Radiomics nomogram based on MRI water imaging identifying symptomatic nerves of patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia: A preliminary study

The study proposes a combined nomogram based on radiomics features from magnetic resonance neurohydrography and clinical features to identify symptomatic nerves in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia. We retrospectively analyzed 140 patients with clinically confirmed trigeminal neuralgia. Out of these, 24 patients constituted the external validation set, while the remaining 116 patients contributed a total of 231 nerves, comprising 118 symptomatic nerves, and 113 normal nerves. Radiomics features were extracted from the MRI water imaging (t2-mix3d-tra-spair). Radiomics feature selection was performed using L1 regularization-based regression, while clinical feature selection utilized univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Subsequently, radiomics, clinical, and combined models were developed by using multivariate logistic regression, and a nomogram of the combined model was drawn. The performance of nomogram in discriminating symptomatic nerves was assessed through the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics, accuracy, and calibration curves. Clinical applications of the nomogram were further evaluated using decision curve analysis. Five clinical factors and 13 radiomics signatures were ultimately selected to establish predictive models. The AUCs in the training and validation cohorts were 0.77 (0.70-0.84) and 0.82 (0.72-0.92) with the radiomics model, 0.69 (0.61-0.77) and 0.66 (0.53-0.79) with the clinical model, 0.80 (0.74-0.87), and 0.85 (0.76-0.94) with the combined model, respectively. In the external validation set, the AUCs for the clinical, radiomics, and combined models were 0.70 (0.60-0.79), 0.78 (0.65-0.91), and 0.81 (0.70-0.93), respectively. The calibration curve demonstrated that the nomogram exhibited good predictive ability. Moreover, The decision curve analysis curve indicated shows that the combined model holds high clinical application value. The integrated model, combines radiomics features from magnetic resonance neurohydrography with clinical factors, proves to be effective in identify symptomatic nerves in trigeminal neuralgia. The diagnostic efficacy of the combined model was notably superior to that of the model constructed solely from conventional clinical features.

Irreversible electroporation versus radiofrequency ablation for malignant hepatic tumor: A prospective single-center double-arm trial

Objective

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a nonthermal ablation technique for the treatment of malignant liver tumors. IRE has demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of malignant liver tumors and its unique advantages in the treatment of nearby vascular lesions. This study aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and intermediate-term outcomes of IRE and radiofrequency (RF) therapy in malignant liver tumors.

Methods

Twenty-four patients with primary or secondary liver malignancies were included in this prospective, double-arm clinical trial. Patients were randomly divided into the IRE and RF groups. The primary outcome was the efficacy (local ablation control evaluation at 90 days). The secondary outcomes were safety (procedure-related complications at ​≤ ​90 days) and intermediate-term survival (at 24 months).

Results

The ablation assessment at 90 days after surgery with mRECIST for IRE versus RF were 70%, 20%, 0%, and 10% versus 92.9%, 7.1%, 0%, and 0% (CR, PR, SD, and PD, respectively). The complication rates of IRE versus RF with Clavien-Dindo classification were 16.7%, 25%, 0%, 8.3%, and 8.3% versus 8.3%, 50%, 0%, 0%, and 0% (Grade I, II, III, IV, and V, respectively). The average overall survival (OS) was 17.55 months in the IRE group (95% CI 15.13-22.37) and 18.75 months in the RF group (95% CI 12.48-22.61). There was no statistical difference between the IRE and RF groups in terms of efficacy (p ​= ​0.48), safety(p ​= ​0.887), or 24-month OS (p ​= ​0.959).

Conclusions

IRE ablation revealed similar efficacy and safety in a short-term follow-up, and similar OS in mid-term survival as RF ablation in treating malignant hepatic tumors.

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A prospective single-center double-arm clinical trial of IRE/RF.

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Study compared efficacy, safety in short-term and intermediate-term overall survival of IRE and RF in liver malignant tumors.

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All procedures were performed with CT-guided percutaneous ablation..

Calf Circumference and All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Based on Trend Estimation Approaches

OBJECTIVES

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis and quantify the associations of total mortality with calf circumference (CC) in adults 18 years and older via combining various analyses based on empirical dichotomic CC, continuous CC, and dose-response CC.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search of relevant studies in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science published through April 12, 2022. This systematic review includes longitudinal observational studies reporting the relationships of total mortality with CC. We calculated the pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of total mortality with CC per 1 cm for each study and combined the values using standard meta-analysis approaches. Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS), Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations approach (GRADE), and the Instrument for assessing the Credibility of Effect Modification Analyses (ICEMAN) were assessed for meta-analyses.

RESULTS

Our analysis included a total of 37 cohort studies involving 62,736 participants, across which moderate heterogeneity was observed (I2=75.7%, P<0.001), but no publication bias was found. Study quality scores ranged from 6 to 9 (mean 7.7), with only three studies awarded a score of 6 (fair quality). We observed an inverse trend between total death risk and CC per 1 cm increase (RR, 0.95, 95% CI, 0.94-0.96; P<0.001; GRADE quality=high). Only a very slight difference was found among residents of nursing homes (6.9% mortality risk reduction per one cm CC increase), community-dwellers (5.4%), and those living in hospitals (4.8%), respectively (P for meta-regression=0.617). Low credible subgroup difference was found based on the ICEMAN tool.

CONCLUSIONS

Calf circumference is a valid anthropometric measure for mortality risk prediction in a community, nursing home, or hospital.

Chinese expert consensus of image-guided irreversible electroporation for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal disease with extremely high mortality. Although surgical resection is the optimal therapeutic approach for PC, about 30%-40% of those patients are not candidates for surgical resection when diagnosed. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy also could not claim a desirable effect on PC. The application of interventional radiology approaches is limited by unavoidable damage to the surrounding vessels or organs. By the superiority of mechanism and technology, IRE could ablate the tumor by creating irreversible pores on the membrane of PC cells with other tissues like vessels and pancreatic ducts untouched. This consensus gathers the theoretical basis and clinical experience from multiple Chinese medical centers, to provide the application principles and experience from Chinese experts in the IRE field.

The effect of energy restriction on fatty acid profiles of longissimus dorsi and tissue adipose depots in sheep

Sheep production systems in northwest China depend mostly on natural grasslands. Seasonal growth and maturity fluctuations can cause periodical restrictions in food quality and quantity. These fluctuations, in turn, result in variability in fat deposition and fatty acid profiles in different fat depots. Consequently, the study objective was to compare fat deposition, intramuscular fat (IMF) percentage and fatty acid profiles of the longissimus dorsi (LD), kidney fat (KF), tail fat (TF), and subcutaneous fat (SF) in lambs under ME restrictions similar to seasonal changes observed in the natural grasslands of northwest China. Nineteen male Dorper × Small Tailed Han lambs were assigned to 2 treatments, a control (CON) fed at 1.0 MJ / W × d and restricted (RES) by restricting ME sequentially every 30 d (0.56 MJ / W × d, 0.84 / W × d, 1.0 MJ / W × d, 0.84 MJ / W × d, 0.56 MJ / W × d, 0.28 MJ / W × d). All lambs were harvested at the end of the 180 d experimental period. Compared to CON fed lambs, restricting ME resulted in lesser IMF, fat deposition indexes ( < 0.05) except testicular and heart fat and greater ( < 0.05) SFA in LD, KF, and TF depots. The RES fed lambs had greater ( < 0.05) -3 PUFA, eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n3), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n3, EPA), and trans-linolelaidic acid (C18:2n6t) in LD muscle. The conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) content was greater in the SF depots of the CON fed lambs compared to the RES fed lambs. Fatty acid ratios (unsaturated fatty acid; USFA:SFA, MUFA:SFA, PUFA:SFA), and percentage USFA in RES fed lambs were lesser in muscle and adipose tissue compared to CON fed lambs ( < 0.05), except SF depots. In RES fed lambs, EFA were less ( < 0.05) in LD and KF depots and the ratios of functional fatty acids were lesser in LD and some adipose tissues ( < 0.05), including lesser n-6:n-3 in KF and SF ( < 0.05) depots, lesser USFA, SFA, MUFA, SFA in LD, KF, and TF ( < 0.05) depots, and lesser PUFA and SFA in LD and TF ( < 0.05) depots. Results from this research demonstrate that sequential energy restriction, as might be experience during seasonal forage quality and quantity changes in natural grasslands, result in lesser intramuscular fat with associated lesser quality, as well as, changes in fatty acid composition in different fat depots, which has implications for both meat quality and animal physiological functions.

Development of small intestinal enzyme activities and their relationship with some gut regulatory peptides in grazing sheep

Growth depends on an animal's capacity to digest and assimilate ingested nutrients, and insufficient supply and impairment will constrain lamb growth. Eight groups of Alpine Finewool lambs were harvested on 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 d to measure pH and enzymatic activities in the duodenum, proximal jejunum, middle jejunum, distal jejunum, and ileum mucosa or digesta. From the duodenum to the ileum the pH of intestinal mucosa and digesta increased, whereas pH changed very little with age. The trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, lactase, and α-amylase activities observed at birth decreased by d 3, followed by a nonuniform enzymatic response in the small intestine. The trypsin activity increased from d 3 to peak, at d 21, followed by a decline. Chymotrypsin activity followed the same general trend but with smaller responses in activities. Trypsin demonstrated greater enzymatic activity than chymotrypsin at the same age. The lipase activity of small intestinal mucosa and digesta changed little with age. The lactase activity was high at birth, decreased by d 3, and then increased, followed by a decrease as lambs approached weaning. α-Amylase activity was similar in the small intestinal mucosa and digesta at birth but increased with age for the duodenum and proximal jejunum. Plasma concentrations of cholecystokinin (CCK), secretin, and gastrin were positively correlated ( < 0.05) with ileal mucosa lipase activity. Plasma concentration of CCK, secretin, gastrin, and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) were positively correlated ( < 0.05) with ileal mucosa lactase activity. Plasma concentration of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) was negatively correlated ( < 0.05) with lactase activity in the middle jejunum and ileal mucosa. Plasma concentrations of CCK, secretin, gastrin, and GIP were positively correlated ( < 0.05) with α-amylase activity in the ileal mucosa but negatively correlated ( < 0.05) with duodenum, prejejunum, and middle jejunum. Plasma PP concentrations were positively correlated ( < 0.01) with α-amylase activity of duodenum, middle jejunum, and postjejunum mucosa but not with the enzyme activity of postjejunum and ileal mucosa ( > 0.05). Small intestinal enzymatic activities exist and may be sufficient to enhance lamb growth via appropriate nutrient supplementation.

Developmental changes in fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) mRNA expression and intramuscular fat (IMF) content in Oula sheep

Increasing meat consumption by Chinese people has created a focus for improving meat quality for increasing quality of life. Twenty-five Male Oula sheep were selected at 2, 21, 56, 84, and 112 d to investigate the developmental changes associated with age on the intramuscular fat (IMF) content of heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) mRNA expression in muscle. Longissimus dorsal muscle and biceps femoris muscle were sampled to measure IMF concentrations and total mRNA was extracted to measure H-FABP mRNA expression using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Growing male Oula sheep demonstrated that the IMF concentrations continuously increased with age and significant differences (P < 0.05) were detected among the age groups; 2. The IMF concentrations among tissues were different; 3. The development changes in H-FABP mRNA expression in longissimus dorsal muscle and biceps femoris muscle were similar with a decrease from 2 to 21 d, followed by continuously increasing concentrations being significant different (P < 0.05) among age groups; 4. The H-FABP mRNA expression in the longissimus dorsal muscle tissue was significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to the biceps femoris muscle; 5. The muscle H-FABP mRNA expression concentration was positively correlated with IMF concentrations from d 21 to 112; 6. The correlation coefficients were significantly (P < 0.01)different between H-FABP gene mRNA expression in the longissimus dorsal muscle and IMF concentration of 0.815 compared to the biceps femoris muscle and IMF concentration of 0.787,which indicated that the H-FABP gene may be affecting the IMF concentrations in the early developmental stages of Oula sheep. These results support the hypothesis that H-FABP gene and its expression in muscle tissue is related to the IMF concentration of meat.

Reduction of Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity in Sensorimotor and Visual Information Processing Pathways in Schizophrenia

Background:

Previous studies have demonstrated interhemispheric functional connectivity alterations in schizophrenia. However, the relationship between these alterations and the disease state of schizophrenia is largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this relationship using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method.

Methods:

This study enrolled 36 schizophrenia patients with complete remission, 58 schizophrenia patients with incomplete remission and 55 healthy controls. The VMHC was calculated based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Differences in VMHC among three groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance. A brain region with a significant difference in VMHC was defined as a region of interest (ROI), and the mean VMHC value in the ROI was extracted for the post hoc analysis, i.e., pair-wise comparisons across the three groups.

Results:

VMHC in the visual region (inferior occipital and fusiform gyri) and the sensorimotor region (paracentral lobule) showed significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.05, a false discovery rate method corrected). Pair-wise comparisons in the post hoc analysis showed that VMHC of the visual and sensorimotor regions in schizophrenia patients with complete remission and incomplete remission was lower than that in healthy controls (P < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected); however, there was no significant difference between the two patient subgroups.

Conclusions:

Interhemispheric functional connectivity in the sensorimotor and visual processing pathways was reduced in patients with schizophrenia, but this reduction was unrelated to the disease state; thus, this reduction may serve as a trait marker of schizophrenia.

Pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling imaging of cerebral blood perfusion asymmetry in drug-naïve patients with first-episode major depression

Many previous studies have reported that regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) aberrations may be one of the pathological characteristics of depression and rCBF has demonstrated a certain degree of asymmetry. However, studies investigating the cerebral blood perfusion asymmetry changes of drug-naïve patients experiencing their first episode of major depression using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) are rare. Ten drug-naïve patients experiencing their first major depression episode and 15 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the current study. A novel pCASL method was applied to whole brain MRI scans of all of the samples. The Statistics Parameter Mapping and Relative Expression Software Tool software packages were used for the pre-processing and statistical analysis of the two sets of images, and the differences in the cerebral blood perfusion at the whole brain level were compared between the two groups. Compared with the healthy control group, the cerebral perfusion of the depression patients showed an asymmetric pattern. Decreased cerebral blood perfusion regions were primarily located in the left hemisphere, specifically in the left temporal lobe, frontal lobe and cingulate cortex [P<0.05 and cluster size ≥30 with false discovery rate (FDR) correction]. Simultaneously, increased perfusion regions were predominantly located in the right hemisphere, specifically in the right cerebellum, thalamus, frontal lobe and anterior cingulate cortex (P<0.05 and cluster size ≥30, with FDR correction). Thus, pCASL may characterize the alterations in cerebral blood perfusion of patients with depression.

Comparative Study of Electrochemical Performance of SnO2 Anodes with Different Nanostructures for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Powders composed of SnO2 nanostructures including microporous nanospheres, mesoporous nanospheres and nanosheets were synthesized by the direct hydrothermal hydrolyzation of SnCl4, hydrothermal hydrolyzation of SnCl4 using glucose as a soft template and precipitation of SnCl2 ∙ 2H20 using oxalic acid as a precipitant, respectively. The electrochemical performance of the three samples used as the anode of a lithium ion battery was determined using galvanostatic discharge/charge tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Among of them, the anode composed of microporous SnO2 nanospheres demonstrated outstanding initial discharge and charge capacities of 2480 and 1510 mAh g-1, respectively, with a coulombic efficiency of 60.9% at a current density of 78 mA g-1 (0.1 C). In addition, high initial discharge and charge capacities of 1398 mAh g-1 and 950 mAh g-1, respectively, with a coulombic efficiency of 67.95% were obtained even at a high current density of 550 mA g-1 (0.7 C). Moreover, a reversible capacity of 500 mAh g-1 with a coulombic efficiency of 99.95% was attained even after 50 discharging/charging cycles at 550 mA g-1 (0.7 C). This superior electrochemical performance of the SnO2 anodes can be attributed to the large specific surface area (172.7 m2 g-1), small crystal size (approximately 15 nm) and the interstitial microporous pores (<2 nm) of the particles, which favored lithium-ion diffusion and insertion/desertion at the surface of SnO2 and decreased the polarization and the volume expansion of SnO2. Moreover, the resistance of the cell and Li+ diffusion coefficient were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Abnormality of the corpus callosum in coalmine gas explosion-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Abnormal corpus callosum (CC) has been reported in childhood trauma-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the nature of white matter (WM) integrity alterations in the CC of young adult-onset PTSD patients is unknown. In this study, 14 victims of a coal mine gas explosion with PTSD and 23 matched coal miners without experiencing the coal mine explosion were enrolled. The differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) within 7 sub-regions of the CC were compared between the two groups. Compared to the controls, PTSD coal miners exhibited significantly reduced FA values in the anterior sub-regions of the CC (P < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected), which mainly interconnect the bilateral frontal cortices. Our findings indicated that the anterior part of the CC was more severely impaired than the posterior part in young adult-onset PTSD, which suggested the patterns of CC impairment may depend on the developmental stage of the structure when the PTSD occurs.

Contrast-enhanced MRI in preoperative assessment of myometrial and cervical invasion, and lymph node metastasis: diagnostic value and error analysis in endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To determine the ability of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to predict myometrial invasion, cervical invasion, and pelvic lymph node metastasis in endometrial carcinoma and to analyze factors that lead to errors in this identification.

DESIGN

A retrospective study.

SETTING

University general hospital.

POPULATION

A total of 167 women diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma.

METHODS

All patients received a preoperative contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scan. Histopathological findings were used as the definitive diagnosis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The results were compared with histopathological findings, factors that make accurate assessment of myometrial invasion, cervical invasion, and pelvic lymph node metastasis difficult by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were analyzed.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were 90.9, 91.8, 91.6, 73.2 and 97.6%, respectively, for identifying deep myometrial invasion; 84.2, 96.0, 94.6, 72.7 and 97.9%, respectively, for identifying cervical invasion; and 45.0, 91.2, 85.6, 40.9 and 92.4%, respectively, for identifying pelvic lymph node metastasis. The main causes of error in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were myomas, cornual lesions, deep myometrial invasion, large tumor size, non-endometrioid tumor type, and lower tumor grade.

CONCLUSION

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging has a high accuracy and a low tendency to produce false-negative predictive values. Gynecological oncologists should combine the imaging data and clinical information to make therapeutic decisions and avoid diagnostic errors.

Genetic variation of 5 SNPs of MC1R gene in Chinese indigenous sheep breeds

The purpose of this study was to assess genetic diversity, genetic differentiation.relationship and population structure among 10 Chinese sheep populations using 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). in MC1R gene. The genetic diversity indices suggested that the intra-population variation levels of Chinese Merino and Large-tailed Han,breeds were lowest than Kazakh Fat-Rumped. Chinese sheep breeds have maintained a high intra-population variation levels (95.23%). The genetic differentiation patterns and genetic relationships among Chinese sheep breeds displayed a high consistency with the traditional classification. The cluster trees were constructed by UPMGA method. The results showed that Chinese indigenous sheep populations have distinct genetic differentiation. The inter-population variation levels in Chinese sheep populations indicated three geographically independent domestication events have occurred. The Bayesian cluster analyses also showed a reliable clustering pattern, which revealed three major clusters in.Chinese indigenous sheep populations (Mongolian group, Kazakh group and Tibetan group), except for Duolang and Minxian Black-fur. There were probably caused by different breeding history, geography isolation and different levels of inbreeding. The findings supported the related records in literature, ten sheep populations originated on different time stage from the primogenitor population and communicated genetically with each other in the process of natural and artificial selection, and in different ecological environment. It is concluded that Chinese indigenous sheep have higher genetic variation and diversity, genetic differentiation exist between Chinese sheep populations. The majority breeds are consistent with the geographical distribution and breed characteristic.

Structural impairments of hippocampus in coal mine gas explosion-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Investigations on hippocampal and amygdalar volume have revealed inconsistent results in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known about the structural covariance alterations between the hippocampus and amygdala in PTSD. In this study, we evaluated the alteration in the hippocampal and amygdalar volume and their structural covariance in the coal mine gas explosion related PTSD. High resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on coal mine gas explosion related PTSD male patients (n = 14) and non-traumatized coalminers without PTSD (n = 25). The voxel-based morphometry (VBM) method was used to test the inter-group differences in hippocampal and amygdalar volume as well as the inter-group differences in structural covariance between the ipsilateral hippocampus and amygdala. PTSD patients exhibited decreased gray matter volume (GMV) in the bilateral hippocampi compared to controls (p<0.05, FDR corrected). GMV covariances between the ipsilateral hippocampus and amygdala were significantly reduced in PTSD patients compared with controls (p<0.05, FDR corrected). The coalminers with gas explosion related PTSD had decreased hippocampal volume and structural covariance with the ipsilateral amygdala, suggesting that the structural impairment of the hippocampus may implicate in the pathophysiology of PTSD.

Analysis of geographic and pairwise distances among sheep populations

This study investigated geographic and pairwise distances among seven Chinese local and four introduced sheep populations via analysis of 26 microsatellite DNA markers. Genetic polymorphism was rich, and the following was discovered: 348 alleles in total were detected, the average allele number was 13.38, the polymorphism information content (PIC) of loci ranged from 0.717 to 0.788, the number of effective alleles ranged from 7.046 to 7.489, and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.700 to 0.768 for the practical sample, and from 0.712 to 0.794 for expected heterozygosity. The Wright's F-statistic of subpopulations within the total (FST) was 0.128, the genetic differentiation coefficient (GST) was 0.115, and the average gene flow (Nm) was 1.703. The phylogenetic trees based on the neighbor-joining method by Nei's genetic distance (DA) and Nei's standard genetic distance (DS) were similar. Sheep populations clustered into group 1 (Ta, M, L, H, O, G, and Q breeds) and group 2 (PD, WS, B, and T breeds). These results will have an important value applied and directive significance for sheep breeding in the future.

Combination of cetuximab and rapamycin enhances the therapeutic efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly cancers worldwide. It is well known that the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and the Ras/MAPK signaling pathway plays a critical role in cellular metabolism, growth and proliferation, and its inhibitors have been used as therapeutic drugs for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cetuximab, a chimerical monoclonal EGFR IgG1 antibody, can block the binding of EGF or other ligands to EGFR and thus inhibit ligands-induced receptor phosphorylation. In the present study, we found that rapamycin could enhance the antiproliferation effect of cetuximab in both HepG2 cells and Huh-7 cells and arrest the cell cycle. Cetuximab in combination with rapamycin had synergistic effects on inhibiting the phosphrylation of proteins in PI3K/AKT/mTOR and Ras/MAPK signaling pathway. Combination of cetuximab with rapamycin treatment significantly suppressed the HCC development in HepG2 cells-xenografted mice and improved the survival. Cetuximab and rapamycin inhibited the growth of HCC both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that the combination therapy using the inhibitors for both EGFR and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways may be a novel therapeutic approach for HCC.

Preparation and characterization of bio-diesels from various bio-oils

Methyl, ethyl, 2-propyl and butyl esters were prepared from canola and linseed oils through transesterification using KOH and/ or sodium alkoxides as catalysts. In addition, methyl and ethyl esters were prepared from rapeseed and sunflower oils using the same catalysts. Chemical composition of the esters was determined by HPLC for the class of lipids and by GC for fatty acid compositions. The bio-diesel esters were characterized for their physical and fuel properties including density, viscosity, iodine value, acid value, cloud point, pure point, gross heat of combustion and volatility. Methyl and ethyl esters prepared from a particular vegetable oil had similar viscosities, cloud points and pour points, whereas methyl, ethyl, 2-propyl and butyl esters derived from a particular vegetable oil had similar gross heating values. However, their densities, which were 2 7% higher than those of diesel fuels, statistically decreased in the order of methyl approximately 2-propyl > ethyl > butyl esters. Butyl esters showed reduced cloud points (-6 degrees C to -10 degrees C) and pour points (-13 degrees C to -16 degrees C) similar to those of summer diesel fuel having cloud and pour points of -8 degrees C and -15 degrees C, respectively. The viscosities of bio-diesels (3.3-7.6 x 10(-4) Pa s at 40 degrees C) were much less than those of pure oils (22.4-45.1 x 10(-4) Pa s at 40 degrees C) and were twice those of summer and winter diesel fuels (3.50 and 1.72 x 10(-4) Pa s at 40 degrees C), and their gross heat contents of approximately 40 MJ/kg were 11% less than those of diesel fuels (approximately 45 MJ/kg). For different esters from the same vegetable oil, methyl esters were the most volatile, and the volatility decreased as the alkyl group grew bulkier. However, the bio-diesels were considerably less volatile than the conventional diesel fuels.

[Effects of semen Ziziphis Spinosae oil and Ziziphis Spinosae extract on the decrease of serum lipoprotein and inhibiton of platelet aggregation]

Our experiments have shown that oral administration of Semen Ziziphis Spinosae oil(SZSO) or Ziziphis Spinosae extract (ZSE) given to quails for 53 days can significantly reduce their TC, LDL and TG and markedly subdue the fatty degeneration in their livers. Also, SZSO pressed into the stomach of rats for five days can conspicuously inhibit their platelet aggregation, while ZSE cannot.

[Experimental research of the effect of polysaccharides in semen Ziziphis Spinosae and Ziziphis Spinosae on enhancing the immune function of mice injured by radiation]

This article surveys the pharmacological effect of the polysaccharides in Semen Ziziphis Spinosae and Ziziphis Spinosae. The result shows that oral administration of this polysaccharide (0.1g/kg/d) can strengthen the immune function of cells nd body fluids and to a certain extent protect mice from radioactive injuries.