[Efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical decortication for stage â ¢ tuberculous empyema].

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy, safety and feasibility of "double-portal" video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical(VATS) decortication among patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema, and then to evaluate the recovery of chest deformity. Method: This study was a single center retrospective study. A total of 49 patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema who underwent VATS pleural decortication at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu between June 2017 and April 2021 were enrolled, including 38 males, and 11 females, aged 13-60 (27.5±10.4) years. The safety and feasibility of VATS were further evaluated. The inner circumference of the chest on sternal and xiphoid planes on chest CT scans before and 1, 3, 6, 12months after decortication were collected through the measuring software of the CT. The samples in-pair test was used to compare the changes in the chest to reflect the recovery of the chest deformity. Results: In the 49 patients, The surgical time was (186±61) min, and the volume of blood loss was (366±267) ml. There were 8 cases (16.33%) with postoperative complications during the perioperative period. Constant air leak and pneumonia were the main postoperative complications. No relapse of empyema or dissemination of tuberculosis occured during the period of follow-up. Before surgery, the inner thoracic circumference of the thorax at the level of the carina plane was (655±54) mm, and the inner thoracic circumference of the thorax at the level of the xiphoid plane was (720±69) mm. Patients were followed for 12-36 months. The inner thoracic circumference of the thoracic cavity at the level of carina was (666±51), (667±47) and (671±47) mm at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months after operation, which were significantly larger than that at the level of carina before operation (all P<0.05). The inner thoracic circumference diameter of the thoracic cavity measured at the xiphoid level at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months after the operation was (730±65), (733±63) and (735±63) mm respectively(all P<0.05).The inner thoracic circumference of the thoracic cavity increased significantly than that before surgery (P<0.05). At 6 months after operation, there was significant difference in the improvement of the inner thoracic circumference of the carina plane in patients with age less than 20 years and FEV1% less than 80% (P=0.015, P=0.003). The improvement in the inner thoracic circumference of the carina plane in patients with pleural thickening≥8 mm compared with those with less than 8 mm was not statistically different(P=0.070). Conclusions: For some patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema, pleural decortication under thoracoscopy is safe and feasible, and can significantly restore the inner thoracic circumference of the patient's chest, improve the collapse of the patient's chest, and have significant clinical effect. The "double-portal VATS" surgical technology has the advantage of less trauma, wide operation field, large operation space and is easy to master, which is worth further exploring for clinical application.

[Multiple pulmonary masses with diffuse cystic lesions].

A 50-year-old female patient, presenting with a past history of Reynaud's syndrome, xerostomia and xerophthalmia, was admitted to Fujian Provincial Hospital because of coughing for 10 days and left anterior chest pain for 1 day. Chest imaging showed multiple nodules and masses, and diffuse cystic lesions in both lungs. Based on the differential diagnosis of multiple pulmonary masses and diffuse cystic lesions respectively, autoantibodies, radionuclide dynamic imaging of the parotid, positron emission tomography-CT, CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy, and other examinations were performed. The diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma stage ⅣA (lung, parotid gland) and Sjögren's syndrome was confirmed. By analyzing the imaging features and pathogenesis in detail, the diffuse cystic lesions of both lungs were considered to be related to lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia caused by Sjögren's syndrome. The pulmonary space-occupying lesions in the lungs were significantly absorbed after RCHOP regimen for lymphoma.

[A prospective multi-center clinical investigation of HIV-negative pulmonary cryptococcosis in China].

Objective: To investigate the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis in respiratory medicine and improve the understanding of the clinical characteristics of HIV-negative pulmonary cryptococcosis in China. Methods: A prospective multi-center open cohort study was designed to screen for pulmonary cryptococcosis in the general wards and intensive care units of the Department of Respiratory Diseases in 22 hospitals. The HIV-negative patients with positive cryptococcal etiological diagnosis based on smear culture, antigen detection and histopathology were enrolled in the study. The clinical data of enrolled patients were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 457 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis were enrolled, among which 3.28% (15/457) were disseminated infections. The case fatality rate was 0.88% (4/457). The majority of the cases were diagnosed by histopathological examinations (74.40%, 340/457) and cryptococcus antigen detection (37.64%, 172/457). Patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis accounted for 2.04‰ (457/223 748) of the total hospitalized patients in the Department of Respiratory Diseases during the same period, and the ratio was the highest in south and east China. Meanwhile, 70.24% (321/457) of the patients had no underlying diseases, while 87.75% (401/457) were found to have immunocompetent status. Cough and expectoration were the most common clinical symptoms in patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis. However, 25.16% (115/457) of the patients had no clinical symptom or physical signs. In terms of imaging features on pulmonary CT, multiple pulmonary lesions were more common than isolated lesions, and there were more subpleural lesions than perihilar or medial lesions. Morphologically, most of the lesions were middle-sized nodules (1-5 cm) or small-sized nodules (3 mm to 1 cm). The sensitivity of serum cryptococcus antigen test was 71.99% (203/282). Moreover, antigen-positive patients differed from antigen-negative patients in terms of basic immune status, clinical symptoms, imaging features and infection types. Meanwhile, immunocompromised patients differed from immunocompetent patients in terms of clinical symptoms, physical signs, infection-related inflammation indicator levels, imaging features, serum cryptococcus antigen positive rate and prognosis. Conclusions: The majority of cases of HIV-negative pulmonary cryptococcosis in China had no underlying disease or immunocompromised status, and the overrall prognosis was favorable. However, early diagnosis of HIV-negative pulmonary cryptococcosis remains challenging due to the complicated manifestations of the disease.

[Surveillance of soil-borne nematodiasis in Yancheng City from 2016 to 2020].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections in Yancheng City from 2016 to 2020, so as to provide insights into the development of the scheme for further soil-transmitted nematodiasis surveillance. METHODS: Soil-borne nematode infections were detected using the modified Kato-Katz method (two slides for one sample) among the permanent residents living in Yancheng City from 2016 to 2020, and Enterobius vermicularis infection was additionally detected among children at ages of 12 years and lower using the adhesive cellophane-tape perianal swab method. The prevalence and intensity of human soil-borne nematode and E. vermicularis infections were descriptively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 51 259 person-time residents were detected for soil-borne nematode infections in Yancheng City from 2016 to 2020, and 48 egg-positives were identified, with a 0.09% prevalence. The soil-borne nematodes infecting residents included Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuris trichiura, with 0.04%, 0.05% and 0.002% prevalence rates of infections, and all infections were mild. There was a region-specific prevalence of soil-borne nematode infections in Yancheng City (χ2 = 18.21, P = 0.02), with the highest prevalence seen in Funing County (0.21%), while no infections were detected in Dafeng District for five successive years. The overall prevalence of E. vermicularis infections was 0.22% among children at ages of 12 years and lower in Yancheng City. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of soil-borne nematode infections appears a gradual decline in residents living in Yancheng City from 2016 to 2020, and is at an extremely low level. Further surveillance of soil-transmitted nematodiasis requires to be intensified targeting key regions and populations to consolidate the control achievements.

Charge inhomogeneity of carbon.

Charge distribution on every atom of carbon matter in four dimension forms (cluster, fullerene, atomistic carbon chain, nanotube, graphene, surface and solid) was investigated by the first-principles calculation. It is found that the charge distribution in most of these materials is inhomogeneous, even in one certain solid phase. We found that if one atom in carbon has different surrounding environment from another one nearby, they always have electron transfer, that is, they have different charge. In round C10 ring, C24 and C60 fullerenes, charge is zero, while charge is not zero in pentagon C10 ring, C30 and C70 fullerenes. At the ends of atomistic chains, nanotube or on the edges of graphenes, carbon atoms have larger positive or negative charge, while almost zero in the central parts. Charge is zero in diamond and graphite, while it is not zero in the high pressure solid phase hexagonite or on some carbon surfaces. The non-zero charge in carbon possibly means its non-zero valence.

Clinical characteristics of lip infantile haemangiomas and main risk factors for ulceration: an 8-year retrospective study of 69 Chinese infants.

BACKGROUND: Infantile haemangiomas (IHs) involving the lip are of special concern because of the susceptibility of complications, including ulceration, obstruction and disfigurement. The available data for the relationship between their clinical characteristics and ulcerations are limited. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical characteristics of lip IHs and to evaluate the main risk factors for ulceration. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed that included infants with lip IHs during an 8-year period, the clinical data of participants were collected, and univariable and multivariable logistic models were used to determine the relationships between the clinical characteristics of lip IHs and ulcerations. Location, size and type were investigated as potential independent factors influencing the development of ulceration. RESULTS: A total of 69 lip IHs were identified including 40 girls and 29 boys. Ulcerations were found in 37 (53.6%) lip IHs. Lip haemangiomas experiencing ulceration had a mean size (SD) of 3.49 (2.82) cm2 compared with 1.08 (0.96) cm2 for those without ulceration. Twenty-eight (52.8%) of the 53 localized haemangiomas and 9 (56.3%) of the 16 segmental haemangiomas experienced ulcerations. Univariable analyses of all investigated factors revealed significant associations of location and size with increased risk of ulceration, and these significant associations remained after adjusting for sex and age [OR 8.61 (95% CI, 2.24-33.13) and 2.62 (95% CI, 1.46-4.72), respectively]. The duration before ulceration was between 4 and 70 days after the occurrence of lip IHs, with a median of 28 (19.41) days. Most ulcers occurred within 45 days of IH occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Ulceration is a common complication of lip IHs at an earlier stage. A swollen with pale or bright crimson appearance of the lip IH surface could be an important signal of subsequent ulceration. Location of the IH on the lower lip and lip IH size are risk factors for the occurrence of ulceration.

Comparison of the degradation behavior of PLGA scaffolds in micro-channel, shaking, and static conditions.

Degradation of scaffolds is an important problem in tissue regeneration management. This paper reports a comparative study on degradation of the printed 3D poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold under three conditions, namely, micro-channel, incubator static, and incubator shaking in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution. In the case of the micro-channel condition, the solution was circulated. The following attributes of the scaffold and the solution were measured, including the mass or weight loss, water uptake, morphological and structural changes, and porosity change of the scaffold and the pH value of the PBS solution. In addition, shear stress in the scaffold under the micro-channel condition at the initial time was calculated with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to see how the shear stress factor may affect the morphological change of the scaffold. The results showed that the aforementioned attributes in the condition of the micro-channel were significantly different from the other two conditions. The mechanisms that account for the results were proposed. The reasons behind the results were explored. The main contributions of the study were (1) new observations of the degradation behavior of the scaffold under the micro-channel condition compared with the conditions of incubator static and incubator shaking along with underlying reasons, (2) new understanding of the role of the shear stress in the scaffold under the condition of the micro-channel to the morphological change of the scaffold, and (3) new understanding of interactions among the attributes pertinent to scaffold degradation, such as weight loss, water uptake, pH value, porosity change, and morphological change. This study sheds important light on the scaffold degradation to be controlled more precisely.

[Association of PD-1, TIM-3 and TREM-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms with pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility].

Objective: To investigate the association of programmed cell death 1(PD-1), T cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 (TIM-3) and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) genes polymorphisms with pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility. Methods: In this case-control study, peripheral venous blood of 100 pulmonary tuberculosis patients (pulmonary tuberculosis group) in the Jintan People's Hospital of Changzhou and of community physical examination volunteers (health control group) was collected from Mar 2015 to Sep 2016. A total of 66 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in PD-1, TIM-3 and TREM1 sequences were selected and SNP genotype and allele frequency were analyzed using the next-generation sequencing technology. Association of these SNP with pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility was investigated using linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis and genetic models. Results: Among these 66 SNP, 24 SNP with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium P (HWE-P) value <0.001 or minimum allele frequency (MAF) <0.05 were kicked out. The remaining 42 SNP were analyzed with LD analysis and genetic models. There was no significant difference in genotype frequencies between pulmonary tuberculosis group and health control group (all P>0.05). Five SNP (rs41435650, rs28539662, rs13023138, rs75565781, rs36084323) in PD-1 were identified in a significant haplotype (TACGC) between pulmonary tuberculosis group and health control group (P=0.014). Among these haplotypes, strong LD was observed between rs28539662 and rs75565781 (r(2)=0.871), as well as rs36084323 (r(2)=0.864). Rs75565781 showed highest correlation with rs36084323 (r(2)=0.966). Conclusion: These SNP in PD-1, TIM-3 and TREM-1 genes are not associated with the susceptibility of pulmonary tuberculosis.

INTU is essential for oncogenic Hh signaling through regulating primary cilia formation in basal cell carcinoma.

Inturned (INTU), a cilia and planar polarity effector, performs prominent ciliogenic functions during morphogenesis, such as in the skin. INTU is expressed in adult tissues but its role in tissue maintenance is unknown. Here, we report that the expression of the INTU gene is aberrantly elevated in human basal cell carcinoma (BCC), coinciding with increased primary cilia formation and activated hedgehog (Hh) signaling. Disrupting Intu in an oncogenic mutant Smo (SmoM2)-driven BCC mouse model prevented the formation of BCC through suppressing primary cilia formation and Hh signaling, suggesting that Intu performs a permissive role during BCC formation. INTU is essential for intraflagellar transport A complex assembly during ciliogenesis. To further determine whether Intu is directly involved in the activation of Hh signaling downstream of ciliogenesis, we examined the Hh signaling pathway in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, which readily responds to the Hh pathway activation. Depleting Intu blocked Smo agonist-induced Hh pathway activation, whereas the expression of Gli2ΔN, a constitutively active Gli2, restored Hh pathway activation in Intu-deficient cells, suggesting that INTU functions upstream of Gli2 activation. In contrast, overexpressing Intu did not promote ciliogenesis or Hh signaling. Taken together, data obtained from this study suggest that INTU is indispensable during BCC tumorigenesis and that its aberrant upregulation is likely a prerequisite for primary cilia formation during Hh-dependent tumorigenesis.

[Application of long term video electroencephalogram and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in detection of cognition in patients with benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes].

Objective: To study the relationship between the changes of brain network and cognition in patients with benign epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) by using long term video electroencephalogram (VEEG) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) technology. Methods: Eleven patients with right-handed were recruited (from April 2015 to September 2016) from epilepsy specialist outpatients and functional department of neurosurgery of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital. They all underwent the long term VEEG monitoring (one sleep cycle was included at least). According to the spike-wave index (SWI) during slow ware sleep, they were divided into two groups: SWI<50% (5 cases) and SWI≥50% (6 cases). All the patients were assessed with cognitional test including language, execution, memory and attention. They also underwent the head MRI, RS-fMRI examinations. Then the results were comparatively analysed. Results: (1)There were no statisticaly significance in sex, age, age of onset, disease course, total number of seizures, years of education (P>0.05). The Full Intelligence Quotient (FIQ) (87±18), Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ) (88±15) and Performance Intelligence Quotient (PIQ) (89±20) of SWI≥50% group were lower than SWI<50% group(118±8, 114±11, 119±5) and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). (2)There was a negative correlation between the FIQ (P=0.002), VIQ (P=0.006), PIQ (P=0.001) and SWI. The FIQ, VIQ and PIQ had no correlation with the sex, age, age of onset, disease course, total number of seizures, years of education (P>0.05). (3)Compared with SWI<50% group, SWI≥50% group showed increased regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the bilateral precentral gyrus, premotor area and the subcortical structure, the right temporal lobe and the bilateral insular lobe(P<0.05); while they showed decreased ReHo in the posterior cingulate gyrus, right posterior inferior temporal lobe and right occipital lobe(P<0.05). Conclusion: The change of the brain network which is caused by the paradoxical and constant discharge during slow ware sleep in patients with BECTS may affect the development of cognition.

Filterscope diagnostic system on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST).

A filterscope diagnostic system has been mounted to observe the line emission and visible bremsstrahlung emission from plasma on the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak during the 2014 campaign. By this diagnostic system, multiple wavelengths including Dα (656.1 nm), Dγ (433.9 nm), He ii (468.5 nm), Li i (670.8 nm), Li ii (548.3 nm), C iii (465.0 nm), O ii (441.5 nm), Mo i (386.4 nm), W i (400.9 nm), and visible bremsstrahlung radiation (538.0 nm) are monitored with corresponding wavelength filters. All these multi-channel signals are digitized at up to 200 kHz simultaneously. This diagnostic plays a crucial role in studying edge localized modes and H-mode plasmas, due to the high temporal resolution and spatial resolution that have been designed into it.

[Resting-state functional magnetic resonance study of the brain's network of the temporal lobe epilepsy patients with depression].

OBJECTIVE: To study brain networks of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) to investigate whether TLE brain dysfunction have an impact on depression, using resting state functional magnetic resonance (RS-fMRI) detection technology. METHODS: A total of 18 patients with TLE were included in this study. According to Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton's Depression Scale (HAMD)-17 score, we divided them into two groups: depression group 9 cases, non-depression group 9 cases. All patients underwent 3.0T MRI , RS-fMRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) examinations and then the results were analyzed. RESULTS: Disease course of depression group was longer than non-depression group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). RS-fMRI examination showed that depression group had more active brain areas and more extral temporal active areas than non-depression group (P<0.05). By compared with the non-depression group, we found more strong active brain areas including thalamus, and the default-mode network which involved in prefrontal cortex, precuneus, ventral anterior cingulate and hippocampus. We found the NAA and NAA/Cho+ Cr of the hippocampus which were ipsilateral to the advantage discharge side were decreased in 5/9 cases with depression in MRS and 3/5 cases had hippocampal atrophy, while the non-depression group had no obvious abnormalities. CONCLUSION: The brain default-mode network activity in TLE patients with depression is increased and there is more extral temporal activation than the non-depression group; furthermore abnormal hippocampus structure is more common in depression group, which suggests that epileptic brain dysfunction may affect the development of depression.

Early detection of acute radiation-induced lung injury with multi-section CT perfusion imaging: An initial experience.

AIM: To explore the value of 64-section computed tomography (CT) perfusion imaging (CTPI) in the early diagnosis of acute radiation-induced lung injury (ARILI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with oesophageal cancers or malignant thymomas received postoperative radiation therapy with a 60-62 Gy dose and underwent CTPI at pre- and post-radiation therapy time points (week 0, week 4, week 8, and week 12 respectively). The CTPI values were prospectively compared and analysed in order to evaluate the diagnostic utility of CTPI in the early diagnosis of ARILI. RESULTS: Eighteen cases (18/51) of ARILI were diagnosed. The mean values of relative regional blood flow (rrBF), relative regional volume (rrBV), and relative regional permeability surface (rrPS) in the ARILI group were correspondingly higher than those of the non-ARILI group. At week 4, rrBF, rrBV, and rrPS in the ARILI group were significantly higher than those at pre-radiation (each p < 0.05). In the non-ARILI group, rrBF and rrBV were higher than those at pre-radiation (each p < 0.05); however, rrPS was not statistically different from that of pre-irradiation. Applying the diagnostic threshold value of rrPS = 1.22, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of CTPI for early diagnosis of ARILI were better than those of CT. CONCLUSION: CTPI metrics may reflect haemodynamic changes in the post-irradiation lung and can detect cases of early ARILI that appear normal at CT. CTPI is a promising technique for early diagnosis of ARILI.

Direct comparison of the dynamics of IL-25- and 'allergen'-induced airways inflammation, remodelling and hypersensitivity in a murine asthma model.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-25 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma from studies on human asthmatics and in murine asthma models. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we hypothesized that chronic exposure of the airways to IL-25 alone is able to induce pathogenic changes observed in animal models of asthma. METHODS: We performed a detailed comparison of the dynamics of development of cellular infiltration, cytokine expression and airways remodelling and hyperresponsiveness in mice sensitized and challenged with OVA, a classical model of allergic asthma and those exposed to IL-25 alone. RESULTS: Intranasal challenge of BALB/c mice with IL-25 alone induced a delayed (compared with OVA-challenge), predominantly eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltration into the airways lumen, along with increased production of Th2-type cytokines, chemokines and collagen, secretion of epithelial mucus, goblet cell hyperplasia, deposition of subepithelial collagen, airways smooth muscle cell hyperplasia and angiogenesis. Correspondingly, IL-25 as well as OVA challenge both induced airways hyperresponsiveness and increased lung tissue damping. In contrast, IL-25 exposure did not increase IgE or IgG1 production. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The data suggest that chronic airways exposure to IL-25 alone is sufficient to induce allergen- and IgE-independent, asthma-like airways inflammation, remodelling and hyperresponsiveness in mice. Thus, IL-25 is a key molecular target in asthma, irrespective of the coexistence of IgE-dependent mechanisms.

Interleukin-25 promotes basic fibroblast growth factor expression by human endothelial cells through interaction with IL-17RB, but not IL-17RA.

BACKGROUND: Unlike other IL-17 family members, the Th2-derived cytokine IL-25 (IL-17E) induces (promotes) Th2 responses. One or both of the two receptors for IL-25 (IL-17RA, IL-17RB) is expressed on inflammatory cells and tissue structural cells, suggesting that in addition to promoting Th2-type inflammation IL-25 may also act on structural cells at sites of Th2-type inflammation such as in the asthmatic bronchial mucosa to promote remodelling changes. OBJECTIVE: Our previous studies showed elevated expression of IL-25 and IL-17RB immunoreactivity in asthmatic airways with co-localization of the latter to endothelial cells. We therefore hypothesized that IL-25 acts on endothelial cells through this receptor to induce production of the key angiogenic and remodelling cytokine basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) immunocytochemistry/immunohistochemistry and ELISA were employed to detect expression of IL-17RB, IL-17RA and bFGF by human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) and immunoreactivity for IL-25 and bFGF in asthmatic bronchial biopsies. Receptor-blocking antibodies, PCR and an in vitro angiogenesis assay were used to investigate whether IL-25 acts on IL-17RB or IL-17RA to induce bFGF expression and angiogenesis. PCR was also employed to investigate the signalling pathways involved in IL-25-mediated bFGF expression. RESULTS: HUVEC constitutively expressed IL-17RB, IL-17RA and bFGF. Production of the latter was further increased by IL-25, but attenuated after blockade of the IL-17RB, but not the IL-17RA receptor. Neutralization of endogenous VEGF and bFGF completely abrogated IL-25-induced angiogenesis which was also inhibited by blocking IL-17RB, but not IL-17RA. The PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002 also completely attenuated IL-25-induced bFGF expression. Immunoreactivity for IL-25 and bFGF was elevated in the asthmatic bronchial mucosa and the expression of each correlated with the other. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our data support the hypothesis that IL-25 contributes to elevated bFGF in asthmatic airways by acting on the endothelial cell IL-17RB receptor through PI3K-signalling pathways. Targeting the pathways might benefit therapy of airways remodelling.

CT imaging and histopathological features of renal epithelioid angiomyolipomas.

AIM: To describe computed tomography (CT) imaging and histopathological manifestations of renal epithelioid angiomyolipomas (EAMLs) for better understanding and cognition in the diagnosis of this new category of renal tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data and CT images from 10 cases of EAML were retrospectively analysed. All patients underwent CT with and without contrast medium administration, with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) when needed. RESULTS: Plain CT manifestations of EAMLs were a higher density of mass (10-25 HU) than renal parenchyma, bulging contour of the involved kidney, absence of fat, distinct edges without a lobulate appearance. Contrast-enhanced CT features were markedly heterogeneous enhancement (from rapid wash-in to slow wash-out), large tumour size without lobular appearance, complete capsule with distinct margins and frequent mild necrotic areas. Histopathological features were epithelioid cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, large and deeply stained nuclei, and dense arrangement of tumour cells with patchy necrosis; diffuse sheets of epithelioid cells were positive for HMB-45 (melanoma-associated antigen) and negative for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) staining. CONCLUSION: Multiple specific CT features correlated well with the histopathology and may play an important role in the primary diagnosis of EAMLs.

Unraveling the Numerous Biosynthetic Products of the Marine Sediment-Derived Fungus, Aspergillus insulicola.

A new tripeptide, pre-sclerotiotide F (3), was isolated from a marine sediment-derived fungus, Aspergillus insulicola, along with five known compounds, one of which was new at the time of isolation, scerotiotide F (4). The absolute configuration elucidation of the new compound was determined using a combination of NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and optical rotation analyses. Cytotoxicities were measured in vitro against selected cancer cells. The effects of pre-sclerotiotide F (3) and sclerotiotide F (4) on LPS-induced NF-κB and iNOS expression were also measured.

Quantitative structure-toxicity relationships (QSTRs): a comparative study of various non linear methods. General regression neural network, radial basis function neural network and support vector machine in predicting toxicity of nitro- and cyano- aromatics to Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Prediction of toxicity of 203 nitro- and cyano-aromatic chemicals to Tetrahymena pyriformis was carried out by radial basis function neural network, general regression neural network and support vector machine, in non-linear response surface methodology. Toxicity was predicted from hydrophobicity parameter (log Kow) and maximum superdelocalizability (Amax). Special attention was drawn to prediction ability and robustness of the models, investigated both in a leave-one-out and 10-fold cross validation (CV) processes. The influence that the corresponding changes in the learning sets during these CV processes could have on a common external test set including 41 compounds was also examined. This allowed us to establish the stability of the models. The non linear results slightly outperform (as expected) multilinear relationships (MLR) and also favourably compete with various other non linear approaches recently proposed by Ren (J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci., 43 1679 (2003)).

Prediction of the tissue/blood partition coefficients of organic compounds based on the molecular structure using least-squares support vector machines.

The accurate nonlinear model for predicting the tissue/blood partition coefficients (PC) of organic compounds in different tissues was firstly developed based on least-squares support vector machines (LS-SVM), as a novel machine learning technique, by using the compounds' molecular descriptors calculated from the structure alone and the composition features of tissues. The heuristic method (HM) was used to select the appropriate molecular descriptors and build the linear model. The prediction result of the LS-SVM model is much better than that obtained by HM method and the prediction values of tissue/blood partition coefficients based on the LS-SVM model are in good agreement with the experimental values, which proved that nonlinear model can simulate the relationship between the structural descriptors, the tissue composition and the tissue/blood partition coefficients more accurately as well as LS-SVM was a powerful and promising tool in the prediction of the tissue/blood partition behaviour of compounds. Furthermore, this paper provided a new and effective method for predicting the tissue/blood partition behaviour of the compounds in the different tissues from their structures and gave some insight into structural features related to the partition process of the organic compounds in different tissues.