[Problems and puzzles in current extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) refers to the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to ensure the perfusion of important organs after the traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR) has not obtained the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Such cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is called ECPR. ECPR can benefit some patients with cardiac arrest, however, there are still some problems and puzzles in the implementation of ECPR, such as the implementation location of ECPR patients? Select mechanical press or manual press before ECPR start? Can ECPR be used in special patients, such as traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA), aortic dissection and immunosuppressed patients? The age limit of ECPR and the ethical issues related to ECPR. Based on the research status at home and abroad, this paper analyzes and expounds these problems, hoping to provide new ideas for the research and application of ECPR by the majority of domestic colleagues engaged in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

[Effect of metformin and rosiglitazone in non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome women with insulin resistance].

Objective: To investigate effects of metformin and rosiglitazone in non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women with insulin resistance. Methods: Totally 200 non-obese PCOS women with insulin resistance in West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University were enrolled into this study from Sep. 2013 to Jun. 2016, and were randomly divided into two treatment groups: metformin group (1 500 mg/d) and rosiglitazone group (4 mg/d). The treatment lasted for 6 months. Their clinical and biochemical parameters were collected and compared. Results: In both groups, menstrual cycles [metformin group (37±4) days, rosiglitazone group (35±4) days] were shorter after treatment for 6 months (both P<0.01). After treatment for 6 months, body mass index [metformin group (21.6±1.6) kg/m2, rosiglitazone group (21.7±1.7) kg/m2] decreased in both groups (both P<0.01); decreased LH/FSH ratio (metformin group 1.67±0.80, rosiglitazone group 1.70±0.83) was also observed (both P<0.05). After treatment for 6 months, fasting insulin level [metformin group (13.5±5.1) mU/L, rosiglitazone group (12.7±5.6) mU/L] and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (metformin group 3.0±1.2, rosiglitazone group 2.8±1.2) were decreased in both groups (all P<0.01). Conclusions: For non-obese PCOS insulin resistance patients, screening of anthropometric and metabolic parameters is necessary. For PCOS with insulin resistance, lifestyle plus insulin sensitizers such as metformin could improve their clinical symptoms, correct the biochemical and metabolic dysfunction.

Sediment metal enrichment and ecological risk assessment of ten ports and estuaries in the World Harbours Project.

Ten global harbours were assessed for sediment quality by quantifying the magnitude of anthropogenic change and ecological risk. Anthropogenic change (enrichment) was high for Derwent River and Sydney estuary, moderate for Santander Harbour, Rio de Janeiro and Dublin Port, slight for Hong Kong, minimal for Darwin. All 10 enrichment indices used showed similar results. Derwent River sediment was rated at high ecological risk, followed by Sydney and Santander estuaries with moderate risk. Auckland and Darwin sediments exhibited minimal ecological risk and sediment in the remaining harbours (Dublin, Hong Kong, Ravenna, Ria de Vigo and Rio de Janeiro) were assessed at slight ecological risk. The extraordinary variety of environments and types/quantities/qualities of data investigated resulted in as much a critique and development of methodology, as an assessment of human impact, including unique techniques for elemental normalisation and contaminant classification. Recommendations for an improved technical framework for sediment quality assessment are provided.

LncRNA TUG1 promotes osteoarthritis-induced degradation of chondrocyte extracellular matrix via miR-195/MMP-13 axis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease characterized by articular cartilage degradation. Long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) plays important roles in a series of biological processes, but its role in osteoarthritis is still not quite clear. This study aims to investigate the regulatory role of taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) in osteoarthritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression level of lncRNA-TUG1 in cartilages of patients with osteoarthritis and those of normal people was compared using Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Primary chondrocytes were induced by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), followed by expression detection of lncRNA-TUG1, microRNA-195 (miR-195), and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13). In addition, in vitro regulatory roles of lncRNA-TUG1 and miR-195 in osteoarthritis were verified by transfection of lncRNA-TUG1 and miR-195 plasmids. The dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay was performed to analyze the secretion and formation of soluble sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG). RESULTS: The expression levels of lncRNA-TUG1 and MMP-13 in cartilages of patients with osteoarthritis were higher than those in cartilages of normal people, while the level of miR-195 decreased in cartilages of patients with osteoarthritis. After chondrocytes were induced by IL-1ß and TNF-α, the expression of lncRNA-TUG1 increased. Overexpression of lncRNA-TUG1 decreased the expressions of miR-195, collagen, and aggrecan, but increased the expression of MMP-13. LncRNA-TUG1 knockdown obtained the opposite results. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA-TUG1 regulates the degradation of extracellular matrix in osteoarthritis via lncRNA-TUG1/miR-195/MMP-13 axis.

[Risk factors analysis and prognosis of renal pelvis dilatation in high-risk infants in monocenter].

Objective: To explore the prognosis and risk factors of pyelectasis in high-risk infants. Methods: This was a retrospective study. Totally 960 high-risk infants, who accepted type B ultrasonic examination for fetus at 28th week of gestation and for newborns in 48 hours after birth, were included in the study in departments of obstetrics and eonatology, Shunyi Maternal and Children's Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital during May 2012 to April 2013. The degree of pyelectasis was classified using Grignon grade and the paients were followed up for 3 years. The factors of epidemiology, high risk pregnant women, fetus and high-risk newborns that relate to pyelectasis were summarized. High-risk factors were analyzed by using logistic multivariate regression analysis. Results: Of 960 high-risk infants, 103 had abnormal urinary ultrasound results, 87 (9.1% of high-risk infants) were diagnosed with pyelectasis, 16 (1.7% of high-risk infants) were diagnosed with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. According to the degree of pyelectasis, 68 infants were Grignon grade Ⅰ, male:female ratio=5.8∶1, left side:right side ratio=1.91∶1; 19 infants were Grignon grade Ⅱ, male:female ratio=5.33∶1, left side:right side ratio=2.12∶1. Postnatal follow-up results showed that pyelectasis disappeared in 48 cases (55% of pyelectasis cae), 40 infants were Grignon grade Ⅰ (59% of all Grignon grade Ⅰ patients), 8 infants were Grignon grade Ⅱ (42% of all Grignon grade Ⅱ patients); The result of risk factors analysis showed that the risk of pyelectasis in males was 4.368 times that of females (95%CI: 2.33-8.189, P<0.05); the risk of pyelectasis in low birth weight infants was 22.434 times that of non low birth weight infants (95% CI: 5.883-85.547, P<0.05). Conclusion: The incidence of pyelectasis in high-risk infants was 9.1%. The mitigation rate of pyelectasis in Grignon grade Ⅰ to Ⅱ in fetal or newborn period is high. Patients in Grignon grade Ⅲ and above in fetal or new born period had high risk of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. The risk of pyelectasis of male was higher than that of female; the risk of pyelectasis of low birth weight infant was higher than appropriate for gestational age infants.

MicroRNAs as novel biomarkers for the differentiation of malignant versus benign thyroid lesions: a meta-analysis.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of microRNAs (miRNAs) in distinguishing malignant thyroid lesions from benign ones and to determine the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for thyroid cancer. The random-effect model was used to summarize the pooled estimates of diagnostic accuracy, including sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). The summary receiver-operating characteristic curve (SROC) and area under the SROC curve (AUC) were used to further evaluate the overall diagnostic value. Overall, 20 studies from 7 articles, including 266 thyroid cancer patients and 277 controls with benign thyroid disease, were available for analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were: 0.78 (95%CI = 0.74-0.81), 0.73 (95%CI = 0.69-0.77), 3.17 (95%CI = 2.28-4.40), 0.30 (95%CI = 0.23-0.39), and 12.6 (95%CI = 8.26-19.4), respectively, and the AUC value was 0.85. The multiple miRNA assay yielded better diagnostic performance than the single miRNA assay, with sensitivity of 0.90 versus 0.75, specificity of 0.86 versus 0.71, PLR of 6.14 versus 2.71, NLR of 0.13 versus 0.36, DOR of 44.5 versus 8.81, and AUC of 0.95 versus 0.82, suggesting that the multiple miRNA assay is a more credible method for thyroid cancer detection. In summary, miRNA assays, especially multiple miRNA assays, may play an important role as a second-line diagnostic tool to improve the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy in indeterminate lesions. However, further studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

One pot conjugation of the polypeptides directed by phosphorus oxychloride.

A series of homopeptides and their conjugates were synthesized in one pot reaction in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride and the conjugate yield was structurally dependent. Menthol and benzylamine conjugated to the homopeptides quantitatively. Homopeptides when treated with diisopropyloxyphosphite (DIPPH) and NaClO yield the corresponding N-phosphoryl peptides. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)/MS was used to study the structure of peptide conjugates. This paper reports a simple method to synthesize the homopeptides and their conjugate derivatives and the fact that phosphoryl peptides could also be obtained by one pot reaction.

Expression of Cdv-iR gene in mouse epididymis as revealed by in situ hybridization.

We have previously studied mouse Cdv (carnitine deficiency-associated gene expressed in ventricle)-1 related gene Cdv-1IR and its human counterpart CDV-1R, and revealed that mouse Cdv-1R was predominantly expressed in testis by multiple tissue northern analysis. To further localize the Cdv-1R mRNA in mouse testis and epididymis tissue, in situ hybridization study was reported in this article. In the adult mice, the Cdv-1R expression was intensively found in the epithelial cells of the caput and corpus epididymis, whereas it was moderately detected in the initial segment, and weakly in the cauda epididymis. In the seminiferous tubles of the testis, no obvious hybridization signals were observed above the background level. This Cdv-1R region-specific expression pattern in the epididimis suggests Cdv-1R may play an important role in sperm maturation. Moreover, considering the Cdv-1R has a similar expression distribution in epididymis to the OCTN2, it would appear that Cdv-1R might be involved in the carnitine pathway in the epididimis.

Expression of testis specific ankyrin repeat and SOCS box-containing 17 gene.

Human ASB-17 (Ankyrin Repeat and SOCS Box-containing 17) is a recently identified gene belonging to the ASB family, isolated from testis cDNA library. Human ASB-17 is expressed exclusively in testis among 16 tissues, revealed by Northern blot. Mouse Asb-17 was shown to be expressed from the third week post birth to adult by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis. In situ hybridization on frozen sections demonstrated that Asb-17 is expressed in spermatogenic cells in adult mouse, but not in Leydig cell and epididymis in adult mouse. ASB-17 proteins are highly conserved in mammals including human, mouse, rat, Canis familiaris and Macaca fascicularis.

Search for charmless B --> VV decays.

We have studied two-body charmless decays of the B meson into the final states rho(0)rho(0), K(*0)rho(0), K(*0)K(*0), K(*0)K(*0), K(*+)rho(0), K(*+)K(*0), and K(*+)K(*-) using only decay modes with charged daughter particles. Using 9.7x10(6) BB pairs collected with the CLEO detector, we place 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions (1.4-14.1)x10(-5), depending on final state and polarization.

Branching fraction and photon energy spectrum for b --> s gamma.

We have measured the branching fraction and photon energy spectrum for the radiative penguin process b-->s gamma. We find Beta(b-->s gamma) = (3.21+/-0.43+/-0.27(+0.18)(-0.10))x10(-4), where the errors are statistical, systematic, and from theory corrections. We obtain first and second moments of the photon energy spectrum above 2.0 GeV, = 2.346+/-0.032+/-0.011 GeV, and -(2) = 0.0226+/-0.0066+/-0.0020 GeV(2), where the errors are statistical and systematic. From the first moment, we obtain (in the modified minimal subtraction renormalization scheme, to order 1/M(3)(B) and beta(0)alpha(2)(s)) the heavy quark effective theory parameter Lambda = 0.35+/-0.08+/-0.10 GeV.

Hadronic mass moments in inclusive semileptonic B meson decays.

We have measured the first and second moments of the hadronic mass-squared distribution in B-->X(c)l nu, for P(lepton)>1.5 GeV/c. We find = 0.251+/-0.066 GeV(2), <(M(2)(X)-)(2)> = 0.576+/-0.170 GeV(4), where M macro(D) is the spin-averaged D meson mass. From that first moment and the first moment of the photon energy spectrum in b-->s gamma, we find the heavy quark effective theory parameter lambda(1) (in the modified minimal subtraction renormalization scheme, to order 1/M(3)(B) and beta(0)alpha(2)(s)) to be -0.24+/-0.11 GeV(2). Using these first moments and the B semileptonic width, and assuming parton-hadron duality, we obtain absolute value of V(cb) = 0.0404+/-0.0013.

Observation of new states decaying into Lambda+(c)pi(-)pi(+).

Using 13.7 fb(-1) of data recorded by the CLEO detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we investigate the spectrum of charmed baryons which decay into Lambda+(c)pi(-)pi(+) and are more massive than the Lambda+(c)(2625) baryon. We find evidence for two new states: one is broad and has an invariant mass roughly 480 MeV above that of the Lambda+(c) baryon; the other is narrow with an invariant mass of 596+/-1+/-2 MeV above the Lambda+(c) mass.

Bounds on the CP asymmetry in b --> sgamma decays.

We have measured the CP asymmetry A(CP) identical with[gamma(b-->sgamma)-gammab-->sgamma)]/[gamma(b-->sgamma)+gamma(b-->sgamma)] to be A(CP) = (-0.079+/-0.108+/-0.022) (1.0+/-0.030), implying that, at 90% confidence level, A(CP) lies between -0.27 and +0.10. These limits rule out some extreme non-standard-model predictions, but are consistent with most, as well as with the standard model.

Evidence of New States Decaying into Xi(*)(c)pi.

Using 13.7 fb(-1) of data recorded by the CLEO detector at Cornell Electron Storage Ring, we report evidence of two new charmed baryons: one decaying into Xi(0')(c)pi(+) with the subsequent decay Xi(0')(c)-->Xi(0)(c)gamma, and its isospin partner decaying into Xi(+')(c)pi(-) followed by Xi(+')(c)-->Xi(+)(c)gamma. We measure the following mass differences for the two states: M(Xi(0)(c)gammapi(+))-M(Xi(0)(c)) = 318.2+/-1.3+/-2.9 MeV and M(Xi(+)(c)gammapi(-))-M(Xi(+)(c)) = 324.0+/-1.3+/-3.0 MeV. We interpret these new states as the J(P) = 1 / 2(-) Xi(c1) particles, the charmed-strange analogs of the Lambda(+)(c1)(2593).

Observation of the Omega(0)(c) Charmed Baryon at CLEO.

The CLEO experiment at the CESR collider has used 13.7 fb(-1) of data to search for the production of the Omega(0)(c) (css ground state) in e(+)e(-) collisions at square root of (s) approximately 10.6 GeV. The modes used to study the Omega(0)(c) are Omega(-)pi(+), Omega(-)pi(+)pi(0), Xi-K-pi(+)pi(+), Xi0K-pi(+), and Omega(-)pi(+)pi(+)pi(-). We observe a signal of 40.4+/-9.0(stat) events at a mass of 2694.6+/-2.6(stat)+/-1.9(syst) MeV/c(2), for all modes combined.

Measurement of the lambda(+)(c) lifetime.

The Lambda+c lifetime is measured using 9.0 fb(-1) of e+e- annihilation data collected on or just below the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the CLEO II.V detector at CESR. Using an unbinned maximum likelihood fit, the Lambda+c lifetime is measured to be 179.6+/-6.9(stat)+/-4.4(syst) fs. The precision of this colliding beam measurement is comparable to other measurements, which are based on fixed-target experiments, with different systematic uncertainties.

Search for CP violation in B+/- --> J/psiK+/- and B+/- --> psi(2S)K+/- decays.

We present a search for direct CP violation in B+/--->J/psiK+/- and B+/--->psi(2S)K+/- decays. In a sample of 9.7x10(6) B&Bmacr; meson pairs collected with the CLEO detector, we have fully reconstructed 534 B+/--->J/psiK+/- and 120 B+/--->psi(2S)K+/- decays with very low background. We have measured the CP-violating charge asymmetry to be [+1.8+/-4.3(stat)+/-0.4(syst)]% for B+/--->J/psiK+/- and [+2.0+/-9. 1(stat)+/-1.0(syst)]% for B+/--->psi(2S)K+/-.

Observation of B --> K(+/-) pi(0) and B --> (K)0 pi(0), and evidence for B --> pi(+)pi(-).

We have studied charmless hadronic decays of B mesons into two-body final states with kaons and pions and observe three new processes with the following branching fractions: beta(B-->pi(+)pi(-)) = (4.3(+1. 6)(-1.4)+/-0.5)x10(-6), beta(B-->K(0)pi(0)) = (14.6(+5.9+2.4)(-5.1-3. 3))x10(-6), and beta(B-->K(+)/-pi(0)) = (11.6(+3.0+1.4)(-2.7-1.3))x10(-6). We also update our previous measurements for the decays B-->K(+)/-pi(-/+) and B+/--->K(0)pi(+/-).

Two-body B meson decays to eta and eta('): observation of B --> eta K*.

In a sample of 19 x 10(6) produced B mesons, we have observed the decays B-->eta K(*) and improved our previous measurements of B-->eta'K. The branching fractions we measure for these decay modes are B(B+-->eta K(*+)) = (26.4(+9.6)(-8.2)+/-3.3)x10(-6), B(B(0)-->eta K(*0)) = (13.8(+5.5)(-4.6)+/-1.6)x10(-6), B(B(+)-->eta'K(+) = (80(+10)(-9)+/-7)x10(-6), and B(B(0)-->eta'K0) = (89(+18)(-16)+/-9)x10(-6). We have searched with comparable sensitivity for related decays and report upper limits for these branching fractions.