic nerve crush.

Successful establishment of reconnection between retinal ganglion cells and retinorecipient regions in the brain is critical to optic nerve regeneration. However, morphological assessments of retinorecipient regions are limited by the opacity of brain tissue. In this study, we used an innovative tissue cleaning technique combined with retrograde trans-synaptic viral tracing to observe changes in retinorecipient regions connected to retinal ganglion cells in mice after optic nerve injury. Specifically, we performed light-sheet imaging of whole brain tissue after a clearing process. We found that pseudorabies virus 724 (PRV724) mostly infected retinal ganglion cells, and that we could use it to retrogradely trace the retinorecipient regions in whole tissue-cleared brains. Unexpectedly, PRV724-traced neurons were more widely distributed compared with data from previous studies. We found that optic nerve injury could selectively modify projections from retinal ganglion cells in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, intergeniculate leaflet, ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, central amygdala, basolateral amygdala, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, and oculomotor nucleus, but not the superior vestibular nucleus, red nucleus, locus coeruleus, gigantocellular reticular nucleus, or facial nerve nucleus. Our findings demonstrate that the tissue clearing technique, combined with retrograde trans-synaptic viral tracing, can be used to objectively and comprehensively evaluate changes in mouse retinorecipient regions that receive projections from retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve injury. Thus, our approach may be useful for future estimations of optic nerve injury and regeneration.

Effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on enamel formation of offspring mice / 中华口腔医学杂志

Objective: To investigate the effects of nicotine on the morphology, structure of offspring's dental germ, enamel organ and other dental tissues and the further potential epigenetic mechanisms by establishing prenatal nicotine exposure mouse model. Methods: Ten C57BL/6 pregnant mice were randomly divided into control group (physiological saline subcutaneous injection) and prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) group (nicotine subcutaneous injection) by using a random number table. Postnatal day 0 (P0), postnatal day 14 (P14) and postnatal day 25 (P25) offspring mice were collected for subsequent experiments. The offspring mice were divided into offspring control group and offspring PNE group according to the maternal group respectively. Weights of P0 and P25 offspring mice were recorded. Micro-CT, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Vickers hardness test were performed to analyze the related parameters of hard tissues including alveolar bones and mandibular incisors. Total RNAs were extracted from mandible tissues and the third generation of dental epithelial stem cells (DESC) in P25 mice. The relative expression levels of osteogenic and ameloblastic differentiation related genes were measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Immunohistochemical stainings of paraffin sections were then performed to observe the distribution and expression level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna), amelogenin (Amelx), histone H3 trimethylated at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were used to detect the cell viabilities of DESCs after administrations of different concentrations of nicotine (0.01, 0.1, 1 mmol/L) and GSK126 (an inhibitor of histone methyltransferase Ezh2). Results: Compared with the control group, pregnant mice in PNE group were more likely to have adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as significantly lower offspring body weight [P0: offspring control (1.20±0.04) g, offspring PNE (0.99±0.02) g, P<0.001; P25: offspring control (15.26±1.70) g, offspring PNE (9.65±1.32) g, P<0.001] and increased stillbirths rate [offspring control (0), offspring PNE (46.40±9.30) %, P<0.001]. At P14 and P25, the distance parameters between the enamel mineralized deposits of mandibular incisors and the mesial surface of the first molar in offspring PNE group [P14: (-1 349±45) μm; P25: (-1 192±147) μm] was significantly decreased compared with the control group [P14: (-506±380) μm, P25: (504±198) μm] (P<0.05, P<0.001). The enamel column and enamel column stroma of incisors in offspring PNE group were blurred, arranged loosely and disorderly than those in the control group, while the microhardness of incisor enamel in offspring PNE group [(245.7±18.4) MPa] was significantly lower compared to the control group [(371.9±28.7) MPa] (P<0.001). HE staining showed disordered pre-ameloblast (Pre-Am) arrangement and delayed mineralization deposition point in offspring PNE group compared with the control group, while the length of transit-amplifying cell (TA) and Pre-Am region were prolonged as well. Immunohistochemical staining results displayed that the overall Pcna (P<0.05), H3K27me3 (P<0.01), Ezh2 (P<0.01) expression of labial cervical loop (LaCL) in PNE group were increased, while the positive signal of Amelx in ameloblast cytoplasm was impaired. In vitro, the addition of 1 mmol/L nicotine could significantly upregulate the expression level of Pcna (P<0.01) and downregulate the expression levels of B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 (P<0.05), leucine rich repeats and immunoglobulin like domains 1 (P<0.05), Amelx (P<0.01). In addition, 1 mmol/L nicotine could also significantly enhance the proliferation activity of DESCs (P<0.001). Addition of 10 μmol/L GSK126, could rescue the proliferation activation effect of 1 mmol/L nicotine on DESCs. Conclusions: PNE may delay the process of enamel formation and lineage differentiation, leading to the abnormal proliferation of DESCs and changes of epigenetic modification state in H3K27me3, which affect the development of enamel in offspring mice,suggesting PNE might be one of risk environmental factor for tooth development.

Crown Ether Host-Guest Molecular Ferroelectrics.

In recent years, molecular ferroelectrics have received great attention due to their low weight, mechanical flexibility, easy preparation and excellent ferroelectric properties. Among them, crown-ether-based molecular ferroelectrics, which are typically composed of the host crown ethers, the guest cations anchored in the crown ethers, and the counterions, are of great interest because of the host-guest structure. Such a structure allows the components to occur order-disorder transition easily, which is beneficial for inducing ferroelectric phase transition. Herein, we summarized the research progress of crown ether host-guest molecular ferroelectrics, focusing on their crystal structure, phase transition, ferroelectric-related properties. In view of the small spontaneous polarization and uniaxial nature, we outlook the chemical design strategies for obtaining high-performance crown-ether-based molecular ferroelectrics. This minireview will be of guiding significance for the future exploration of crown ether host-guest molecular ferroelectrics.

PFM (piezoresponse force microscopy)-aided design for molecular ferroelectrics.

With prosperity, decay, and another spring, molecular ferroelectrics have passed a hundred years since Valasek first discovered ferroelectricity in the molecular compound Rochelle salt. Recently, the proposal of ferroelectrochemistry has injected new vigor into this century-old research field. It should be highlighted that piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) technique, as a non-destructive imaging and manipulation method for ferroelectric domains at the nanoscale, can significantly speed up the design rate of molecular ferroelectrics as well as enhance the ferroelectric and piezoelectric performances relying on domain engineering. Herein, we provide a brief review of the contribution of the PFM technique toward assisting the design and performance optimization of molecular ferroelectrics. Relying on the relationship between ferroelectric domains and crystallography, together with other physical characteristics such as domain switching and piezoelectricity, we believe that the PFM technique can be effectively applied to assist the design of high-performance molecular ferroelectrics equipped with multifunctionality, and thereby facilitate their practical utilization in optics, electronics, magnetics, thermotics, and mechanics among others.

Diagnostic and therapeutic values of PMEPA1 and its correlation with tumor immunity in pan-cancer.

AIMS: The prostate transmembrane protein, androgen induced 1 (PMEPA1) is differentially expressed in pan-cancer. However, PMEPA1 specific role in cancers has not been fully clarified. This study aims to explore the potential role of Pmepa1 in pan-cancer and specific cancer, with a view to deepening the research on the pathological mechanism of cancer. MAIN METHODS: The Perl language and R language were used to identify the correlation between PMEPA1 expression level and clinical indicators, prognosis values, tumor microenvironment, immune cells' infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, TMB and MSI. The Therapeutic Target Database was used for identifying potential therapeutic drugs that target the pathways that are significantly affected by PMEPA1 expression. KEY FINDINGS: PMEPA1 differential expression significantly correlated with patients' age, race, tumors' stage and status. PMEPA1 high expression was closely correlated with poor prognosis in many cancer types, excluding prostate adenocarcinoma. PMEPA1 expression was closely related to tumor cells and the immune microenvironment in stromal and immune cells' level, immune cells' infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability. We also found that the activity of the olfactory transduction pathway was closely related to PMEPA1 expression. In pan-cancer, Trifluoperazine and Halofantrine have the potential to reduce PMEPA1 expression. SIGNIFICANCE: This study integrated existing data to explore PMEPA1 potential function in cancers, provided insights for the future cancer-related studies.

Predictive risk factors for exudative retinal detachment after vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

This retrospective study investigated the risk factors of exudative retinal detachment (ERD) occurring after vitrectomy performed to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).All patients were treated with vitrectomy for PDR. Patients with history(s) of the following were excluded: ocular surgery (except phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation or retinal laser photocoagulation); ocular trauma; systemic diseases; ocular diseases; uveitis; scleritis; tumor; congenital ocular disorders; or others.Included were 205 eyes of 169 patients, of whom 18 (8.78%) developed ERD with varying degrees of exudative choroidal detachment after 1 to 3 days. Binary logistic regression showed the following association with the development of ERD: lower serum albumin concentration (P = .001); without intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drug injection before vitrectomy (P = .044); and history of phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation (P = .046). No association was found with gender; age; systolic pressure; diastolic pressure; panretinal photocoagulation; intraocular pressure on the 1st postoperative day; intraocular pressure on the 2nd postoperative day; serum albumin concentration; or blood urea nitrogen.Risk factors for ERD after vitrectomy for PDR include low serum albumin concentration, without history of intravitreal anti-VEGF drug injection before surgery, and a history of phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation.

Clinical, molecular genetic analysis, and treatment of 3 children with sitosterolemia / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To investigate clinical, molecular genetic characteristics, and treatment outcomes of 3 children with sitosterolemia.@*Methods@#Three cases of children presented with multiple xanthomas during June 2016 to June 2017 were included. The clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and analyzed with whole exome sequencing(WES). All the detected variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Plasma plant sterol concentrations were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.@*Results@#Three cases of children including 1 boy and 2 girls presented with multiple linear and intertriginous xanthomas around skin of the joint areas at the age from 15 months to 6 years and 2 months. Total cholesterol of the 3 cases was elevated to 14.45, 15.47 and 15.85 mmol/L (3.36-6.46), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol was 9.02, 13.54 and 12.47 mmol/L (< 3.36) respectively. Genetic analysis with WES revealed that 2 cases carried compound heterozygous variants in ABCG5 gene, 1 case carried compound heterozygous variants in ABCG8 gene. Two reported variants (p. N437K, p.R446X) and one novel variant (p.Q251X) of ABCG5 were identified in case 2 and 3. Two novel ABCG8 variants (p.R263Q, c.1528_1530delATC) were found in case 1. All these children had extremely high plasma plant sterol levels, thus the diagnosis of sitosterolemia was confirming. The campesterol level was 111.35, 102.86 and 58.91 μmol/L(0.01-10.00), the stigmasterol was 14.97, 29.43 and 17.79 μmol/L (0.10-8.50) and the sitosterol was 231.20, 177.66 and 114.20 μmol/L (1.00-15.00) respectively. The total serum cholesterol levels of three children decreased to nomal after the patients were placed on the low plant sterol/low cholesterol diet. The xanthomas regressed gradually, and almost disappeared after 8 months of treatment in case 1 and 3.@*Conclusions@#Children with sitosterolemia presented with skin xanthomas around the joint areas. The level of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and plant sterols increased obviously. One novel variant (p.Q251X) of ABCG5 and 2 novel variants (p.R263Q, c.1528_1530delATC) of ABCG8 were identified. Children with sitosterolemia responded well to a low plant sterols/low cholesterol diet.

The clinical and genetic analysis of glycogen storage disease type IV in 5 cases / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To investigate the characteristics of glycogen storage disease type IV (GSD IV) clinically, in laboratory tests and in gene mutation. Methods The clinical manifestations, biochemical indexes, activity of chitotriosidase, and the follow-up of the treatment in 5 cases of GSD IV were analyzed. Results Five patients (3 boys and 2 girls) aged 4 months - 5 years presented hepatosplenomegaly and elevated liver enzyme levels for 2 months at hospital visit. Two patients had motor developmental delay and weakness but their creatine kinase (CK) level were normal. Glycogen storage and liver fibrosis were observed in the liver biopsy in 4 patients. Target sequencing found that all 5 children carried the complex heterozygous mutation of the GBE1 gene with 2 reported mutations(p.R515C,p.R524Q)and 7 novel mutations.The novel mutation contains 5 missense mutations (p.I460T, p.F76S, p.F538V, p.L650R, p.W455R), one insertion mutations (c.141_142insGCGC), and one large fragment deletion (exon 3-7). Therefore, diagnosis of liver type of GSD IV was confirmed in those children. Two patients died of liver cirrhosis. The liver transplantation was performed due to liver cirrhosis in one patient whose chitotriosidase activity increased obviously before transplantation and decreased significantly after the transplantation and liver enzyme levels were returned to normal 4 months after transplantation. In the other two patients their growth and liver enzyme levels were normal;one had not received special treatments while the other was treated with raw corn starch and level of chitotriosidase was normal. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of GSD IV are heterogeneous. Target sequencing can be used for fast and noninvasive diagnosis of GSD IV. Chitotriosidase activity is useful in the prognosis assessment for GSD IV.

Clinical phenotypes and genetic study of 2 cases with 22q13 deletion syndrome / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the genetic etiology and clinical characteristics of 2 boys featuring development delay (DD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Routine chromosomal banding was performed to analyze the karyotypes of the patients and their parents. Single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array) analysis was employed to identify pathogenic deletion/duplication of chromosomes, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed to confirm the results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Patient 1 showed a global developmental delay, especially impaired language development, seizures, behavioral problems belonging to the autism spectrum and mild facial dysmorphism. Patient 2 mainly presented with severely delayed speech and moderate intellectual disability, but did not have obvious facial dysmorphism and autistic-like behavior. The diagnosis of 22q13 syndrome was established based on identification of a heterozygous microdeletion at chromosome 22q13.33 in both patients (69 kb and 587 kb, respectively) by the SNP array analysis. Both patients had deletions of SHANK3 and ACR, which are located at the end of 22q. Quantitative real-time PCR verified that the deletion of SHANK3 gene in both patients were de novo in origin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Two cases of 22q13 deletion syndrome have been diagnosed by SNP array analysis. Deletion of SHANK3 gene may be the major contributor to the clinical manifestations of the patients. SNP array analysis can facilitate discovery of microdeletions, which has played an important role in the diagnosis and genetic counseling for the family.</p>

Clinical and gene mutation analysis of three children with late-onset glycogen storage disease type Ⅱ with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical and laboratory features of three children with late-onset type Ⅱ glycogen storage disease(GSD) who presented with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and to analyze the effect of five mutations identified on the acid-α-glucosidase (GAA) activity and stability.@*Method@#Three cases of children with muscle weakness were included in this study.GAA activity was analyzed in Dried Blood Spot of the patients.DNA was extracted from peripheral blood in all the patients and their parents and subjected to polymerase chain reaction and directly sequencing of GAA gene.Five mutant pcDNA3.1-myc-his-GAA expression plasmids(p.G478R, p.P361L, p.P266S, p.Q323X, p.R672Q) were constructed and transient instantaneously transfected into 293T cells to analyze the enzyme activity and stability of GAA.@*Result@#All the three children had the onset of disease at 3 years or 1.5 years of age.They presented with developmental delay, muscle weakness and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.GAA activity of 3 patients was 2.65, 3.55 and 1.51 pmol(punch·h)(8.00-98.02)respectively. Genetic analysis found 5 mutations (p.G478R, p. P361L, p. P266S, p. Q323X, p. R672Q), and all of these 3 cases had clinical manifestations and were diagnosed as late-onset type Ⅱ glycogen storage disease.Five mutant pcDNA3.1-myc-his-GAA expression plasmids were transfected into 293T cells.Five mutant enzyme activities were found to be only 9.9%-22.5% of the wild-type enzyme activity and the protein expression of the five mutants was 32.0%-63.9% compared with the wild type.@*Conclusion@#This study reports 3 children with late-onset GSD Ⅱ accompanied by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and compensatory stage of cardiac function in addition to limb muscle weakness.Five pathogenic mutations were identified, and these 5 mutations result in decreased GAA activity and GAA expression by in vitro functional analysis.

Clinical features and PHKG2 gene mutation analysis of 5 Chinese patients with glycogen storage disease Ⅸc / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical, laboratory and genetic features of glycogen storage disease(GSD)IXc. Methods Five patients suspected as liver GSD were included in our study. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of all the patients and diagnoses were made after target sequencing to nearly 2700 disease causing genes. All detected mutations were confirmed in the probands and their parents. Further analysis was based on clinical features, routine laboratory examinations and treatment. Results All the 5 patients manifested with severe hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, moderately to severely elevated liver enzyme levels, hypertriglyceridemia and growth retardation. Four cases showed poor exercise tolerance but with normal creatine kinase (CK) levels. None of the patients showed liver cirrhosis. Growth velocity and hepatomegaly was improved after the uncooked corn starch treatment was initiated. In the 5 patients, 6 different pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations in the PHKG2 gene were identified, including one reported mutation (p.E157K) and five novel mutations (p.E56X, p.R185X, c.79_88delinsTCTGGTCG, c.761delC,p.R279C). The p.E157K was the most frequently mutation identified (6/12, 50%). Conclusions The p.E157K mutation is the hot mutation in our small cohort. Main clinical features of our patients include fasting hypoglycemia, impaired liver function,short statures and poor exercise tolerance, without developing liver cirrhosis.

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on human breast cancer cell line SKBR3 and its mechanism / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To observe the effect of curcumin on proliferation, apoptosis, Caspase-3 activity and telomerase activity of chronic granulocytic breast cancer SKBR3 cell line, and to investigate the mechanism of curcumin. Methods The cell growth curve was drawn by MTT;the apoptotic cells were detected by Annexin, V and PI double staining; the expression of Caspase-3 was detected by Westernblot; the activity of telomerase was detected by TRAP-PCR silver staining. Results Curcumin could significantly inhibit the proliferation of SKBR3 cells in a time and concentration dependent, has a certain effect on reducing the telomerase activity of SKBR3 cells can enhance the expression of Caspase-3 induced apoptosis. Conclusion Curcumin can effectively inhibit the proliferation of SKBR3 cells, increase the synthesis of Caspase-3 protein, inhibit the activity of telomerase and mediate the apoptosis of SKBR3 cells.

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on human breast cancer cell line SKBR3 and its mechanism / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To observe the effect of curcumin on proliferation, apoptosis, Caspase-3 activity and telomerase activity of chronic granulocytic breast cancer SKBR3 cell line, and to investigate the mechanism of curcumin. Methods The cell growth curve was drawn by MTT;the apoptotic cells were detected by Annexin, V and PI double staining; the expression of Caspase-3 was detected by Westernblot; the activity of telomerase was detected by TRAP-PCR silver staining. Results Curcumin could significantly inhibit the proliferation of SKBR3 cells in a time and concentration dependent, has a certain effect on reducing the telomerase activity of SKBR3 cells can enhance the expression of Caspase-3 induced apoptosis. Conclusion Curcumin can effectively inhibit the proliferation of SKBR3 cells, increase the synthesis of Caspase-3 protein, inhibit the activity of telomerase and mediate the apoptosis of SKBR3 cells.

Strain rate imaging assessment of left atrial early function in pilots with essential hypertension / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

Objective To assess the left atrial early function in pilots with essential hypertension by strian rate imaging (SRI). Methods Twenty-five hypertensive pilots without left ventricular hypertrophy and expansion (LVN) were selected. Twenty-ifve healthy pilots were included as control group. At the left ventricular apical four-chamber view, three-chamber view, two-chamber view, the systolic, early and late diastolic peak strain rate (SRs, SRe, SRa) curves were acquired by SRI in the basal section, the middle section and the upper section of the wall of left atrium. The average strain rate (mSRs, mSRe, mSRa) was calculated. The LA maximal, minimal and pre-systolic volume (LAVmax , LAVmin and LAVp), LA passive ejection fraction (LAPEF), LA active ejection fraction (LAAEF) , left atrial stroke volume (LASV), E/A and E/E′ were calculated. Results The LAPEF, LAAEF, LASV, E/A, E/E′were (38.96±6.43)%, (61.11±5.86)%, (14.74±5.33)mm, 1.23±0.08, 8.63±1.77 in the control group, and were (34.18±5.72)%, (63.23±6.89)%, (10.12±3.23)mm, 1.04±0.26, 7.16±0.84 in the study group. Compared with the control group, signiifcant difference was detect in LAPEF, LAAEF, LASV, E/E′(t=4.840, 2.690, 4.801, 2.950, all P<0.05). No signiifcant difference was found in E/A between the study and control group (t=-1.424, P=0.178). There was signiifcant positive correlation between SRa and E/E′(r=0.632, P<0.05). Conclusion SRI could be applied in the evaluation of early left atrial function. In pilots with essential hypertension, the changes of strain rate in left atrial wall, which is prior to the modeling geometry of left ventricular, could be detected by SRI.

[Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of ductal lesions of breast].

OBJECTIVE: To find out the most effective and combined cytomorphologic criteria trying to set up an effective diagnostic model for breast ductal lesion in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). METHODS: A total of 400 breast FNAC cases were collected with follow-up information of more than six years. A retrospective analysis including 104 non-proliferative breast diseases, 163 proliferative breast diseases and 133 carcinomas basing on the diagnostic results of surgical biopsies. Altogether, 60 cytomorphologic variables were counted for the evaluation of each case, including 4 main categories: the cellularity and components, natures of background, cellular arrangements and the cellular features. According to the quantity or the classification stage, the variables were semi-quantitatively scored. Multiple step-wise logistic regression (SPSS) and classification tree model (SAS) were performed to determine the significant and combined variables predictive for the diagnosis of non-proliferative lesion, proliferative breast diseases and carcinoma, respectively. RESULTS: (1) Among 400 benign and malignant cases studied, and basing on the result of analyses of multiple step-wise logistic regression system, intermingling of myoepithelial cells within the epithelial cluster (P < 0.05), presence of large epithelial cell cluster (P < 0.05), presence of small epithelial cell cluster (P < 0.05), cytoplasmic vacuoles (P < 0.05) and figures of "progressive intussusception" of cells (P < 0.1) were selected as the effectively differential diagnostic criteria for the benign and malignant lesions. However, according to the classification tree model, the most useful variable selected associating with the benign lesion was intermingling of myoepithelial cells within epithelial cluster. The diagnostic accuracy will be increased to 94.4%, if another criterion, presence of a big amount of large epithelial clusters, was used as the second useful variable in combination. Presence of a moderate to large amount of small epithelial cell clusters were indicative of proliferative lesion. If the criterion of myoepithelial cells intermingling within epithelial cluster was not found in the sample and associating with presence of small epithelial cell clusters, cytoplasmic vacuoles and figures of "progressive intussusception" of cells, mostly (81.3%), it would be considered as a case of carcinoma. (2) Among 267 benign non-proliferative and proliferative breast diseases studied, both the multiple step-wise logistic regression and classification tree model, presence of irregular intercellular spaces within the epithelial clusters (P = 0.001), loose epithelial clusters (P < 0.05) and hyperchromasia (P < 0.1) were selected as the significant differential diagnostic criteria for the proliferative lesion. The architectural variables and the amount of the abnormal cell features such as cell cluster formation were considered to be more important. A high frequency of presence of irregular intercellular spaces within the epithelial clusters and the amount of loose epithelial clusters indicated a higher possibility of a proliferative lesion. Presence of a single variable of irregular intercellular spaces within the epithelial clusters had the possibility of a benign lesion diagnosis up to 70.1% in all the proliferative breast disease cases collected in this series. If the frequency of irregular intercellular spaces increased to a moderate degree or even higher, the possibility of a benign lesion would be increased to 82.7%. The possibility of a proliferative breast disease would be reached to 87.5%, if both the criteria of irregular intercellular spaces and loosely arranged epithelial cell clusters were counted in combination. (3) The histological results of 35 lesions with atypical cytological features in FNAC specimens were predominantly a proliferative lesion of the breast (26 cases), and most of them were fibroadenoma with ductal hyperplasia. Occasionally, there might be a few benign cases complicating with lesions of atypical hyperplasia or carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: In breast FNAC diagnosis, a combined evaluation of significant variables and the amount of the variable involved are effective for the differential diagnosis between benign/malignant and non-proliferative/proliferative lesions. Lesion accompanying with atypical cellular features should avoid to be overdiagnosed as carcinoma, and biopsy for a histological diagnosis is indicative.

Pseudosarcomatous fasciitis and myositis: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Nodular fasciitis (NF), proliferative fasciitis (PF), and proliferative myositis (PM) are pseudosarcomatous lesions that typically resolve spontaneously. We previously reported the feasibility of diagnosing this family of lesions by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) based on 17 cases. The present study included 52 new cases (NF, 46; PF, 3; PM, 3) diagnosed by FNAC at Kiang Wu Hospital, Macau, 2001 to 2007, to validate the diagnostic features. All lesions appeared as recent-onset, small, superficially located, rapidly growing nodules. In 88% of cases (46/52: NF, 41; PF, 2; PM, 3), spontaneous resolution occurred in 1 to 16 weeks (median, 2 weeks) after FNAC diagnosis. FNAC smears were characterized by a hypercellular and polymorphic pattern of lesional cells and distinctive ganglion cell-like cells in most cases. Most cases of NF (36/46 [78%]) showed "typical" cytologic features. A minority of NF cases showed granuloma-like or myxoid features. FNAC is an effective diagnostic tool for NF, PF, and PM; a correct cytologic diagnosis spares patients an operative procedure. Excisional biopsy can be reserved for cases showing atypical clinical courses or in which FNAC shows low cellularity with absence of ganglion cell-like cells.

[Isolation, identification of Acidithiobacillus sp. and its role in the removal of heavy metals from contaminated sediments].

A sulfur-oxidizing bacterium FD97 was isolated from heavy metal-contaminated river sediments. According to the morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of 16S rDNA of FD97, the strain was identified as Acidithiobacillus sp.. The effects of temperature on heavy metals bioleaching efficiencies from contaminated sediments by using Acidithiobacillus sp. FD97 were investigated in shake flask experiments. The tests were performed at four different temperatures in the range of 22-40 degrees C. The results showed that after 16 days of bioleaching, almost 70% of Zn, 90% of Cu, and 25% of Cr could be removed from the sediments, respectively. From the variations of pH reduction, sulfate production, and metals removal, the order of bioleaching efficiency at different temperatures was 34 degrees C > 28 degrees C approximately to 40 degrees C > 22 degrees C. The preferable temperature used for the future larger-scale bioleaching process is 28 degrees C. It was found that during the bioleaching process, temperature did not directly affect the metal removal process; the final level of metal removal achieved was highly correlated to sediment pH. When the pH decreased to 5.0, 3.5, and 2.5, the removal of Zn, Cu, and Cr began to increase sharply, respectively, and the maximum metal removal could be achieved when the pH decreased to below 2.0.

[Effects of alternative partial rootzone irrigation on peach growth, productivity, and water use efficiency].

Taking 12-year-old peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch cv. Ruiguang 5) as test material, this paper studied the effects of alternative partial rootzone irrigation (APRI) on its growth, productivity, and water use efficiency under semi-arid climate condition. The results showed that in APRI treatments, the soil water content in the wet side of peach tree decreased with increasing soil depth, while that in the dry side was in adverse, with the maximal difference appeared in 0-25 cm soil layer. In the treatments of APRI with an interval of 2 and 4 weeks, the leaf water potential at pre-dawn was lower than that in the control (sufficient irrigation), but with the time prolonged, this potential in all treatments tended to decrease, and had no significant difference in the afternoon. The peach yield in APRI treatments was 10% lower than that in the control, but the irrigation amount was reduced by 50%, and the water use efficiency was increased by 75%. APRI significantly limited the shoot growth of peach tree, but had no obvious effect on the fruit diameter.