Risk factors for damaged liver function after chemotherapy in hepatitis B virus carriers with non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The goal of this study was to investigate damaged liver function after chemotherapy in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and to evaluate risk factors associated with a high risk of damaged liver function. Clinical histories of 134 HBV carriers with NHL who were treated with chemotherapy were obtained and analyzed for the occurrence of damaged liver function and other related high-risk factors. Analysis showed that 76 patients (56.7%) had damaged liver function after chemotherapy: 6 patients (7.9%) had I degree, 17 patients (22.4%) had II degree, 20 patients (26.3%) had III degree, and 33 patients (43.4%) had IV degree damage. After treatment, 18 patients (23.7%) continued to receive chemotherapy according to their original schedule, 39 patients (51.3%) delayed chemotherapy, 16 patients (21.1%) stopped chemotherapy, and 3 patients (3.9%) died. Analysis of a binary multivariate logistic regression model showed that administration of steroids was a high-risk factor for damaged liver function after chemotherapy in NHL patients. The incidence of damaged liver function after chemotherapy is high among HBV carriers with NHL; therefore, administration of steroid chemotherapy is a high-risk factor.

Association study of c.910A>G and c.1686C>G polymorphisms in XRCC1 gene with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Chinese population

XRCC1 (human X-ray repair complementing defective repair in Chinese hamster cell 1) gene is considered a potentially important gene influencing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our analyses detected two allelic variants of XRCC1, c.910A>G and c.1686C>G. We aimed to investigate whether these polymorphisms influence the risk of HCC. The association between the XRCC1 polymorphisms and the risk of HCC was analyzed in 719 patients and 662 controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Our data suggested that the genotypes and alleles of c.910A>G and c.1686C>G polymorphisms were statistically associated with the risk of HCC. For c.910A>G, the GG genotype was associated with increased risk of developing HCC compared with the AA wild genotype (OR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.40-2.70, P < 0.0001). For c.1686C>G, the risk of HCC was significantly higher for the GG genotype compared with the CC wild genotype (OR = 1.89, 95%CI = 1.375-2.599, P < 0.0001). Significant differences in the risk of HCC were also found with other genetic models for these two SNPs. The G allele of both c.910A>G and c.1686C>G may contribute to the risk of HCC (G versus A: OR = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.20-1.64, P < 0.0001 and G versus C: OR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.19-1.61, P < 0.0001, respectively). Our findings suggest that the c.910A>G and c.1686C>G polymorphisms of XRCC1 are associated with the risk of HCC in the Chinese population.

Changes in quantity and spectroscopic properties of water-extractable organic matter during soil aquifer treatment

The aim of this study was to identify qualitative and quantitative changes in the character of water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) in soils as a consequence of soil aquifer treatment (SAT). Soil samples were obtained from a soil-column system with a 2-year operation, and divided into seven layers from top to bottom: CS1 (0-12.5 cm), CS2 (12.5-25 cm), CS3 (25-50 cm), CS4 (50-75 cm), CS5 (75-100 cm), CS6 (100-125 cm) and CS7 (125-150 cm). A sample of the original soil used to pack the columns was also analysed to determine the effects of SAT. Following 2 years of SAT operation, both soil organic carbon and water-extractable organic carbon were shown to accumulate in the top soil layer (0-12.5 cm), and to decrease in soil layers deeper than 12.5 cm. The WEOM in the top soil layer was characterized by low aromaticity index (AI), low emission humification index (HIX) and low fluorescence efficiency index (F(eff)). On the other hand, the WEOM in soil layers deeper than 12.5 cm had increased values of HIX and F(eff), as well as decreased AI values relative to the original soil before SAT. In all soil layers, the percentage of hydrophobic and transphilic fractions decreased, while that of the hydrophilic fraction increased, as a result of SAT. The production of the amide-2 functional groups was observed in the top soil layer. SAT operation also led to the enrichment of hydrocarbon and amide-1 functional groups, as well as the depletion of oxygen-containing functional groups in soil layers deeper than 12.5 cm.

[Study of sintering temperature of HN-97 porcelain stain]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the sintering temperature range and the best temperature of coloration of HN-97 porcelain stain,and matched porcelain powders.

METHODS

(1) The authors used prepared experiments of sintering temperatures and different sintering temperatures with different porcelain powders.

RESULTS

The results showed sintering temperature range of the stain was 820-955 degrees centigrade; (2)The stain can be matched with many porcelain powders (e.g.Vita,Densply. Shofu and Shanghai); (3)Surface of stain was smooth, colour was stable,integrate was good.

CONCLUSION

The stain can be used once coloration and glaze for restoration of porcelain, autoglazing temperature of which is between 820-955 degrees centigrade and the operation is easy.

Ectopic expression of A-myb in transgenic mice causes follicular hyperplasia and enhanced B lymphocyte proliferation

The A-myb gene is a transcription factor that shares structural and functional similarities with the v-myb oncogene. To date, v-myb is the only myb gene directly implicated in tumorigenesis, a property attributed to its transactivating ability. Recent studies have demonstrated that A-myb, like v-myb, is a potent transcriptional activator, raising the possibility that A-myb may also participate in oncogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we generated fusion constructs that contained the human A-myb cDNA under control of the mouse metallothionein promoter and the mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat. These constructs were inserted into the germ line of mice, and the functional consequences of ectopic A-myb expression were examined. Although transgene expression was detected in a wide range of tissues, abnormalities were confined primarily to hematopoietic tissues. After a 9-month latency, A-myb transgenic mice developed hyperplasia of the spleen and lymph nodes. Enlarged tissues contained a polyclonally expanded B lymphocyte population that expressed a germinal center-cell phenotype. Transgenic B lymphocytes showed increased DNA synthesis in response to low dose mitogen stimulation, suggesting that A-myb may contribute to hyperplasia by increasing the rate of B cell proliferation.

DNA binding and transactivation activity of A-myb, a c-myb-related gene

A partial-length A-myb complementary DNA recently cloned by low-stringency hybridization with a c-myb probe to complementary DNA libraries derived from human cell lines showed a high degree of homology with the DNA-binding domain of c-myb and B-myb, suggesting that A-myb also encoded a DNA-binding protein. We report here the sequence of the entire coding region of A-myb complementary DNA and show that the full-length GST-A-myb fusion protein or a truncated derivative corresponding only to the putative DNA-binding domain interacts specifically with Myb-binding sites of the c-myb responsive promoters, MIM-1 and CD34. In transient transfection assays, A-myb transactivated the bound promoters. These results suggest that, analogous to the other members of the Myb family, the A-myb gene encodes a bona fide transactivator. The distinct function of A-myb might derive from its pattern of expression and/or its relative potency as a transactivator of myb target genes.

Propranolol and thyroidectomy in the treatment of thyrotoxicosis

For decades, the preparation of a hyperthyroid patient for surgery took several weeks or months utilizing thyroid blocking agents and iodine. In 1973, a preliminary report of 20 patients with hyperthyroidism treated with propranolol and thyroidectomy was presented. It was found that a thyrotoxic patient could be prepared for surgery, in an emergency, by intravenous propranolol in less than an hour, or electively by oral propranolol within 24 hours. Since then, 140 additional patients have been similarly treated. It continues to be true at this institution that propranolol, a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, effectively neutralizes the symptoms of autonomic hyperactivity, including sweating, tremor, fever, dilation of blood vessels, and increased pulse rate without significantly affecting thyroid function. An average dose of 160 mg/day was used, with a range of 40 to 320 mg/day. In none of these patients was iodine used; in fact, its use with propranolol is considered unnecessary. A subtotal, near total, or total thyroidectomy was done in all patients, resulting in a 55% incidence of hypothyroidism. There was no postoperative thyroid storm, nerve injury, or permanent hypoparathyroidism. It is believed that the administration of propranolol alone provides a rapid, safe, and effective preparation of the thyrotoxic patient for thyroidal or extrathyroidal surgical procedures during the perioperative period.