Clinical significance of microRNA-21 as a biomarker in each Dukes' stage of colorectal cancer

The potential value of microRNAs (miRNAs) as prognostic biomarkers are of interest. It is known that microRNA-21 (miR-21) is implicated in the promotion, proliferation and progression of several types of human cancers. However, the prognostic significance of miR-21 in each tumor stage of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive. The objective of this study was to clarify the prognostic value of miR-21 for CRC patients at each tumor stage. The expression levels of miR-21 in the tumor tissues and normal adjacent tumor tissues of 306 CRC patients were determined by TaqMan microRNA assays. In order to clarify the miRNA profile in CRC tissues, miRNA arrays were examined. In this analysis, miR-21, miR-224, miR-96, miR-31 and miR-155 showed marked upregulation, and miR-21 showed the highest level. Upon comparison of clinicopathological factors, miR-21 expression showed significant association with depth of invasion, lymphatic and venous invasion, liver metastasis and Dukes' stage. In the Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis of all patients, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of the patients with high miR-21 expression were significantly worse than these rates in patients with low miR-21 expression. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis of each tumor stage, the DFS of patients with high miR-21 expression was significantly worse than patients with low miR-21 levels in Dukes' stage A tumors. In Dukes' stage B and C, patients with high miR-21 expression showed a significantly worse OS and DFS than patients with low miR-21 expression. In Dukes' stage D, patients with high miR-21 expression showed a significantly worse OS than patients with low miR-21 expression. In the Cox multivariate analysis, it was shown that miR-21 expressions in CRC tissues is an independent prognostic factor in Dukes' stage B, C and D. In conclusion, miR-21 expression may be a valuable biomarker for prediction of poor prognosis in CRC patients with Dukes' stage B, C and D.

Total hip arthroplasty with bone graft for acetabular protrusion in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Twenty-five hips in 19 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with protrusio acetabuli were followed up, both clinically and radiographically, for more than 9 years after total hip arthroplasty (THA), that was performed with a bone graft to reinforce the medial acetabular wall. Radiographs were taken preoperatively and every 6 months postoperatively. Clinical assessments of pain, gait, and range of motion of the hips were obtained preoperatively and every year postoperatively using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip-scoring system. Radiographs showed that bony union had occurred in all cases. Six acetabular components were loose, but no femoral components became loose during the 9-year period. The clinical evaluation showed that relief of pain was very significant. The range of motion of the hip joints also improved from 12 points to 16.6 points after 9 years. Walking ability improved, but is becoming worse as time goes by. The radiographic results were compared with the results of a THA group with RA that had not had a bone graft. The rate of loosening of the THA without a bone graft was significantly higher than that of THA with a bone graft. We concluded that bone grafting for protrusio acetabuli was a very useful procedure.

Influence of Carbonate Ions on Europium Sorption onto Iron-Oxides

The sorption behavior of europium onto two iron-oxides, goethite and magnetite, focused on the effect of carbonate species concentration was investigated in 0.01 M NaClO4 solution by the batch method over a pH range of 4 to 11. It was found that sorption of europium was enhanced in the higher concentration solution of carbonate species for both materials. The zeta-potential of goethite in the solutions including sodium bicarbonate was also measured to estimate the effect of sorbed carbonate species. Our experimental results and model calculation suggest that the production of surface carboxylic group FeOCOO by the sorption of carbonate species lowered the zeta-potential and enhanced europium sorption.

Strengthening tuberculosis patient referral mechanisms among health facilities in Punjab, Pakistan

OBJECTIVE

To describe approaches to strengthen existing tuberculosis (TB) patient referral mechanisms in Punjab, Pakistan.

METHODS

A descriptive intervention study was conducted through medical chart review. All new smearpositive pulmonary TB patients diagnosed at Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore, who were referred to any of the primary health care (PHC) units in Punjab Province, were enrolled from January to September 2009. TB coordinators at the referral unit maintained an electronic TB referral/transfer register (e-TRTR) as their key referral monitoring tool.

RESULTS

Of 444 new smear-positive pulmonary TB patients enrolled in the study, 181 (41%) confirmed that they had arrived and were registered at the receiving PHC units, and another 17 (4%) had gone to other health facilities. Of the 181 access-confirmed patients at the receiving PHC units, seven were confirmed by postal mail, 49 by district TB coordinators, and the remaining 125 only through direct phone calls made by Provincial TB Programme staff.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that utilisation of a referral register (e-TRTR), appointment of a responsible person for patient referral at the hospital, close monitoring of the referral by telephone and communication with responsible TB coordinators bring about a considerable improvement in the TB patient referral mechanism.

Corrosion of Radioactive, Crushed Waste Glass

The corrosion experiments of crushed, radioactive waste glass at Studsvik within phase V of the JSS Project are described. The experiments were performed with high S/V ratios (1100 and 4000 m−1) which resulted in silica saturation already after the shortest reaction time studied (91 d).Thee long term leach rate of the soluble elements is about 10−3 g.m d−1, both in the presence and absence of bentonite. In the presence of bentonite + magnetite the leach rate is higher, about 0.007 g.m1.d−2. The release rate to the solution of Cs is one order of magnitude lower and that of Pu-238 + Am-241 three orders of magnitude lower than the release rate of the soluble elements Mo and B. Most of the Pu-238 and Am-241 fraction, found in the solution, is present as colloids.

Modeling of Neptunium(V) Sorption Behavior onto Iron-Containing Minerals

Sorption behaviors of neptunium (V) on naturally-occurring magnetite (Fe3O4) and goethite (α-FeOOH) in 0.1M NaN03electrolyte solution under aerobic conditions were interpreted using the surface complexation model (SCM). The surface properties of these materials were experimentally investigated by C02-free potentiometric titration, and SCM parameters for the constant capacitance model, such as protonation/deprotonation constants of the surface hydroxyl group, were determined. The number of negatively charged sorption sites of goethite rapidly increased with the increase of the bulk solution pH compared with that of magnetite and this tendency was similar to the pH dependence of neptunium sorption. This implies that the neptunyl cation, NpO2+, plays a dominant role in possible sorption reactions. Assuming that the dominant surface complex is XO-NpO2, modeling by means of SCM was carried out, and the results were found to agree with experimental data.

Uranium(VI) Uptake by Synthetic Calcium Silicate Hydrates

The immobilization of U(VI) by C-S-H phases under conditions relevant for the cementitious near field of a repository for radioactive waste has been investigated. C-S-H phases have been synthesized using two different procedures: the “direct reaction” method and the “solution reaction” method.

The stabilities of alkaline solutions of U(VI) (presence of precipitates or colloidal material) were studied prior to sorption and co-precipitation tests in order to determine the experimental U(VI) solubility limits. These U(VI) solubility limits were compared with the U(VI) solubilities obtained from thermodynamic speciation calculations assuming the presence of combinations of different solid U(VI) phases. The solid phase controlling U(VI) solubility in the present experiments was found to be CaUO4(s).

The U(VI) uptake kinetics and sorption isotherms on C-S-H phases with different C:S ratios were determined under various chemical conditions; e.g., sorption and co-precipitation experiments and different pH’s. U(VI) was found to sorb fast and very strongly on C-S-H phases with distribution ratios (Rd values) ranging in value between 103 L kg-1 and 106 L kg-1. Both sorption and co-precipitation experiments resulted in Rd values which were very similar, thus indicating that no additional sorption sites for U(VI) were generated in the co-precipitation process. Furthermore, C-S-H synthesis procedures did not have a significant influence on U(VI) uptake. The U(VI) sorption isotherms were found to be non-linear, and further, increasing Ca concentrations resulted in increasing U(VI) uptake. The latter observation suggests that U(VI) uptake is controlled by a solubility-limiting process, while the former observation further indicates that pure Ca-uranate is not the solubility-limiting phase. It is proposed that a solid solution containing Ca and could control U(VI) uptake by C-S-H phases.

Reserpine causes biphasic nociceptive sensitivity alteration in conjunction with brain biogenic amine tones in rats

The present study investigated the precise relationship between brain biogenic amine (dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin) tones and nociception. Nociceptive sensitivities to multimodal (muscle pressure, tactile, cold, and heat) stimuli were assessed in acute phase (up to 24 h after reserpine or tetrabenazine injection) and chronic phase (on day 2 or later) in rats. A single injection of reserpine (3 mg/kg s.c.) significantly decreased biogenic amines in the spinal cord (SC), thalamus (THA), and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in both acute and chronic phases, but significantly increased a dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the SC and a serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the SC and THA in acute phase. The content of all biogenic amine metabolites was at low level in chronic phase. Animals exhibited hypersensitivities to tactile and heat stimuli and hyposensitivity to muscle pressure stimulus in acute phase. In chronic phase, they manifested hypersensitivities to all modes of stimuli. Tetrabenazine (20 mg/kg i.p.) significantly decreased brain biogenic amines for a short time, although it did not significantly affect the nociceptive sensitivities. In conclusion, a single injection of reserpine causes a biphasic alteration of nociceptive sensitivities, which is in conjunction with the dynamic change of brain biogenic amine tones, in rats. Cold and heat hypersensitivities in addition to mechanical ones are induced by the reserpine treatment. Sustained modification of brain biogenic amine tones would be critical to induce a robust change in nociceptive sensitivities based on the different effects between reserpine and tetrabenazine.

Magnetic excitations in the spin-1 anisotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain system NiCl(2)-4SC(NH(2))(2)

NiCl(2)-4SC(NH(2))(2) (DTN) is a quantum S=1 chain system with strong easy-pane anisotropy and a new candidate for the Bose-Einstein condensation of the spin degrees of freedom. ESR studies of magnetic excitations in DTN in fields up to 25 T are presented. Based on analysis of the single-magnon excitation mode in the high-field spin-polarized phase and previous experimental results [Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 077204 (2006)10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.077204], a revised set of spin-Hamiltonian parameters is obtained. Our results yield D=8.9 K, J(c) = 2.2 K, and J(a,b) = 0.18 K for the anisotropy, intrachain, and interchain exchange interactions, respectively. These values are used to calculate the antiferromagnetic phase boundary, magnetization, and the frequency-field dependence of two-magnon bound-state excitations predicted by theory and observed in DTN for the first time. Excellent quantitative agreement with experimental data is obtained.

EXAFS study of U(VI) uptake by calcium silicate hydrates

Among the different cement minerals, calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) are the prime candidates for heavy metal binding because of their abundance and appropriate structure. Immobilization processes of heavy metals by cementitious materials, and in particular C-S-H phases, thus play an important role in multibarrier concepts developed worldwide for the safe disposal of hazardous and radioactive wastes. In this study, the uptake of U(VI) by C-S-H has been investigated using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. C-S-H phases were synthesized using two different procedures: One is based on the mixing of CaO and SiO2 solids ("direct reaction" method); for the other one starting solutions of Ca and Si are used ("solution reaction" method). XAFS investigations were carried out on samples doped with U(VI). U(VI) was either sorbed onto previously precipitated C-S-H phases (sorption samples) or added during C-S-H synthesis (coprecipitation samples). The coordination environment of U(VI) in the sorption samples was found to be independent of the procedure used for C-S-H synthesis. A split equatorial oxygen shell (Oeq1: R=2.23-2.27 A; Oeq2: R=2.36-2.45 A), neighboring silicon atoms at short (R=3.07-3.11 A) and long (R=3.71-3.77 A) distances, and neighboring Ca atoms (R=3.77-3.81 and 4.15-4.29 A) were observed for all the samples. The structural parameters resemble those reported for uranophane. The coordination environment of U(VI) in the coprecipitation samples depends on the method used for C-S-H synthesis, and further, the spectra differ from those determined for the sorption samples. UU backscattering contributions were observed in the samples prepared using the direct reaction method, whereas no split equatorial shell appeared in the samples prepared using the solution reaction method.

[Utility of the perfusion-assist for beating heart coronary artery bypass surgery]

During off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, concern remains about the possible myocardial injury associated with the transient occlusion and stabilization of the target vessels. To try to minimize myocardial ischemia and achieve hemodynamic stability, we utilized a coronary perfusion catheter combined with the perfusion-assisted direct coronary artery bypass system that enables active and modified coronary perfusion of the target vessel throughout the duration of multiple grafting (modified PADCAB). In the series of 10 patients, perfusion of the target coronary systems averaged 2,072.8 +/- 649.7 ml over 92.9 +/- 26.1 minutes under a constant infusion pressure of 120 mmHg. Nitroglycerin (100 micrograms/l of flow) was delivered directly into the coronary arteries as an additive in all patients. Hemodynamic instability was notably absent in all cases, even in cases that required difficult anastomosis with a relatively long time for the anastomosis. There were no perioperative complications and no detectable myocardial damage (i.e., impairment of myocardial wall motion indicated by echocardiography findings or by > 0.25 ng/ml of troponin-T release compared to the preoperative level) in this series of patients.

The adhesion molecules, l-selectin and sialyl lewis x, relate to the formation of the follicular dendritic cell-lymphocyte cluster in the mantle zone

The follicular dendritic cell (FDC)-lymphocyte cluster is rich in the follicular light zone of the secondary lymphoid follicles (LFs). Although, the mantle zone (MZ) also has FDC-lymphocyte cluster, it has not known about what kind of adhesion molecules relates to cluster formation. In the present study, we investigated whether the adhesion molecules, L-selectin (CD62L) and sialyl Lewis x (CD15s) can mediate the formation of the cluster in human tonsillar LFs. The MZ only expressed both the adhesion molecules in the secondary LF. Isolated FDC-lymphocyte clusters were composed of CD62L(+) lymphocytes and CD15s(+) FDCs. Stamper-Woodruff binding assay revealed that the binding of IgD(+) lymphocytes was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with anti-CD62L antibody or with anti-CD15s antibody. These results indicate that CD62L on MZ lymphocytes and CD15s on FDCs may play a role of the cluster formation, unlike the clusters in the other parts of LFs.

Effect of skin pressure by clothing on small bowel transit time

We examined the effect of increased skin pressure from tight clothing on small bowel transit time by means of the breath hydrogen test, using milk that contained lactulose as an additional indigestible disaccharide, which is used as a test meal after overnight fasting. In this experiment, we measured the small bowel transit time from 9 healthy and non-constipated female subjects with two different skin pressures that were applied by loose-fitting experimental garment or an additional tight-fitting girdle on two consecutive days. The skin pressure of the latter condition was 8-9 mmHg higher than that of the former one on the participants' waist, abdomen and hip region. The experimental order of the two skin pressure conditions was counterbalanced. As a result, the small bowel transit time obtained with and without girdle did not differ significantly (165.0 +/- 26.0 minutes for less skin pressure condition and 173.3 +/- 26.8 minutes for more skin pressure condition, n = 9, p = 0.43). This result indicated that the skin pressure from clothing has no effect on the passage rate of food through the small intestine.