Regulating the Electronic Structure of Ruddlesden-Popper-Type Perovskite by Chlorine Doping for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Activity

Developing economical, efficient, and durable oxygen evolution catalysts is crucial for achieving sustainable energy conversion and storage. Ruddlesden-Popper-type perovskite oxides are at the forefront of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) research. However, their activity and stability are far from satisfactory. Therefore, we emphasize the paradigm shift in designing efficient perovskite-type OER catalysts through anion defect engineering. The Cl anion-doped A₂BO₄-type perovskite oxides, SrLaCoO_4-xCl_x (SLCOCl_x), were employed as highly efficient OER catalysts, wherein Cl could tune the electronic structure of SrLaCoO₄ (SLCO) to enhance the OER activity effectively. Especially, SLCOCl_0.15 demonstrates significantly enhanced OER activity, and the overpotential is only 370 mV at 10 mA·cm^-2, which is significantly better than that of SLCO (510 mV). As confirmed by experience results and density functional theory (DFT) calculation, due to the doping of Cl, obviously increasing the ratio of Co²⁺/Co³⁺, more abundant oxygen vacancies (O₂^2-/O^-) are generated, and the electrical conductivity is increased, which together promote the improvement of OER activity.

Mechanism of gastrointestinal injury in COVID-19 and potential use of ghrelin therapy

In Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the most obvious symptoms occur in the respiratory and digestive systems, posing a serious threat to the health of patients. Decreased appetite is the most common digestive system symptom and is an important predictor of mortality. A large number of patients have decreased appetite after infection and do not show obvious organic disease characteristics. Currently, no drugs can directly alleviate such symptom. In order to reduce the number of severe and critically ill patients and decrease the hospitalization rate, it is very important to understand the pathogenic mechanism of appetite loss caused by COVID-19 and manage such symptom. Ghrelin is a key gastric hormone that has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antidepressant effects. In this paper, we will review the progress in the understanding of the mechanism of appetite loss associated with COVID-19, and introduce a potential therapeutic drug, ghrelin.

[Adult-onset immunodeficiency induced by anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies: report of 13 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of a group of patients with adult-onset immunodeficiency (AOID) induced by anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies (AIGA). Methods: Thirteen cases of AOID in a northern China medical center (Peking Union Medical College Hospital) from October 2020 to April 2022 were included. Data comprising clinical manifestations, laboratory results, infection sites and pathogens were collected. Results: Among the 13 patients, 5 were male. The median age of disease onset was 47 (14 to 71) years. The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 4 years (1 to 8 years). Four patients were from northern China, and 9 from southern China. Common symptoms included lymphadenopathy (13/13), fever (12/13), respiratory tract symptoms (12/13), and weight loss (11/13). Laboratory tests showed increased levels of white blood cell count (9/13), neutrophil count and proportion (9/13), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (12/13), and C reactive protein (CRP) (11/13). The median plasma titers of AIGA upon diagnosis were 5681(3194, 13246). Sites of infection included lungs (12/13), lymph nodes (9/13), bones and joints (9/13), skin and soft tissue (7/13), blood flow and bone marrow (4/13), and glands (3/13). Most patients had nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) (12/13) infection. Seven patients had more than one pathogen. Conclusions: AOID also affects patients visiting northern China hospitals. AIGA screening is recommended among patients with disseminated NTM infections or recurrent infections.

[Status of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in 25 neonatal intensive care units of tertiary hospitals in China]

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and the risk factors of fungal sepsis in 25 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) among preterm infants in China, and to provide a basis for preventive strategies of fungal sepsis. Methods: This was a second-analysis of the data from the "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units using the evidence-based practice for improving quality" study. The current status of fungal sepsis of the 24 731 preterm infants with the gestational age of <34⁺⁰ weeks, who were admitted to 25 participating NICU within 7 days of birth between May 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. These preterm infants were divided into the fungal sepsis group and the without fungal sepsis group according to whether they developed fungal sepsis to analyze the incidences and the microbiology of fungal sepsis. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidences of fungal sepsis in preterm infants with different gestational ages and birth weights and in different NICU. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to study the outcomes of preterm infants with fungal sepsis, which were further compared with those of preterm infants without fungal sepsis. The 144 preterm infants in the fungal sepsis group were matched with 288 preterm infants in the non-fungal sepsis group by propensity score-matched method. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of fungal sepsis. Results: In all, 166 (0.7%) of the 24 731 preterm infants developed fungal sepsis, with the gestational age of (29.7±2.0) weeks and the birth weight of (1 300±293) g. The incidence of fungal sepsis increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight (both P<0.001). The preterm infants with gestational age of <32 weeks accounted for 87.3% (145/166). The incidence of fungal sepsis was 1.0% (117/11 438) in very preterm infants and 2.0% (28/1 401) in extremely preterm infants, and was 1.3% (103/8 060) in very low birth weight infants and 1.7% (21/1 211) in extremely low birth weight infants, respectively. There was no fungal sepsis in 3 NICU, and the incidences in the other 22 NICU ranged from 0.7% (10/1 397) to 2.9% (21/724), with significant statistical difference (P<0.001). The pathogens were mainly Candida (150/166, 90.4%), including 59 cases of Candida albicans and 91 cases of non-Candida albicans, of which Candida parapsilosis was the most common (41 cases). Fungal sepsis was independently associated with increased risk of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (adjusted OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.04-2.22, P=0.030) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (adjusted OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.12-5.80, P=0.025). Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure (adjusted OR=2.50, 95%CI 1.50-4.17, P<0.001), prolonged use of central line (adjusted OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08, P<0.001) and previous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) duration (adjusted OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06, P<0.001) were all independently associated with increasing risk of fungal sepsis. Conclusions: Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the main pathogens of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in Chinese NICU. Preterm infants with fungal sepsis are at increased risk of moderate to severe BPD and severe ROP. Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure, prolonged use of central line and prolonged duration of TPN will increase the risk of fungal sepsis. Ongoing initiatives are needed to reduce fungal sepsis based on these risk factors.

Role of long non-coding RNAs in development and progression of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a kind of digestive tract malignant tumor that has high malignancy and is difficult to diagnose and treat. Recent studies have proved that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can mediate tumor genesis, proliferation, migration, and metastasis by regulating epigenetic modification, alternative splicing, transcription, and protein translation. LncRNAs play an important role in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer. In this review, we review the role of lncRNAs in pancreatic cancer to provide possible diagnostic and therapeutic targets for the treatment of this malignancy.

[Accumulation Characteristics and Dietary Exposure Estimation of Heavy Metals in Vegetables from the Eastern Coastal Region of China]

The levels of six toxic metals and five essential metals in five groups of vegetables marketed in the eastern coastal region of China were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that the concentrations of six toxic heavy metals in all the vegetables did not exceed the maximum residue limits. The health risk assessment indicated that consumption of vegetables may not pose a potential noncarcinogenic risk to consumers, while there is a carcinogenic risk level of 10^-5 level from inorganic arsenic exposure through vegetable consumption. Additionally, a similar trend was observed for the accumulation of toxic and essential metals. Furthermore, compared with other vegetable groups, edible fungi have a high potential to accumulate toxic and essential metals, which indicates that pollution monitoring of edible fungi should be strengthened.

Prognostic role of HOTAIR in colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors. It is essential to find biomarkers for the early detection and evaluation of tumor prognosis. In recent years, studies have revealed that the expression of Hox transcription antisense RNA (HOTAIR) increases in various cancers, including colorectal cancer. However, due to the small sample size of each study, the persuasiveness is not strong.

AIM

To perform a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between the expression of HOTAIR and the prognosis of colorectal cancer.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, CNKI, CBM, and The Cochrane Library were searched for articles published before December 2020 on the relationship between HOTAIR expression and the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. Two reviewers independently evaluated the quality of the included articles and extracted the data. The risk ratio (HR) of overall survival (OS) and the odds ratio of lymph node metastasis (LNM) and distant metastasis (DM) were calculated to evaluate the association strength.

RESULTS

Seven articles that met the inclusion criteria were included. Six of them compared the correlation between HOTAIR expression level and OS, and the results suggested that there existed a significant correlation between them (OR = 2.36, 95%CI: 1.74-3.19, P < 0.05). The correlation between HOTAIR expression level and LNM was compared in five articles, with a statistically significant correlation observed (OR = 4.07, 95%CI: 1.38-12.0, P < 0.05). Four articles compared the correlation between HOTAIR expression level and DM, and there was a statistically significant correlation between them (OR = 4.32, 95%CI: 1.60-11.62, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The high expression of HOTAIR in colorectal cancer is significantly correlated with decreased OS, LNM, and DM, which indicates that HOTAIR may be a new biomarker for evaluating the prognosis of colorectal cancer.

[Analysis of genotypes, EEG and phenotypes of tuberous sclerosis complex patients]

Objective: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multi-system disease with TSC1 and TSC2 genes as the pathogenic genes. The purpose of our study was to analyze the gene mutation in patients with TSC with epilepsy as the main clinical manifestation. The relationship between genotype and phenotype, scalp EEG in patients was analyzed. Methods: The peripheral blood was extracted from 43 patients and their families. TSC gene was detected by second-generation sequencing. Long-term video EEG monitoring and MRI examination were performed to determine the onset area, seizure type and location of nodules. Results: 39 patients had TSC gene mutation, 4 patients did not detect the gene mutation.11 had TSC1 mutations and 28 had TSC2 mutations. 22 mutations were de novo. Patients with TSC2 mutations had earlier seizure and more nodules than patients with TSC1 mutations, but no significant difference in intelligence and spasm were observed. 28 patients had focal origin of scalp EEG, of which 85.7% of TSC2 mutations patients had focal origin. Conclusions: Patients of TSC2 mutations always has an early onset age. Although MRI shows multiple nodules, the onset of EEG is mainly focal origin.

[Retrospective study on the characteristics of early organ injury in elderly patients with severe burns]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of early organ injury in elderly patients with severe burns and the effects on the prognosis of patients. Methods: From January 2010 to August 2018, 62 patients with severe burns (43 men and 19 women, aged from 60 to 89 years at the time of admission) who were hospitalized in the Institute of Burn Research of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University, hereinafter referred to as the author's affiliation), meeting the inclusion criteria, were included in elderly (E) group, and 124 patients with severe burns (86 men and 38 women, aged from 18 to 59 years at the time of admission) at the same term were included in young and middle-aged (YM) group. Treatment of patients in the 2 groups followed the conventional procedures of the author's affiliation. The following data of patients in the 2 groups were retrospectively analyzed. (1) Fluid replacement volume and urine volume within the first and second post injury hour (PIH) 24 were recorded. The levels of hemoglobin, haematocrit, and blood lactic acid at admission, PIH 24 and 48 were recorded. (2) The creatine kinase isozyme-MB (CK-MB), total bilirubin, blood creatinine, oxygenation index, and blood platelet count at admission, at shock stage, and on post injury day (PID) 3 to 7 were collected. (3) The days of seriously or critically ill and deaths were recorded. Data were processed with chi-square test, group t test, Mann-Whitney U test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and Bonferroni correction. Results: (1) There were no statistically significant differences in fluid replacement volume within the first and second PIH 24, and urine volume within the second PIH 24 between patients in the 2 groups (t=0.351, 1.307, 1.110, P>0.05). The urine volume of patients in group E within the first PIH 24 was significantly less than that in group YM (t=5.628, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in levels of hemoglobin (t=0.011, 1.075, 0.239), haematocrit (t=0, 0.033, 0.199), and blood lactic acid (t=0.017, 1.002, 0.739) at admission, PIH 24 and 48 between patients in the 2 groups (P>0.05). (2) There were no statistically significant differences in levels of CK-MB at admission and on PID 3 to 7 between patients in the 2 groups (t=0.069, 0.001, P>0.05). The level of CK-MB of patients in group E at shock stage was significantly higher than that in group YM (t=4.017, P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in levels of total bilirubin at admission and on PID 3 to 7 between patients in the 2 groups (t=0.227, 0.002, P>0.05). However, the level of total bilirubin of patients in group E at shock stage was significantly higher than that in group YM (t=6.485, P<0.05). The levels of blood creatinine of patients in group E at admission and shock stage were significantly higher than those in group YM (t=4.226, 12.299, P<0.05 or P<0.01), while there was no statistically significant difference between them on PID 3 to 7 (t=0.693, P>0.05). The oxygenation indexes of patients in group E at admission and shock stage and on PID 3 to 7 [(371±16), (263±16), and (228±18) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)] were lower than (420±13), (327±13), and (281±17) mmHg of patients in group YM, respectively (t=5.650, 9.782, 4.856, P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in levels of blood platelet count at admission and shock stage between patients in the 2 groups (t=0.038, 0.588, P>0.05), while the level of blood platelet count of patients in group E on PID 3 to 7 was significantly lower than that in group YM (t=6.636, P<0.05). (3) The days of seriously or critically ill and death rate of patients in group E were respectively longer or higher than those in group YM (Z=-2.303, χ(2)=13.676, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: In the case of the same tissue perfusion at shock stage, injuries in heart, liver, kidney, lung, and coagulation system in elderly patients with severe burns are more obvious than those in young and middle-aged patients, with more severe illness and higher mortality.

Vitamin A pretreatment protects NO-induced bovine mammary epithelial cells from oxidative stress by modulating Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways

It is known that physiological overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) contributes to oxidative stress and inflammation. Our published studies indicated that vitamin A (VA) reduces NO-induced oxidative stress in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. However, the precise mechanism is unclear. The present study was conducted to examine the protective effects of VA on NO-induced damage to BMECs in vitro using diethylenetriamine nitric oxide (DETA-NO) as the NO donor and to explore the intracellular signaling mechanisms of VA that involve nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Subconfluent BMECs were divided into 10 treatment groups with 6 replicates per treatment and were cultured with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, vehicle negative control) or 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, or 4 μg/mL of VA for 24 h and then incubated in the absence or presence of DETA-NO (1,000 μmol/liter) and VA for an additional 6 h. The results showed that exposure to DETA alone decreased cell proliferation compared with the negative control. Pretreatment with VA promoted the proliferation of BMECs, increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes including selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and their gene and protein expression but decreased NO and interleukin 1 (IL-1) contents in a quadratic manner (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of mRNA and protein of factors that are related to NF-κB or Nrf2 signaling pathways in BMECs were regulated by VA in a quadratic dose-dependent manner; VA at a concentration of 1 μg/mL exhibited the strongest effect. Together, these results suggest that VA promotes antioxidant functions of BMECs by regulating the synthesis of selenoproteins including GPx and TrxR and by reducing concentrations of IL-1 and NO in vitro by modulating Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

[Regulatory effect of faciogenital dysplasia 6 gene on hepatic stem cell differentiation]

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of faciogenital dysplasia 6 (FGD6) gene on hepatic stem cell differentiation. Methods: FGD6 gene was selected for the co-intervention of target sequence, the AdEasy system was used for the construction of adenovirus vector and the packaging and multiplication of the recombinant adenovirus vector pSES-FGD6-siRNA, and the HP14.5 cells were infected. Immunofluorescence assay was used to measure the expression of FGD6 protein in HP14.5 cells, quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of FGD6, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and albumin (Alb), and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of FGD6, AFP, and Alb. The empty pSES-Ad-RFP adenovirus vector was constructed as control in each group. All data were expressed as x±s, and a one-way analysis of variance was performed. Results: FGD6 protein was mainly expressed in the nucleus of HP14.5 cells. The pSES-FGD6-siRNA adenovirus vector was successfully constructed and it downregulated the expression of FGD6 gene and the mRNA and protein expression of AFP in HP14.5 cells and upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of Alb (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The inhibition of the expression of FGD6 gene in HP14.5 cells may differentiate HP14.5 cells into hepatocytes. Therefore, FGD6 gene plays an important role in the differentiation regulation of hepatic stem cells.

[Functional mapping of the insular and opercular cortex: A study using SEEG electrical stimulation in epileptic patients]

OBJECTIVE

Insular and opercular cortex is involved in complicated physiological function.Insular seizures involve extensive epileptic network, which results in the complex and diverse semiology.Electrical cortical stimulation(ECS) can explore the functional mapping and symptomatogenic zone.

METHODS

The clinical presurgical evaluation and ECS data of 20 patients whose electrode contacts were located in the insular and opercular were analyzed retrospectively.CT scan/3D MRI data fusion was performed in order to accurately identify and locate each contact and check the electrode trajectory by the MRI images performed after the electrodes were removed.ECS was applied between two contiguous contacts.Stimulation usually lasted for 5 s at 50 Hz(pulse width=0.3 ms). Depending on the area of stimulated cortex, the stimulation intensities ranged from 0.2 to 3.0 mA.The classification of the insular were anterior short gyrus, middle short gyrus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, posterior long gyrus and insular pole.The classification of the opercular were orbital, frontal, precentral, central, parietal and temporal opercular.

RESULTS

One hundred and six contacts were located in the insular and 51 responses were evoked (48.11%). Four hundred eighteen contacts were located in the insular and 132 responses were evoked (31.58%). We classified the principal responses as somatosensory, pain, auditory, oropharyngeal, speech disturbances and neurovegetative response.Somatosensory responses were mainly evoked in parietal opercular and postcentral gyrus, while pain response distributed sporadically.Auditory were only evoked in temporal opercular(transverse temporal gyri) and posterior long gyrus.Oropharyngeal symptoms were only evoked in central opercular.Speech disturbances were located in precentral and central opercular and neurovegetative responses were mainly evoked in insular pole and middle short gyrus.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may indicate a functional specificity for the insular gyrus and opercular, which contribute to the understanding of anatomo-functional organization and the role in insular and opercular epileptic network.Moreover, it could optimize the implantation strategy for exploring these structures.

[Research advances in diagnosis and treatment of post-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt hepatic encephalopathy]

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has become an important minimally invasive interventional technique for the treatment of complications of cirrhotic portal hypertension, and currently, it is often used in cirrhotic patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EVB), intractable ascites, hepatic hydrothorax, and Budd-Chiari syndrome. On one hand, TIPS can effectively reduce portal vein pressure and the risk of EVB and intractable ascites; on the other hand, it may reduce the blood flow in liver perfusion, aggravate liver impairment, and cause porto-systemic encephalopathy. Related influencing factors should be evaluated comprehensively in order to prevent the development of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy. The diagnosis and treatment of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy is still a great challenge in current clinical practice. This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy to enhance people's knowledge of this disease.

Therapeutic effects of flupentixol and melitracen combined with trimebutine in patients with irritable bowel syndrome accompanied with anxiety and depression

AIM: To assess the therapeutic effects of flupentixol and melitracen tablets combined with trimebutine in patients with abdominal pain-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) accompanied with anxiety and depression.

METHODS: This multi-center, randomized, prospective study enrolled 48 patients with abdominal pain-predominant IBS who were divided into either a combination treatment group (24 patients) or a control group (24 patients). Trimebutine was administrated in both groups, while flupentixol and melitracen was added in the combination treatment group. The treatment lasted 4 wk. Gastrointestinal symptoms and mood disorders were evaluated before treatment, 1 wk and 4 wk after treatment.

RESULTS: At the end of one week after treatment, the rates of improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms in the combination treatment group and control group were 16.7% and 20.8%, and there was no statistically significant difference between them (P > 0.05). At the end of 4 wk after treatment, the rates of improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms in the combination treatment group was 87.5%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (41.7%; χ² = 9.507, P = 0.002). At the end of 1 week after treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of Hamilton Depression Scale score improvement (14.3% and 9.09%, P > 0.05) or the rates of Hamilton Anxiety Scale score improvement (25.2% vs 22.2%, P > 0.05) between the combination treatment group and control group. At the end of 4 weeks after treatment, the rate of Hamilton Depression Scale score improvement in the combination treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (61.9% vs 22.7%, χ² = 6.776, P = 0.009), and the rate of Hamilton Anxiety Scale score improvement was also significantly higher in the combination treatment group (66.7% vs 33.3%, χ² = 4.582, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION: Flupentixol and melitracen combined with trimebutine could not only improve the anxiety and depression symptoms of patients with abdominal pain-predominant IBS, but also effectively improve gastrointestinal symptoms. The efficacy of the combination treatment is better than that of trimebutine monotherapy.

Role of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in pathogenesis of colorectal cancer

As the fourth most common malignancy, colorectal cancer poses a serious threat to human health. With the changes in lifestyle and diet, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing year by year. Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, activation of oncogenes and abnormal overexpression of DNA repair genes have been known to be responsible for the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is a DNA repair enzyme that can remove the adducts on DNA and repair the DNA damage. Studies have found that methylation of the MGMT gene is closely related to the occurrence of colorectal cancer.

Double balloon enteroscopy vs capsule endoscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: A Meta-analysis

AIM: To compare the diagnostic value of double balloon enteroscopy versus capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding to help choose the optimal diagnostic strategy for this clinical condition.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Medline, Vip database, Wanfang database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) and Chinese Biomedical Literature database (CBM) of randomized controlled clinical trial using double balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy for the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding dating from January 2003 to January 2013. Data of included studies were extracted and their quality evaluated independently by two reviewers. RevMan5 software was used for Meta-analysis.

RESULTS: Based on inclusion criteria, 13 prospective randomized controlled clinical studies were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference in the diagnostic rate between double balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Subgroup analysis showed that the diagnostic rate had no significant difference between enteroscopy in patients with positive results in previous capsule endoscopy and enteroscopy in unselected patients.

CONCLUSION: Double balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy have similar diagnostic results in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, and enteroscopy after capsule endoscopy can not improve the diagnostic rate.

The role of molecular margins as prognostic factors in laryngeal carcinoma in Chinese patients

CONCLUSION

Molecular margins were a more important prognostic factor in laryngeal carcinoma in Chinese patients than histopathological margins. eIF4E was the most sensitive molecular index of those that we tested for in these patients.

OBJECTIVES

Safe surgical margins are closely related to prognosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of molecular margins, not traditional histopathological margins, as prognostic factors in laryngeal carcinoma in Chinese patients. An additional aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic significance of tumor markers in the primary site of laryngeal carcinoma.

METHODS

From January 1992 to January 2000, the data for 321 Chinese patients with laryngeal carcinoma who were divided into a recurrent laryngeal carcinoma group and a non-recurrent group were analyzed. Tumor markers in surgical margins and primary site, such as cyclin D1, p53, and eIF4E, were detected in the two groups with immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the expression of cyclin D1, p53, and eIF4E in surgical margins between the recurrent laryngeal carcinoma group and the non-recurrent group. The eIF4E-positive rate in surgical margins was higher than that for the other two factors. There was a significant difference in cyclin D1 and p53 in the primary site of laryngeal carcinoma and no significant difference in eIF4E in the two groups.

ODV-associated proteins of the Pieris rapae granulovirus

Alphabaculovirus (lepidopteran-specific nucleopolyhedroviruses, NPV) and Betabaculovirus (granuloviruses, GV) are two main genera of the family Baculoviridae. The virion proteomes of Alphabaculovirus have been well studied; however, the Betabaculovirus virion compositions remain unclear. Pieris rapae granulovirus (PrGV) can kill larvae of P. rapae, a worldwide and important pest of mustard family crops. In this study, the occlusion-derived virus (ODV)-associated proteins of PrGV were identified using three mass spectrometry (MS) approaches. The MS analyses demonstrated that 47 proteins were present in PrGV-ODV. Of the 47 PrGV-ODV proteins, 33 have homologues identified previously in other baculovirus ODV/BVs, whereas 14 (P10, Pr21, Pr29, Pr35, Pr42, Pr54, P45/48, Pr83, Pr84, Pr89, Pr92, Pr111, Pr114 and FGF3) were newly identified ODV proteins. Seven of the 14 newly identified ODV proteins are specific to Betabaculovirus, including Pr35, Pr42, Pr54, Pr83, Pr84, Pr111 and Pr114. Furthermore, the data derived from these MS approaches were validated by immunoblotting analysis using antisera prepared from 11 randomly selected recombinant PrGV-ODV proteins (including 5 Betabaculovirus-unique proteins). Comparison analyses revealed the similar and different compositions between Betabaculovirus and Alphabaculovirus virions, which deepen our understanding of the baculovirus virion structure and provide helpful information on Betabaculovirus--host interaction studies.

Antigens containing TAVSPTTLR tandem repeats could be used in assaying antibodies to Classical swine fever virus

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) causes a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease in pigs. The highly conserved epitope TAVSPTTLR on the glycoprotein E2 was shown to be suitable for differentiation of CSFV from other pestiviruses. In this study, we found that swine CSFV antisera contained TAVSPTTLR-related rather than TAVSPTTLR-specific CSFV antibodies. The CSFV antisera reacted only to some extent with a synthetic TAVSPTTLR-containing peptide, but inhibited the binding of TAVSPTTLR-specific antibodies to the viral antigen. Since chimeric antigens containing TAVSPTTLR tetramers or hexamers were recognized by the swine CSFV antisera, such antigens could be potentially applied to the detection of CSFV antibodies. These results might be helpful in designing a TAVSPTTLR epitope-based CSFV vaccine and a corresponding serological test.

Characterization of antibody responses against a neutralizing epitope on the glycoprotein E2 of classical swine fever virus

The sequence TAVSPTTLR is a conserved and linear neutralizing epitope on the glycoprotein E2 of classical swine fever virus. In this study, TAVSPTTLR-directed antibodies, induced either by virions or by an epitope-focused immunogen, were characterized. The results revealed that despite the same epitope specificity, the antibodies induced by different immunogens varied significantly both in the neutralizing test and in binding inhibition assays. This suggests that the protective immunity induced by this epitope is due to more than simply the epitope specificity and that this epitope might need essential contributions from its flanking context to induce functional epitope-specific antibodies.

[Nasopharyngeal stenosis following uvulopalatopharyngoplasty]

OBJECTIVE

To report nasopharyngeal stenosis following UPPP and our treatment experience.

METHOD

Two clinical cases were analysised.

RESULT

In this paper, the complications were attributed to excessive excision palapharyngeal arches, which juried mucous membrane of nasopharyngeal inlet during the long management time as bleeding and the laser used. Surgical management was performed in two cases. One failed. One was treated successfully by rotation palato-pharyngeal flap and prolonged nasopharyngeal stent, Follow-up 20 months there was no recurrence of stenosis.

CONCLUSION

Surgical correction of nasopharyngeal stenosis following UPPP is challenging and the best treatment is prevention.

Pathogenicity of Pythium Populations from Corn-Soybean Rotation Fields

Corn and soybean have been rotated for decades in the north central regions of the United States, but it is unknown how the use of long-term rotation affects the population of soilborne fungi pathogenic to both crops. Pythium populations were obtained from 73 commercial corn-soybean rotation fields in Iowa from 1993 to 1995. A total of 163 Pythium isolates were obtained from soil, diseased soybean seedlings, or diseased corn seedlings, and these isolates were pooled into six populations according to the source of samples. The isolates were evaluated for their aggressiveness on corn and soybean for each population. Regardless of the source of sampling, each population had many Pythium isolates that were highly aggressive on both crops. Seventy-one percent of the isolates from soil were pathogenic, and 29% were highly aggressive on both crops. Three populations of Pythium isolates were obtained from diseased soybean seedlings. Eighty-five percent of those isolates were pathogenic, and 49 to 64% were highly aggressive on corn and soybean. Of the isolates obtained from diseased corn seedlings, 87% were pathogenic and 43% were highly aggressive on corn and soybean. For each Pythium population, aggressiveness on soybean and corn (measured by disease index) were highly correlated. Further, 23 P. ultimum isolates were identified from diseased soybean seedlings and tested for pathogenicity on corn and soybean. Disease index of the isolates varied, but the correlation between disease indices on the two crops was significant (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). The study suggests that long-term corn-soybean rotation fields contain many Pythium isolates that are highly aggressive on seedlings of both crops.

[Study of H(+)-Ca2+ exchange in cultured heart cells after hypoxia and reoxygenation]

Reoxygenation is more serious for hypoxic myocardial cells because of the subsequent calcium overload. The calcium overload is known due to augmentation of H(+)-Na+, Na(+)-Ca2+, exchange during pH paradox. But the present experiment showed that, when H(+)-Na+, Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange was inhibited, calcium could still enter myocardial cells after hypoxia or reoxygenation. Similar result was observed after using Na(+)-Free solution, suggesting that calcium entrance into the cell was unrelated to Na+ channel. It was further shown that calcium accumulation was related to pH gradient across the myocardial cell membrane, i.e., being increased with increase of H+ concentration in the cell. Therefore, it appears that, besides H(+)-Na+, Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange, H(+)-Ca2+ exchange is one of the reasons of calcium overload during intracellular pH paradox.

Anti-CD40 antibody binding modulates human multiple myeloma clonogenicity in vitro

Ligand binding of the B-cell lineage antigen CD40 enhances growth and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion in human B cells (the CD40/IL-6 loop). IL-6 has an autocrine and paracrine role in human multiple myeloma (MM) cell growth. With the use of the CD40 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) G28-5, we examined CD40 expression and the effect of CD40 binding on MM clonogenic colony (MCC) formation to characterize the IL-6/CD40 loop activity in MM. CD40 was expressed on plasmacytoid cells in 21 of 28 plasma cell dyscrasia (PCD) bone marrow (BM) biopsies tested (10 of 14 MM, 2 of 2 Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia [WM], 2 of 2 plasma cell leukemia [PCL], 6 of 8 monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance [MGUS], and 1 of 2 primary amyloidosis [AL]). G28-5 binding increased MCCs by 35% to 150% in 11 of 17 CD40+ PCD BM cultures, but did not affect MCC formation in CD40- specimens or normal BM colony forming units (CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, BFU-E). Responsive cultures originated from BM of patients with MM (2 of 5 cases tested), WM (2 of 2), PCL (2 of 2), and MGUS (5 of 6). CD40-responsiveness was not significantly inhibited by the presence of an anti-IL-6 MoAb (2 of 2 MGUS cultures tested), and did not correlate with the capacity to respond to IL-6 stimulation (n = 17, P > .05) or a detectable level of endogenous IL-6 (n = 15, P > .05). Additional studies were performed with PCD cell lines to characterize the interrelationship of CD40 activation and IL-6 production. Fifty percent to greater than 95% of cells from the RPMI 8226 and ARH77 lines expressed CD40, whereas 6% of U266 cells were CD40+. For RPMI 8226, ARH-77, and U266 cells, the increased MCC formation after anti-CD40 stimulation was not affected by the presence of an anti-IL-6 neutralizing MoAb and was not accompanied by detectable IL-6 secretion. There was no apparent increase in IL-6 mRNA transcription following G28-5 treatment of U266 or RPMI 8226 cells. Our observations indicate that CD40 is expressed in a subset of human myeloma cells present in various PCDs. Cell-line studies suggest that the CD40+ myeloma cell may regulate MM clonogenic colony formation without activating the IL-6 pathway.

Comparison of results of laser and routine surgery therapy in treatment of nasal polyps

102 patients with nasal polyps receiving ND: YAG laser surgery or routine surgery were followed up for 18-36 months. The postoperative recurrence rates were 40.6% (24/54) and 66.6% (32/48) respectively for the patients of the two groups. Laser surgery is marked by less bleeding, no postoperative packing of the nose and lower postoperative recurrence rate, and it seems to be better than routine removal in the treatment of nasal polyps.

Heterotransplantation of human multiple myeloma cell lines in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice

Human multiple myeloma (MM) xenografts have been difficult to establish in athymic mice. We examined the feasibility of establishing human MM xenograft growth in SCID mice following subcutaneous (sc) injection of 1-2 x 10(7) cells from the human plasma cell dyscrasia (PCD) cell lines RPMI 8226 and ARH-77. SC tumors emerged in 67% (6/9) of RPMI 8226- and 6 of 6 ARH-77-injected mice after a latency period of 9-54 days, and reached 19-35 mm in diameter before the mice were sacrificed. RPMI 8226 and ARH-77 primary tumor DNA hybridized positively with the human genome probe Alul-(Blur8), confirming successful engraftment of the human MM cell lines. The RPMI 8226 xenografts comprised predominantly of plasmacytoid cells that expressed the relevant cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (cIg) light chain isotype. Xenografted RPMI 8226 cells also expressed CD10 (CALLA; 44% reactive cells), CD38 (OKTIO; 69%), CD5 (49%), and reacted with the MM monoclonal antibody MM4 (39%). Human MM growth appeared to be localized subcutaneously for both RPMI 8226 and ARH-77 xenografts. There were no detectable metastatic foci in kidney, brain, heart, or bone marrow. Whereas diffuse plasma cell infiltrates were observed in spleen, GI tract, and lung biopsies of tumor-bearing mice, these infiltrates were of host origin according to immunophenotyping and DNA analyses. Neither the originating RPMI 8226 line nor its SCID mouse xenograft expressed Epstein Barr virus (EBV) genome sequences. These observations indicate that both EBV- (RPMI 8226) and EBV+ (ARH-77) cell lines can be successfully propagated in SCID mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Disseminated growth of a human multiple myeloma cell line in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency disease

We have successfully engrafted a human multiple myeloma cell line, ARH-77, into C.B. 17 SCID mice. When ARH-77 cells were injected s.c., tumors grew only at the site of inoculation (five of five). When ARH-77 cells were injected i.v. tumors did not grow in any of the mice (zero of five). However, when mice were given gamma-irradiation with 150 rads and then inoculated i.v. with 10(7) ARH-77 cells, 100% (13 of 13) of the mice developed tumors. Hind leg paralysis was observed in 13 of 16 mice as a result of compression of the spinal cord by tumor. Histological analysis demonstrated that myeloma cells proliferated and formed osteolytic lesions (15 of 16) in the vertebrae and bones of the skull (14 of 16). Tumor cells also invaded the brain and meninges (14 of 16), lung (13 of 15), liver (seven of 15), and kidney (two of 15). Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the phenotype of 31% of the bone marrow cells in the vertebrae and 79% of s.c. tumor cells was similar to ARH-77 cells (CD38+, PCA-1+, HLA-Classes 1 and II+). Furthermore, DNA hybridization with a human AluI probe confirmed their human origin. ARH-77-derived human immunoglobulin was detected in the serum of SCID/ARH-77 mice by ELISA. These observations demonstrate systemic involvement of human multiple myeloma following i.v. injection of ARH-77 cells into irradiated mice. This in vivo model should be useful for evaluating new therapeutic modalities for myeloma.