Discovery of New Isotopes ^{160}Os and ^{156}W: Revealing Enhanced Stability of the N=82 Shell Closure on the Neutron-Deficient Side

Using the fusion-evaporation reaction ^{106}Cd(^{58}Ni,4n)^{160}Os and the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS, two new isotopes _{76}^{160}Os and _{74}^{156}W have been identified. The α decay of ^{160}Os, measured with an α-particle energy of 7080(26) keV and a half-life of 201_{-37}^{+58}  μs, is assigned to originate from the ground state. The daughter nucleus ^{156}W is a β^{+} emitter with a half-life of 291_{-61}^{+86}  ms. The newly measured α-decay data allow us to derive α-decay reduced widths (δ^{2}) for the N=84 isotones up to osmium (Z=76), which are found to decrease with increasing atomic number above Z=68. The reduction of δ^{2} is interpreted as evidence for the strengthening of the N=82 shell closure toward the proton drip line, supported by the increase of the neutron-shell gaps predicted in theoretical models.

New α-Emitting Isotope ^{214}U and Abnormal Enhancement of α-Particle Clustering in Lightest Uranium Isotopes

A new α-emitting isotope ^{214}U, produced by the fusion-evaporation reaction ^{182}W(^{36}Ar,4n)^{214}U, was identified by employing the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS and the recoil-α correlation technique. More precise α-decay properties of even-even nuclei ^{216,218}U were also measured in the reactions of ^{40}Ar, ^{40}Ca beams with ^{180,182,184}W targets. By combining the experimental data, improved α-decay reduced widths δ^{2} for the even-even Po-Pu nuclei in the vicinity of the magic neutron number N=126 are deduced. Their systematic trends are discussed in terms of the N_{p}N_{n} scheme in order to study the influence of proton-neutron interaction on α decay in this region of nuclei. It is strikingly found that the reduced widths of ^{214,216}U are significantly enhanced by a factor of two as compared with the N_{p}N_{n} systematics for the 84≤Z≤90 and N<126 even-even nuclei. The abnormal enhancement is interpreted by the strong monopole interaction between the valence protons and neutrons occupying the π1f_{7/2} and ν1f_{5/2} spin-orbit partner orbits, which is supported by the large-scale shell model calculation.

[Clinical analysis of rituximab-induced interstitial lung disease]

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis-treatment points and prognosis of rituximab-induced interstitial lung disease (R-ILD), and to improve the recognition of this disease. Methods: The clinical data on 4 cases of R-ILD were analyzed retrospectively, and the related literatures were reviewed. The literature review was carried out respectively in Wanfang Data, CNKI and PubMed by October 2016 with"rituximab"and"interstitial lung disease"or"interstitial pneumonitis"as the search terms. Results: The all 4 patients received chemotherapy including rituximab, had respiratory symptoms after 2 to 5 cycles chemotherapy respectively. The chest computerized tomography findings of all 4 cases showed diffuse ground glass opacities. In all of the patients, the diagnosis of R-ILD was made and glucocorticoids therapy was initiated. After treatment, the clinical symptoms improved promptly and follow-up chest computerized tomography showed pulmonary lesions significantly resolved. Literature review found 48 articles (2 reviews, 6 original articles, 39 case reports and 1 other article) . 50 cases of R-ILD were collected and the chief complaint were dyspnea, cough and fever. The ground-glass pattern on the CT scan of the chest was the important feature of this disease. Therapy included glucocorticoids, discontinuation of rituximab, and any other clinically necessary measures. Conclusions: Rituximab can cause interstitial lung disease. The diagnosis relies on clinical manifestation and radiological findings. The good prognosis depends on prompt discontinuation of rituximab and treatment with glucocorticoids.

[A comparative study on treating femal stress urinary incontinence with TVT-Abbrevo and TVT-Obturator]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness and complications of TVT-Abbrevo (tension-free vaginal tape-Abbrevo) and TVT-Obturator (tension-free vaginal tape-obturator) for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

METHODS

From Nov.2012 to Nov.2013, 117 patients suffering from SUI were treated with TVT-Abbrebo (n=79) or TVT-Obturator (n=38) procedure, the clinical efficacy and operation-correlated complications were observed.

RESULTS

A total of 117 cases, 107 cases of urinary incontinence symptoms disappeared completely, 10 cases were improved. 72 cases (91.1%) were cured and 7 cases (8.9%) were improved in TVT-Abbrevo group; 35 cases (92.1%) were cured and 3 cases (7.9%) were improved in TVT-Obturator group. No significant differences could be found for the curing rates between two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the TVT-Obturator group, the TVT-Abbrevo group had less patients complaining of inner thigh pain at 24 h and 1 w after surgery (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed for the incidence of inner thigh pain at 1m and 1y after surgery between TVT-Abbrevo and TVT-Obturator group (P>0.05). No intraoperative complications such as blood vessel, nerve, bladder damage were recorded and no postoperative retropubic hematoma, tape adjustment and other complications occurred in two goups. No recurrence after 1 year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows that TVT-Abbrevo procedure is safe and efficacy in treatment of SUI, and associated with low incidence of recent postoperative inner thigh pain.

The utility of MRI for pre-operative T and N staging of gastric carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To perform a meta-analysis and literature review regarding the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for pre-operative tumour depth invasion (T) and regional lymph node invasion (N) staging of gastric carcinoma (GC).

METHODS

Articles were identified through systematic search of Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Springerlink and several Chinese databases. The study quality was assessed by the quality assessment for studies of diagnostic accuracy. 2 reviewers independently extracted and assessed the data from 11 eligible studies. A meta-analysis was then carried out. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

11 studies (439 patients) were finally included in the current review. Among these studies, the significant evidence of heterogeneity was only discovered for specificity in T4 stage (I(2) = 59.8%). Pooled sensitivity and specificity of MRI to diagnose T stage tumour (T3-4 vs T1-2) were 0.93 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89-0.96] and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.87-0.95), respectively. Pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity of MRI to diagnose N stage tumour (N0 vs N+) were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80-0.92) and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.54-0.79), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that diffusion-weighted imaging was more helpful for T staging.

CONCLUSION

The present systematic review suggests that MRI has a good diagnostic accuracy for pre-operative T staging of GC and should be widely used in clinical work. However, the ability for N staging is relatively poor on MRI.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

In the pre-operative staging of GC, MRI was a useful tool and may enhance accuracy for the T staging of advanced GC.

Investigation of stimulated Brillouin scattering media perfluoro-compound and perfluoropolyether with a low absorption coefficient and high power-load ability

The correlations between stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) characteristics of perfluoro-compound (PFC) and perfluoropolyether (PFPE) and their chemical structure are analyzed in detail and a series of new PFC and PFPE are reported. In the Nd:YAG laser system, the absorption coefficient, optical breakdown threshold (OBT), SBS threshold, and Brillouin frequency shift of new media such as FC-87, FC-43, HT-55, and DET are measured. Parameters such as gain coefficient, Brillouin linewidth, and phonon lifetime are calculated. The results demonstrate their good SBS properties: the absorption coefficients are below 10(-3)cm(-1) and OBTs are above 100 GW/cm(2). These media also exhibit a series of unique physicochemical properties, i.e., high heat-resistance, high oxidation stability, good chemical inertness, and insulation properties. The discovery of new media not only diversifies SBS medium, but also improves the performance of the SBS system, thereby laying a good foundation for the application of a SBS phase conjugation mirror in a high-power laser system.

Generation of flat-top waveform by double optical limiting based on stimulated Brillouin scattering

A method of generating flat-top waveform by double optical limiting based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is proposed. The waveforms are numerically simulated by the theoretic model of double optical limiting based on SBS, and the experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical simulations. There is a peak in the front and a platform in the back of the waveform by single optical limiting, while the top is almost a platform by double optical limiting.

[Rigid registration and fusion between SPECT and MRI/CT based on external fiducial alignment]

A convenient and effective method of rigid registration and fusion between SPECT and MRI/CT which is based on external fiducial alignment system is designed. After thresholding the image, many image processing arithmetics such as erosion, dilation are used to ensure the corresponding points which will be used to registrate. Then these points are used to minimize the cost function. In this way, an optimal rigid transform is gotten to registrate the images accurately and fuse them well. Error in the registration and fusion is reduced furthest by well designing the N-shape bracket which is used as the external fiducial alignment system and also by limiting the relative displacement between the bracket and the patient. Experimentation shows that this method can realize the registration and fusion of SPECT and MRI/CT effectively.

Influence of psychosocial, psychogenic and neurogenic stressors on several aspects of immune functioning in mice

Analysis of stressor effects on immune functioning is complicated by the fact that the nature of the changes observed may be influenced by organismic factors (e.g., species, strain, age), the nature, severity and chronicity of the stressor, as well as the specific immune parameters being examined. It is demonstrated in the present investigation that in the highly reactive inbred BALB/cByJ mouse, the relatively hardy C57BL/6ByJ strain, as well as in the noninbred CD-1 strain, acute psychogenic (predator exposure) and neurogenic (footshock) stressors reduced splenic macrophage activity, and this effect was less marked after a chronic stressor. With protracted, but not transient, psychosocial disturbances (isolated housing) similar effects were seen, suggesting that the effect was not simply due to a change of the social mileau. The psychogenic and neurogenic stressors also enhanced LPS-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in CD-1, but not in the inbred strains. However, isolated housing reduced both B and T cell proliferation, indicating that social isolation likely affects processes distinct from those of other stressors. Interestingly, when the aversiveness of the psychogenic stressor was increased (by decreasing the distance between the rat and the mouse) LPS-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was reduced in the reactive BALB/cByJ strain, but increased in the hardy C57BL/6ByJ mice. This stressor, however, enhanced T cell proliferation in both strains of mice. It is suggested that analysis of stressor effects need to consider in greater detail the characteristics of the organism being stressed, as well as the characteristics of the stressor itself.

Influence of a psychogenic and a neurogenic stressor on several indices of immune functioning in different strains of mice

It is demonstrated that cell proliferation in response to mitogens, natural killer cell (NK) activity, and macrophage functioning of mice may be influenced by either a neurogenic stressor (footshock) or a psychogenic stressor (exposing the mouse to a predator, namely a rat). The nature and magnitude of the immune changes, however, varied across three strains of mice (BALB/cByJ, C57BL/6ByJ, and CD-1), differing in reactivity to stressors and also as a function of the type of stressor employed. While footshock reduced mitogen-stimulated B-cell proliferation in BALB/cByJ mice, it had the opposite effect in the CD-1 strain. Exposure to the predator, however, had little effect in any of the strains. Macrophage activity and NK cytotoxicity were reduced in response to both stressors in a strain-dependent fashion. Plasma corticosterone in response to footshock was greater in BALB/cByJ than in C57BL/6ByJ mice; however, the strain difference was not evident in response to the psychogenic stressor. It is suggested that analyses of stressor effects on immune functioning need to consider the specific strain/species employed, the particular immune parameters being examined, and the nature of the stressor employed.

Influence of psychogenic and neurogenic stressors on endocrine and immune activity: differential effects in fast and slow seizing rat strains

Variations of plasma ACTH and corticosterone, as well as splenic macrophage activity and mitogen-induced cell proliferation, were determined in rats following 15 min of either the neurogenic stressor of restraint or by a purely psychogenic stressor consisting of exposure to a ferret. The effects of these stressors were assessed in two strains of rats that were selectively bred for either Fast or Slow kindling epileptogenesis triggered in response to amygdala stimulation. The stressors differentially influenced behavioral responses, endocrine activity, and immune functioning, and these effects varied with the strain of rat. In response to restraint the Fast rats exhibited protracted struggling, while the Slow rats tended to be immobile. In contrast, upon ferret exposure the Fast rats showed greater immobility than the Slow rats. The stressors also induced marked elevations of plasma ACTH and corticosterone. Whereas the ACTH and corticosterone increases were more pronounced in response to the ferret in the Slow rats, restraint resulted in a markedly greater rise of plasma ACTH in the Fast strain. Proliferation of splenic lymphocytes in response to Con A and LPS were elevated in Fast seizing rats, while macrophage activity, as determined by oxygen burst following addition of PMA and luminol to splenic mononuclear cells, was greater in the Slow seizing strain. While neither stressor influenced cell proliferation in either the Fast or Slow rats, macrophage activity was greatly suppressed by ferret exposure only in the Slow rats. Taken together, it appears that while stressors influence behavior and immune and endocrine functioning, these effects may vary as a function of the interaction of the strain of rat and the specific type of stressor employed.

Subchronic in vivo treatments of morphine inhibit T-cell proliferation by acting on macrophages

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible effects of in vivo morphine (Mor) treatments on macrophage involvement in the mediation of reductions in T-cell functions. Male BALB/c mice were exposed to multiple sc injections of Mor in increasing doses twice a day for 4 days. T-lymphocyte proliferation in response to alloantigen was significantly affected by Mor, while Mor treatment failed to suppress PMA/A23187-induced macrophage-depleted lymphocyte proliferation. Interestingly, after separation of lymphocytes and macrophages from control or Mor-treated mice, Con A-stimulated T-cell proliferation was suppressed only when Mor-treated macrophages were combined with control or Mor-treated lymphocytes. Further, addition of exogenous interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-2 promoted the proliferative responses of lymphocytes obtained from Mor-treated mice to Con A. Studies of the mechanism of suppression show that macrophages are the primary target cells, since macrophage-depleted lymphocyte preparations produced little suppression, and that prostaglandin E2 and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) are important mediators possessing immunoinhibitory activities, since indomethacin or scavengers of ROI abrogated the suppression. These results demonstrate that Mor-triggered release of inhibitory macrophage metabolites and decrement in soluble cytokines production are involved in the immunosuppressive effects caused by subchronic in vivo repetitive administrations of the drug of abuse.

Neural mechanisms in primary hypertension. Efficacy of alpha-blockade with doxazosin during stress

This single-blind study assessed the role of the sympathetic nervous system in primary hypertensives, at rest and during stress, and examined blood pressure responses to an alpha 1-blocker, doxazosin. Twenty patients were selected who had a sitting diastolic blood pressure 95 to 115 mm Hg at the end of the placebo period. Doxazosin was given in doses of 1 mg per day initially, then increased weekly to 2, 4, 8, and 16 mg, until goal blood pressure or maximum dose was reached or side effects limited further increase. Their determined dose of doxazosin was held constant for 16 weeks of the maintenance period. Mental and isometric stress tests were performed at the end of placebo and at the first and last months of maintenance. Diastolic blood pressures were related to baseline plasma norepinephrine, r = 0.61, P < .01. The dose of doxazosin administered was 8.4 +/- 4.1 mg. After 4 months of therapy, doxazosin lowered blood pressure from 147 +/- 16/99 +/- 3 to 135 +/- 5/87 +/- 8 sitting, and from 146 +/- 14/99 +/- 6 to 130 +/- 14/86 +/- 7 standing, respectively. Heart rates were not changed. The reduction of standing systolic blood pressure was related to baseline norepinephrine in the 12 patients who reached goal blood pressure, r = 0.57, P < .05. During mental and isometric stress tests, the percentage changes of blood pressures were related to their baseline plasma norepinephrine. Doxazosin reduced the percentage increments of blood pressure during mental stress 12.2 +/- 5.7/11.8 +/- 4.3% versus 5.7 +/- 1.0/8.1 +/- 7.4%, P < .01/.05. Doxazosin also blunted the diastolic blood pressure response to isometric exercise from 18.3 +/- 12.2% to 9.3 +/- 11.0%, P < .05. Neurogenic factors participate in the elevation of blood pressure in some patients with primary hypertension. The alpha-blocker doxazosin was effective in 60% of the hypertensive patients--it controlled blood pressure during laboratory stress, suggesting particular value in reduction of blood pressure during ambient stress of everyday living.

[Psychoneuroimmunological effects of morphine and the immunoprotection of Ganoderma polysaccharides peptide in morphine-dependent mice]

Different kinds of single, multiple, acute or chronic administrations of morphinized animal models were established, with which a series of experiments in both in vivo and in vitro systems as well as molecular levels were pharmacologically designed to investigate the psychoneuroimmunological effects of morphine (Mor) and the immunoprotection of Ganoderma polysaccharides peptide (GPP) in Mor-dependent mice. It was first discovered that both c-myb and c-myc mRNA expression in splenocytes of repetitive Mor-treated mice were detected to be significantly decreased, and that GPP could induce restoration of several immunologic parameters depressed by Mor treatment to or even beyond normal levels. This provides the experimental animal evidence that immune response modifiers such as GPP could be of potential application in controlling abuse of opiates-induced immunodeficiency.

Butterfly interconnection networks and their applications in information processing and optical computing: applications in fast-Fourier-transform-based opticalinformation processing

As modern optical information processing has developed, research on massive and parallel rapid computing and processing has attracted more attention. In this paper, butterfly networks and a variety of types of optical information processing are studied and discussed. For a basis, one- and twodimensional butterfly interconnection networks are studied in constructions, and the relationship and the transformation between them are provided. Algorithms for both the one- and two-dimensional fast Fourier transforms are analyzed, one- and two-dimensional butterfly networks for implementing the algorithms are built, and computer-simulation results are attained. Finally, an underlying optical network system is suggested and studied in respect to its architecture and advantages; it is a new optical butterfly network hardware system consisting of two-dimensional binary phase diffraction gratings, which perform a variety of types of fast-Fourier-transform-based optical information processing.

[Suppressive effects of safflower yellow on immune functions]

Safflower yellow (SY) extracted from Carthamus tinctorius L contained chalconoid compounds, 75% of which was safflomin A. SY ip 50-450 mg.kg-1.d-1 x 6-8 d in mice decreased serum lysozyme concentration and phagocytosing functions of both peritoneal macrophages and peripheral leukocytes; diminished the production of plaque forming cells, specific rosette forming cells, and antibody; inhibited delayed type hypersensitivity reaction and the activation of T suppressor cells elicited by supraoptimal immunization. Experiments in vitro showed inhibitory effects on [3H]TdR incorporation during human peripheral T- and B-lymphocyte proliferation by SY 0.03-3.0, 0.1-2.0 mg.ml-1 respectively, murine mixed lymphocyte culture response and the production of interleukin-2 by SY 0.1-2.5 mg.ml-1. In conclusion, SY produced declines in both nonspecific and specific immune functions.

The value of the captopril test and the effect of captopril on renal function

We have investigated the use of captopril as a screening test for renovascular hypertension and compared the effects of captopril on renal function in patients with renovascular hypertension and those without renovascular hypertension. The captopril test and kidney gamma scintigraphy were carried out in 50 hypertensive patients, 13 with renovascular hypertension and 37 without. Blood samples were drawn for the determination of plasma renin activity and kidney gamma scintigraphy was done before and 60 minutes after 50 mg oral captopril administration. Results suggesting the diagnosis of renovascular hypertension are the following: a basal and stimulated plasma renin activity of 4 ng ml/hr or more and an absolute increase in plasma renin activity of 3 ng/ml/hr or more if basal plasma renin activity was less than 4 ng/ml/hr. Data from kidney gamma scintigraphy showed that captopril causes a decrease in clearance rate at 20 minutes in patients with renovascular hypertension but not in patients without renovascular hypertension. We conclude that the captopril test can be used to screen for renovascular hypertension, but catopril may impair the renovascular hypertensive patient's renal function.