Accuracy of Magnetically Controlled Capsule Endoscopy, Compared With Conventional Gastroscopy, in Detection of Gastric Diseases.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Diseases of the stomach, including gastric cancer and peptic ulcer, are the most common digestive diseases. It is impossible to visualize the entire stomach with the passive capsule currently used in practice because of the large size of the gastric cavity. A magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) system has been designed to explore the stomach. We performed a prospective study to compare the accuracy of detection of gastric focal lesions by MCE vs conventional gastroscopy (the standard method). METHODS: We performed a multicenter blinded study comparing MCE with conventional gastroscopy in 350 patients (mean age, 46.6 y), with upper abdominal complaints scheduled to undergo gastroscopy at a tertiary center in China from August 2014 through December 2014. All patients underwent MCE, followed by conventional gastroscopy 2 hours later, without sedation. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of detection of gastric focal lesions by MCE, using gastroscopy as the standard. RESULTS: MCE detected gastric focal lesions in the whole stomach with 90.4% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI], 84.7%-96.1%), 94.7% specificity (95% CI, 91.9%-97.5%), a positive predictive value of 87.9% (95% CI, 81.7%-94.0%), a negative predictive value of 95.9% (95% CI, 93.4%-98.4%), and 93.4% accuracy (95% CI, 90.83%-96.02%). MCE detected focal lesions in the upper stomach (cardia, fundus, and body) with 90.2% sensitivity (95% CI, 82.0%-98.4%) and 96.7% specificity (95% CI, 94.4%-98.9%). MCE detected focal lesions in the lower stomach (angulus, antrum, and pylorus) with 90.6% sensitivity (95% CI, 82.7%-98.4%) and 97.9% specificity (95% CI, 96.1%-99.7%). MCE detected 1 advanced gastric carcinoma, 2 malignant lymphomas, and 1 early stage gastric tumor. MCE did not miss any lesions of significance (including tumors or large ulcers). Among the 350 patients, 5 reported 9 adverse events (1.4%) and 335 preferred MCE over gastroscopy (95.7%). CONCLUSIONS: MCE detects focal lesions in the upper and lower stomach with comparable accuracy with conventional gastroscopy. MCE is preferred by almost all patients, compared with gastroscopy, and can be used to screen gastric diseases without sedation. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT02219529.

Onco-microRNA miR-130b promoting cell growth in children APL by targeting PTEN.

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of microRNA-130b (miR-130b) in children acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and its role for regulating PTEN expression. METHODS: A total of 50 children APL marrow tissues and 15 normal marrow tissues between January and December in 2012 were collected into our study. The expression of miR-130b in APL and normal marrow tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. MiR-130b inhibitor was transfected into HL-60 cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. The expression of PTEN, a potential target of miR-130b, and its downstream genes, Bcl-2 and Bax, in transformed cells were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western-blot. RESULTS: The expression of miR-130b was significantly higher in children APL marrow tissues than in normal marrow tissues (P < 0.05). Down-regulation of miR-130b could significantly suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells (P < 0.05). PTEN expression was upregulated when miR-130b was knocking-down (P < 0.05). As downstream genes of PTEN, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were regulated as well. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-130b is overexpressed in children APL marrow tissues and associated with cell growth. MiR-130b may promote children APL progression by inducing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.

[Effects of applying selenium on selenium allocation, grain yield, and grain quality of two maize cultivars].

A pot experiment with conventional maize cultivar ZD958 and glutinous maize cultivar JN218 was conducted to study the effects of applying different concentrations (0, 10, 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1)) of selenium (Se) on the Se allocation in plant organs, grain yield, and its quality. At low concentrations (< or = 10 mg x kg(-1)), Se stimulated maize growth, and increased biomass accumulation and grain yield significantly. At high concentrations (> 25 mg x kg(-1)), Se inhibited maize growth, and decreased dry mass accumulation, grain yield, and its quality. The Se concentration in plant organs was in the order of root > leaf > stalk > sheath. The Se concentrations in plant organs had a positive correlation with the Se concentration in soil. Comparing with ZD958, JN218 could accumulate more Se in natural low-Se environment, but enrich lesser Se in the environment with 10 mg x kg(-1) of Se. Taking the Se accumulation amount in grain and aboveground vegetative organs as the standard for evaluation, JN218 was more available planted on natural low-Se (0.25 mg x kg(-1)) soil or high-Se (25 mg x kg(-1)) soil, while ZD958 was appropriate planted on Se-rich (10 mg x kg(-1)) soil or Se-polluted (50 mg x kg(-1)) soil.

[Characteristics of organic carbon forms in the sediment of Wuliangsuhai and Daihai Lakes].

The characteristics and differences of organic carbon forms in the sediments of the Wuliangsuhai and the Daihai Lakes with different eutrophication types were discussed in the present study. The results showed that the range of total organic carbon content (TOC) in Wuliangsuhai Lake was 4.50-22.83 g x kg(-1) with the average of 11.80 g x kg(-1). The range of heavy-fraction organic carbon content was 3.38-21.67 g x kg(-1) with the average of 10.76 g x kg(-1). The range of light-fraction organic carbon content was 0.46-1.80 g x kg(-1) with the average of 1.04 g x kg(-1); The range of ROC content was 0.62-3.64 g x kg(-1) with the average of 2.11 g x kg(-1), while the range of total organic carbon content in Daihai lake was 6.84-23.46 g x kg(-1) with the average of 14.94 g x kg(-1). The range of heavy-fraction organic carbon content was 5.27-22.23 g x kg(-1) with the average of 13.89 g x kg(-1). The range of light-fraction organic carbon content was 0.76-1.57 g x kg(-1). The range of ROC content was 1.54-7.08 g x kg(-1) with the average of 3.62 g x kg(-1). The results indicated that the heavy-fraction organic carbon was the major component of the organic carbon and plays an important role in the accumulation of organic carbon in the sediments of two Lakes. The content of light-fraction organic carbon was similar in the sediments of two lakes, whereas, the contents of total organic carbon and heavy-fraction organic carbon in the sediment of Wuliangsuhai Lake were less than those in the sediment of Daihai Lake, and the value of LFOC/TOC in the Wuliangsuhai Lake was larger than that in the Daihai Lake. The humin was the dominant component of the sediment humus, followed by fulvic acid in the two lakes. The values of HM/HS in the sediments of Wuliangsuhai lake range from 43.06% to 77.25% with the average of 62.15% and values of HM/HS in the sediments of Dahai lake range from 49.23% to 73.85% with the average of 65.30%. The tightly combined humus was the dominant form in the sediment humus of two lakes, and the followed was loosely combined humus. As a whole, the carbon storage of two lakes were all relatively stable, but the values of PQ, LFOC/TOC, the ratio of loosely to tightly combined humus and HA/FA revealed that, in the sediment of Wuliangsuhai, the humification degree of organic matter was lower than that of Daihai, while the activity of humus was higher than that of Daihai, thus the carbon storage is less stable than that of Daihai.

[P-selectin gene -2123 polymorphism in children with Henoch-Sch-nlein purpura].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether P-selectin gene -2123 polymorphism is associated with the pathogenesis of Henoch-Sch-nlein purpura (HSP) in children. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) is used to identify the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies of P-selectin gene promoter -2123 polymorphism in 86 children with HSP (including 40 cases of purpura nephritis) and 70 healthy controls. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy controls, the frequencies of GG genotype and G allele of P-selectin promoter -2123 in children with HSP increased significantly (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in P-selectin promoter -2123 genotype and allele frequencies between the patients with and without nephritis. CONCLUSIONS: P-selectin gene promoter -2123 polymorphism appears to be associated with the pathogenesis of HSP in children.

[Examination of silicate limitation of primary production by diatoms phytoplankton in the Daihai Lake].

The Daihai Lake (40 degrees 29'27"-40 degrees 37'6"N, 112 degrees 33'31"-112 degrees 46'40"E) is a typical inland lake in a semiarid region in Inner Mongolia, China. Based on the geochemistry character of biogenic silica (BSi) in the water-sediments system of the Daihai Lake, the theory of silicate limitation of Primary Production by Diatoms phytoplankton in the Daihai Lake are discussed in this work by interpreting the information of the BSi concentrations, horizontal and vertical distributions and the response relation between BSi and past environmental conditions. It is found that the concentration of Si is very low in overlying water while very high in the sediments. The spatial distribution patters of SiO3(2-) and BSi suggest the Si source of the lake. The geochemistry information of BSi is well archived in the lake sediment profiles, and the geochemistry information of BSi well responses to the past environmental conditions of the Daihai drainage basin. The ratios between Si, and C, N, P in the water-sediment system and the response relation between BSi and past environmental conditions indicate the main reasons for the theory of silicate limitation of Primary Production by Diatoms phytoplankton. Furthermore, the dominant factor for silicate limitation of Primary Production by Diatoms phytoplankton is different in different periods.

[Effects of arsenic on maize growth, antioxidant system, and ion distribution].

A greenhouse sand culture experiment was conducted to study the effects of arsenic (As) on the biomass accumulation, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant system, and the absorption and distribution of As and mineral ions in maize Zhengdan 958. At lower concentrations (<2 mg As x L(-1)), As stimulated the growth of maize seedlings, and increased the plant height, taproot length, and biomass accumulation significantly; at higher concentrations (>4 mg As x L(-1)), As inhibited the seedlings growth severely. At 2 mg As x L(-1), the chlorophyll a, b, and a+b contents reached their peaks; but with increasing As concentration, the chlorophyll contents decreased gradually. At 10 mg As x L(-1), the destruction of chloroplast structure and the dissolution of thylakoid membrane were observed by electron microscopy. With increasing As concentration, the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, POD, and CAT in root increased, and those in leaf reached the maximum at 8 mg As x L(-1). The sensibility of the enzymes in leaf to As stress was in the order of POD >CAT>SOD. Correlation analysis showed that the contents of MDA, soluble sugar, and soluble protein were positively correlated with As concentration. High concentration As inhibited the absorption of P, K, Ca, Fe and other elements obviously. And comparing with shoot, root was more sensitive to As stress. The growth indices of root could be more available to be used as the indicators of plant arsenic toxicity.

[Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in suspended particulate matters from the Yangtze estuarine and coastal areas].

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in suspended particulate matters (SPMs) from the Yangtze estuary and coastal areas were determined with GC-ECD. The results show that concentrations of PCBs range from 2.5 - 51.5 ng/g, with an average of 13.2 ng/g. PCBs concentrations are higher in SPMs than in surface sediments at most of sampling stations. It was also found that the distribution of PCBs had no significant relationship with grain size and organic matter. In addition, the congeners of PCBs were characterized by less chlorinated compounds, with 2 - 5CB accounting for 74.9% - 100% except at Donghai site, and 2CB was dominant among the congeners of PCBs in all samples, which maybe be related to the history of production and use for PCBs in China. But it was different from the surface sediments that dominated by 3CB, which showed that there was new inputs recently. Compared with the concentration levels of PCBs at other estuarine and coastal areas, it was shown that there existed a moderate level of contamination in the study area.

[Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in animals from the Yangtze River Estuary and coastal areas].

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the animals of the Yangtze estuarine and coastal areas were determined with GC-ECD. The results showed that the concentration distribution of PCBs ranged from 43.7 to 1260.4 ng/g, with an average value of 342.5 ng/g; 1.5-159.4 ng/g and 33.7 ng/g for DDTs; 0.9-77.0 ng/g and 13.0 ng/g for HCHs. The spatial distribution patterns of different contaminants in the same animal species and the same pollutant in the different animal species didn't follow obvious laws. Whereas, animals of the same species were characterized by higher contamination levels for males than females, and the small individuals than large ones. Compared with other areas at home and abroad and low-high level limits, a preliminary assessment was presented. As a result, it was shown that there existed a moderate level, to some extent, with the contamination in the animals from the study area.

[Clinical impact of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase messenger RNA subtypes on early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) expresses gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) with unique carbohydrate moieties compared with normal liver GGT enzymes, this unique GGT was used as a marker for the diagnosis of HCC. However, the genomic changes in GGT relating to the development of HCC are not known. This study was designed to explore the relationship between alteration in GGTmRNA subtypes and the development of HCC, and to seek a new method for early diagnosis of HCC. METHODS: Three GGTmRNA subtypes (F, H, P) were determined bu using RT-PCR in normal liver tissues, diseased liver tissues without HCC, cancerous and noncancerous tissues from the livers with HCC, noncancerous tissues from secondary carcinoma of liver and peripheral blood of all cases. RESULTS: The main subtype of GGTmRNA was type F in normal liver tissues, liver tissues from noncancerous liver diseases and paracancerous tissues from secondary carcinoma of liver. The prevalence of subtype H was significantly higher in cancerous tissues, adjacent paracancerous and distal cancerous tissues from the livers with HCC than that in tissues from normal livers and noncancerous liver diseases (P < 0.05). The prevalence of subtype F in cancerous tissues was significantly lower than that in tissues from normal livers and noncancerous liver diseases (P < 0.05). Among 26 patients with HCC, GGTmRNA-H in peripheral blood was found in 12 cases. In 10 HCC patients with negative AFP, GGTmRNA-H in peripheral blood was found in 5 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The changes of GGTmRNA subtypes are closely related to the development of HCC, and the analysis of GGT genes might be a sensitive assay to monitor the hepatic cell canceration.