HEIDI: an experiment-management platform enabling high-throughput fragment and compound screening

The Swiss Light Source facilitates fragment-based drug-discovery campaigns for academic and industrial users through the Fast Fragment and Compound Screening (FFCS) software suite. This framework is further enriched by the option to utilize the Smart Digital User (SDU) software for automated data collection across the PXI, PXII and PXIII beamlines. In this work, the newly developed HEIDI webpage (https://heidi.psi.ch) is introduced: a platform crafted using state-of-the-art software architecture and web technologies for sample management of rotational data experiments. The HEIDI webpage features a data-review tab for enhanced result visualization and provides programmatic access through a representational state transfer application programming interface (REST API). The migration of the local FFCS MongoDB instance to the cloud is highlighted and detailed. This transition ensures secure, encrypted and consistently accessible data through a robust and reliable REST API tailored for the FFCS software suite. Collectively, these advancements not only significantly elevate the user experience, but also pave the way for future expansions and improvements in the capabilities of the system.

[Investigation of familial tendency of endometriosis]

Objective: To investigate the familial heritability of endometriosis and to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with or without a family history of endometriosis. Methods: From January 2020 to June 2022, 850 patients with endometriosis confirmed by laparotomy or laparoscopy in Peking University Third Hospital were included in this study. Clinical data were collected, family history was followed up, and the differences of clinical indicators between patients with and without family history of endometriosis were compared. Results: A total of 850 patients were enrolled, with an average age of (33.8±7.0) years old, 315 (37.1%, 315/850) patients in stage Ⅲ and 496 (58.4%, 496/850) patients in stage Ⅳ. There were 100 patients with family history of endometriosis, accounting for 11.8% (100/850). Most of the 113 relatives involved were mothers, daughters and sisters (76.1%, 86/113), 81.5% (22/27) of the second and third degree relatives were maternal relatives. The median ages of patients with and without family history of endometriosis were 30 and 33 years old respectively at the time of diagnosis. The unmarried rate of patients with family history was higher [42.0% (42/100) vs 26.3% (197/750)]. The percentage of dysmenorrhea patients with family history was higher [89.0% (89/100) vs 55.5% (416/750)]. The medians of dysmenorrhea score in patients with and without family history were 6 and 2, and the median durations of dysmenorrhea were 10 and 1 years. There were significant differences in age, marital status, percentage of dysmenorrhea, dysmenorrhea score and duration (all P<0.001). The median levels of serum cancer antigen (CA) 125 in patients with family history and patients without family history at the time of diagnosis were 57.5 and 46.9 kU/L respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in nationality, bady mass index, menarche age, menstrual cycle, menstrual period, menstrual volume, serum CA_19-9 level, cyst location and size, stage, history of adverse pregnancy and childbirth, infertility, adenomyosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis (all P>0.05). By comparing the specific conditions of dysmenorrhea patients with and without family history of endometriosis, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the age of onset of dysmenorrhea, duration of dysmenorrhea, primary and secondary dysmenorrhea, and progressive aggravation of dysmenorrhea (all P>0.05). The difference in the degree of dysmenorrhea in dysmenorrhea patients with family history of endometriosis was significant (P<0.001). Conclusions: The incidence of endometriosis has a familial tendency, and most of the involved relatives are the first degree relatives. Compared with patients without family history of endometriosis, endometriosis patients with family history are diagnosed at an earlier age, with higher percentage of dysmenorrhea, had more severe dysmenorrhea and higher serum CA₁₂₅ level.

Continuous wave dual-wavelength Nd:YVO4 laser at 1342 and 1525 nm for generating a 714-nm emission

Continuous wave dual-wavelength lasers at 1342 and 1525 nm are developed by using separate Nd:YVO₄ and YVO₄ crystals to form compactly coupled cavities for fundamental and Raman waves, respectively. The design of the coupled cavity not only reduces the thermal lensing effect in the Nd:YVO₄ crystal, but also improves the stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) efficiency in the undoped YVO₄ crystal. In addition, the Raman crystal is coated to form a highly reflective mirror to minimize cavity losses. By using a plano-concave cavity with a pump power of 40 W, the output powers of the fundamental and Raman waves are 470 mW and 310 mW, respectively. Changed to a concave cavity, the output powers of fundamental and Raman waves are 220 mW and 510 mW, respectively. Basis on the dual-wavelength operation, the maximum output power at 714 nm can reach 2.0 W via the sum frequency generation. A light source at 714 nm can be used for laser spectroscopy of atomic and ionic radium isotopes.

[Clinical application of bipolar tweezers-clamp for hepatic parenchymal transection]

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of the bipolar tweezers-clamp for the hepatic parenchymal transection in the resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: From January 2020 to January 2021,63 patients with the hepatocellular carcinoma for hepatectomy at Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery,Yuebei People's Hospital Affiliated to Shantou University Medical College were analyzed retrospectively.According to the different instruments used in the hepatic parenchymal transection,the patients were divided into bipolar tweezers-clamp group and ultrasonic scalpel group.There were 32 patients in bipolar tweezers-clamp group,with age of (55.5±10.5)years(range:37 to 78 years),including 22 males and 10 females,tumor size was (6.0±3.4)cm(range:2.4 to 13.4 cm). There were 6 patients with portal vein tumor thrombus and 5 patients with portal hypertension. There were 31 patients in ultrasonic scalpel group,with aged(57.8±10.1)years(range:37 to 79 years),including 27males and 4 females,tumor size was(7.9±5.1)cm(range: 2.4 to 21.3 cm),3 patients with portal vein tumor thrombus and 2 patients with portal hypertension. The preoperative baseline data,operation time,blood loss,postoperative liver function and the complications were compared between two groups using t test,χ² test and Fisher exact probabilityrespectively. Results: The operation was successfully completed in both groups.Compared with the ultrasonic scalpel group,the operation time was significantly shorter((219.3±76.4)minutes vs.(294.0±100.8)minutes,t=-3.322,P=0.002),the blood loss was less((250(475)ml vs. 500(1 050)ml,t=-2.307,P=0.026),the concentrate red blood cells transfusion volume was less(0.92(0.88)U vs. 2.32(4.00)U,Z=-1.987,P=0.047) in the bipolar tweezers-clamp group.The postoperative serum ALB level was higher in the bipolar tweezers-clamp group than that in the ultrasonic scalpel group((33.5±6.1)g/L vs. (29.5±4.2)g/L,t=3.226,P=0.020) on postoperative day 1;((35.7±4.5)g/L vs.(30.1±3.2)g/L,t=5.575,P<0.01) on postoperative day 3;((33.2±3.7)g/L vs. (31.0±4.4)g/L,t=3.020,P=0.004) on postoperative day 7. There was no significant difference in serum ALT,TBIL and PT level between the two groups(all P>0.05).No postoperative bile leakage occurred in both groups.The postoperative complications occurred in 8 cases(25.0%)in the bipolar tweezers-clamp group,including liver failure in one,and in 11 cases(35.5%)in the ultrasonic scalpel group,including liver failure in two(P>0.05). Conclusion: The bipolar tweezers-clamp is a safe and reliable method for the hepatic parenchymal transaction,which is quick and less bleeding during the hepatic resection.

[Study of clinical characteristics in patients with gp210 antibody-positive primary biliary cholangitis]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic value of liver function in a large samples of patients with anti-glycoprotein 210 (gp210 antibody) positive primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 931 PBC cases in Beijing You'an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from 2010 to 2019. According to the detection of gp210 antibody, 318 cases were divided into gp210 antibody positive group (positive group) and 613 cases were divided into gp210 antibody negative group (negative group). The differences in demographic, medical history, clinical indicators, B-ultrasound and pathological indicators as well as the histopathological basis were compared between the two groups. SPSS 16.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Measurement data were analyzed by t-test or rank sum test, and enumeration data by χ² test. Multivariate analysis was used for logistic test, and and survival analysis was used for prognosis. Results: The positive and the negative groups were compared. The ratio of male to female was significantly higher in positive than negative group (1:5.35 vs. 1:9.73, P＜0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. The proportion of hormone use in history of past diagnosed and treated was higher in positive than negative group (12.9% vs. 3.47%, P＜0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. The detection of biochemical indexes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were higher in positive than the negative group (51.1 U/L vs. 41.1 U/L, 62.6 U/L vs. 49.6 U/L, 24.1 μmol/L vs. 17.9 μmol/L, 228.3 U/L vs. 169.6 U/L, 203.9 U/L vs. 147.6 U/L), (P＜0.05), and the differences were statistically significant. Antinuclear antibody (ANA)-positive rate, high titer ratio and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were higher in positive than negative group (95.2% vs. 81.6%, 69.7% vs. 48.8%, 17.2 g/L vs. 16.2 g/L), (P＜0.05), and the differences were statistically significant. The incidence of liver failure was higher in positive than negative group (P＜0.05). CK7 and inflammation score were higher in positive group than negative group in liver histopathological observations (0.83±0.53 vs. 0.28±0.47; 1.06±0.39 vs. 0.54±0.65), (P＜0.05), and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: The illness condition of patients with gp210 antibody positive PBC is more severe than patients with gp210 antibody negative PBC, and the incidence of liver failure is significantly increased. Cholangiocytes may be the histopathological basis of the clinical characteristics of gp210 antibody positive PBC patients.

[Characteristics of clinical and laboratory indexes in patients with liver disease with positive anti-liver cytosol antibody]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of clinical and laboratory indexes in patients with liver disease with positive anti-liver cytosol antibody type 1 (anti-LC1), in order to provide references for clinical and differential diagnosis. Methods: The clinical data of 23 832 inpatients and outpatients with positive anti-LC1 autoantibodies detected in routine autoantibody test from January 2010 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and their clinical and laboratory indexes were compared. Western blotting was used to detect anti-LC1, anti-soluble liver antigen antibody (anti-SLA), anti-glycoprotein 210 antibodies and anti-nucleosome 100 antibodies. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to detect anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-mitochondrial antibody, anti-Smooth muscle antibody (ASMA), anti-liver and kidney microsomal antibody (anti-LKM) and other autoantibodies. Normally distributed measurement data between the two groups were compared by independent-sample t-test, and the multiple groups comparison were compared by one-way analysis of variance. Non-normally distributed measurement data were compared by non-parametric rank sum test. Results: 38 anti-LC1 positive patients were detected in 23832 autoantibody tests. The age of initial diagnosis ranged from 11.0 to 84.0 (50.6 ± 16.0) years. There were 8 males (21.1%) and 30 females (78.9%). A total of 31 cases (81.6%) were positive for anti-LC1 and ANA, and the dominant karyotype was speckled pattern, accounting for 54.8%. Five cases (13.2%) were positive for ASMA, and no simultaneous positive with anti-LKM or anti-SLA. Among the 38 anti-LC1 positive patients, 9 were diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), 6 with possible AIH, 6 with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), 8 with hepatitis B, 2 with hepatitis C, 1 with alcoholic liver disease, 2 with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 1 with drug-induced liver injury, 1 with hepatolenticular degeneration, and 2 with tumor. Confirmed and probable AIH cases accounted for 39.5% (15/38) of anti-LC1 positive cases. Among anti-LC1 positive patients, 47.4% (18/38) had entered the stage of liver cirrhosis. AIH group globulin level was higher than HBV group (P = 0.006) and other disease groups (P = 0.001). AIH group IgG level was higher than PBC group (P = 0.027), HBV group (P = 0.009) and other disease groups (P = 0.004). the of the PBC group IgM level was higher than AIH group (P = 0.003), HBV group (P = 0.003) and other disease groups (P = 0.006). Conclusion: Anti-LC1 is not only detected in AIH, but also observed in patients with primary biliary cholangitis, hepatitis B and C, alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease, drug-induced liver injury, hereditary metabolic liver disease and tumor. In addition, it is mainly female gender dominance and nearly half of ANA-positive young, middle-aged and elderly patients develop liver cirrhosis. For the diagnosis of type 2 autoimmune hepatitis, whether anti-LC1 is a specific antibody needs further research, but if AIH is highly suspected, this antibody can be used as a substitute.

Comparison of modeling accuracy between Radixact®and CyberKnife®Synchrony®respiratory tracking system

Synchrony Respiratory Tracking system adapted from CyberKnife has been introduced in Radixact to compensate the tumor motion caused by respiration. This study aims to compare the modeling accuracy of the Synchrony system between Radixact and CyberKnife. Two Synchrony plans based on fiducial phantoms were created for CyberKnife and Radixact, respectively. Different respiratory motion traces were used to drive a motion platform to move along the superoinferior and left-right direction. The cycle time and the amplitude of target/surrogate motion of one selected motion trace were scaled to investigate the dependence of modeling accuracy on the motion characteristic. The predicted target position, the correlation error, potential difference (Radixact only) and standard error (CyberKnife only) were extracted from raw data or log files of the two systems. The modeling accuracy was evaluated by calculating the root-mean-square (RMS) error between the predicted target positions and the input motion trace. A threshold T95 within which 95% of the potential difference or the standard error lay was defined and evaluated. Except for the motion trace with a small amplitude and a good (linear) correlation between target and surrogate motion, Radixact showed smaller RMS errors than CyberKnife. The RMS error of both systems increased with the motion amplitude and showed a decreasing trend with the increasing cycle time. No correlation was found between the RMS error and the amplitude of surrogate motion. T95 could be a good estimator of modeling accuracy for CyberKnife rather than Radixact. The correlation error defined in Radixact were largely affected by the number of fiducial markers and the setup error. In general, the modeling accuracy of the Radixact Synchrony system is better than that of the CyberKnife Synchrony system under unfavorable conditions.

Probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle inhibits IL-6 and MAPK-mediated cardiac hypertrophy during STZ-induced diabetes in rats

Escherichia coli Nissle (EcN), a probiotic bacterium protects against several disorders. Multiple reports have studied the pathways involved in cardiac hypertrophy. However, the effects of probiotic EcN against diabetes-induced cardiac hypertrophy remain to be understood. We administered five weeks old Wistar male (271±19.4 g body weight) streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with 10⁹ cfu of EcN via oral gavage every day for 24 days followed by subjecting the rats to echocardiography to analyse the cardiac parameters. Overexpressed interleukin (IL)-6 induced the MEK5/ERK5, JAK2/STAT3, and MAPK signalling cascades in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Further, the upregulation of calcineurin, NFATc3, and p-GATA4 led to the elevation of hypertrophy markers, such as atrial and B-type natriuretic peptides. In contrast, diabetic rats supplemented with probiotic EcN exhibited significant downregulated IL-6. Moreover, the MEK5/ERK5 and JAK2/STAT3 cascades involved during eccentric hypertrophy and MAPK signalling, including phosphorylated MEK, ERK, JNK, and p-38, were significantly attenuated in diabetic rats after supplementation of EcN. Western blotting and immunofluorescence revealed the significant downregulation of NFATc3 and downstream mediators, thereby resulting in the impairment of cardiac hypertrophy. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that supplementing probiotic EcN has the potential to show cardioprotective effects by inhibiting diabetes-induced cardiomyopathies.

Initial clinical experience of patient-specific QA of treatment delivery in online adaptive radiotherapy using a 1.5 T MR-Linac

Purpose. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a commercial 1.5 T MR-Linac by analyzing its patient-specific quality assurance (QA) data collected during one full year of clinical operation.Methods and Materials. The patient-specific QA system consisted of offline delivery QA (DQA) and online calculation-based QA. Offline DQA was based on ArcCHECK-MR combined with an ionization chamber. Online QA was performed using RadCalc that calculated and compared the point dose calculation with the treatment planning system (TPS). A total of 24 patients with 189 treatment fractions were enrolled in this study. Gamma analysis was performed and the threshold that encompassed 95% of QA results (T95) was reported. The plan complexity metric was calculated for each plan and compared with the dose measurements to determine whether any correlation existed.Results. All point dose measurements were within 5% deviation. The mean gamma passing rates of the group data were found to be 96.8 ± 4.0% and 99.6 ± 0.7% with criteria of 2%/2mm and 3%/3mm, respectively. T95 of 87.4% and 98.2% was reported for the overall group with the two passing criteria, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between adaptive treatments with adapt-to-position (ATP) and adapt-to-shape (ATS), whilst the category of pelvis data showed a better passing rate than other sites. Online QA gave a mean deviation of 0.2 ± 2.2%. The plan complexity metric was positively correlated with the mean dose difference whilst the complexity of the ATS cohort had larger variations than the ATP cohort.Conclusions. A patient-specific QA system based on ArcCHECK-MR, solid phantom and ionization chamber has been well established and implemented for validation of treatment delivery of a 1.5 T MR-Linac. Our QA data obtained over one year confirms that good agreement between TPS calculation and treatment delivery was achieved.

Yuan-Hu Zhi Tong Prescription Mitigates Tau Pathology and Alleviates Memory Deficiency in the Preclinical Models of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by memory dysfunction, Aβ plaques together with phosphorylated tau-associated neurofibrillary tangles. Unfortunately, the present existing drugs for AD only offer mild symptomatic cure and have more side effects. As such, developments of effective, nontoxic drugs are immediately required for AD therapy. Present study demonstrates a novel role of Chinese medicine prescription Yuan-Hu Zhi Tong (YZT) in treating AD, and it has substantiated the in vivo effectiveness of YZT in two different transgenic mice models of AD, namely P301S tau and 3XTg-AD mice. Oral treatment of YZT significantly ameliorates motor dysfunction as well as promotes the clearance of aggregated tau in P301S tau mice. YZT improves the cognitive function and reduces the insoluble tau aggregates in 3XTg-AD mice model. Furthermore, YZT decreases the insoluble AT8 positive neuron load in both P301S tau and 3XTg-AD mice. Using microarray and the "Connectivity Map" analysis, we determined the YZT-induced changes in expression of signaling molecules and revealed the potential mechanism of action of YZT. YZT might regulate ubiquitin proteasomal system for the degradation of tau aggregates. The research results show that YZT is a potential drug candidate for the therapy of tau pathogenesis and memory decline in AD.

[Years of potential life lost due to premature death of cardiovascular diseases among residents in Suzhou from 1987 to 2017]

From 1987 to 2017, cardiovascular disease (CVD) had been ranking the first cause of death in Suzhou, and the mortality rate showed an upward trend annual percentage changes (APC=0.62%, P=0.001), while the standardized mortality rate showed a downward trend (APC=-2.65%, P<0.001). The probability of premature death of CVD declined consistently from 7.06% in 1987 to 2.00% in 2017 (APC=-4.45%, P<0.001). When the life expectancy was set at 70, the potential years of life lost rate (PYLLR) decreased from 6.35‰ in 1987 to 3.30‰ in 2017, and the standardized PYLLR decreased from 7.30‰ to 2.68‰. When the life expectancy was set at 75, the PYLLR decreased from 10.12‰ to 5.19‰, and the standardized PYLLR decreased from 11.44‰ to 3.88‰. With the increase of years, all PYLLR and standardized PYLLR showed a significantly downward trend (APC=-2.51%--3.89%, P<0.001).

P2602Inhaled iloprost improves echocardiographic myocardial performance during exercise in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Introduction

The pathophysiology of HFpEF is complicated and treatments that improve outcomes in HFrEF have no substantial benefits in HFpEF. Impairments in LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and LV diastolic function parameters have been regarded as novel echocardiographic markers to predict cardiovascular events in HFpEF. Preliminary trials indicate that iloprost, an inhaled prostacyclin analougue, improves exercise hemodynamics in both patients with pulmonary artery hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with HFpEF.

Purpose

We aim to investigate the impact of inhaled iloprost on LV global longitudinal strain, LV diastolic function and RV function during exercise in HFpEF population.

Methods

34 patients diagnosed with HFpEF were included with exclusion of severe pulmonary, coronary artery, valvular heart and pericardial diseases. Subjects were randomized 1:1 to inhalation of iloprost or placebo. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at rest and after 6-minute supine bicycle exercise at 20-Watt workload. We utilized tissue speckle tracking by QLAB software to derive LV GLS and global strain rate during LV isovolumetric relaxation period (SRIVR). E/e', E/SRIVR, tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG), tissue Doppler imaging of RV lateral tricuspid annulus and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were measured to evaluate changes of myocardial performance.

Results

LV GLS during exercise significantly enhanced after iloprost use. E/SRIVR, a novel predictor of LV filling pressure, was significantly decreased. E/e' was also lower in iloprost group by trend. Improvements in RV function and degree of pulmonary hypertension during exercise with iloprost were observed in this study.

Echocardiographic myocardial function endpoints during 20-Watt excercise between iloprost and placebo groups Iloprost (N=17) Placebo (N=17) P value LV global longitudinal strain, % −4.96±1.20 −0.75±3.00 <0.001 E/SRIVR, cm 206.41±113.55 454.13±262.98 0.005 E/e' mean 10.77±2.39 14.41±12.14 0.235 TAPSE, cm 2.62±0.62 2.37±0.56 0.221 TRPG, mmHg 28.37±12.47 44.25±9.29 <0.001 TDI lateral tricuspid annulus, cm/s 16.41±4.61 14.77±2.92 0.222

Effects of iloprost at rest and exercise

Conclusions

Our study is the first to demonstrate that, in patients with HFpEF, inhaled iloprost favorably enhances LV GLS reserves, decreases LV diastolic filling load, reduces pulmonary hypertension and thereby improves RV function during exercise.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This work was supported in part by the National Science Council of the Republic of China, Taiwan (NSC107-2314-B-002-265-MY3)

[Sero-prevalence of Babesia infection among voluntary blood donors in Jiangsu Province]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the sero-positivity of Babesia infection in voluntary blood donors in Jiangsu region, so as to provide the evidence for transfusion safety.

METHODS

A total of 950 blood samples were collected from voluntary blood donors in Jiangsu Provincial Blood Center from February to May, 2017, and detected by double antigen sandwich ELISA targeting peptides derived from B. microti-secreted antigen 1 (BmSA1). The positive samples were confirmed by microscopy and nested-PCR to determine parasitemia. The prevalence of anti-BmSA1 was analyzed between/among different genders, ages and occupations of the blood donors.

RESULTS

Of the 950 blood screened samples, 5 were positive for anti-BmSA1, and the sero-prevalence of Babesia infection was 0.53%. The 5 samples were all negative by microscopy and nested-PCR. There were no gender- (χ² = 0.01, P =0.92) or age-specific differences (χ² = 0.11, P = 0.95) in the sero-prevalence of Babesia infection; however, there was an occupation-specific difference detected in the sero-prevalence of Babesia infection (χ² = 11.93, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Babesia infection is detected in voluntary blood donors in Jiangsu region, which should be paid much attention.

[The new classifications of biliary tract diseases based on actual anatomy]

In order to facilitate the treatment strategies for biliary tract injury, hilar cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct tumor thrombus, cholangiocellular carcinoma and bile duct cystic dilatation, many classifications have been made, even more than 10 types for one disease. Each type is represented by numbers or English alphabet, which are not only confusing but also difficult to remember. The Academician Mengchao Wu divided the liver into five sections and four segments base on its anatomy, this classification is very direct and visual, thus had been using till now. In order to overcome those complicated problems, it is considered to develop a new classification based on actual anatomic location similar to that for liver cancer, which is easy to remember and to directly determine the treatment strategy. All kinds of classifications have their own characteristics and advantages and disadvantages. This practical classifications avoid the complexity and may be useful for clinicians.

Application of wavelet analysis on transient reflectivity in ultra-thin films

Applications of wavelet analysis in ultra-thin film transient reflectivity (TR) measurements have been investigated. Advantages of utilizing different localized wavelet bases, in position and time, have been addressed on the residual TR signals. Morse wavelets have been used to obtain information from the abrupt oscillatory modes in the signal, which are not distinguishable with conventional methods such as Fourier transforms. These abrupt oscillatory modes are caused by the surface, interface, or any short-lived oscillatory modes which are suppressed in the TR signal in ultra-thin films. It is demonstrated that by choosing different Morse wavelets, information regarding different oscillatory modes in the TR signal of a heterostructure thin film is achievable. Moreover, by performing wavelet analysis on multiferroic heterostructures, oscillatory modes with very close energy ranges are easily distinguishable. For illustration, residuals of the TR signals have been obtained by a pump-probe setup in reflectivity mode on La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃/SrTiO₃ and BaTiO₃/La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃/SrTiO₃ samples, where sufficient signal to noise ratios have been achieved by taking multiple scans. The residual signals have been analyzed with Morse wavelets, and multiple oscillatory modes with close energy ranges have been observed and distinguished. This approach can isolate the location of various oscillatory modes at the surface, interface and in the bulk of the heterostructure sample.

Medicolegal Identification of Medical Malpractices in Orthopaedic Surgery

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the characteristics of medical malpractices in orthopaedic surgeries, to explore principles and methods in medical legal identification, and to provide basic data for uniform medicolegal standard for the future medical identification.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 cases of medical malpractices in orthopaedic surgery, among the 364 cases archived in Medicolegal Expertise Center of Xi'an Jiaotong University during 2002-2015.

RESULTS

In the 100 cases of orthopedic medical malpractices, with 104 hospitals involved in, 95 cases were judged with medical errors and the other 9 cases with no error. The top 3 reasons for errors were （1） inadequate observation or estimation of diseases （27.9%）, （2） intraoperative improper operation （17.3%）, and （3） delayed or missed diagnosis and treatment （12.5%）. The consequences of medical malpractices were mostly disability （61%）, followed by prolonged diseases （31%） and death （8%）. With regard to the causal relationship between medical errors and consequences, 95 cases （91.4%） were with causality and the other 9 cases （8.6%） with no causality. Specifically, 56 cases （53.9%） were with medical errors as the secondary causes accounting for 25% causative potency, and 20 cases （19.2%） were with medical errors as the major causes accounting for 75% causative potency.

CONCLUSIONS

It is pivotally important for determining the causative potency of medical errors to analyse the causes of damages in orthopaedic surgery and to distinguish subjective factors from objective ones of medical errors.

[Research on risk factors of short-term outcome in AIDS patients with pneumocystis pneumonia]

Objective: To investigate the prognostic risk factors of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), and to establish risk models for predicting early outcome. Methods: The clinical data of 418 AIDS patients with PCP admitted to Department of Infectious Diseases, Beijing You'an Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2008 to May 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into death group and survival group according to clinical outcome during hospitalization.Data of the two groups were collected including general information and laboratory test results.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors affecting prognosis of patients, establish prognostic models and evaluate predictive value of the model. Results: Of the 418 AIDS patients with PCP, 388 cases were male and 30 cases were female, aged from 5 to 82 years, mean age was (40±12) years.There were 82 patients in the death group and 336 patients in the survival group.Disease course, bacterial infection and alveolar-arterial oxygen pressure difference(P(A-a)O(2)), serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (N), alanine aminotransferase (AST), urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum potassium (K) were significantly higher in the death group than those in the survival group (all P<0.05), and arterial oxygen pressure (PaO(2)), blood oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), CD4(+) T lymphocyte count, lymphocyte (L) , hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (PLT), albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PALB), cholinesterase (CHE), cholesterol (CHO), serum chlorine (Cl) and serum sodium (Na) were significantly lower in the death group than those in the survival group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that P(A-a)O(2, )ALB, LDH, N and CD4(+) T lymphocyte count were prognostic factors of AIDS complicated with PCP.Prognostic index=9.736+ 0.112×P(A-a)O(2)-0.719×ALB+ 0.006×LDH+ 0.355×N-0.021×CD4.ROC curve of the short-term prognostic model was 0.985 (95%CI 0.977-0.994), with P value 0.000, cut-off value 0.907, sensitivity 92.0% and specificity 98.8%.The mortality rate increased with the increase of equation value. Conclusions: P(A-a)O(2, )ALB, LDH, N and CD4(+) T lymphocyte count are independent risk factors to predict short-term prognosis in these patients.The short-term prognostic model based on independent risk factors is useful in guiding clinical treatment.

A systematic review of the safety and efficacy of aerobic exercise during cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment

PURPOSE

Aerobic exercise improves prognosis and quality of life (QoL) following completion of chemotherapy. However, the safety and efficacy of aerobic exercise during chemotherapy is less certain. A systematic review was performed of randomised trials of adult patients undergoing chemotherapy, comparing an exercise intervention with standard care.

METHOD

From 253 abstracts screened, 33 unique trials were appraised in accordance with PRISMA guidance, including 3257 patients. Interventions included walking, jogging or cycling, and 23 were of moderate intensity (50-80% maximum heart rate).

RESULTS

Aerobic exercise improved, or at least maintained fitness during chemotherapy. Moderately intense exercise, up to 70-80% of maximum heart rate, was safe. Any reported adverse effects of exercise were mild and self-limiting, but reporting was inconsistent. Adherence was good (median 72%). Exercise improved QoL and physical functioning, with earlier return to work. Two out of four studies reported improved chemotherapy completion rates. Four out of six studies reported reduced chemotherapy toxicity. There was no evidence that exercise reduced myelosuppression or improved response rate or survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise during chemotherapy is safe and should be encouraged because of beneficial effects on QoL and physical functioning. More research is required to determine the impact on chemotherapy completion rates and prognosis.

[Characteristics of IgH-CDR3 repertoire of peripheral B cells in a patient with primary biliary cholangitis: a preliminary study using high-throughput sequencing]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of immunoglobulin heavy chain complementarity-determining region (IgH-CDR3) repertoire of peripheral B cells in a patient with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and to investigate the diversity of the immune system. Methods: Arm-PCR was used to amplify the IgH-CDR3 region of circulating B cells isolated from a PBC patient, and high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the amplified product. The characteristics of immune repertoire were analyzed by bioinformatics. Results: In total, 329219 sequence reads were generated from the sample, with 325540 total CDR3 sequences and 72774 distinct CDR3 sequences, and the D50 of IGH-CDR3 was 7.7. The dominant CDR3 length of the sample was 45 nt (9.6%); the N addition with the highest frequency ranged from 13 to 14 nt (5.25%); the J trimming with the highest frequency was 0 nt (12.7%); the three most frequent V alleles were V4-59 (9.5%), V3-23 (8.1%), and V1-69 (6.4%). Conclusion: The diversity of IgH-CDR3 repertoire is relatively low in this patient with PBC, with several B-cell clonal expansions. The specificity needs to be further verified after increasing the sample size.

[Clinical value of anti-liver/kidney microsomal-1 antibody in patients with liver disease]

Objective: To investigate the clinical and laboratory features of patients with liver disease and positive anti-liver/kidney microsomal-1 (anti-LKM-1) antibody, and to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Methods: The clinical data of patients with positive anti-LKM-1 antibody who were treated in our hospital from 2006 to 2016 were collected, and clinical and laboratory features were analyzed and compared. An analysis was also performed for special cases. Results: The measurement of related autoantibodies was performed for about 100 thousand case-times, and 15 patients were found to have positive anti-LKM-1 antibody. Among the 15 patients, 7 were diagnosed with type 2 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) with an age of 11.0 ± 9.0 years and were all adolescents with acute onset; 8 were diagnosed with hepatitis C with an age of 51.5 ± 9.0 years, among whom 7 were middle-aged patients and 1 was a child aged 12 years, and all of them had an insidious onset. Compared with the patients with hepatitis C, the AIH patients had significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (1 003.9 ± 904.3 U/L vs 57.0 ± 84.1 U/L, P < 0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (410.7 ± 660.3 U/L vs 34.9 ± 42.9 U/L, P < 0.05), and total bilirubin (98.0 ± 191.0 μmol/L vs 15.4 ± 6.0 μmol/L, P < 0.05). There was a reduction in immunoglobulin G after the treatment with immunosuppressant, compared with the baseline. Of all 8 patients with hepatitis C, 6 received antiviral therapy with interferon and ribavirin, and 5 out of them achieved complete response, among whom 4 had a reduction in the level of anti-LKM-1 antibody after treatment; however, a 12-year-old child developed liver failure after interferon treatment and died eventually. Conclusion: Positive anti-LKM-1 antibody is commonly seen in patients with type 2 AIH or hepatitis C, but there are differences between these two groups of patients in terms of age, disease onset, liver function, and the level of anti-LKM-1 antibody. The hepatitis C patients with a confirmed diagnosis and exclusion of autoimmune hepatitis can achieve good response to interferon under close monitoring, even if anti-LKM-1 antibody is positive. As for adolescent patients with hepatitis C and positive anti-LKM-1 antibody, the possibility of AIH should be excluded.

[Terminal branches portal vein embolization for planed hepatectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the application of the technique of terminal branches portal vein embolization(TBPVE)for planed hepatectomy.

METHODS

From February 2016 to June 2016, 4 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma underwent TBPVE and liver resection in Yuebei People's Hospital (n=3) and Jiangxi Ji'an Central People's Hospital (n=1). All of them were male and were 50, 64, 39 and 47 years old respectively. All the tumors located in the right lobe. All patients had the liver function of Child-Pugh A classification and liver cirrhosis level of G2S4. The standard liver volume (SLV) were 1 291, 1 109, 1 177 and 1 242 ml and estimated future liver remnant(FLR) were 315, 347, 306 and 323 ml respectively. The puncture site of TBPVE was determined by the three-dimensional reconstruction of portal vein. Three patients were punctured in the segment Ⅵ and the other one punctured in the segment Ⅲ. CT scan was repeated 2 weeks after TBPVE and FLR and FLR/SLV were calculated. All patients underwent right hepatectomy 2 weeks after TBPVE.

RESULTS

On the 14(th) day after TBPVE, the FLR of 4 patients were 529, 462, 469 and 498 ml which increased 67.9%, 33.1%, 53.3% and 54.2% compared with that before TBPVE, and FLR/SLV were 41.0%, 41.7%, 39.8% and 40.1% respectively. No severe complication occurred. Right hepatectomy were performed 2 weeks after TBPVE. No inflow blood control applied during the liver resection. The mean blood loss was 950 ml and the mean operating time was 3.3 hours (ranging from 3 to 4 hours). One patient had respiratory infection and two had slight jaundice and ascites for a short period. No other complication occurred.

CONCLUSION

The TBPVE could induce a rapid and large FLR volume that give chances to patients with small FLR to have liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Effect of Krüppel like zinc finger transcription factor 2 on γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase in bronchial epithelial cells of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

Objective: To research the regulation effects of Krüppel like zinc finger transcription factor 2 (KLF2) on γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) in airway epithelial cells of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: (1) Human specimen experiment: lung tissue of pulmonary lobectomy patients with lung cancer with or without COPD was collected from Department of Thoracic Surgery of Hunan Cancer Hospital from December 2008 to December 2009. The patients were divided into COPD group and control group without COPD. The levels of KLF2, γ-GCS mRNA and protein expression in lung tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH). Then, the correlation between KLF2 and γ-GCS mRNA and protein expression levels were analyzed, as well as the correlation between KLF2 or γ-GCS protein and smoking index, percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second to predicted value (FEV1%), percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FVC/FEV1). (2) Animal experiment: the primary bronchial epithelial cells of rats were extracted by enzyme digestion. After 6 hours of incubation with 10% tobacco smoke extract (TSE), cellular glutathione (GSH) was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The cells were transfected by specific inhibitor of KLF2 through the liposom, which inhibited the protein expression of KLF2. Then, the cells were divided into KB group (blank control group without any treatment), KB+ TSE group (treated with TSE), NC group (control group transfected with miRNA), NC+ TSE group (treated with miRNA and TSE), 92a group (transfected with KLF2 inhibitor), 92a+ TSE group (treated with KLF2 inhibitor transfection and TSE) based in the treatment. After that, the changes of KLF2 and γ-GCS mRNA and protein expression in the cells of each group were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot method. Results: (1) Human specimen experiment: The expressions of KLF2 mRNA, protein and γ-GCS mRNA, protein in the lung tissue of COPD patients were strong positive and higher than those in control group (0.32±0.04 vs 0.19±0.03, 0.35±0.05 vs 0.22±0.03; 0.28±0.03 vs 0.16±0.03, 0.31±0.05 vs 0.21±0.03; all P<0.01). Linear correlation analysis showed that KLF2 mRNA and protein were positively correlated with γ-GCS mRNA and protein (r=0.705, 0.722; both P<0.01). The KLF2 and γ-GCS protein were positively correlated with smoking index, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC (r=0.552, 0.728, 0.670, and r=0.631, 0.727, 0.657; all P<0.01). (2) Animal experiment: The level of GSH in KB+ TSE group was significantly higher than that in KB group[(28.05±2.04) vs (7.27±0.33) nmol/mg, P<0.01]. The KLF2 mRNA, protein and γ-GCS mRNA, protein in KB+ TSE group (1.715±0.026, 1.842±0.028 and 2.117±0.067, 1.879±0.065) were higher than those in KB group (1.130±0.017, 1.177±0.033 and 1.378±0.053, 1.177±0.042; all P<0.05), and those in 92a group (0.472±0.028, 0.634±0.025 and 0.582±0.025, 0.554±0.021) were significantly lower than those in KB group, NC group (1.047±0.056, 1.092±0.045 and 1.303±0.037, 1.252±0.037), and those in TSE+ 92a group (0.262±0.017, 0.288±0.017 and 0.337±0.022, 0.321±0.022) were significantly lower than those in KB+ TSE group, 92a group and NC+ TSE group (1.576±0.036, 1.646±0.066 and 1.948±0.093, 1.843±0.078) (all P<0.05). Conclusion: KLF2 exerts antioxidative effect by regulating the expression of γ-GCS in the bronchial epithelial cells of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Enhancing the rate performance of spherical LiFeBO3/C via Cr doping

Spherical LiFe_1−xCr_xBO₃/C (x = 0, 0.005, 0.008) has been successfully synthesized by ball-milling and spray-drying assisted high-temperature solid-state reaction.

No increased risk of coronary heart disease for patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer in Chinese/Taiwanese men

The relationship between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and coronary heart disease (CHD) remains controversial. Furthermore, the majority of such studies focused on Caucasian populations, and there is still a paucity of studies among Asian populations. This population-based study aimed to investigate the relationship between ADT and CHD in an ethnic Chinese (i.e., Taiwanese) population. We used data sourced from the Taiwan 'Longitudinal Health Insurance Database'. This study included 1278 patients with prostate cancer in the study group and 1278 subjects without prostate cancer in the comparison group. Each patient was individually tracked for a 3-year period to identify those who had subsequently received a diagnosis of CHD. The results showed that the incidence rate of CHD during the 3-year follow-up period was 4.69 (95% CI: 2.99-5.48) per 100 person-years and 2.67 (95% CI: 2.15-3.27) per 100 person-years for the study and comparison cohort, respectively. The Cox proportional hazard regression showed that the hazard ratio for CHD during the 3-year follow-up period for prostate cancer patients was 1.65 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25-2.16) compared with comparison subjects after adjusting for patients' geographic location, monthly income, urbanization level, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and stroke. However, we failed to find a significant difference in the adjusted hazard of CHD during the 3-year follow-up period between prostate cancer patients who did and those who did not receive ADT (hazard ratio = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.79-1.59). We concluded that prostate cancer but not ADT was significantly associated with CHD. In addition, a common cause of prostate cancer and coronary heart disease could exist.

Long-term results of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with dialysis-dependent renal failure

AIM

Coronary artery disease is the main cause of mortality and morbidity in dialysis-dependent renal failure patients. Both the prevalence and incidence of renal failure are high in Taiwan. However, there were few reports exploring the outcome of coronary aortic bypass grafting (CABG) in these patients. The aim of this study was to determine the survival outcome and risk factors for mortality from CABG in this population.

METHODS

The operative, early postoperative and late results of 170 dialysis patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting from January, 2000 to January, 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Operative mortality, long-term survival, and risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventeen patients (68.8%) were male, and the mean age was 61.5±10.3 years (range, 34-86 years). Follow-up was 40.3±32.1 months. Operative mortality was 8.2%. Actuarial survival, including operative mortality, was 81±3% at 1 year, 68±4% at 3 years, 58±5% at 5 years and 49±6% at 10 years, better than the natural course of dialysis-dependent renal failure patients. Age, emergent operation, postoperative ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, postoperative intra-aortic balloon pump insertion, gastrointestinal bleeding, and left internal mammary artery graft were significant predictors of operative or long term mortality. Most causes of late death were due to infection or cardiac events.

CONCLUSION

CABG in dialysis patients is associated with a higher incidence of complications, but has acceptable mortality. CABG is beneficial in this population. Internal mammary artery grafting may provide more favorable long term outcomes.

Magnetic mediation effect of a C impurity in a Mn-doped Zn₁₂O₁₂ nanocluster: a case of multiple exchange interactions

The stability and exchange interaction mechanism of a doped Zn12O12 cluster with Mn and C atoms were investigated by first-principles calculations. For the Mn-doped Zn12O12 cluster, it is identified that a superexchange interaction deriving the hybridization between the Mn 3d(2/x)-2/y and O 2p(xy) orbitals dominates the Mn(↑)-Mn(↓) antiferromagnetic coupling, although a direct exchange interaction deriving the Mn-Mn bonding is also found. In order to turn the Mn spin state in the Mn-doped Zn12O12 cluster, C doping is undertaken to change the magnetic interactions of these impurities. It is proved that the C incorporation into the Mn-doped Zn12O12 cluster destroys the short-ranged antiferromagnetic coupling, where multiple exchange interactions take over, including the direct exchange interaction and the kinetic p-d exchange interaction partially due to the geometric distortion and surface effect with dangling bonds (sp(2)-like hybrids). It is concluded that the kinetic p-d exchange interaction plays a dominant role in Mn/C-doped Zn12O12 clusters.

Benign prostatic enlargement is not associated with diabetes: a population-based study

The association between diabetes and benign prostatic hyperplasia remains inconclusive. In this case-control study, we examined the association of diabetes with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 in Taiwan. In total, 20 152 patients with BPE as cases and 20 152 age-matched patients without BPE were included as controls. Conditional logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% CI for having been previously diagnosed with diabetes between cases and controls. We found that of the 40 304 sampled patients, 9492 (23.6%) had a history of diabetes before the index date. This mean age for the sampled patients was 65.9 with a standard deviation of 12.0 years. A Chi-squared test revealed that there was a significant difference in the prevalence of prior diabetes between cases and controls (25.3% vs. 21.8%, p < 0.001). The conditional logistic regression found that the OR of prior diabetes for cases was 1.21 (95% CI = 1.15-1.27) compared with controls. However, after adjusting for geographic region, monthly income, urbanization level, hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), hyperlipidemia, tobacco use disorder, and obesity, the association between prior diabetes and BPE did not reach a statistically significant level (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.98-1.08). In addition, it was noteworthy that hypertension (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.20-1.31), CHD (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.32-1.48), and hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.24-1.36) were all significantly associated with BPE. We found that men with a diagnosis of diabetes were not significantly associated with BPE after adjusting for patient's sociodemographic characteristics and comorbidities.

Statin Use Is Associated with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

INTRODUCTION

Statin may induce epithelial dysfunction of the bladder urothelium. Epithelial dysfunction was proposed as one of the major potential etiologies for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). In this study, we examined the association between statin use and BPS/IC using a population-based study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This case-control study used the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. In total, 815 female subjects with BPS/IC and 4075 randomly selected female controls were included. We used a conditional logistic regression to compute the odds ratio (OR) for having previously used statins between cases and controls.

RESULTS

A conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the OR of prior statin users for cases was 1.52 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-1.94) compared to controls after adjusting for diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity, chronic pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, panic disorder, migraines, sicca syndrome, allergies, endometriosis, and asthma. Furthermore, adjusted ORs of regular and irregular statin use for cases were 1.58 (95% CI: 1.20-2.08) and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.02-2.31), respectively, compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that there was an association between statin use and BPS/IC.

TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol activates endothelial cell intermediate conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in rat isolated mesenteric artery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Smooth muscle transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channels play a fundamental role in the development of the myogenic arterial constriction that is necessary for blood flow autoregulation. As TRPM4 channels are present throughout the vasculature, we investigated their potential role in non-myogenic resistance arteries using the TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Pressure and wire myography were used to assess the reactivity of rat arteries, the latter in combination with measurements of smooth muscle membrane potential. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and endothelial cell (EC) calcium changes were assessed in pressurized vessels and patch clamp measurements made in isolated ECs.

KEY RESULTS

The TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol reversibly hyperpolarized mesenteric arteries to circa EK and blocked α1 -adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction. Hyperpolarization was abolished and vasoconstriction re-established by damaging the endothelium. In mesenteric and cerebral artery smooth muscle, 9-phenanthrol hyperpolarization was effectively blocked by the KCa 3.1 inhibitor TRAM-34. 9-Phenanthrol did not increase mesenteric EC [Ca(2+)]i , and Na(+) substitution with N-methyl-D-glucamine only increased the muscle resting potential by 10 mV. Immunolabelling for TRPM4 was restricted to the endothelium and perivascular tissue.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These data reveal a previously unrecognized action of the TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol - the ability to act as an activator of EC KCa 3.1 channels. They do not indicate a functionally important role for TRPM4 channels in the reactivity of non-myogenic mesenteric arteries.

Dexmedetomidine reduces intestinal and hepatic injury after hepatectomy with inflow occlusion under general anaesthesia: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

We compared intestinal, hepatic, and other organ function after hepatic portal occlusion with or without dexmedetomidine administration under general anaesthesia.

METHODS

In this prospective, randomized double-blind investigation, 44 patients undergoing elective hepatectomy with inflow occlusion were randomized into a dexmedetomidine group or a control group. The dexmedetomidine group received an initial dexmedetomidine loading dose of 1 μg kg(-1) over 10 min followed by a maintenance dose of 0.3 μg kg(-1) h(-1). In the control group, 0.9% sodium chloride was administered. The primary outcome was serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity reflecting intestinal injury. The secondary outcomes included variables reflecting intestinal, hepatic, kidney, and cardiopulmonary function, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and systemic inflammatory response.

RESULTS

DAO activity was lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the control group at 6 and 24 h after liver reperfusion [9.77 (1.07) vs14.29 (1.43) units ml(-1), P=0.021; 9.67 (0.98) vs 13.97 (1.31) units ml(-1), P=0.017]. d-lactate acid levels were lower during 1-72 h after liver reperfusion compared with the control group (all P<0.05). Also, the intestinal injury severity grade was decreased by dexmedetomidine (P=0.038). The biomarkers reflecting liver injury increased over time, but were lower in the dexmedetomidine group (all P<0.05), while the variables reflecting cardiopulmonary and renal function showed no differences between the groups (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dexmedetomidine administered perioperatively attenuates intestinal and hepatic injury in patients undergoing elective liver resection with inflow occlusion without any potential risk.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR-TRC-11001530, September 2011.

Right mini-parasternotomy may be a good minimally invasive alternative to full sternotomy for cardiac valve operations-a propensity-adjusted analysis

AIM

Limited realworld data existed for miniparasternotomy approach with good sample size in Asian cohorts and most previous studies were eclipsed by case heterogeneity. The goal of this study was to compare safety and quality outcomes of cardiac noncoronary valve operations by miniparasternotomy and full sternotomy approaches on riskadjusted basis.

METHODS

From our hospital database, we retrieved the cases of non-coronary valve operations from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2012, including re-do, emergent, and combined procedures. Estimated EuroScore-II and propensity score for choosing mini-parasternotomy were adjusted for in the regression models on hospital mortality, complications (pneumonia, stroke, sepsis, etc.), and quality parameters (length of stay, ICU time, ventilator time, etc.). Non-complicated cases, defined as survival to discharge, ventilator use not over one week, and intensive care unit stay not over two weeks, were used for quality parameters.

RESULTS

There were 283 miniparasternotomy and 177 full sternotomy cases. EuroScore-II differed significantly (medians 2.1 vs. 4.7, p<0.001). Propensity scores for choosing miniparasternotomy were higher with lower EuroScore-II (OR=0.91 per 1%, p<0.001), aortic regurgitation (OR=2.3, p=0.005), and aortic non-mitral valve disease (OR=3.9, p<0.001). Adjusted for propensity score and EuroScore-II, mini-parasternotomy group had less pneumonia (OR=0.32, p=0.043), less sepsis (OR=0.31, p=0.045), and shorter non-complicated length of stay (coefficient=7.2 (day), p<0.001) than full sternotomy group, whereas Kaplan-Meier survival, non-complicated ICU time, non-complicated ventilator time, and 30-day mortality did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSION

The propensity-adjusted analysis demonstrated encouraging safety and quality outcomes for mini-parasternotomy valve operation in carefully selected patients.

Homocysteine levels and cognitive function scores measured with MMSE and BCAT of middle-aged and elderly subjects in Tianjin City

OBJECTIVE

China is proceeding into the aging society. There are near 6 million elderly suffering senile dementia,while cognitive impairment is an important clinical feature in dementia. The factors involved in cognitive dysfunction in the middle-aged and the elderly persons were investigated.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Community dwellers and nursing home residents in Tianjin, China.

SUBJECTS

Total of 662 subjects(284 men and 378 women) aged 55-93.

METHODS

A designed questionnaire was used to collect their demographic data, information of disease and medication, and life style. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Basic Cognitive Aptitude Tests (BCAT) software were applied to evaluate their cognitive function. Serum total homocysteine (tHcy) level was quantified by enzyme conversion method. A multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was applied to find the influencing factors of cognitive function.

RESULTS

The average serum tHcy concentrations was 15.95±7.29 μmol/L, while the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHE) was 45.4%. The average serum tHcy level and prevalence of HHE were higher in men than those in women after ruling out the age differences. The mean MMSE and BCAT scores were 26.74±2.71 and 50.26±18.84 respectively. The BCAT score was negatively correlated with age and positively correlated with education. Multiple linear stepwise regression equations showed that the P value was less than 0.001, the BCAT regression equation showed that the R2=0.453. Serum tHcy concentration was negatively correlated with total scores of BCAT, digit copy, Chinese character comparison, mental arithmetic, Chinese character rotation and recall answer of mental arithmetic test. Total scores of BCAT were negatively correlated with education, inhabitancy, serum tHcy concentration and age. In addition, Chinese character rotation was correlated with tea consumption. Remembrance and recognition of dual words and nonsense figures was correlated with income level.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with cognitive impairment in the middle-aged and the elderly persons in Tianjin. The BCAT scores could well represent the detailed cognitive function in elderly and negatively correlate with age, but positively correlated with education level. Serum tHcy concentration was negatively correlated with total BCAT scores.

Differentiation of bacteria cell wall using Raman scattering enhanced by nanoparticle array

We have fabricated surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates based on arrays of silver nanoparticles grown on porous anodic alumina templates. Using this nanotechnology platform, label-free and high-speed detection of bacteria are achieved. SERS spectra of various bacteria including Staphylococcus Aureus (Gram-positive bacterium), Klebsiella Pneumoniae (Gram-negative bacterium), and Mycobacterium Smegmatis (Mycobacterium) were recorded. The highly reproducible SERS-based technological platform is capable of differentiating different kinds of bacteria by PCA, LDA, clustering analysis, and SVM methods, which provides promising opportunity for biosensing of clinical microbes.

Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of Plasma Resonances In Highly Excited Silicon And Germanium

The dynamics of the electron-hole plasma in silicon and germanium samples irradiated by 20 ps, 532 nm laser pulses has been investigated in the near infrared by time-resolved picosecond optical spectroscopy. The experimental reflectivities and transmissions are compared with the redictions of the thermal model for degenerate carrier distributions through the Drue iformalism. Above a certain fluence, a significant deviation between measured and calculated values indicates a strong increase of the recombination rate as soon as the plasma resonances become comparable with the band gaps. These new plasmon-aided recombination channels are particularly pronounced in germanium.