Plant-based diets, mediating biomarkers, and mortality risk among adults with diabetes or prediabetes

Background: A healthy eating pattern characterized by a higher intake of healthy plant foods has been associated with a lower risk of premature mortality, but whether this applies to individuals with varying glycemic status remains unclear. Methods: This study included 4621 participants with diabetes and 8061 participants with prediabetes from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2016). Using the dietary data assessed by two 24 h dietary recalls, a healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI) and an unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI) were created based on 15 food groups and were assessed for their relationships with mortality risk. Results: Over a median follow-up of 7.2 years, there were 1021 deaths in diabetes and 896 deaths in prediabetes. A higher hPDI (highest vs. lowest quartile) was associated with a 41% (HR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49-0.72; P-trend < 0.001) lower risk of all-cause mortality in diabetes and a 31% (HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.55-0.85; P-trend < 0.001) lower risk in prediabetes. A higher uPDI was associated with an 88% (HR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.55-2.28; P-trend < 0.001) higher risk of mortality in diabetes and a 63% (HR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.33-1.99; P-trend < 0.001) higher risk in prediabetes. Mediation analysis suggested that C-reactive protein and γ-glutamine transaminase explained 6.0% to 10.9% of the relationships between hPDI or uPDI and all-cause mortality among participants with diabetes. Conclusions: For adults with diabetes as well as those with prediabetes, adhering to a plant-based diet rich in healthier plant foods is associated with a lower mortality risk, whereas a diet that incorporates less healthy plant foods is associated with a higher mortality risk.

Association of phthalate exposure with all-cause mortality across renal function status: The U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2018

BACKGROUND

Wide phthalate exposure has been associated with both declines in renal function and an elevated risk of mortality. Whether phthalate-associated risk of premature mortality differs by renal function status remains unclear.

METHODS

This study included 9605 adults from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Urinary concentrations of 11 phthalate metabolites were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. According to estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), participants were grouped as having normal or modestly declined renal functions, or chronic kidney disease (CKD). Multivariable Cox regression models estimated all-cause mortality associated with phthalate exposure, overall and by renal function status.

RESULTS

Overall, Mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), Mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), Mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and Mono-(2-ethyl-5-carbox-ypentyl) phthalate (MECPP) were associated with an elevated risk of mortality (P-trend across tertile <0.05). Moreover, significant interactions were observed between eGFR and MEHHP, MEOHP, MECPP, DEHP in the whole population (P for interactions <0.05). After stratification by renal function, total Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was additionally found to be associated with mortality risk in the CKD group (HR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.25). Co-exposure to the 11 phthalate metabolites was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in the CKD (HR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.84) and modestly declined renal function group (HR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.44).

CONCLUSIONS

The associations between phthalate exposure and risk of all-cause mortality were primarily observed in CKD patients, reinforcing the need for monitoring phthalate exposure in this patient population.

Sarcopenia prevalence in patients with cancer and association with adverse prognosis: A nationwide survey on common cancers

OBJECTIVE

Although previous studies have implicated the negative outcomes of sarcopenia, evidence is limited to one or a few types of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution and influencing factors of sarcopenia, and explore the relationship between sarcopenia and cancer prognosis in a large oncological population.

METHODS

This observational cohort study included patients diagnosed with malignant cancer between May 2011 and January 2019. Hematologic and anthropometric parameters were collected prospectively. Low skeletal muscle mass and radiodensity were diagnosed using clinical indicators, according to the two prediction models. The importance of potential risk factors for sarcopenia was estimated by subtracting the predicted degrees of freedom from the partial χ2 statistic. Hazard rates of death were calculated using the hazard function and Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

We included 13 761 patients with cancer; the prevalence of sarcopenia was 33%. The median age was 58 y and 7135 patients (52%) were men. Patients with sarcopenia had a worse nutritional status and quality of life than those without sarcopenia. Age was the most important risk factor for sarcopenia compared with body mass index or TNM stage. Additionally, patients with sarcopenia had a significantly higher and earlier peak risk for mortality. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, sarcopenia was independently associated with mortality in the research population (hazard ratio, 1.429; P < 0.001) and most cancer types.

CONCLUSION

Age is the most important risk factor for sarcopenia even in patients with cancer. Sarcopenia is strongly associated with a poor quality of life and reduced overall survival.

AIWW: a new nutrition-screening tool for the oncologic population

Malnutrition is a common comorbidity among patients with cancer. However, no nutrition-screening tool has been recognized in this population. A quick and easy screening tool for nutrition with high sensitivity and easy-to-use is needed. Based on the previous 25 nutrition-screening tools, the Delphi method was made by the members of the Chinese Society of Nutritional Oncology to choose the most useful item from each category. According to these results, we built a nutrition-screening tool named age, intake, weight, and walking (AIWW). Malnutrition was defined based on the scored patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA). Concurrent validity was evaluated using the Kendall tau coefficient and kappa consistency between the malnutrition risks of AIWW, nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS-2002), and malnutrition screening tool (MST). Clinical benefit was calculated by the decision curve analysis (DCA), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and continuous net reclassification improvement (cNRI). A total of 11,360 patients (male, n=6,024 (53.0%) were included in the final study cohort, and 6,363 patients had malnutrition based on PG-SGA. Based on AIWW, NRS-2002, and MST, 7,545, 3,469, and 1,840 patients were at risk of malnutrition, respectively. The sensitivities of AIWW, NRS-2002, and MST risks were 0.910, 0.531, and 0.285, and the specificities were 0.768, 0.946, and 0.975. The Kendall tau coefficients of AIWW, NRS-2002, and MST risks were 0.588, 0.501, and 0.326, respectively. The area under the curve of AIWW, NRS-2002, and MST risks were 0.785, 0.739, and 0.630, respectively. The IDI, cNRI, and DCA showed that AIWW is non-inferior to NRS-2002 (IDI: 0.002 (-0.009, 0.013), cNRI: -0.015 (-0.049, 0.020)). AIWW scores can also predict the survival of patients with cancer. The missed diagnosis rates of AIWW, NRS-2002, and MST were 0.09%, 49.0%, and 73.2%, respectively. AIWW showed a better nutrition-screening effect than NRS-2002 and MST for patients with cancer and could be recommended as an alternative nutrition-screening tool for this population.

The prognostic value of the combination of body composition and systemic inflammation in patients with cancer cachexia

BACKGROUND

Changes in body composition and systemic inflammation are important characteristics of cancer cachexia. This multi-centre retrospective study aimed to explore the prognostic value of the combination of body composition and systemic inflammation in patients with cancer cachexia.

METHODS

The modified advanced lung cancer inflammation index (mALI), which combines body composition and systemic inflammation, was defined as appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) × serum albumin/neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio. The ASMI was estimated according to a previously validated anthropometric equation. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the relationship between mALI and all-cause mortality in patients with cancer cachexia. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were used to evaluate the prognostic value of mALI in cancer cachexia. A receiver operator characteristic curve was used to compare the effectiveness of mALI and nutritional inflammatory indicators in predicting all-cause mortality in patients with cancer cachexia.

RESULTS

A total of 2438 patients with cancer cachexia were enrolled, including 1431 males and 1007 females. The sex-specific optimal cut-off values of mALI for males and females were 7.12 and 6.52, respectively. There was a non-linear relationship between mALI and all-cause mortality in patients with cancer cachexia. Low mALI was significantly associated with poor nutritional status, high tumour burden, and high inflammation. Patients with low mALI had significantly lower overall survival (OS) than those with high mALI (39.5% vs. 65.5%, P < 0.001). In the male population, OS was significantly lower in the low mALI group than in the high group (34.3% vs. 59.2%, P < 0.001). Similar results were also observed in the female population (46.3% vs. 75.0%, P < 0.001). mALI was an independent prognostic factor for patients with cancer cachexia (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.974, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.959-0.990, P = 0.001). For every standard deviation [SD] increase in mALI, the risk of poor prognosis for patients with cancer cachexia was reduced by 2.9% (HR = 0.971, 95%CI = 0.943-0.964, P < 0.001) in males and 8.9% (HR = 0.911, 95%CI = 0.893-0.930, P < 0.001) in females. mALI is an effective complement to the traditional Tumour, Lymph Nodes, Metastasis (TNM) staging system for prognosis evaluation and a promising nutritional inflammatory indicator with a better prognostic effect than the most commonly used clinical nutritional inflammatory indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

Low mALI is associated with poor survival in both male and female patients with cancer cachexia and is a practical and valuable prognostic assessment tool.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies of the association between the use of incretin-based therapies and the risk of pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Some early reports in the medical literature have raised concern about a possible increased risk of pancreatic cancer associated with the use of two broad classes of incretin-based therapies, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. This possibility has been somewhat mitigated by the null findings meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials, but the usefulness of their findings was hampered by serious shortcomings of lack of power and representativeness. These shortcomings can typically be addressed by observational studies, but observational studies on the topic have yielded conflicting findings. A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was performed to qualitatively and quantitatively appraise the totality of evidence on the association between the use of incretin-based therapies and the risk of pancreatic cancer in routine clinical practice.

METHODS

The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched. The study quality was appraised using the ROBINS-I tool and based on the presence of pharmacoepidemiology biases. A random-effects model was used to estimate the summary relative risks with corresponding CIs.

RESULTS

A total of 14 studies were included. The qualitative assessment revealed that all studies had inadequate follow-up (≤5 years), 12 studies were suspected to suffer from time-lag bias (due to inappropriate choice of comparator group) to varying extent, five studies included prevalent users, five studies did not implement exposure lag period, five studies had a serious risk of bias due to confounding, and one study had a time-window bias. The quantitative assessment showed no indication of an increased risk when all studies were pooled together (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.87, 1.24) and when the analysis was restricted to the studies with the least bias (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.51, 1.17). However, the pooled RRs were more frequently higher in the studies with less rigorous design and analysis. Specifically, a tendency toward an increased risk was observed in the studies with (RR 1.34, 95% CI 1.04, 1.72) or possibly with (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.89, 1.36) time-lag bias, in the studies that did not apply (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.93, 1.63) or with potentially inadequate exposure lag period of 6 months (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.66, 1.94), in the studies that inappropriate comparator group of a combination of unspecified (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.25, 1.78) or non-insulin (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.93, 1.42) antidiabetic drugs, and in the studies with serious risk of bias due to confounding (RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.56, 2.49).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the totality of evidence from observational studies does not support the claim that the use of incretin-based therapies is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in routine clinical practice. The increased risk of pancreatic cancer observed in observational studies reflects bias resulting from suboptimal methodological approaches, which need to be avoided by future studies.

[Effects and mechanism of human umbilical vein endothelial cells-derived exosomes on wound healing in diabetic rabbits]

Objective: The investigate the effects and mechanism of exosomes derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on wound healing in diabetes rabbits. Methods: The experimental research methods were used. The primary vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) were extracted from skin tissue around ulcer by surgical excision of two patients with diabetic ulcer (the male aged 49 years and the female aged 58 years) admitted to Xiangya Third Hospital of Central South University in June 2019. The cells were successfully identified through morphological observation and flow cytometry. The HUVEC exosomes were extracted by ultracentrifugation and identified successfully by morphological observation, particle size detection, and Western blotting detection. Twenty female 3-month-old New Zealand rabbits were taken to create one type 2 diabetic full-thickness skin defect wound respectively on both sides of the back. The wounds were divided into exosomes group and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) group and treated accordingly, with 20 wounds in each group, the time of complete tissue coverage of wound was recorded. On PID 14, hematoxylin-eosin staining or Masson staining was performed to observe angiogenesis or collagen fiber hyperplasia (n=20). The VECs and HSFs were co-cultured with HUVEC exosomes for 24 h to observe the uptake of HUVEC exosomes by the two kinds of cells. The VECs and HSFs were divided to exosome group treated with HUVEC exosomes and PBS group treated with PBS to detect the cell proliferation on 4 d of culture with cell count kit 8, to detect and calculate the cell migration rate at 24 and 48 h after scratch by scratch test, to detect the cell migration number at 24 h of culture with Transwell test, and to detect the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and transcription activating factor 3 (ATF3) by real time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Besides, the number of vascular branches and vascular length were observed in the tube forming experiment after 12 h of culture of VECs (n=3). The VECs and HSFs were taken and divided into PBS group and exosome group treated as before, and NRF2 interference group, ATF3 interference group, and no-load interference group with corresponding gene interference. The proliferation and migration of the two kinds of cells, and angiogenesis of VECs were detected as before (n=3). Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, one-way analysis of variance, independent sample t test, and least significant difference test. Results: The time of complete tissue coverage of wound in exosome group was (17.9±1.9) d, which was significantly shorter than (25.2±2.3) d in PBS group (t=4.54, P<0.05). On PID14, the vascular density of wound in PBS group was significantly lower than that in exosome group (t=10.12, P<0.01), and the collagen fiber hyperplasia was less than that in exosome group. After 24 h of culture, HUVEC exosomes were successfully absorbed by VECs and HSFs. The proliferative activity of HSFs and VECs in exosome group was significantly higher than that in PBS group after 4 d of culture (with t values of 54.73 and 7.05, respectively, P<0.01). At 24 and 48 h after scratch, the migration rates of HSFs (with t values of 3.42 and 11.87, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01) and VECs (with t values of 21.42 and 5.49, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01) in exosome group were significantly higher than those in PBS group. After 24 h of culture, the migration numbers of VECs and HSFs in exosome group were significantly higher than those in PBS group (with t values of 12.31 and 16.78, respectively, P<0.01). After 12 h of culture, the mRNA expressions of NRF2 in HSFs and VECs in exosome group were significantly higher than those in PBS group (with t values of 7.52 and 5.78, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the mRNA expressions of ATF3 were significantly lower than those in PBS group (with t values of 13.44 and 8.99, respectively, P<0.01). After 12 h of culture, the number of vascular branches of VECs in exosome group was significantly more than that in PBS group (t=17.60, P<0.01), and the vascular length was significantly longer than that in PBS group (t=77.30, P<0.01). After 4 d of culture, the proliferation activity of HSFs and VECs in NRF2 interference group was significantly lower than that in PBS group and exosome group (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the proliferation activity of HSFs and VECs in ATF3 interference group was significantly higher than that in PBS group (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and significantly lower than that in exosome group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). At 24 and 48 h after scratch, the migration rates of HSFs and VECs in ATF3 interference group were significantly higher than those in PBS group (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and significantly lower than those in exosome group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). At 24 and 48 h after scratch, the migration rates of HSFs and VECs in NRF2 interference group were significantly lower than those in PBS group and exosome group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). After 24 h of culture, the migration numbers of VECs and HSFs in ATF3 interference group were significantly more than those in PBS group (P<0.05) and significantly less than those in exosome group (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the migration numbers of VECs and HSFs in NRF2 interference group were significantly less than those in PBS group and exosome group (P<0.01). After 12 h of culture, the vascular length and number of branches of VECs in NRF2 interference group were significantly decreased compared with those in PBS group and exosome group (P<0.01); the vascular length and number of branches of VECs in ATF3 interference group were significantly increased compared with those in PBS group (P<0.01) and were significantly decreased compared with those in exosome group (P<0.01). Conclusions: HUVEC exosomes can promote the wound healing of diabetic rabbits by promoting the proliferation and migration of VECs and HSFs, and NRF2 and ATF3 are obviously affected by exosomes in this process, which are the possible targets of exosome action.

The prognostic value of the Naples prognostic score for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

The Naples prognostic score (NPS) is an effective inflammatory and nutritional scoring system widely applied as a prognostic factor in various cancers. We aimed to analyze the prognostic value of the NPS in patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We prospectively collected 395 patients diagnosed with NSCLC between January 2016 and December 2018 in two university-affiliated hospitals. Patients were divided into three groups according to their pretreatment NPS (Group 0: NPS = 0; Group 1: NPS = 1–2; Group 2: NPS = 3–4). Kaplan–Meier survival curves indicated that patients with higher NPS had a poorer overall survival (OS) and progress-free survival (PFS) (both P < 0.05). NPS was further confirmed as an independent prognostic factors of OS and PFS by multivariable survival analysis (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, stratifying by TNM stage, NPS also has significant predictive performance for OS and PFS in both early (I–IIIA) and advanced (IIIB–IV) stage NSCLC (all P < 0.05). The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that NPS was more superior to other prognostic factors in predicting OS and PFS. In conclusion, NPS may serve as an effective indicator to predict OS and PFS in NSCLC patients regardless of TNM stage.

[Advances in nutritional support therapy for stroke prevention and treatment]

As a serious disease of death and disability, stroke constitutes a serious threat to human health. Because of stroke patients often have high-risk factors of malnutrition such as dysphagia and autonomic eating disorder, the hospitalization time, mortality and disability rate of stroke patients increases. Nutritional therapy can effectively improve the malnutrition of patients, which are of great significance for the treatment and rehabilitation of stroke and the prevention of its complications. Nutrients are important components of nutrition therapy, and different ways of nutrition therapy directly affect the effect of treatment. This article summarizes effects of nutrients and different nutritional treatments on stroke prevention, morbidity and treatment, and provides a theoretical basis and new thinking for further reducing the incidence rate of stroke, improving the quality of life in patients and reducing the financial burden of society and family.

Development and validation of a Modified Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment as a nutritional assessment tool in cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Completing Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) questionnaires is time consuming. This study aimed to develop and validate an easy-to-use modified PG-SGA (mPG-SGA) for cancer patients.

METHODS

Seventy professionals assessed the content validity, comprehensibility, and difficulty of the full PG-SGA. A survey including the PG-SGA and other questionnaires was completed by 34 071 adult hospitalized cancer patients with first cancer diagnosis or recurrent disease with any tumour comorbidities from the INSCOC study. Among them, 1558 patients were followed for 5 years after admission. Reliability and rank correlation were estimated to assess the consistency between PG-SGA items and to select mPG-SGA items. The external and internal validity, test-retest reliability, and predictive validity were tested for the mPG-SGA via comparison with both the PG-SGA and abridged PG-SGA (abPG-SGA).

RESULTS

After deleting items that more than 50% of professionals considered difficult to evaluate (Worksheet 4) and items with an item-total correlation <0.1, the mPG-SGA was constructed. Nutritional status was categorized using mPG-SGA scores as well-nourished (0 points) or mildly (1-2 points), moderately (3-6 points), or severely malnourished (≥7 points) based on the area under curve (0.962, 0.989, and 0.985) and maximal sensitivity (0.924, 0.918, and 0.945) and specificity (1.000, 1.000, and 0.938) of the cut-off scores. The external and internal validity and test-retest reliability were good. Significant median overall survival differences were found among nutritional status groups categorized by the mPG-SGA: 24, 18, 14, and 10 months for well-nourished, mildly malnourished, moderately malnourished, and severely malnourished, respectively (all Ps < 0.05). Neither the PG-SGA nor the abridged PG-SGA could discriminate the median overall survival differences between the well-nourished and mildly malnourished groups.

CONCLUSIONS

We systematically developed and validated the mPG-SGA as an easier-to-use nutritional assessment tool for cancer patients. The mPG-SGA appears to have better predictive validity for survival than the PG-SGA and abridged PG-SGA.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is widely applied as a prognostic factor in different cancers. We aimed to analyze the prognostic value of the GNRI in 257 patients diagnosed with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with GNRI >98, 92-98, and <92 were grouped into normal, low risk and moderate/high risk groups, respectively. There were 45.1% patients at risk for malnutrition. Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that patients with lower GNRI scores had a poorer overall survival (OS). Two-year OS for normal, low risk and moderate/high risk groups were 57.4%, 42.3% and 15.8%, respectively. In multivariate survival analysis, GNRI (<92), body mass index (BMI, ≥24 kg/m2), combined therapy, hemoglobin and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were independent prognostic factors of OS. Stratifying by age groups, GNRI (<92), hemoglobin and NLR were independent prognostic factors of OS in patients aged <65 years. GNRI (<92), smoking, BMI (≥24 kg/m2) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were independent prognostic factors of OS in patients aged ≥65 years. In conclusion, GNRI was a significant prognostic factor in advanced NSCLC patients regardless of age. A decreased GNRI may be considered as a clinical trigger for nutritional support in advanced NSCLC patients, though additional studies are still required to confirm the best cut-point.

[Correlation of the peripheral serum complement protein levels and cognitive function in first-episode drug-naive patients with schizophrenia]

Objective: To explore the role of peripheral serum complement protein in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment by analyzing the correlation between peripheral serum levels of complement protein and cognitive function in first-episode drug-naive patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A total of 66 first-episode drug-naive schizophrenics (schizophrenia group) from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and 88 healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled. Peripheral serum levels of complements (C3, C4 and CH50) were separately examined by liposome immunoassay and turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) was used to assess the cognitive function. Results: Peripheral serum levels of C4, but not C3 and CH50, were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia [0.20(0.16, 0.25) g/L] than those in the control group [0.23 (0.19, 0.27) g/L] (P<0.05). Moreover the peripheral serum levels of C3, C4 and CH50 were positively correlated with MCCB verbal fluency (r=0.258, r=0.283 and r=0.330, all P<0.05), and the peripheral serum levels of CH50 were negatively correlated with attention and alertness (r=-0.257, P<0.05). Conclusion: The decrease of peripheral serum complement C4 protein levels may be involved in the mechamism of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.

PAX3 silencing suppresses gastric cancer proliferation and angiogenesis via MET/PI3K signaling

PAX3 is the key factor in cell signal transduction pathway and may be involved in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects and mechanism of PAX3 silencing on the gastric cancer. Specific PAX3 silencing was performed both in vitro and in vivo using small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer cells were assessed using MTT assay, flow cytometry and in vitro tube formation assay. Mice with gastric xenografts, which expressed either si-PAX3 or non-coding siRNA (si-NC), were developed and the effects of PAX3 silencing on tumor progression were evaluated. PCNA is a proliferating cell nuclear antigen and can be used as an index for evaluating cell proliferation status. Immunocytochemistry assay was used to quantify PAX3 and PCNA expression. After 4 weeks of tumor inoculation, tumor tissues were weighed. Tumor tissue morphology and apoptosis were evaluated using HE staining and TUNEL assay. In order to investigate the effect of silencing PAX3 on cell apoptosis, angiogenesis and MET/PI3K pathway, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or western blot were used to detect the expression levels of caspase-3, VEGF, MET, p-MET, PI3K and p-PI3K. After PAX3 silencing, PAX3 expression was significantly decreased in two gastric cancer cell lines, MKN-28 and SGC-7901 (p<0.05 vs Control). PAX3 silencing reduced cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and inhibited tube formation. PAX3 and PCNA expression were also significantly decreased. In mice, silencing PAX3 significantly inhibited tumor growth and decreased microvessel density in tumor. PAX3 silencing also decreased cell density in tumors, which concurred with increased apoptosis and PAX3 expression. PAX3 silencing upregulated the expression of caspase-3, downregulated the expression of VEGF, phosphorylation of PI3K and MET. Our data showed that these anti-tumor effects of PAX3 silencing might be attributed to its role in inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis.

[Determination of samarium oxide and lanthanum oxide in the air of workplace by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry]

Objective: To establish a method for the determination ofsamarium oxide and lanthanum oxide by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometryin the air of workplace. Methods: Samarium, lanthanum and their compounds in the air of workplace were collected through microporous filter. The samples were digested by nitricacid and perhydrol (V/V=4∶1) and detected by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry. Results: The linear range ofsamarium oxide and lanthanum oxide was 0-50.00 μg/L, Sm(2)O(3): y=0.0119x, r=0.9999; La(2)O(3): y=0.0617x, r=0.9998. The detection limits were less than 0.1 μg/L, and the minimum detection concentration were less than 1.52×10(-5) mg/m(3). The sampling efficiency were 100%, the recovery rates were 95.70%-102.01%, and the precision were 0.78%-1.58%. Conclusion: The indicators established in this study are conformed with the requirements of Chinese Occupational Standars of GBZ/T 210.4-2008, "The Guidelines for the Development of Occupational Hygiene StandarsMehods Part 4: Determination of Chemical Substances in the Air of Workplace".

Determinants and nutritional assessment value of hand grip strength in patients hospitalized with cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Hand grip strength (HGS) has emerged as a predictor of the nutritional status. However, many factors may modify the malnutrition-HGS association. This study explored the nutritional assessment value and determinants of HGS in patients hospitalized with cancer.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

In this multicenter, retrospective, observational study (11,314 patients), the Receiver operator characteristic curve was used to observe HGS and nutritional status sensitivity/specificity. Sex; age; height; weight; mid-upper arm circumference (MAMC); Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) score; Karnofsky score; physical function (PF) domain; cognitive function (CF) domain; global health and quality of life (QL) domain of EORTC QLQ-C30 (a quality of life instrument designed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer); and albumin, prealbumin, and hemoglobin levels were included in a Stepwise analysis model to identify the factors influencing HGS.

RESULTS

HGS showed a very low diagnostic value and accuracy for identifying severe malnourishment (area under the curve, 0.615-0.640; p<0.01). HGS positively correlated with sex; height; weight; MAMC; Karnofsky score; QL, PF, and CF domains; and hemoglobin and prealbumin levels (Beta= 0.02-0.42, p<=0.05), and negatively with age (Beta=-0.19, p<0.01). However, the PG-SGA score was excluded because of its very limited contribution to HGS variability.

CONCLUSIONS

HGS is a mutifactorial index. The use of HGS cutoff values to identify malnutrition is markedly challenging. Thus, HGS may be of limited use as a predictor of nutritional status.

Correction to: Cheese consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease: a meta‑analysis of prospective studies

In the original publication, the funding and conflict of interest statements were not correct.

[Analysis of the impact of job characteristics and organizational support for workplace violence]

Objective: To analyze the effect of job characteristics and organizational support for workplace violence, explore the influence path and the theoretical model, and provide a theoretical basis for reducing workplace violence. Methods: Stratified random sampling was used to select 813 medical staff, conductors and bus drivers in Chongqing with a self-made questionnaire to investigate job characteristics, organization attitude toward workplace violence, workplace violence, fear of violence, workplace violence, etc from February to October, 2014. Amos 21.0 was used to analyze the path and to establish a theoretical model of workplace violence. Results: The odds ratio of work characteristics and organizational attitude to workplace violence were 6.033 and 0.669, respectively, and the path coefficients were 0.41 and-0.14, respectively (P<0.05). The Fitting indexes of the model: Chi-square (χ(2)) =67.835, The ratio of the chi-square to the degree of freedom (χ(2)/df) =5.112, Good-of-fit index (GFI) =0.970, Adjusted good-of-fit index (AGFI) =0.945, Normed fit index (NFI) =0.923, Root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) =0.071, Fit criterion (Fmin) =0.092, so the model fit well with the data. Conclusion: The job characteristic is a risk factor for workplace violence while organizational attitude is a protective factor for workplace violence, so changing the job characteristics and improving the enthusiasm of the organization to deal with workplace violence are conducive to reduce workplace violence and increase loyalty to the unit.

Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Grapevine berry inner necrosis virus from Grapevines in China

To investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Grapevine berry inner necrosis virus (GINV) in China, 195 grapevine samples from 15 Chinese provinces and regions were tested using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The samples included symptomatic and asymptomatic cultivars, with 35.9% (70 of 195) of samples testing positive for GINV. Seventeen samples had obvious ring spot symptoms, and 94.1% (16 of 17) tested positive for GINV, suggesting that GINV may be highly associated with the ring spot symptom. The genetic diversity of GINV isolates was analyzed based on the partial nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the coat protein (CP) and movement protein (MP) genes. Phylogenetic analyses of the MP and CP gene sequences divided the GINV isolates into three groups. The majority of the Chinese isolates were in groups 1 and 2, and only one Chinese isolate, along with a previously reported Japanese isolate, was in group 3. This is the first report on the genetic diversity of GINV isolates and their prevalence and distribution in China.

Effects of low-glycemic-index diets in pregnancy on maternal and newborn outcomes in pregnant women: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

Maternal diet with a high glycemic index (GI) is associated with fetal overgrowth and higher infant body adiposity. Effects of low-GI diet on maternal and newborn outcomes have been assessed in both healthy pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus, but the results remain inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the effects of low-GI diets on maternal and newborn outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed, Clinical Trials, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant randomized trials up to January 2016. Random- or fixed-effects models were used to calculate combined treatment effects.

RESULTS

A total of 11 trials involving 1985 women were eligible for analysis. This meta-analysis assessed 7 maternal and 11 newborn outcomes. Of these, gestational weight gain (GWG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), newborn birth weight, ponderal index (PI), proportion of macrosomia, and large for gestational age (LGA) were investigated in more than 8 trials. Compared with control diets, low-GI diets significantly reduced FBG (weight mean differences (WMD) = -0.18 mmol/L, 95 % CI: -0.33, -0.02), 2-h postprandial glucose level (WMD = -0.33 mmol/L, 95 % CI: -0.54, -0.12), and the proportion of LGA (RR = 0.52, 95 % CI: 0.31, 0.89). A lower GWG (WMD = -0.69 kg, 95 % CI: -1.74, 0.36) and birth weight (WMD = -0.10 kg, 95 % CI: -0.23, 0.03) were also observed without significant differences. Heterogeneity was observed in the GWG, FBG, and birth weight analyses. Low-GI diets did not affect other maternal and newborn outcomes. In subgroup and sensitivity analyses, the intervention effects of low GI on GWG and FBG varied.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-GI diets may have beneficial effects on maternal outcomes for those at risk of developing high glucose levels, without causing adverse effects on newborn outcomes. However, results should be interpreted with caution because of the evidence of heterogeneity and limited number of studies.

[Effects of statin intervention on mild coronary plaque progression assessed by serial coronary CT angiography]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of statin treatment on mild coronary plaque progression by serial coronary CT angiography.

METHODS

A total of 120 consecutive patients (74 men, ages(58.9±8.1)years) with mild (≤50%luminal narrowing and lesion length<20 mm) non-calcified plaque detected by coronary CT angiography during September 2012 and December 2013 were prospectively enrolled in this study.Subjects were divided into three groups: no statin (n=36), statin lowering LDL-C <50% (n=43), and statin lowering LDL-C ≥50%(n=41). Serial scans were performed after a median interval of 705 (interquartile range: 467, 803) days.Total plaque volume, percent plaque volume for both baseline and follow-up were measured.Baseline and follow-up data were compared.

RESULTS

Compared with baseline, total plaque volume in no statin group showed increasing trend by the end of follow-up ((97.3±57.8) mm(3) vs. (82.2±57.7) mm(3,) P=0.075). However, no significant change was observed as for total plaque volume ((78.5±45.2) mm(3) vs.(77.6±50.5) mm(3), P=0.910) in the statin lowering LDL-C <50% group.Total plaque volume was significantly reduced by the end of follow-up ((61.5 ± 46.1) mm(3) vs.(77.7±48.1) mm(3), P=0.024) in the statin lowering LDL-C ≥50% group.Percent plaque volume in no statin group was significantly increased by the end of follow-up ((51.9±16.5)% vs.(45.9±12.8)%, P=0.036). However, no significant change was observed as for percent plaque volume ((49.1±13.7)% vs.(47.5±14.9)%, P=0.554) in the statin lowering LDL-C <50% group. Percent plaque volume was significantly reduced by the end of follow-up ((39.1±17.1)% vs.(48.2±15.0)%, P=0.003) in the statin lowering LDL-C ≥50% group. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that both higher baseline total plaque volume(β=-0.50, P<0.001) and statin lowering LDL-C ≥50%(β=-0.32, P=0.001) were independent determinants of plaque regression.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that LDL-C reduction ≥50% post statin treatment can retard plaque progression, and even induce regression of mild non-calcified coronary plaque, patients with greater baseline coronary plaque volume are more likely to benefit from statin therapy.

[Clinical effect of the concentrated suture fixation method on skin transplantation in the jaw and neck region]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the clinical effect of the concentrated suture fixation method on skin transplantation on deep burn wound or wound of cicatricial deformity after burn in the jaw and neck region.

METHODS

One hundred and fourteen patients, hospitalized from April 2002 to December 2011, with deep burn or cicatricial deformity after burn in the jaw and neck region, were divided into packaging group and concentrated suture group according to the random number table. Each group had 57 patients including 48 cases with deep burn and 9 cases with cicatricial deformity. Traditional suture-package fixation method and concentrated suture fixation method were respectively used in packaging group and concentrated suture group to fix the autologous medium split-thickness skin in transplantation on wounds or scars. On post operation day (POD) 14, the skin microcirculatory perfusion flow of skin graft was measured, and the occurrence of ecchymoma, infection, and necrosis of skin in operative region were observed. The elasticity and contracture of grafted skin and scar hyperplasia on wound edge were observed 6 months after operation. Measurement data were processed with u test, while enumeration data with Fisher's exact test or Chi-square test.

RESULTS

(1) On POD 14, the skin microcirculatory perfusion flow in concentrated suture group [(2.86 +/- 0.8) V] was significantly higher than that in packaging group [(2.33 +/- 0.15) V, u = 17.776, P < 0.05]. (2) Ecchymoma occurred in 4 patients of packaging group and 3 patients of concentrated suture group, but the difference between two groups was not statistically significant (chi 2 = 0.152, P > 0.05). (3) Infection in operative region was observed in 1 patient of packaging group, while no patient in concentrated suture group showed this symptom. The difference between two groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). (4) Grafted skin in 6 patients of packaging group showed foliated necrosis, which was not observed on those of patients in concentrated suture group. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). (5) Centipede leg-like scar hyperplasia on wound edge occurred in 21 patients in packaging group and 6 patients in concentrated suture group, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (chi 2 = 10.920, P < 0.05). (6) Poor elasticity of grafted skin was detected in 17 patients of packaging group and 4 patients of concentrated suture group, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (chi 2 = 9.865, P < 0.05). (7) Obvious contracture of grafted skin was observed in 15 patients of packaging group and 4 patients of concentrated suture group, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (chi 2 = 11.684, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Concentrated suture fixation method is suitable for application in transplantation of big sheet skin on wound in the jaw and neck region. It has high survival rate and is convenient for postoperative observation.

A Phytoplasma Associated with an Outbreak of an Unusual Disease of Chrysanthemum in China in 2008

In August of 2008, a disease of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema morifolium (Ramat.) Tzvel) caused losses of 70 to 80% in one of the largest chrysanthemum gardens in Yangling, Shanxi Province, China. Chrysanthemum plants in nearby areas also were affected to various degrees. Symptoms included flattened stems, shortening of internodes, yellowing of leaf margins, root death, and dwarfing of plants. Affected plants eventually collapsed. On the basis of these symptoms, a phytoplasma was suspected. Total nucleic acids were extracted from 0.5 g of phloem tissue from stems of eight symptomatic and eight asymptomatic plants by the cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide (CTAB) method (1). To amplify phytoplasma DNA, primer pairs R16mF2/R16mR1, followed by R16F2n/R16R1 (2), were used in a nested PCR. A final amplicon product (1.2 kb) was obtained from all symptomatic plants but not from asymptomatic ones. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of R16F2n/R16R1 amplicons with MseI, AluI, HhaI, HaeIII, KpnI, RsaI, and HpaII endonucleases indicated that all symptomatic plants, but none of the asymptomatic plants, contained a phytoplasma strain of group 16SrI, subgroup B (3). A search of rDNA sequences in GenBank revealed a similarity (>99%) to aster yellow phytoplasma, 16SrI group, thereby confirming strain identity based on RFLP analysis. These results indicate the disease of chrysanthemum is associated with a phytoplasma related to the aster yellow phytoplasma group. Sequences were deposited in GenBank (Accession No. FJ543467). A vector of this phytoplasma in chrysanthemum has not been identified. References: (1) E. Angelini et al. Vitis 40:79, 2001. (2) D. E. Gundersen and I.-M. Lee. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 35:144, 1996. (3) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 48:1153, 1998.

First Report of Elm Yellows Phytoplasma Infecting Clover in China

In the summer of 2008, phyllody and enlarged petioles resembling symptoms of phytoplasma infection were observed on clover (Trifolium repens) plants in lawns on the campus of Northwest A&F University. Typical phytoplasma-like bacteria were observed in the phloem cells when ultra-thin sections from leaf midrib tissues were examined with transmission electron microscopy. Nested PCR assays were used to verify the association of phytoplasma with the disease. Total DNA was extracted from the phloem of leaf midribs from 20 symptomatic plants and six symptomless plants using the modified CTAB method (1). Using the phytoplasma universal primer pair R16mF2/R16mR1 followed by specific primers R16F2n/R16R2 (4), PCR products of 1.4 and 1.2 kb were amplified, respectively, from symptomatic plants only. Jujube witches'-broom (JWB) and paulownia witches'-broom (PaWB) phytoplasma DNA samples served as controls and were used to study group relationships. After sequencing of the 16S rDNA fragment (GenBank Accession No. FJ436792), a BLAST search determined that the clover phytoplasma shared closest homology (99.6%) with JWB (GenBank Accession No. FJ154846) phytoplasmas compared with lesser identity (90.4%) with PaWB (GenBank Accession No. EF199937). Subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the PCR-amplified 1.2-kb 16S rDNA R₁₆(1)F₁/R₁ fragment indicated that the phytoplasma associated with the disease belongs to subgroup 16SrV-B of the elm yellows phytoplasma group. Clover phyllody phytoplasma were previously reported to infect clover in Canada (GenBank Accession No. L33762) (3) and Italy (GenBank Accession No. X77482) (2). The phytoplasma reported here shared 86.7 and 90.0% identity with the clover phyllody phytoplasma above, respectively, much lower than that with Elm yellows phytoplasma group. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Elm yellows phytoplasma infecting clover in China. References:(1) E. Angelini et al. Vitis 40:79, 2001. (2) G. Firrao et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 102:817, 1996. (3) N. A. Harrison et al. Plant Pathol. 52:147, 2003. (4) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998.

First Report of Syringa oblata and S. reticulata Leafroll Disease in China

Syringa oblata is an important ornamental tree widely grown in China. In September of 2008, S. oblata plants exhibiting symptoms of leafroll and yellowing were found in a garden on the Northwest A&F University campus. Samples were collected from this site. Total DNA was extracted from 0.5 g of phloem tissue from leaf midribs and stems of each sample. DNA samples were analyzed with a nested PCR assay using phytoplasma 16S rDNA universal primers R16mF2/R16mR1 followed by specific primers R16F2n/R16R2 (1), which amplified a 1,452- and 1,246-bp product, respectively. We tested all 30 lilac samples, 20 of which had symptoms of leafroll and yellowing. These produced the expected 1,452- and 1,246-bp PCR products In contrast, the remaining 10 samples from symptomless trees yielded no PCR products. We also surveyed another lilac variety (Syringa reticulata), which is widely grown on the campus, and tested 50 samples with the above method. Again, 1.4- and 1.2-kb PCR products were amplified from all 30 trees displaying leafroll and yellowing symptoms, but not from the other 20 samples from symptomless trees. A comparative analysis of sequences derived from the two hosts showed that the phytoplasmas infecting them were most similar (>99%) to paulownia witches'-broom (PaWB) phytoplasma (GenBank Accession No. EF199937). Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the nested 1.2-kb 16S rDNA products with endonucleases AluI and MseI indicated that all symptomatic plants were infected by the phytoplasmas belonging to aster yellow group (16SrI) subgroup D (16SrI-D) PaWB phytoplasma (2). 16S rDNA sequence comparisons and RFLP analysis of the cloned 16S rDNA from S. oblata (GenBank Accession No. FJ445224) and S. reticulate (GenBank Accession No. FJ445225) indicated that the phytoplasmas infecting them were nearly identical (99.8% identity). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of the phytoplasma associated with a leafroll disease of S. oblata and S. reticulata in China. References: (1) D. E. Gundersen and I.-M. Lee. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 35:144, 1996. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998.

Stable Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of London plane tree (Platanus acerifolia Willd.)

London plane tree (Platanus acerifolia Willd.) is an important tree in urban landscaping but it suffers from a number of negative traits which genetic engineering could be used to address. As with many woody species, P. acerifolia has appeared recalcitrant to genetic transformation. However, the recent development of a method for regenerating shoots from P. acerifolia leaf explants suggests that such material could be a target for gene-transfer. Using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain in which the T-DNA carries the histochemically detected reporter gene beta-glucuronidase (GUS), we have followed the transfer of genes from Agrobacterium to leaf explants of Platanus acerifolia. Using this system, we have identified a set of inoculation and co-cultivation conditions (notably: the pre-treatment of leaf explants with 0.4 M mannitol, an inoculation period of 10 min, a bacterial OD(600) of 0.8-1.0 and a co-cultivation period of 5 days) that permit a good frequency and reliability of transient gene-transfer. Optimum levels of antibiotics for bacterial elimination and kanamycin-resistant shoot regeneration were also established. By applying these parameters, we recovered eight independent stably transformed shoots that were kanamycin-resistant and contained the nptII T-DNA gene, as confirmed by PCR analysis. Furthermore, Southern blot analysis confirmed that, in at least five of these lines, the transgene was associated with high molecular weight DNA, so indicating integration into the plant genome.

Stable Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of London plane tree (Platanus acerifolia Willd.)

London plane tree (Platanus acerifolia Willd.) is an important tree in urban landscaping but it suffers from a number of negative traits which genetic engineering could be used to address. As with many woody species, P. acerifolia has appeared recalcitrant to genetic transformation. However, the recent development of a method for regenerating shoots from P. acerifolia leaf explants suggests that such material could be a target for gene-transfer. Using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain in which the T-DNA carries the histochemically detected reporter gene beta-glucuronidase (GUS), we have followed the transfer of genes from Agrobacterium to leaf explants of Platanus acerifolia. Using this system, we have identified a set of inoculation and co-cultivation conditions (notably: the pre-treatment of leaf explants with 0.4 M mannitol, an inoculation period of 10 min, a bacterial OD(600) of 0.8-1.0 and a co-cultivation period of 5 days) that permit a good frequency and reliability of transient gene-transfer. Optimum levels of antibiotics for bacterial elimination and kanamycin-resistant shoot regeneration were also established. By applying these parameters, we recovered eight independent stably transformed shoots that were kanamycin-resistant and contained the nptII T-DNA gene, as confirmed by PCR analysis. Furthermore, Southern blot analysis confirmed that, in at least five of these lines, the transgene was associated with high molecular weight DNA, so indicating integration into the plant genome.

Role of individual oligosaccharide chains in antigenic properties, intracellular transport, and biological activities of influenza C virus hemagglutinin-esterase protein

The hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoprotein of influenza C virus is composed of three domains: a stem domain active in membrane fusion (F), an acetylesterase domain (E), and a receptor-binding domain (R). The protein contains eight N-linked glycosylation sites, four (positions 26, 395, 552, and 603) in the F domain, three (positions 61, 131, and 144) in the E domain, and one (position 189) in the R domain. Here, we investigated the role of the individual oligosaccharide chains in antigenic properties, intracellular transport, and biological activities of the HE protein by eliminating each of the glycosylation sites by site-specific mutagenesis. Comparison of electrophoretic mobility between the wild-type and the mutant proteins showed that while seven of the glycosylation sites are used, one (position 131) is not. Analysis of reactivity of the mutants with anti-HE monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that glycosylation at position 144 is essential for the formation of conformation-dependent epitopes. It was also evident that glycosylation at the two sites in the F domain (positions 26 and 603), in addition to that in the E domain (position 144), is required for the HE molecule to be transported from the endoplasmic reticulum and that mutant HEs lacking one of these three sites failed to undergo the trimer assembly. Removal of an oligosaccharide chain at position 144 or 189 resulted in a decrease in the esterase activity. By contrast, two mutants lacking an oligosaccharide chain at position 26 or 603, which were defective not only in cell surface expression but in trimerization, possessed full-enzyme activity, suggesting that the HE monomers present within the cell have acetylesterase activity. Fusion activity of cells expressing each of mutant HEs was found to be comparable with the ability of the protein to be transported to the cell surface, suggesting that there is no specific oligosaccharide chain that plays a critical role in promoting membrane fusion.

[Effect of ascorbic acid on chemiluminescence of cells cultivated in various concentration of oxygen]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Vitamin C (Vit. C) on the stimulated chemiluminescence of rabbit's pulmonary alveolus macrophage (AM) cultivated in various concentration of oxygen.

METHOD

The AMs from rabbits were cultured in a thermostat in which luminescence from cells can be examined, then air with various concentrations of oxygen were continuously led in the device and the AM's stimulated chemiluminescence by PMA (phorbol myristate acetate) was measured with a chemiluminometer.

RESULT

In the air with 0.5% O2, AM's survival rate and luminescence level were only 50% or 45% of the values before the exposure, and were reducing progressively with increasing dose of Vit. C in the culture medium. To increase the concentration of oxygen in the air was advantageous in enhancing cell's vitality and it can partly counteract the decrease of AM's stimulated chemiluminescence level by adding Vit. C into the culture medium.

CONCLUSION

Oxygen in the air is important for cultivated cell's luminescence and survival, and it could lead to grave damage to the cultivated AMs when there is high concentration of Vit. C in the culture medium.

Analysis of disparity gradient based cooperative stereo

This paper argues that the disparity gradient subsumes various constraints for stereo matching, and can thus be used as the basis of a unified cooperative stereo algorithm. Traditionally, selection of the neighborhood support function (NSF) in cooperative stereo was left as a heuristic exercise. We present an analysis and evaluation of three families of NSFs based on the disparity gradient. It is shown that an exponential decay function with a conveniently selectable parameter is well behaved in that it yields the least error, converges steadily, and produces correctly located weak-winners. The discovery of the well-behaved function facilitates the success of the disparity gradient based approach. It is suggested that this function will help a two-pass algorithm in resolving the dilemma of surface continuity and discontinuity/occlusion. In our experiments, the unified cooperative stereo-matching algorithm is tested on random-dot stereograms containing opaque and transparent surfaces. It is also shown to be applicable to both area matching and contour matching in real-world images.

[Detection of HBV DNA in human tears and its contamination of the tonometer]

HBV DNA was detected by PCR in the tears of 16 (47.1%) of 34 chronic hepatitis patients, 2 of 5 asymptomatic carriers, and on the Maclakof tonometer. HBV DNA on the contact tonometer was not completely removed by wiping twice with alcohol cotton balls, and the authors suggest flushing by running tap water for 10 seconds and immersion in 2% glutaraldehyde for 10 minutes.

Establishment, characteristics, and utilization of a new in vivo-in vitro system

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are two important methods for malignant tumor treatment. To research radiobiological response in therapy, we have established a better experimental method in contrast to the traditional ones such as TCD50, regrowth delay, cell survival curve, etc, all with their limitations. A new mouse tumor in vivo-in vitro system LA795 Vv-Vt has been developed for studies on radiobiology. Such a system could be used to study the in vivo response of a solid tumor by the in vitro cloning assay. For the purpose of increasing the PE in vitro, LA795 Vv-Vt tumor line was purified through culturing the cells as a clonogenic spheroid. The spheroids were then injected into the flank of mouse subcutaneously for tumor growth. The in vivo-in vitro system LA795 Vv-Vt is an excellent model dissecting and analyzing the various factors which affect tumor development and determine the response of tumor to specific agent and regimens.