[Clinical significance of S100A6 and Notch1 in multiple myeloma patients]

目的

探讨S100A6、Notch1在多发性骨髓瘤（MM）患者中的表达及其临床意义。

方法

以28例MM患者为研究对象，以20例白细胞、血小板略低但骨髓检查未见异常者为对照，采用real time PCR法检测骨髓单个核细胞S100A6、Notch1的表达；采用免疫组化染色法检测S100A6、Notch1蛋白在MM患者骨髓和髓外浸润组织活检病理切片中的表达；采用real time PCR法和Western blot法检测siRNA沉默骨髓瘤U266细胞S100A6基因后对Notch1 mRNA和蛋白水平的影响。并结合临床进行相关分析。

结果

①S100A6、Notch1 mRNA表达水平：初发MM患者组分别为2.19±1.25、2.98±0.64，均高于对照组（0.71±0.20、0.58±0.39）和稳定期患者组（0.85±0.26、0.72±0.40）（P值均<0.05）；伴髓外转移组（8例）分别为3.36±1.23、5.71±3.96，均高于无髓外转移组（20例）（1.40±0.25、1.16±1.00）。②S100A6与Notch1 mRNA表达呈正相关（r=0.505，P=0.007）。③MM患者骨髓和髓外浸润组织活检病理切片均可见浆细胞S100A6、Notch1阳性表达。④siRNA转染U266细胞48 h后S100A6基因表达沉默，Notch1 mRNA及蛋白水平明显下降。

结论

S100A6、Notch1表达与MM疾病发生、进展、髓外转移相关，二者具有显著相关性，可作为MM诊断及预后的指标。

[Advances in epidemiology and serum markers for the noninvasive diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease]

The global prevalence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased year by year, and it has become the number one cause for chronic liver disease in China. In addition, the trend of NAFLD has become more pronounced and evident in female gender and younger age group. The long-term persistence of fatty liver disease may cause serious consequences. There are no accepted diagnostic criteria for diagnosing noninvasive diagnosis of NAFLD. Alpha-ketoglutarate is a newly discovered serological marker of high diagnostic value and considered the most valuable potential biomarker along with cytokeratine-18 (CK-18).

[Association between air pollution and cognitive function in the elderly]

Cognition disorders is one of the most important factors affecting the elderly. Impaired cognitive function caused by the elderly daily self-care ability decreased, the elderly in China cause serious social, psychological and economic burden. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence on main air pollutants(SO(2), NO(2), CO, PM(2.5) and PM(10), black carbon)and cognitive function in elderly. The study found that exposure to air pollution, especially particulate matter, is associated with cognitive disorders n in the elderly. However, the existence of such correlations requires reasonable physiological mechanisms. Future studies also require a large number of longitudinal cohorts to investigate air pollution in association with cognitive impairment . There is a need for parallel toxicological and epidemiological studies to elucidate mechanisms and pathways of action.

[Occupational mental health and job satisfaction in university teachers in Shenyang, China]

Objective: To investigate the current status of occupational mental health and job satisfaction in university teachers in Shenyang, China and related influencing factors. Methods: A total of 1500 teachers from 6 universities in Shenyang were randomly selected as study subjects from November 2013 to January 2014. Self-administered questionnaires were used to investigate mental health, including effort-reward imbalance questionnaire, Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiological Survey-Depression Scale, and Psychological Capital Questionnaire. Results: Of all teachers, 58.9% had depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms in university teachers were negatively correlated with the scores of psychological capital, supervisory commitment, and perceived organizational support (r=-0.461, -0.306, and -0.366, all P<0.01) and were positively correlated with the score of occupational stress (r=0.414, P<0.01) . Job satisfaction was positively correlated with psychological capital, perceived organizational support, and supervisory commitment (r=0.650, 0.715, and 0.636, all P<0.01) and negatively correlated with occupational stress (r=-0.475, P<0.01) . The direct effects of occupational stress, perceived organizational support, and supervisory commitment on job satisfaction were -0.30, 0.26, and 0.14, respectively, and their indirect effects were -0.0176, 0.0656, and 0.0368, respectively. The direct effects of occupational stress, perceived organizational support, and supervisory commitment on depressive symptoms were 0.20, -0.08, and -0.05, respectively, and their indirect effects was 0.033, -0.123, and -0.069, respectively. Conclusion: Occupational mental health is closely associated with job satisfaction in university teachers in Shenyang, and psychological capital has a mediating effect on perceived organizational support, supervisory commitment, occupational stress, job satisfaction, and depressive symptoms.

[Analysis of treatment and prognosis in post-operative patients with urachal carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

Urachal carcinoma is a kind of urogenital tract malignancy with a very low incidence. The objective of this study was to observe the clinical presentation, pathological condition, treatment method and outcome of patients with urachal carcinoma.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of thirty-six cases of urachal carcinoma diagnosed over a period of 10 years from 2003 to 2013 was carried out. All pathologic specimens were reviewed by two separate pathologists. Clinical and histological features, treatment condition, patient follow-up and survival outcome was reviewed and calculated.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis was 53 years. Of the thirty-six patients, twenty-five were male. All patients underwent partial cystectomy with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection. All cases were adenocarcinoma, including 20 mucinous adenocarcinoma, 7 moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, 5 poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, 1 signet ring cell carcinoma, 3 hybrid adenocarcinoma. The Sheldon pathologic stage was stage Ⅱ in 11, Ⅲ in 16 and Ⅳa in 9 cases. All patients received medical oncological therapy. The median follow-up period was 27 months. The median overall survival was 36 months. One-year survival rate was 70% and five-year survival rate was 28%.

CONCLUSIONS

Urachal carcinomas are rare and usually at locally advanced stage at diagnosis with a high tendency of metastases. Surgery is a key method of primary treatment and medical oncological therapy may play a role in decreasing the chances of recurrence which still needs to be explained by prospective clinical trials.

Enhanced ultraviolet emission from Au/Ag-nanoparticles@MgO/ZnO heterostructure light-emitting diodes: A combined effect of exciton- and photon- localized surface plasmon couplings

Localized surface plasmon (LSP)-enhanced ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on a Au/MgO/ZnO metal/insulator/semi- conductor heterostructure were fabricated by embedding Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) into MgO dielectric layer. A ~6-fold electroluminescence (EL) enhancement was achieved from the Ag-NPs decorated device. Time-resolved spectroscopy studies, as well as analogue simulation and theoretical estimation based on experimental data, reveal that the internal quantum efficiency and light extraction efficiency of the heterojunction LED are increased ~3-fold and ~2-fold, respectively, as a result of the introduction of Ag LSPs. This result indicates that the observed EL enhancement originates from a combined effect of both exciton-LSP coupling and photon-LSP coupling.

Giant negative magnetoresistance in Manganese-substituted Zinc Oxide

We report a large negative magnetoresistance in Manganese-substituted Zinc Oxide thin films. This anomalous effect was found to appear in oxygen-deficient films and to increase with the concentration of Manganese. By combining magnetoresistive measurements with magneto-photoluminescence, we demonstrate that the effect can be explained as the result of a magnetically induced transition from hopping to band conduction where the activation energy is caused by the sp-d exchange interaction.

Strengthening of a Pd-free high gold dental alloy for porcelain bonding by a pre-firing heat treatment

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the present investigation was to report a Pd-free high gold alloy for porcelain bonding based on the ternary system of Au-Pt-Zn with a nominal composition of 86Au-11Pt-1.5Zn-0.5In-0.7Rh-0.2Fe-0.1Ir (wt.%). Emphasis was put on the effect of a pre-firing heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the alloy.

METHODS

The strengthening effect of the pre-firing heat treatment was investigated by means of hardness measurement, tensile testing, X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Experimental results showed that both the hardness and tensile strength of the alloy can be significantly improved after heat treatment at the temperature of 980 degrees C for 15 min. The strengthening could be attributed to homogenization of microstructure and alloying elements and precipitation of new fine particles.

SIGNIFICANCE

The cast framework of the present new Pd-free alloy could be heat treated before actual firing, and this would improve the processing properties of the alloy during firing.

Age-hardening behavior of a low-gold dental alloy

The age-hardening behaviors of a low gold dental alloy were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry, hardness testing, X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy and transmission election microscopy. Two distinct hardening behaviors were found at two different aging temperatures. Age-hardening at 290 degrees C was attributed to the formation of the metastable AuCuI' ordered phase, and the gradual softening in the overaging stage resulted from the slow growth of this phase. The rapid increase in hardness in the early stage at 495 degrees C was due to the precipitation of the metastable AuCuI' or/and AuCuII' ordered phases, and the rapid decrease in hardness in the overaging stage was a consequence of the growth of these phases and the loss of the coherency strain at the interface between the spindal-like AuCuI platelets and the matrix.

Spectral dependence of spin photocurrent and current-induced spin polarization in an InGaAs/InAlAs two-dimensional electron gas

The converse effects of spin photocurrent and current induced spin polarization are experimentally demonstrated in a two-dimensional electron gas system with Rashba spin splitting. Their consistency with the strength of the Rashba coupling as measured for the same system from beating of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations reveals a unified picture for the spin photocurrent, current-induced spin-polarization, and spin-orbit coupling. In addition, the observed spectral inversion of the spin photocurrent indicates a system with dominating structure inversion asymmetry.

Effective dose evaluation for chest and abdomen X-ray tests

The radiation doses resulting from diagnostic X-ray examinations are routinely measured in terms of entrance skin exposure (ESE). In this study, for the purpose of radiation protection, the radiation doses received from chest and abdomen X-ray tests were evaluated in terms of equivalent dose and effective dose. The dose calculations were conducted by using the MCNP Monte Carlo code and an adult hermaphrodite mathematical phantom. The effects of both operating high voltage and projection geometry on the effective dose were investigated. The absolute values of the effective doses may be provided from the national average ESE.

Low energy electron irradiation induced deep level defects in 6H-SiC: the implication for the microstructure of the deep levels E1/E2

N-type 6H-SiC samples irradiated with electrons having energies of E(e)=0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.7 were studied by deep level transient technique. No deep level was detected at below 0.2 MeV irradiation energy while for E(e)>/=0.3 MeV, deep levels ED1, E(1)/E(2), and E(i) appeared. By considering the minimum energy required to displace the C atom or the Si atom in the SiC lattice, it is concluded that generation of the deep levels E(1)/E(2), as well as ED1 and E(i), involves the displacement of the C atom in the SiC lattice.

Structural analysis of the epitopes on erbB2 interacted with inhibitory or non-inhibitory monoclonal antibodies

erbB2 oncogene encodes a growth factor receptor. The overexpression of erbB2 was correlated with more aggressive tumors and a poorer prognosis. Some antibodies directed to this molecule have an antitumor effect in vivo, but some antibodies do not. In an attempt to understand the molecular basis of the anti-erbB2 antibody interaction with erbB2 ectodomain (ECD), we analyzed binding epitopes on erbB2 for inhibitory and non-inhibitory antibodies, Herceptin and HF by computer-guided protein engineering and site-directed mutagenesis. Two different interaction domains were identified by molecular docking, computer graphics and distance geometry method and confirmed through studies on a series of mutants of erbB2 ECD. Non-inhibitory antibody HF only recognized N-terminal portion of erbB2 ECD, but inhibitory antibody Herceptin bound to C-terminal portion of it exclusively. The region interacted with inhibitory antibody Herceptin can be an important target for anticancer therapies.

Age-dependent protection quantities for external neutron irradiation

Based on the recommendations issued by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), equivalent doses and effective doses for different ages are obtained for external neutron sources. The calculations at 28 neutron energies from 1 x 10(-9) MeV to 20 MeV are carried out for six irradiation geometries: AP, PA, RLAT, LLAT, ROT and ISO. An age-dependent anthropomorphic mathematical phantom series of six age groups: newborn, 1, 5, 10, 15 years old and adult is used with the Monte Carlo computer code MCNP for the dose evaluations. The results for adults are compared with those in ICRP Publication 74 and are in good agreement. At low energies the effective doses increase as the phantom age increases, but at high energics they decrease with increasing age for the AP, PA, ROT and ISO irradiation geometries. In the whole energy region the effective doses decrease as the phantom age increases for the RLAT and LLAT irradiation geometries. The age-dependent equivalent doses behave similarly to the effective doses, with some exceptions caused by the influence of the organ position.

Validity of the updated pediatric risk of mortality score (PRISM III) in predicting the probability of mortality in a pediatric intensive care unit

This study assessed the validity of the PRISM III scoring system in accurately predicting the probability of mortality in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Taiwan. We collected data from consecutive patients admitted to our PICU during a one-year period from November 1999 through October 2000. Our PICU had 412 admissions including 385 patients (202 boys and 183 girls) with an average age of 53.9 +/- 58.2 months (range: 1 month to 18 years). The most common reason for admission was respiratory failure (26.2%). Almost 60% of the patients had at least one underlying chronic disease. The average duration of stay was 4.52 +/- 8.43 days (range 1 day to 81 days). The average PRISM III score was 5.06 +/- 6.95 (range 0-44). The overall mortality rate in the PICU was 8.17%. The mortality rate was not significantly different from the predicted rate (7.56%) (p=0.65). The efficiency of care was 32.5% and the standardized PICU length of stay ratio (SLOSR) was 1.33. The SLOSR ratio was significantly higher than the predicted rate (p value < 0.001). The PRISM III score was validfor assessing mortality risk of PICU patients in this hospital in Taiwan. However, the SLOSR ratio obtained in this study was higher than predicted. Differences in the patterns of practicing medicine may play an important role in observed PICU length of stay. Special caution is needed in adopting a severity of illness scoring system to assess performance of care, particularly in contexts different from the ones in which the instrument was originally developed. Further study including more pediatric intensive care units and other regions would enable greater generalization of the validity of this instrument.

Superconductivity in 4 angstrom single-walled carbon nanotubes

Investigation of the magnetic and transport properties of single-walled small-diameter carbon nanotubes embedded in a zeolite matrix revealed that at temperatures below 20 kelvin, 4 angstrom tubes exhibit superconducting behavior manifest as an anisotropic Meissner effect, with a superconducting gap and fluctuation supercurrent. The measured superconducting characteristics display smooth temperature variations owing to one-dimensional fluctuations, with a mean-field superconducting transition temperature of 15 kelvin. Statistical mechanic calculations based on the Ginzburg-Landau free-energy functional yield predictions that are in excellent agreement with the experiments.

Age-dependent protection quantities for external photon irradiation

The age-dependent conversion coefficients of the protection quantities, the equivalent dose and the effective dose defined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), are obtained. A Monte Carlo computer code and the age-dependent hermaphrodite mathematical phantoms of six age groups: newborn, 1, 5, 10, 15 years old and adult are used for the evaluation. Twenty-three photon source energies from 10 keV to 10 MeV and six kinds of irradiation geometries: AP, PA, RLAT, LLAT, ROT, and ISO are chosen in the calculation. The evaluated conversion coefficients for the adult are compared with those in ICRP Publication 74 with good agreement. The conversion coefficients of the equivalent dose and the effective dose increase while the age of the phantom decreases, but with some exceptions for the AP irradiation geometry under certain conditions.

[Analysis of ginsenosides by high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry(LC/MS/MS)]

Ginseng, one of the most popular medicinal herbs used in traditional Chinese medicines, has been studied to have biological effects attributing to its main constituents such as ginsenosides. There are more than 30 kinds of ginsenosides and some of them have similar polarity and structure. Thus, it is difficult to separate those ginsenosides with isocratic mobile phase owing to their similar polarity. A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method with gradient elution has been developed in this work. Nine ginsenosides can be separated by this method. Among them, five ginsenosides with different molecular weights can be determined by means of their molecular weight gained through LC/MS with an ESI interface. Re and Rd have the same Mw but belonging to two different kinds of ginsenosides. They can be differentiated from each other through their MS/MS gained by CID(collision induced decomposition) at the second stage quadrapole. Rc and Rb3 having the same molecular weight and belonging to the same kind of ginsenoside can be distinguished through their negative ion spectra gotten from LC/MS. So 9 ginsenosides can be determined by LC/MS/MS. This method can also be used to determine the ginsenosides contained in commercially available samples.

Ectopic atrial tachycardia in children

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Ectopic atrial tachycardia (EAT) is an unusual and potentially risky arrhythmia that can result in left ventricular dysfunction if not properly managed. In adults, EAT is mainly caused by diseased atrial myocardium and responds poorly to antiarrhythmic drugs. The characteristics of EAT in children might be different from those in adults because of their immature myocardium and the different electrophysiologic characteristics of their conduction tissue. We examined the natural history and treatment of EAT in children.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From June 1990 through June 1999, 24 children (8 girls and 16 boys; median age 4 mo [1 d-10 yr]) were admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of EAT. Fifteen had healthy hearts, six had congenital heart disease, one had myocarditis, one had bronchopulmonary dysplasia with severe pulmonary hypertension, and one had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Thirteen patients presented with congestive heart failure. Only four patients had symptoms of prodromal airway infection. The maximum atrial rate was 244 +/- 66 beats per minute. Atrioventricular block was documented at least once during tachycardia in 10 patients. Warm-up or cool-down phenomenon was seen at the initiation or termination of tachycardia in thirteen patients. Primary pharmacologic treatment was attempted in all patients. EAT was initially controlled in all patients using digoxin plus propranolol (18 patients), propranolol only (4), or digoxin plus procainamide (2). EAT was controlled using medication in 22 patients. Fifteen patients had sinus rhythm but did not receive medication for 39 +/- 25 months. Two patients died of uncontrolled arrhythmia, and two of underlying disease. Recurrence was seen within 3 months after initial therapy in five patients. Surgery was performed to correct the underlying heart disease in three patients with frequently recurring EAT, all of whom remained tachycardia-free after surgery, without pharmacologic treatment. The spontaneous remission rate was 75% (18/24).

CONCLUSION

EAT in children without underlying heart disease can be effectively treated using antiarrhythmic drugs. Spontaneous resolution of EAT after medication in children was frequent (75%) in this series. The results of this study suggest that a step-wise approach using digoxin, a beta-blocker, and a class I antiarrhythmic drug may be the most effective treatment for EAT.

Dangerous impact--commotio cordis

Sudden death following blunt chest trauma is a frightening occurrence known as 'commotio cordis' or 'concussion of the heart'. It is speculated that commotio cordis could be caused by ventricular fibrillation secondary to an impact-induced energy that was transmitted via the chest wall to the myocardium during its vulnerable repolarization period. We describe a survivor of commotio cordis caused by a baseball. In this patient, an initial ventricular fibrillation was documented and converted by direct current defibrillation. Serial electrocardiographic changes (bifascicular conduction block and T wave inversion in precordial leads) were noticed in this patient. Our case suggested that coronary vasospasm might also play a role in commotio cordis.

Antioxidant activity of polyphenols from seeds of Vitis amurensis in vitro

AIM

To study the antioxidant action of five polyphenols (+) catechin, procyanidin B2, procyanidin B5, procyanidin B5 3'-O-gallate, and amurensisin isolated from the seeds of Vitis amurensis.

METHODS

The mouse liver homogenate lipid peroxidation assay was applied for the evaluation of the antioxidant activity in vitro.

RESULTS

(+) Catechin, procyanidin B2, procyanidin B5, procyanidin B5 3'-O-gallate, and amurensisin showed antioxidant activity with the IC50 values of 0.47, 0.25, 0.10, 0.02, and 0.03 mmol/L, respectively. The IC50 value of vitamin E used as a positive control was 0.13 mmol/L. The structural activity relationship was also analyzed. Procyanidins carrying a galloyl group possessed higher anti-lipid peroxidation activities. All dimers were found to be more potent than the non-galloylated momomer such as (+) catechin. However, the activity of the 4-->6 linked dimer seemed more preferable than 4-->8 linked dimer.

CONCLUSION

Procyanidin B5, procyanidin B5 3'-O-gallate, and amurensisin showed a more antioxidant activity than vitamin E did, and their activity is dependent on their substitution and polymerization patterns.