[Effect of 2-year resistance exercises on cardiovascular disease risk in prediabetes patients]

Objective: To investigate the effect of a 2-year resistance and aerobic training on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with prediabetes. Methods: A total of 248 patients with prediabetes were enrolled from Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January to April 2014, and Danyang People's Hospital and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from May to December 2014.Based on random number table method, the patients were divided into 3 groups: the resistance training group (RT group, 82 cases), the aerobic training group (AT group, 83 cases) and control group (83 cases). Participants in the RT group and the AT group underwent a total of 24 months of exercise training. Changes in indicators (blood glucose,blood lipid, etc.) at baseline and the end of 12 and 24 months among the groups were compared. Results: After intervention, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), blood pressure and homeostasis model 2 insulin resistance index (HOMA2-IR) in the RT and AT groups tended to decrease, and the steady state model 2 β cell function index (HOMA2-β) tended to increase. At the end of 24 months, HbA1c [5.80 (5.43, 6.20) %, 5.70 (5.50, 6.00)% vs. 6.20 (5.70, 6.60) %, all P ≤ 0.01], LDL-C [3.07 (2.69, 3.58) mmol/L, 2.97 (2.62, 3.95) mmol/L vs. 3.21(2.54, 3.78) mmol/L, all P<0.05] and HOMA2-IR [0.96 (0.82, 1.47), 1.20 (0.99, 1.43) vs. 1.34 (1.09, 1.51), all P<0.05] were significantly decreased in the RT and AT groups than in the control group. In addition, HOMA2-β [84.50 (60.55, 107.33), 93.00 (78.60, 119.75) vs. 53.40 (37.70, 80.40), all P = 0.001] was significantly increased in the AT and RT groups compared with that in the control group. There were no significant differences in triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) levels between the training groups and the control group (all P>0.05). After adjusting for age, sex and blood pressure, the cardiovascular risk of prediabetes was significantly reduced in RT (P =0.017) and AT groups (P =0.018). The Cox regression analyses showed that both the resistance training (HR=0.419, 95%CI =0.415-0.942, P=0.037) and the aerobic training (HR=0.310, 95%CI=0.447-0.866, P=0.026) were protective factors for cardiovascular disease in prediabetic patients after adjustment of age, sex, statins, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio, which reduced the risks of cardiovascular disease in prediabetic patients by 58.1% and 69.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Two years of aerobic and resistance training interventions have obvious advantages on glycemic and insulin resistance control in prediabetes patients. The resistance training can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and it is, thus, recommended for prediabetic patients without obvious exercise contraindications.

[Preliminary experience of transoral robotic surgery in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors with da Vinci surgical system]

Objective:The purpose of this study was to summarize preliminary clinical experience of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors with da Vinci surgical system.Method:Twelve patients were reviewed who were diagnosed with laryngeal (n=7) and hypopharyngeal tumors (n=5) and treated with TORS in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from July 1, 2016 to January 31, 2018.Result:Ten cases were male and two cases were female. The median age was 58 years old (ranging from 30 to 81 years). The robotic surgeries were performed successfully on all of the 12 patients. The average surgical time was 31.7 min. The average blood loss was 12.3 ml. The average recovery time for oral intake was 4.6 day. All surgical resection margins were free of carcinoma. Eight cases received neck dissection and 7 cases received adjuvant radiotherapy. There were no perioperative complications. There was no local recurrence, metastasis or death except 1 regional recurrence with a follow-up of 3 to 20 months.Conclusion:TORS is a feasible, safe, minimally invasive, and effective surgical procedure in selected laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors.

[Assistant cooperation and therapeutic effect analysis in transoral robotic surgery with da Vinci surgical system]

Objective:The purpose of this study was to summarize the therapeutic effect and key points and skills of assistant cooperation in transoral robotic surgery (TORS) with da Vinci surgical system.Method:Forty patients were reviewed who were treated with TORS in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from June 1, 2016 to May 30, 2018. Key points of assistant cooperation, docking time, incidence of transit to open approach, mechanical failure, complications, and negative surgical margin were analyzed.Result:Docking time was shortened from 50 to 15 min after 10 cases. The robotic surgeries were performed successfully on all of the 40 patients. There were no mechanical failure or perioperative complications. All surgical resection margins were free of carcinoma.Conclusion:In order to achieve professional cooperation with the surgeon and improve the efficiency, the assistant should be familiar with the steps and key points of TORS.

[Exploration of feasibility and safety of transoral robotic surgery in pharyngolaryngeal tumors]

Objective: To investigate the indication, feasibility, and safety of da Vinci robotic surgical system in pharyngolaryngeal tumor resection. Methods: Thirty patients were diagnosed with pharyngolaryngeal tumors and treated with a transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from June 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017. Inclusion criteria included lesions of the oropharynx (n=13), parapharyngeal space (n=7), larynx (n=6) and hypopharynx (n=4). Twenty cases were males and ten cases were females. The median age was 56 years old (ranging from 30 to 81 years). Results: The robotic surgeries were performed successfully on 30 patients. One patient (3.3%) underwent TORS combined with a neck incision. The mean operative time was 40.7 min. The mean blood loss was 15.8 ml. The mean recovery time for oral intake was 5.3 days. The mean hospital stay was 9 days. None of the patients underwent tracheotomy or mandible split. Postoperative pathological examination showed that 18 cases (60.0%) were malignant and 1 case (5.6%) had positive surgical margin. Sixteen cases received neck dissection. No serious complications occurred during or after the operation. There was no local recurrence, metastasis or death except for regional recurrences in 2 cases (11.1%) with a follow-up of 1 to 18 months(median 13 months). Conclusion: Transoral robotic surgery is a feasible, safe and effective surgical procedure with clear operation field, rapid surgical access, minimally invasive surgery, lesser hemorrhage, good cosmetic effect and fast recovery.

Monolayer-graphene-based perfect absorption structures in the near infrared

Subwavelength perfect optical absorption structures based on monolayer-graphene are analyzed and demonstrated experimentally. The perfect absorption mechanism is a result of critical coupling relating to a guided mode resonance of a low index two-dimensional periodic structure. Peak absorption over 99% at wavelength of 1526.5 nm with full-width at half maximum (FWHM) about 18 nm is demonstrated from a fabricated structure with period of 1230 nm, and the measured results agree well with the simulation results. In addition, the influence of geometrical parameters of the structure and the angular response for oblique incidence are analyzed in detail in the simulation. The demonstrated absorption structure in the presented work has great potential in the design of advanced photo-detectors and modulators.

[Association between IL-27 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to allergic rhinitis]

Objective: To evaluate the potential association of IL-27 polymorphisms with allergic rhinitis(AR) in a Chinese Han population. Method:A case-control study was performed in 445 Chinese AR patients and 691 healthy controls. Three SNPs in the IL-27p28 gene, including rs153109, rs17855750 and rs181206, were detected using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay(PCR-RFLP). Result:A significantly increased prevalence of the rs153109 TT genotype and the T allele was found in AR patients, while a decreased prevalence of the CT and CC genotypes and the C allele was found. For rs153109, the TT genotype and the T allele were significantly associated with the risk of AR, but the CT and CC genotypes and the C allele decreased the risk of AR; for rs17855750, the TT genotype and T allele were risk factors for AR, and the GT genotype and G allele provided protection. TTT and TTC haplotypes in the IL-27 p28 gene were positively correlated with AR, while CGT, CTC and CTT haplotypes were associated with a significantly decreased risk of AR. Conclusion:This study indicates that IL-27 p28 polymorphisms rs153109 and rs17855750 are likely involved in AR susceptibility, making them potentially useful genetic biomarkers for AR susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.

Chip-integrated nearly perfect absorber at telecom wavelengths by graphene coupled with nanobeam cavity

We exploit the concept of critical coupling to graphene based chip-integrated applications and numerically demonstrate that a chip-integrated nearly perfect graphene absorber at wavelengths around 1.55 μm can be obtained by graphene nearly critical coupling with a nanobeam cavity. The key points are reducing the radiation loss and transmission possibly, together with controlling the coupling rate of the cavity to the input waveguide to be equal to the absorption rate of the cavity caused by graphene. Simulation results show that the absorption of monolayer graphene with a total length of only a few microns is raised up to 97%. Our study may have potential applications in chip-integrated photodetectors.

Toward integrated electrically controllable directional coupling based on dielectric loaded graphene plasmonic waveguide

We propose and numerically analyze a mid-infrared electrically controllable plasmonic waveguide directional coupler that is composed of two parallel identical straight dielectric loaded graphene plasmonic waveguide and S-shaped waveguide bends. By varying the Fermi energy level of the graphene sheet, the maximum power coupled from the input waveguide to the cross-waveguide and the corresponding coupling length could be effectively tuned. Under different Fermi energy level, this directional coupler could serve as an electrically controlled optical switch or a 3-dB splitter around the wavelength of 10.5 μm. Moreover, the size of the entire device is really in sub-wavelength scale making it very facilitative for high density integration.

Dielectric loaded graphene plasmon waveguide

Dielectric loaded graphene plasmon waveguide (DLGPW) is proposed and investigated. An analytical model based on effective-index method is presented and verified by the finite element method simulations. The mode effective index, propagation loss, cutoff wavelength of higher order modes and single-mode operation region were derived at mid-infrared spectral region. By changing Fermi energy level, the propagation properties of fundamental mode could be tuned flexibly. The structure of the DLGPW is simple and easy for fabrication. It provided a new freedom to manipulate the graphene surface plasmons, which may led to new applications in actively tunable integrated optical devices.

One-way transmission of linearly polarized light in plasmonic subwavelength metallic grating cascaded with dielectric grating

We show that optical transmission of linearly polarized light through a plasmonic subwavelength metallic grating cascaded with a dielectric grating at a 45° angle to each other is asymmetric in opposite directions. A key characteristic of this asymmetric transmission is that the polarization of the transmitted light is changed. Simulation results reveal that transmission of 0.92 in one direction and 10(-5) in the opposite direction can be obtained at normal incidence at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Because of their high optical performance and loose fabrication requirements, the structures may provide practical applications in the control of light transmission.

Metallic nanofilm half-wave plate based on magnetic plasmon resonance

We proposed and fabricated a nanofilm half-wave plate consisting of periodic arrays of orthogonally coupled slit-hole resonator structures in Au film. Experimental results reveal that 95.2% of energy of the incident linearly polarized light is converted to the perpendicular polarization direction after reflection from the nanostructure. The wave plate is single layer with only 180 nm thickness, which is much thinner than the operation wavelength. Our method can be expanded to other resonant structures or transmitted case.

Double-resonance nanolaser based on coupled slit-hole resonator structures

This work investigates a kind of metallic magnetic cavity based on slit-hole resonators. Two orthogonal hybrid magnetic resonance modes of the cavity with a large spatial overlap are predesigned at the wavelengths of 980 and 1550 nm. The Yb:Er codoped material serving as a gain medium is set in the cavity; this enables the resonator to have a high optical activity. The numerical result shows that the strong lasing at 1550 nm may be achieved when the cavity array is pumped at 980 nm. This double resonance nanolaser array has potential applications in future optical devices and quantum information techniques.

[Studies on detecting Brugia malayi larva in mosquitoes by polymerase chain reaction]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a specific, sensitive and simple assay for the detection of Brugia malayi larva in Anopheles sinensis.

METHODS

Using a new DNA purification technique (Microcon 100) and two pairs of oligonucleotide primers (p1, p2 and p3, p4) suitable for detecting B. malayi in seven areas in our country, the mosquito vectors infected by B. malayi were detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).

RESULTS

This PCR method could amplify separately a 322-basepair(bp) and a 155 bp DNA fragment and detect as few as 1/64 of one L1 in 1 mosquito, the detectable limit was nearly 4 pg DNA of filarial larvae, and it could also detect 1 infected mosquito with one L3 of B. malayi in pools of up to 200 mosquitoes. In contrast, no such specific 322 bp or 155 bp DNA band was detected in Dilofilaria immitis and normal mosquito.

CONCLUSION

This PCR technique established for supervision of mosquito vector in B. malayi endemic areas is specific, sensitive, and simple.