[Progress of circulating tumor DNA methylation for gastric cancer screening and management]

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is cell-free DNA released by tumors or circulating tumor cells, containing abundant tumor-specific information that can serve as biomarkers for cancer early screening, monitoring, prognosis, and prediction of treatment response. This is particularly attractive in the field of gastric cancer, where high-quality screening, monitoring, and prediction methods are currently lacking. Gastric cancer exhibits significant tumor heterogeneity, with large differences in genetic and epigenetic characteristics among different subgroups. Methylated ctDNA has high sensitivity and specificity, which can help clarify tumor genotyping and facilitate the formulation of precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, numerous studies have confirmed the unique advantages of methylated DNA in predicting treatment response, adjuvant therapy, and drug resistance assessment, which may be used in the future to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy regimens and improve patient chemotherapeutic response, and even treat multidrug resistance. However, there are several challenges associated with methylated ctDNA, such as low sensitivity and specificity at single-target sites, limited association between some gastric cancer subtypes and ctDNA, off-target risks, and the lack of large-scale and high-quality clinical research evidence. This review mainly summarizes current research on the methylation status of ctDNA in gastric cancer and connects these findings to early screening, recurrence monitoring, and potential treatment opportunities for gastric cancer. With advances in technology and the deepening of interdisciplinary research, ctDNA detection will reveal more disease information and become an essential foundation for gastric cancer research and precision medicine treatment.

Spatiotemporal Single-Photon Airy Bullets

Uninhibited control of the complex spatiotemporal quantum wave function of a single photon has so far remained elusive even though it can dramatically increase the encoding flexibility and thus the information capacity of a photonic quantum link. By fusing temporal waveform generation in an atomic ensemble and spatial single-photon shaping, we hereby demonstrate for the first time complete spatiotemporal control of a propagation invariant (2+1)D Airy single-photon optical bullet. These correlated photons are not only self-accelerating and impervious to spreading as their classical counterparts, but can be concealed and revealed in the presence of strong classical stray light.

Quantum Interference between Photons and Single Quanta of Stored Atomic Coherence

Essential for building quantum networks over remote independent nodes, the indistinguishability of photons has been extensively studied by observing the coincidence dip in the Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer. However, indistinguishability is not limited to the same type of bosons. For the first time, we hereby observe quantum interference between flying photons and a single quantum of stored atomic coherence (magnon) in an atom-light beam splitter interface. We demonstrate that the Hermiticity of this interface determines the type of quantum interference between photons and magnons. Consequently, not only the bunching behavior that characterizes bosons is observed, but counterintuitively, fermionlike antibunching as well. The hybrid nature of the demonstrated magnon-photon quantum interface can be applied to versatile quantum memory platforms, and can lead to fundamentally different photon distributions from those occurring in boson sampling.

[A cohort study on the correlation between alanine aminotransferase trajectories and new-onset metabolic fatty liver disease]

Objective: To explore the correlation between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) trajectories and new-onset metabolic fatty liver disease (MAFLD) to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD. Methods: The study cohort was composed of 3 553 subjects who met the inclusion criteria in the cohort study of the Henan physical examination population. According to the ALT levels of the subjects' physical examination from 2017-2019, three different ALT trajectory groups were determined by R LCTMtools, namely low-stable group, medium-stable group, and high-stable group. The incidence of MAFLD during physical examination in 2020 was followed up, the cumulative incidence rate in each group was calculated by product-limit method, and Cox proportional hazards regression model analyzed the correlation between different ALT trajectories and new-onset MAFLD. Results: The incidence rate of MAFLD parallelly increased with the increase of ALT locus, which was 6.93%, 15.42%, and 19.05%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, such as gender, waist circumference, blood pressure, BMI, fasting blood sugar, and blood lipid by Cox proportional hazards regression model, the risks of MAFLD in ALT medium-stable and the high-stable group were still 1.422 times (95%CI:1.115-1.813) and 1.483 times (95%CI:1.040-2.114) of low-stable ALT group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The risk of MAFLD parallelly increases with the increase of ALT level in the normal long-term range. it is necessary to carry out the intervention for MAFLD with long-term average high value to avoid the progress of MAFLD disease to achieve the early prevention on MAFLD.

SU(2)-in-SU(1,1) Nested Interferometer for High Sensitivity, Loss-Tolerant Quantum Metrology

We present experimental and theoretical results on a new interferometer topology that nests a SU(2) interferometer, e.g., a Mach-Zehnder or Michelson interferometer, inside a SU(1,1) interferometer, i.e., a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with parametric amplifiers in place of beam splitters. This SU(2)-in-SU(1,1) nested interferometer (SISNI) simultaneously achieves a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), sensitivity beyond the standard quantum limit (SQL) and tolerance to photon losses external to the interferometer, e.g., in detectors. We implement a SISNI using parametric amplification by four-wave mixing (FWM) in Rb vapor and a laser-fed Mach-Zehnder SU(2) interferometer. We observe path-length sensitivity with SNR 2.2 dB beyond the SQL at power levels (and thus SNR) 2 orders of magnitude beyond those of previous loss-tolerant interferometers. We find experimentally the optimal FWM gains and find agreement with a minimal quantum noise model for the FWM process. The results suggest ways to boost the in-practice sensitivity of high-power interferometers, e.g., gravitational wave interferometers, and may enable high-sensitivity, quantum-enhanced interferometry at wavelengths for which efficient detectors are not available.

[Investigation on awareness of schistosomiasis control knowledge among residents going to Africa in Taizhou City]

OBJECTIVE

To understand the awareness of schistosomiasis control knowledge among people going to Africa in Taizhou City, to provide insights into the development of control measures for imported schistosomiasis.

METHODS

During the period from July to October, 2019, a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among people that had gone to African countries between 2015 and 2018 and return to China now, including awareness of schistosomiasis control knowledge, type of living and drinking water and contact with river and lake water.

RESULTS

A total of 573 peoples going to Africa were investigated, and 572 eligible questionnaires were recovered. Among the 572 people interviewed, senior high school and above was the predominant education level (509 people, 89.0%), labor was the predominant aim (543 people, 94.9%), and Angola (52.3%) and Algeria (15.9%) were predominant destiny countries. There were 7.2% of the interviewees hearing about African schistosomiasis, 19.8% knowing infections by contact with infested water, and 36 people with a history of contact with river and lake water. In addition, 270 interviewees used running water as drinking water and 276 used running water as living water.

CONCLUSIONS

The awareness rate of schistosomiasis control knowledge is low among people going to Africa in Taizhou City. Health education pertaining to schistosomiasis control is required to be improved among those going to Africa in Taizhou City to increase the awareness of schistosomiasis prevention and avoid parasitic infections.

Effects of essential oil/palygorskite composite on performance, egg quality, plasma biochemistry, oxidation status, immune response and intestinal morphology of laying hens

The current study aimed to assess the effects of different levels of essential oil/palygorskite composite (EO-PGS) supplementation on performance, egg quality, oxidative status, immunity and intestinal morphology of laying hens. A total of 480 laying hens aged 65 wk were randomly assigned into 4 groups (6 replicates of 20 hens each). Hens were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0 (control diet), 0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 g/kg EO-PGS for 56 d. Data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA. Results showed that birds fed with diet supplemented with EO-PGS had increased the egg production (P < 0.05) more than birds fed with control diet. The yolk index and shell thickness were increased in 0.75 and 1.0 g/kg EO-PGS groups at d56 (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in plasma biochemical parameters among all groups. Compared with the control group, supplementation of EO-PGS increased the immunoglobulin-G and interleukin-2 levels in plasma (P < 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity in plasma and liver, the plasma catalase concentration, the activity of total superoxide dismutase in the liver and the activity of glutathione peroxidase in the spleen were increased in the EO-PGS groups (P < 0.05). The concentration of malondialdehyde in the liver was decreased with the increasing level of EO-PGS (P < 0.05). The crypt depth of ileum and duodenum of birds fed with EO-PGS supplemented diet had a tendency to decrease (0.05<P < 0.1) and the villus height to crypt depth ratio of ileum increased (P < 0.05), compared with birds fed with control diet. In summary, EO-PGS supplementation improved the egg production, enhanced antioxidation and immune functions, and ameliorated egg quality and intestinal morphology of laying hens, and a level of 0.75 g/kg EO-PGS was recommended in laying hens diets.

[Effect of early-life antibiotic exposure on allergic symptoms in children aged 6-11 months and 18-23 months based a birth cohort study]

Objective: To analyze the associations between prenatal and 1-year-old exposure to antibiotics and allergic symptoms in children aged 6-11 months and 18-23 months. Methods: In this study, a prospective birth cohort study was adopted. A total of 2 122 pregnant women were enrolled in Maternal and Child Health Care Center of Ma'anshan from June 2015 to June 2016, and they were followed up from the beginning of pregnancy to children's 24 months of age. Excluding 564 pairs of mothers and children who were lost to follow-up or with incomplete information on the use of antibiotics and children's allergic symptoms, a total of 1 558 pairs of mothers and children were included in the analysis of this study. The parents and children's general demographic information, early-life antibiotic exposure and other data were collected, the information about allergic symptoms in children aged 6-11 months and 18-23 months were investigated by reference to the "International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)". The univariate and multivariate binary unconditional logistic regression model was used to was used to estimate associations between the effects of early-life antibiotic exposure on allergic symptoms in 2-year-old children. Results: The antibiotic usage rate of pregnant women during pregnancy was 3.4% (53), and the antibiotic usage rates of children between 0 to 2 months, 3 to 5 months, and 6 to 11 months were separately 15.2%(237), 15.5%(242) and 17.3%(269). The total prevalence of allergic diseases in children aged 6 to 11 months was 24.1% (375 children), and the total prevalence of allergic diseases in children aged 18 to 23 months was 22.0% (342 children). After adjust parental (maternal) education level, family monthly income per capita, parental (maternal) allergy history, parental (maternal) age at pregnancy, mother's Body Mass Index (BMI) before pregnancy, exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy, delivery method, child gender, birth weight, preterm birth, the use of antibiotics when children were 3-5 months old (RR=1.61,95%CI:1.19-2.17) and 6-11 months old (RR=1.43,95%CI:1.06-1.93) were the risk factors for allergic symptoms at 6-11 months of age; and the use of antibiotics when children were 0-2 months old (RR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.03-1.95), 3-5 months old (RR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.12-2.11) and 6-11 months old (RR=1.58, 95%CI: 1.17-2.14) were the risk factors for allergic symptoms at 18-23 months of age. Conclusion: Children's exposure to antibiotics within 1 year of age was a risk factor for allergic symptoms in children aged 6-11 months and 18-23 months, children should avoid unnecessary antibiotic use in infancy.

[Masseter nerve-innervated free gracilis muscle transfer for smile reanimation in adults]

Objective: To investigate the outcomes of masseter nerve-innervated free gracilis muscle transfer for smile reanimation in adults and to explore surgical indications. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 37 patients (11 males, 26 females, with (40.3±12.7) years old)who underwent masseter nerve-innervated free gracilis muscle transfer for smile reanimation between 2016 and 2017 was performed. Patient-reported quality of life (facial clinimetric evaluation, FaCE), physician-reported facial function (eFACE facial grading scale), and oral commissure excursion were compared preoperatively and postoperatively. SPSS 11.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: Thirty-seven patients were followed up in one year after surgery. Significant postoperative improvements were demonstrated for commissure excursion with smile (preoperatively: (-1.2±3.1) mm, postoperatively: (6.1±3.5) mm, t=-31.1, P<0.01), ipsilateral FaCE (preoperatively: (29.4±14.1), postoperatively: (57.6±23.4), t=-38.1, P<0.01), eFACE score (Composite score t=-35.8, Static score t=-29.1, Dynamic score t=-41.3,Midface score t=-43.9, all P<0.01), respectively. Conclusion: Masseter nerve-innervated free gracilis muscle transfer is an good option for dynamic smile reanimation in adult patients who have undergone treatment for long-standing facial paralysis.

[Clinicopathological characteristics of NTRK-rearranged mesenchymal tumors in childhood]

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological features of pediatric NTRK-rearranged tumors. Methods: Four NTRK-rearranged soft tissue tumors and one renal tumor at Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University and Singapore KK Women's and Children's Hospital from January 2017 to September 2019 were identified. Pan-TRK immunohistochemistry, and the ALK and ETV6 gene break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridizations (FISH) were performed. NTRK gene rearrangement was detected using sequencing-based methods. Results: There were 3 males and 2 females in this study. The patients were between 3 months and 13 years of age. Histologically, the tumors were infiltrative spindle cell tumors with variable accompanying inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemistry showed positive reactivity for pan-TRK in all tumors, with nuclear staining for NTRK3 fusion, and cytoplasmic staining for NTRK1 fusion. The molecular testing revealed NTRK gene fusions (one each of TPM3-NTRK1, ETV6-NTRK3 and DCTN1-NTRK1, and two cases of LMNA-NTRK1). Two patients were receiving larotrectinib. The others were are well without disease, with follow-up durations of 9 to 29 months. Conclusions: NTRK-rearranged mesenchymal tumors from soft tissue sites and kidney are identified. A novel DCTN1-NTRK1 fusion is described. Pan-TRK immunohistochemistry is useful for diagnosis. NTRK-targeted therapy may be an option for unresectable, recurrent or metastatic cases.

Suppression of p38/HBP1 pathway alleviates hyperosmotic stress-induced senescent progression of chondrocyte senescence

This study aims to explore the effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and its downstream target HMG-box transcription factor 1 (HBP1) in the chondrocyte (CH) senescence caused by hyperosmotic stress. Human cartilage tissue with or without osteoarthritis (OA) were collected to detect the differential expression of p38 and HBP1 by Western blot. CHs were isolated from cartilage without OA and used the hyperosmotic medium to accelerate CH senescence in vitro. A p38 inhibitor and siRNA were used to mediate the expression of p38 and HBP1. The viability of CHs was determined by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) assay. CH-related mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunofluorescence was also used to detect collagen II and beta-galactosidase expression. Senescent cells were increased in both OA cartilage and hyperosmotic stress treatment with a marked upregulation of p38 and HBP1. Suppression of p38 activation reversed the hyperosmotic stress-induced CH senescence and led to an inhibition of HBP1, p16, Runx-2, MMP-13, collagen X expression, and an upregulation of collagen II and SOX-9 expression. Moreover, the silencing of HBP1 also played a protective effect on CH senescence. The suppression of the p38/HBP1 pathway alleviates the hyperosmotic stress-induced senescent progression of CHs.

[Genomic analysis of a 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) strain in the first COVID-19 patient found in Hangzhou]

Objective: To understand the viral genomic characteristics of a 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) strain in the first COVID-19 patient found in Hangzhou, China. Methods: Viral RNA was extracted in throat swab and sputum sample of the patient and was performed real-time reverse transcription PCR detection and obtained viral genome by high-throughput sequencing method. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using 29 2019-nCoV genomes and 30 β-coronavirus genomes deposited in NCBI GenBank. Fifteen genomes from Wuhan were grouped by mutation sites and others were identified by Wuhan's or specific mutation sites. Results: A 29 833 bp length genome of the first 2019-nCoV strain in Hangzhou was obtained, covering full length of the coding regions of coronavirus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the genome was closest to the genome of a bat SARS-like coronavirus strain RaTG13 with an identity of 96.11% (28 666/29 826). Among the genes between two genomes, E genes were highly conserved (99.56%), while S genes had lowest identity (92.87%). The genome sequence similarities among 29 strains from China (Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Shenzhen), Japan, USA, and Finland, were all more than 99.9%; however, some single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in some strains. Conclusion: The genome of Hangzhou 2019-nCoV strain was very close to the genomes of strains from other cities in China and overseas collected at early epidemic phase. The 2019-nCoV genome sequencing method used in this paper provides an useful tool for monitoring variation of viral genes.

The effects and combinational effects of Bacillus subtilis and montmorillonite on the intestinal health status in laying hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects and combinational effects of Bacillus subtilis (BS) and montmorillonite (MMT) on laying performance, gut mucosal oxidation status, and intestinal immunological and physical barrier functions of laying hens. Three hundred sixty laying hens (29-week-old) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (n = 6) for 10 wk as follows: (1) basal diet; (2) the basal diet plus 5 × 10⁸ cfu BS/kg; (3) the basal diet plus 0.5 g MMT/kg; and (4) the basal diet plus 5 × 10⁸ cfu BS/kg and 0.5 g MMT/kg. Dietary supplementation with BS increased egg production and egg mass, the activities of catalase (CAT) and total superoxide dismutase in the intestinal mucosa, and villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio of the jejunum (P < 0.05) but downregulated the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in the duodenum and jejunum, interleukin 1 beta in the duodenum, and nuclear factor kappa B P65 (NF-κB P65) and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the jejunum (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with MMT increased egg production and egg mass, the concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A in the duodenum, and the occludin mRNA expression level in the jejunum (P < 0.05) but reduced feed conversion ratio, malondialdehyde concentration in the duodenum and jejunum, and the mRNA expression level of MyD88 in the jejunum (P < 0.05). In addition, there was an interaction effect between BS and MMT supplementation on the CAT activity and the MyD88 mRNA expression level in the duodenum and the mRNA expression level of occludin in the jejunum (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary BS and MMT and their combination may improve the intestinal health status of laying hens, which may contribute to the increase in hens' laying performance.

Non-Hermitian Magnon-Photon Interference in an Atomic Ensemble

The interference of photons in a lossy beam splitter (BS) exhibits anticoalescence, which is surprising for bosons. Such a non-Hermitian system involving open quantum dynamics is of particular interest for quantum information processing and metrology. The Hermiticity of photonic devices is generally fixed according to the material, but is controllable at the interface of photons and atomic systems. Here, we demonstrate a tunable non-Hermitian BS for the interference between traveling photonic and localized magnonic modes. The crossover from a Hermitian to a non-Hermitian magnon-photon BS is achieved by controlling the coherent and incoherent interaction mediated by the excited levels of atoms, which is reconfigurable via the detuning of a control laser. A correlated interference pattern between the photons and magnons is demonstrated by such a non-Hermitian BS. Our system has the potential to operate with photons and magnons at the single-quanta level, and it provides a versatile quantum interface for studying the non-Hermitian quantum physics and parity-time symmetry.

[Characteristics of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases with non-marital but non-commercial heterosexual transmission in Hangzhou, 2015-2017]

Objective: To describe the characteristics of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases via non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission and to find out the relative factors in Hangzhou, from 2015 to 2017. Methods: Data were collected through the national HIV/AIDS comprehensive control and prevention data system. Study subjects would include those reported HIV/AIDS cases who were residents of Hangzhou and were infected via non-marital heterosexual transmission, between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017. Demographic characteristics and behavioral information were collected. χ(2) test was used to compare different characteristics of the non-married heterosexual transmission subjects. Logistic regression was used to assess factors that associated with non-marital but non-commercial HIV heterosexual transmission with SPSS. 20 software used to analyze statistically. Results: Non-marital HIV heterosexual transmission accounted for 38.03% (1 393/3 663) of the total new reported HIV/AIDS cases in 2015-2017. Out of the 1 393 HIV/AIDS cases, those infected through non-marital but non-commercial heterosexual transmission accounted for 50.83% (708/1 393), and those through non-martial commercial transmission was accounted for 49.17% (685/1 393). Male to female ratio was 3.51 ∶ 1 (1 084/309). Male HIV cases reported that their major way of infection was via non-marital commercial transmission (670/1 084, 61.81%), while female patients reported the way was via non-marital non-commercial (294/309, 95.1%). Results from multivariate logistic analysis showed that the related risk factors and ORs for non-marital but non-commercial transmission appeared as: female (aOR=48.25, 95%CI: 26.94- 88.44),<30 year olds (aOR=2.43, 95%CI: 1.31-4.51), 30-39 year olds (aOR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.11- 3.33), 40-49 year olds (aOR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.08-3.00), married or unmarried (vs. divorced or widowed, aOR=1.57, 95%CI: 1.10-2.24; aOR=1.78, 95%CI: 1.15-2.78), high school and above of education level (vs. primary school and under of education level, aOR=1.82, 95%CI: 1.18-2.80), administrative officers or employee (vs. farmers, aOR=2.03, 95%CI: 1.04-1.91). Number of non- marital partners less than 5 (vs. number of non-marital partners more than 5, aOR=10.65, 95%CI: 6.41-17.42). Conclusions: HIV/AIDS cases with non-marital heterosexual transmission accounted for considerable proportion regarding the HIV transmission in Hangzhou from 2015 to 2017. Differences were found in the following factors as non-marital and non-commercial heterosexual transmission with diverse gender, age, marital status, educational level and occupation among of the HIV/AIDS patients.

Visible light communication using dual camera on one smartphone

Dual camera is becoming increasingly prevalent among smartphone camera schemes these days. This paper demonstrates a system prototype by using the color and monochrome cameras on one smartphone simultaneously for visible light communication. To achieve this, we propose a novel dual-modulation scheme. The baseband signal is firstly modulated by color ratio modulation-color shift keying (CRM-CSK) to broadcast color ratio information that can be distinguished by the color camera. Next to it, gray level modulation (GLM) is utilized to generate CRM symbols with gray levels that can be distinguished by the monochrome camera. Our experiment shows a significant improvement in the downlink data rate of the optical camera communication (OCC) using a single light source.

[Efficacy and safety of catheter-directed interventional therapy in patients with acute pulmonary embolism]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of catheter-directed interventional therapy in patients with acute pulmonary embolism(PE). Methods: PE was diagnosed by CT pulmonary angiography(CTPA). After risk stratification, a total of 79 PE patients (age (58.9±14.9) years old)were treated with catheter-directed interventional therapy via pulmonary vessels. The changes of pulmonary hemodynamics were compared before and after treatment. The risk of complications and side effects were observed. Results: The pulmonary artery pressure was changed followed by interventional therapy. The interventional therapy significantly decreased mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) from (35.3±11.2)mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (30.0±10.6)mmHg (t=8.803,P<0.05) and the echocardiographic derived right ventricular dimension to left ventricular dimension (RV/LV) ratio from 0.93±0.16 to 0.83±0.15 (t=6.868,P<0.05). The arterial partial pressure of oxygen was increased from (69.0±8.6)mmHg to (75.1±9.9)mmHg (t=8.561,P<0.05) . The oxygen saturation was also increased from (93.9±2.9)% to (95.1±1.9)% at 24 h after the treatment (t=2.621,P<0.05) . Patients were further grouped as high-risk group (n=28) and intermediate risk group (n=51). mPAP and RV/LV ratio were significantly reduced in the two subgroups (all P<0.05) and the range of reduction was more significant in the high-risk group. Five patients experienced minor bleeding complication, 3 patients suffered worsened dispone post procedure and were treated with mechanical ventilation, 1 patient died, and 1 patient developed recurrent PE. Conclusion: The catheter-directed interventional therapy improves pulmonary hemodynamics and reduces load of right ventricle both in high-risk or intermediate risk PE patients, this therapy strategy is safe and effective for patients with PE.

Absolute sensitivity of phase measurement in an SU(1,1) type interferometer

Absolute sensitivity is measured for the phase measurement in an SU(1,1) type interferometer, and the results are compared to that of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer operated under the condition of the same intra-interferometer intensity. The interferometer is phase locked to a point with the largest quantum noise cancellation, and a simulated phase modulation is added in one arm of the SU(1,1) interferometer. Both the signal and noise level are estimated at the same frequency range, and we obtained 3 dB improvement in sensitivity for the SU(1,1) interferometer over the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Our results demonstrate a direct phase estimation and may pave the way for practical applications of a nonlinear interferometer.

Generation of frequency degenerate twin beams in Rb85 vapor

We demonstrate a new phase-matching geometry for four-wave mixing processes in hot Rb85 vapor, in which all four fields propagate in different directions but two of them are degenerate in frequency. When used as a parametric amplifier with an injected seed, two types of quantum mechanically correlated twin-beam states, either frequency degenerate or nondegenerate, can be generated. The quantum noise reduction in the intensity difference is almost 7 dB for the nondegenerate type and nearly 5 dB for the degenerate type. The spatial nondegeneracy of the four waves allows a variety of configurations of parametric processes, leading to flexible control for both phase insensitive and sensitive parametric amplification. The spatially nondegenerate but frequency degenerate four-wave mixing process will find wide applications in quantum metrology, quantum communication, and quantum information of continuous variables.

Circulating tumour cells as a biomarker for diagnosis and staging in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Current diagnosis and staging of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has important limitations and better biomarkers are needed to guide initial therapy. We investigated the performance of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) as an adjunctive biomarker at the time of disease presentation.

METHODS

Venous blood (VB) was collected prospectively from 100 consecutive, pre-treatment patients with PDAC. Utilising the microfluidic NanoVelcro CTC chip, samples were evaluated for the presence and number of CTCs. KRAS mutation analysis was used to compare the CTCs with primary tumour tissue. CTC enumeration data was then evaluated as a diagnostic and staging biomarker in the setting of PDAC.

RESULTS

We found 100% concordance for KRAS mutation subtype between primary tumour and CTCs in all five patients tested. Evaluation of CTCs as a diagnostic revealed the presence of CTCs in 54/72 patients with confirmed PDAC (sensitivity=75.0%, specificity=96.4%, area under the curve (AUROC)=0.867, 95% CI=0.798-0.935, and P<0.001). Furthermore, a cut-off of ⩾3 CTCs in 4 ml VB was able to discriminate between local/regional and metastatic disease (AUROC=0.885; 95% CI=0.800-0.969; and P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

CTCs appear to function well as a biomarker for diagnosis and staging in PDAC.

[Construction of the pIRES2-ZsGreen1 eukaryotic expression vector of Factor Ⅸ gene and expression in HEK-293 cells]

目的

以含有凝血因子Ⅸ（FⅨ）cDNA的pcDNA/FⅨ质粒为模板构建真核表达载体pIRES2-ZsGreen1/FⅨ并检测其在HEK-293细胞中的表达。

方法

以pcDNA/FⅨ质粒为模板，扩增出目的基因FⅨ的开放阅读框（ORF）区，使用Infusion酶对线性pIRES2-ZsGreen1双酶切产物及FⅨORF扩增产物进行连接，连接产物进行转化后筛选阳性克隆，对阳性克隆进行DNA测序及凝胶电泳鉴定。野生型pIRES2-ZsGreen1/FⅨ转染HEK-293细胞后，分别采用实时定量PCR、细胞免疫荧光法、一期法检测野生型FⅨ基因mRNA表达水平、蛋白的表达量及细胞裂解液、细胞培养液的FⅨ活性。

结果

成功构建pIRES2-ZsGreen1/FⅨ并转染HEK-293细胞，实时定量PCR证实HEK-293细胞表达FⅨ mRNA，激光共聚焦显微镜下观察到FⅨ蛋白在细胞质中合成，野生型质粒pIRES2-ZsGreen1/FⅨ转染HEK-293细胞裂解液和细胞培养液的FⅨ活性分别为（92.03±0.29）%、（86.89±8.78）%，无转染的HEK-293细胞裂解液和培养液中FⅨ活性均为0。

结论

成功构建FⅨ野生型pIRES2-ZsGreen1真核表达载体。

Increased risk of breast cancer in individuals carrying the TNRC9 rs3803662 C>T polymorphism: a meta-analysis of case-control studies

Currently, the relationship between the trinucleotide repeat containing 9 (TNRC9) rs3803662 C>T polymorphism and risk of breast cancer (BC) is uncertain. Here, we attempted to obtain a more accurate assessment of this association by conducting a meta-analysis of all eligible case-control investigations, comprising 44,820 cases and 58,316 controls. A comprehensive search was performed to identify all suitable studies involving the TNRC9 rs3803662 polymorphism and BC risk. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were estimated using fixed- or random-effect models. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analyses were also carried out. We found that the variant T allele of rs3803662 C>T greatly increases BC risk (CT vs CC: OR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.07-1.22, P < 0.001; TT vs CC: OR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.25-1.53, P < 0.001; CT/TT vs CC: OR = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.11-1.28, P < 0.001; TT vs

CT/CC

OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.19-1.38, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis based on ethnicity also revealed a markedly increased risk in Asian and Caucasian populations. Moreover, studies with hospital-based control groups showed elevated risk under the four genetic models employed, as did those using population-based controls, except under heterozygote comparison. The TNRC9 rs3803662 C>T polymorphism is greatly related to increased risk of BC, in both Asian and Caucasian populations.

Temporal Purity and Quantum Interference of Single Photons from Two Independent Cold Atomic Ensembles

The temporal purity of single photons is crucial to the indistinguishability of independent photon sources for the fundamental study of the quantum nature of light and the development of photonic technologies. Currently, the technique for single photons heralded from time-frequency entangled biphotons created in nonlinear crystals does not guarantee the temporal-quantum purity, except using spectral filtering. Nevertheless, an entirely different situation is anticipated for narrow-band biphotons with a coherence time far longer than the time resolution of a single-photon detector. Here we demonstrate temporally pure single photons with a coherence time of 100 ns, directly heralded from the time-frequency entangled biphotons generated by spontaneous four-wave mixing in cold atomic ensembles, without any supplemented filters or cavities. A near-perfect purity and indistinguishability are both verified through Hong-Ou-Mandel quantum interference using single photons from two independent cold atomic ensembles. The time-frequency entanglement provides a route to manipulate the pure temporal state of the single-photon source.

Glutathione S-transferase P1 rs1695 A>G polymorphism and breast cancer risk: evidence from a meta-analysis

Breast cancer (BC) is the most widespread cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Many published studies have assessed the association between the glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) rs1695 polymorphism and BC risk. However, the effect of the GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism on BC risk has remained controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to obtain a comprehensive estimation of this association. A total of 20,615 cases and 20,481 controls from thirty-six case-control trials were extracted from an online literature survey. The meta-analysis indicated that the GSTP1 rs1695 A>G polymorphism did not contribute to the susceptibility of BC when the overall population was considered. However, intriguingly, this polymorphism was significantly associated with increased risk of BC in Asian women [GG vs AA: odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.88, P = 0.02; AG vs AA: OR = 1.08, 95%CI = 1.00-1.16, P = 0.05; GG/AG vs AA: OR = 1.11, 95%CI = 1.04-1.19, P = 0.00]. Moreover, a subgroup analysis based on the source of control groups showed a marked increase in BC susceptibility in hospital-based control subjects (GG vs AA: OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.10-1.48, P= 0.00; GG vs

AG/AA

OR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.06-1.41, P = 0.00; GG/AG vs AA: OR = 1.10, 95%CI = 1.02-1.18, P = 0.00). In conclusion, our study indicated that the GSTP1 rs1695 A>G polymorphism was correlated with elevated BC risk in Asian women. Our results must be validated with further research.

Regulatory T-cell depletion in the gut caused by integrin β7 deficiency exacerbates DSS colitis by evoking aberrant innate immunity

Integrin α4β7 controls lymphocyte trafficking into the gut and has essential roles in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The α4β7-blocking antibody vedolizumab is approved for IBD treatment; however, high dose of vedolizumab aggravates colitis in a small percentage of patients. Herein, we show that integrin β7 deficiency results in colonic regulatory T (Treg) cell depletion and exacerbates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis by evoking aberrant innate immunity. In DSS-treated β7-deficient mice, the loss of colonic Treg cells induces excessive macrophage infiltration in the colon via upregulation of colonic epithelial intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and increases proinflammatory cytokine expression, thereby exacerbating DSS-induced colitis. Moreover, reconstitution of the colonic Treg cell population in β7-deficient mice suppresses aberrant innate immune response in the colon and attenuates DSS colitis. Thus, integrin α4β7 is essential for suppression of DSS colitis as it regulates the colonic Treg cell population and innate immunity.

Artesunate protects pancreatic beta cells against cytokine-induced damage via SIRT1 inhibiting NF-κB activation

AIM

Artesunate (ART) has been known as the most effective and safe reagents to treat malaria for many years. In this study, we explored whether ART could protect pancreatic beta-cell against cytokine-induced damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The production of nitrite (NO) was detected with the Griess Assay Kit. SIRT1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were determined with Western blot. The transcriptional activity of NF-κB was evaluated by luciferase reporter assay. The expression of Sirt1 was silenced by RNA interference. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and potassium-stimulated insulin secretion (KSIS) assays were performed to measure the effect of ART on pancreatic beta-cells' function. The effect of ART on beta-cells apoptosis was evaluated by using Hochest/PI staining and TUNEL assay.

RESULTS

ART enhanced GSIS (KSIS) and reduced apoptosis of pancreatic beta-cells induced by IL-1β. Further study showed that ART inhibited IL-1β-induced increase of NF-κB activity, iNOS expression, and NO production. Moreover, ART up-regulated SIRT1 expression in INS-1 cells and islets exposed to IL-1β. Inhibition of SIRT1 expression could partially abolished the inhibitory effect of ART on NF-κB activity in IL-1β-treated beta-cells. More importantly, the protective effect of ART on cytokine-induced damage was reversed by silencing SIRT1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

ART can elicit a protective effect on beta-cells exposed to IL-1β by stimulating SIRT1 expression, which resulted in the decrease of NF-κB activity, iNOS expression, and NO production. Hence, ART might be an effective drug for diabetes.

Implicating the H63D polymorphism in the HFE gene in increased incidence of solid cancers: a meta-analysis

A number of previous studies have demonstrated that the HFE H63D polymorphism is associated with increased risk of incidence multiple types of cancer, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and gynecological malignant tumors. However, the clinical outcomes were inconsistent. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the effect of the H63D variant on the incidence of solid tumor. PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for articles associating the HFE H63D polymorphism with cancer risk. The relationships were evaluated by calculating the pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 28 studies, including 7728 cancer cases and 11,895 controls, were identified. Statistically significant associations were identified between the HFE H63D polymorphism and solid cancer risk (CG vs CC, OR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.07-1.23, P < 0.001; GG vs CC, OR = 1.28, 95%CI = 1.06-1.55, P = 0.010; CG/GG vs CC, OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 1.08-1.24, P < 0.001; GG vs CC/CG, OR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.02-1.49, P = 0.027). In the subgroup analysis, we illustrated the effect of the H63D polymorphism on hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer risk, particularly in the Asian and African subgroups; however, this was not observed in gynecological malignant tumors. In summary, this analysis provided strong evidence that the HFE H63D polymorphism may play a critical role in the increased aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer.

Coherence time limit of the biphotons generated in a dense cold atom cloud

Biphotons with narrow bandwidth and long coherence time can enhance light-atom interaction, which leads to strong coupling between photonic and atomic qubits. Such strong coupling is desirable in quantum information processing, quantum storage and communication. In particular, paired photons with a long coherence time over submicroseconds facilitate the direct manipulation of biphoton wavefunction. In this paper, we report the narrow-band biphotons with a coherence time of 2.34 μs generated from spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) in a dense cold atom cloud, in which the anti-Stokes photons go through a narrow electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) window. In our knowledge, this is the best record of coherence time for paired photons achieved so far. A number of factors limiting the coherence time are analyzed in detail. We find the EIT coherence plays an essential role in determining the coherence time for paired photons. The EIT dephasing rate is the ultimate limit to the coherence time, and an ultra-long coherence time above ten microseconds is possible by further improvement of the dephasing rate below 100 kHz.

A systematic review on the use of daily subcutaneous administration of teriparatide for treatment of patients with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture in Asia

This systematic review aimed to examine the evidence for teriparatide in Asia for osteoporosis with a high fracture risk and for exploratory (unapproved) bone-related indications. MEDLINE (1946+), EMBASE (1966+), and ClinicalTrials.gov (2008+) were searched (16 August 2013); all studies of daily subcutaneous teriparatide 20 μg for bone-related conditions from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan were included. Evidence on efficacy/safety was retrieved primarily from randomized controlled trials (10 publications) of postmenopausal women from Japan and China. In these studies, teriparatide was well tolerated; subjects had significantly greater increases in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) from baseline compared with placebo, antiresorptive agents, or elcatonin/calcitonin; bone turnover markers increased from baseline and were sustained at elevated levels during teriparatide treatment. Few studies reported fracture risk, pain, or quality of life; one study showed a lower incidence of new-onset vertebral fracture with teriparatide versus antiresorptive agents. Nonrandomized studies (nine publications, one unpublished trial) conducted mainly in Taiwan, Japan, and the Republic of Korea provided supporting data for efficacy. The exploratory (unapproved) use of teriparatide (17 publications) for fracture healing and osteonecrosis of the jaw was described primarily in case reports. The clinical effectiveness of teriparatide for treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at high risk of fracture in Asia is focused primarily on improvements in BMD and tolerability. Recommended additional studies may include assessment of fracture risk and the effect of teriparatide on pain, quality of life, and mortality in Asia.

Study of the sludge reduction in an oxic-settling-anaerobic activated sludge process based on UNITANK

An oxic-settling-anaerobic process (OSA) can effectively reduce sludge production, but most of the research studies on the OSA process have been either under laboratory test conditions or based on synthetic wastewater, which cannot fully reflect the performance and sludge reduction efficiency in existing OSA process. Thus, aiming at examining the sludge reduction efficiency and the stability of the OSA process, UNITANK and UNITANK-OSA processes were performed in a 120 m(3)/d pilot-scale system using actual sewage. The results indicate that UNITANK-OSA achieved a 48% reduction of the sludge compared to the reduction due to UNITANK, not considering the accumulation of the effluent-suspended solids. The effluent quality was not found to change significantly, except that the total phosphorus concentration increased slightly. The extracellular polymeric substances metal floc theory may, to some extent, explain this reduction in this study. The OSA process could be used to reform the classic wastewater treatment process to get lower sludge mass.

Expression analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs in male and female chicken embryos

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that play key roles in the regulation of development processes of many tissues and organs at the post-transcriptional level. However, little is known about how they affect chicken gonadal development. We examined the expression of four miRNAs (miR-218, -200b, -196, and -206) in chicken embryonic gonads at embryonic days 3.5-6.5. Their target genes were predicted by miRDB, TargetScan and PicTar algorithms. The expression levels of these four miRNAs differed with sex to varying degrees; miR-200b was expressed at a significantly higher level in female gonads during the entire interval. The whole mount in situ hybridization result showed considerably higher expression of miR-200b in females than in males in E5.5 embryos. The miRNA target scanning results indicated several genes with functions in gonad development and gonad function. We conclude that miR-200b is involved in the regulation of gonad development and sexual differentiation of chicken embryos.

Exploration of water jet generated by Q-switched laser induced water breakdown with different depths beneath a flat free surface

The dynamics of a water jet on a flat free surface are investigated using a nanosecond pulsed laser for creating an oscillating bubble with different depths beneath the free surface. A thin jet is shown to deform a crater surface resulted from surface depression and cause a circular ring-shaped crater on the connection surface between the crater of surface depression and the thin jet. The collapse of this circular ring-shaped crater is proposed to the crown-like formation around a thick jet. The evolution of the bubble depth suggests a classification of four distinctive ranges of the bubble depths: non-crown formation when the parameter of bubble depth over the maximum bubble radius γ ≤ 0.5, unstable crown formation when 0.5 ≤ γ ≤ 0.6, crown-like structure with a complete crown wall when 0.6 ≤ γ ≤ 1.1, and non-crown formation when 1.1 ≤ γ. Furthermore, the orientation of the crown wall gradually turns counterclockwise to vertical direction with increasing γ from 0.5 to 1.1, implying a high correlation between the orientation of the crown wall and the depth of the bubble. This correlation is explained and discussed by the directional change of the jet eruption from the collapse of circular ring-shaped crater.

First Report of Didymella bryoniae Causing Gummy Stem Blight of Chayote in Taiwan

Chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz, Cucurbitaceae), originally native to Mexico, is an important vegetable known as "dragon-whisker vegetable" and is cultivated for its shoots in Ji-an, Hualien County in eastern Taiwan. In June 2010, 70 to 80% of the chayote plants grown in Ji-an developed necrotic spots on stems, leaves, and fruits. The disease was severe during the warm and rainy season from June to August. The symptoms on stems, leaves, and fruits were water-soaked lesions that eventually dried up, cracked, and produced perithecia on necrotic tissues. A single ascospore was isolated from perithecia harvested from diseased stems and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C for 1 month. Colonies of three isolates (SE5, SE6, and SE7) were white to olivaceous green bearing unicellular conidia measuring 2 to 5 × 3 to 10 μm, which is consistent with the morphological characteristics of Didymella bryoniae (Auersw.) Rehm (anamorph Phoma cucurbitacearum (Fr.:Fr.) Sacc.) (1,2,3). DNA of SE5, SE6, and SE7 isolates were obtained using microwave-based method (4). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA (GenBank accessions AB714984, AB714985, and AB714986), PCR-amplified using primers ITS1 and ITS4, had 98 to 99% nucleotide sequence identity with D. bryoniae (GenBank Accession Nos. GU045304 and GU592001). A pathogenicity test was conducted in a greenhouse with temperature ranging from 20 to 30°C. Three-day-old mycelial plugs (5 × 5 mm) of the three isolates were placed on the needle-pricked wounds of stems and leaves of 36 4-month-old potted chayote plants wrapped in plastic bags to maintain 100% relative humidity for 2 days. Six days after inoculation, water-soaked lesions formed on the stems and leaves. Controls inoculated with sterile water had no symptoms. The fungus reisolated from the lesions of diseased stems and leaves had morphological characteristics of D. bryoniae. Based on the results of morphology, molecular data, and pathogenicity tests, we reported for the first time to our knowledge that gummy stem blight of chayote is caused by D. bryoniae in Taiwan. References: (1) J. W. Huang and W. R. Hsieh. Plant Prot. Bull. 27:325, 1985. (2) A. P. Keinath et al. Phytopathology 85:364, 1995. (3) E. Punithalingam and P. Holliday. P. 332 in: Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1972. (4) S. R. Tendulkar et al. Biotechnol. Lett. 22:1941, 2003.

Expression of lysophosphatidic acid receptors and local invasiveness and metastasis in Chinese pancreatic cancers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The present study evaluated the potential role of lysophosphatidic acid receptors (lpars) in processes leading to local invasiveness and metastasis in Chinese pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODS

Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were used to detect expression of lpars in tumour and adjacent non-tumour tissues from patients with surgically resected pancreatic carcinoma. Surgical specimens from 50 patients were examined for relative expression of each receptor's messenger rna (mrna) and protein. Findings were analyzed for correlations with tumour size, pathologic classification, clinical stage, and infiltration of capsule and lymphonodi.

RESULTS

Increased levels of mrna of lpars (lpar1 ≈ lpar3 < lpar2) were found in the pancreatic cancer tissues examined. Low levels of transcripts for lpar1, lpar2, and lpar3 receptors were detectable in adjacent non-tumour tissues. The difference in lpar1 protein expression between tumour and adjacent non-tumour tissues does not seem significant, but the signals of lpar2 expression in pancreatic cancer tumour tissues were significantly amplified compared with those in adjacent non-tumour tissues. Tumour and adjacent non-tumour tissues both weakly expressed lpar3 protein with no statistical difference. However, expression of lpar1, lpar2, and lpar3 showed an obvious correlation with infiltration of capsule cells, surrounding lymphonodi, and specific histopathologic features.

CONCLUSIONS

Lysophosphatidic acid receptor is a promising indicator for pancreatic cancer, and our findings suggested that lpar2 might be a potential target for clinical treatment of pancreatic cancer.

A dark-line two-dimensional magneto-optical trap of 85Rb atoms with high optical depth

We describe the apparatus of a dark-line two-dimensional (2D) magneto-optical trap (MOT) of (85)Rb cold atoms with high optical depth (OD). Different from the conventional configuration, two (of three) pairs of trapping laser beams in our 2D MOT setup do not follow the symmetry axes of the quadrupole magnetic field: they are aligned with 45° angles to the longitudinal axis. Two orthogonal repumping laser beams have a dark-line volume in the longitudinal axis at their cross over. With a total trapping laser power of 40 mW and repumping laser power of 18 mW, we obtain an atomic OD up to 160 in an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) scheme, which corresponds to an atomic-density-length product NL = 2.05 × 10(15) m(-2). In a closed two-state system, the OD can become as large as more than 600. Our 2D MOT configuration allows full optical access of the atoms in its longitudinal direction without interfering with the trapping and repumping laser beams spatially. Moreover, the zero magnetic field along the longitudinal axis allows the cold atoms maintain a long ground-state coherence time without switching off the MOT magnetic field, which makes it possible to operate the MOT at a high repetition rate and a high duty cycle. Our 2D MOT is ideal for atomic-ensemble-based quantum optics applications, such as EIT, entangled photon pair generation, optical quantum memory, and quantum information processing.

Optical precursor of a single photon

We report the direct observation of optical precursors of heralded single photons with step- and square-modulated wave packets passing through cold atoms. Using electromagnetically induced transparency and the slow-light effect, we separate the single-photon precursor, which always travels at the speed of light in vacuum, from its delayed main wave packet. In the two-level superluminal medium, our result suggests that the causality holds for a single photon.

Generation of narrow-band hyperentangled nondegenerate paired photons

We report the generation of nondegenerate narrow-bandwidth paired photons with time-frequency and polarization entanglements from laser cooled atoms. We observe the two-photon interference caused by Rabi splitting with a coherence time of about 30 ns and a visibility of 81.8% which verifies the time-frequency entanglement of the paired photons. The polarization entanglement is confirmed by polarization correlation measurements which exhibit a visibility of 89.5% and characterized by quantum-state tomography with a fidelity of 90.8%. Taking into account the transmission losses and duty cycle, we estimate that the system generates hyperentangled paired photons into opposing single-mode fibers at a rate of 320 pairs per second.

Absence of the adenosine A2A receptor confers pulmonary arterial hypertension and increased pulmonary vascular remodeling in mice

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by sustained elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance resulting from endothelial and smooth muscle cell dysfunction and collagen deposition in pulmonary vascular walls. In this study, we investigated the role of the adenosine A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) in the development of PAH by determining the effect of genetic inactivation of A(2A)Rs on pulmonary vascular remodeling in mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We characterized hemodynamic, histological and ultrastructural changes in pulmonary vascular remodeling in A(2A)R knockout (KO) mice compared with their wild-type (WT) littermates after exposure to normoxia and hypoxic conditions. After exposure to normoxia, compared to WT mice, A(2A)R KO mice displayed: (1) increased right ventricular systolic pressures and an elevated ratio of the right ventricle over left ventricle plus septum (Fulton index), (2) increased wall area and thickness as well as enhanced smooth muscle actin immunoreactivity in pulmonary resistance vessels, (3) increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells in pulmonary resistance vessels and (4) increased smooth muscle cells hypertrophy and collagen deposition in the adventitia of pulmonary arteriole walls as revealed by electron microscope. By contrast, histological analysis revealed no features of hypertensive nephropathy in A(2A)R KO mice and there was no significant difference in systemic blood pressure, and left ventricular masses among the 3 genotypes. Furthermore, following chronic exposure to hypoxia, A(2A)R KO mice exhibited exacerbated elevation in right ventricular systolic pressure, hypertrophy of pulmonary resistance vessels and increased cell proliferation in pulmonary resistance vessels, compared to WT littermates. Thus, genetic inactivation of A(2A)Rs selectively produced PAH and associated increased smooth muscle proliferation and collagen deposition.

CONCLUSIONS

Extracellular adenosine acting at A(2A)Rs represents an important regulatory mechanism to control the development of PAH and pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Stacked optical precursors from amplitude and phase modulations

We report the generation of stacked optical precursors from a laser beam whose amplitude or phase is modulated by sequenced on-off step waveforms. Making use of the constructive interference between the precursors produced from different steps, as well as the main field, we generate optical transient pulses having peak powers of eight times the input power with electromagnetically induced transparency in laser-cooled atoms.

Two-photon free-induction decay with electromagnetically induced transparency

We report the observation of coherent two-photon free-induction decay (FID) in a three-level Lambda system excited by a low-intensity square-modulated laser pulse. Using electromagnetically induced transparency in an Rb85 cold atomic cloud, for what we believe to be the first time, we observe FID signals with coherence time exceeding the relevant atomic excited-state natural lifetime. Because of the on-resonance enhancement, the two-photon FID signal can be observed at the falling edge without using heterodyne means.

Analysis of the gene 3 region sequences of Chinese field strains of Transmissible gastroenteritis virus

The genome of Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) displays genetic diversity especially in gene 3 region. Sequence and comparative analysis of 3a and 3b genes of eight Chinese field strains with reference TGEV strains indicated that these strains shared 87.0-100% and 51.5%-100% identities at the nucleotide level, respectively, and 86.1%-100% and 66.2%-100% identities at the amino acid level, respectively. Moreover, in one of the strains (CH/SDQ/08), a 51 nt deletion in the gene 3 region was found. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the eight Chinese strains were more closely related to TGEV strains H165, H16, Miller M6, Miller M60, TS, and CHV than to other reference strains. In addition, this study indicated the presence of different TGEV strains within the same pig herds in China.

Shaping biphoton temporal waveforms with modulated classical fields

We experimentally demonstrate a technique for shaping the temporal quantum waveform of narrow-band biphotons generated in a cold atomic ensemble via four-wave mixing by periodically modulating the two input classical lasers. We show that it is possible to generate nonclassical paired photons with a predesigned shape of the correlation function.

Optical precursors with electromagnetically induced transparency in cold atoms

We report the observation of Sommerfeld-Brillouin optical precursors generated from a long square-modulated laser pulse propagating through a cold atomic ensemble with electromagnetically induced transparency. The optical depth (alpha(0)L) of the medium can be varied from 0 up to 50. We demonstrated that the step-on rising and step-off falling edges propagate with the speed of light in vacuum without a slow light effect. At high alpha(0)L, the precursor is separated from the delayed main pulse at the rising edge, while at the falling edge, we observe damped oscillatory structures resulting from the interference between the precursor and main field.

Electron emissions in InAs quantum dots containing a nitrogen incorporation induced defect state: the influence of thermal annealing

With the incorporation of nitrogen (N) into InAs quantum dots (QDs), the carrier distribution near the QD displays electron emissions from a localized N-induced defect state at 0.34 eV and a weak emission at 0.15 eV from the QD. This defect state causes drastic carrier depletion in the neighboring GaAs bottom layer near the QD, which can effectively suppress tunneling emission for the QD excited states. As a result, electrons escape from the QD ground state through thermal emission to near the GaAs conduction band, rather than through thermal emission to the QD first excited state and a subsequent tunneling to the GaAs conduction band, as observed in InAs QDs without N incorporation. Thermal annealing can weaken the defect emission and enhance the QD emission, suggesting a removal of the defect state and a recovery of carriers in the QD. Increasing annealing temperature can significantly decrease the emission time and energy of the QD emission, which is explained by a weakening of tunneling suppression due to the removal of the defect state.

The effects of strontium ranelate in Asian women with postmenopausal osteoporosis

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of strontium ranelate in the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in Taiwan. In this 12-month multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 125 women with osteoporosis were randomly given either strontium ranelate 2 g daily or placebo. Lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total-hip bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured; adverse events and tolerability were recorded and assessed. Subjects treated with strontium ranelate showed significant increases in BMD of 5.9% at the lumbar spine, 2.6% at the femoral neck, and 2.7% at the total hip, while the placebo group exhibited no significant change at 12 months. Serum level of a formation marker (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase) was also significantly increased at 6 and 12 months. Thus, although the sample size and the treatment duration of this study could not show its effect of reducing osteoprotic fractures, strontium ranelate showed bone protection effects by increasing BMD and concentrations of a bone formation marker. Safety assessment revealed adverse events were mild and not significantly different from placebo.

Adenosine A(2A) receptors are required for normal BDNF levels and BDNF-induced potentiation of synaptic transmission in the mouse hippocampus

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of neurotrophin family, enhances synaptic transmission and regulates neuronal proliferation and survival. Both BDNF and its tyrosine kinase receptors (TrkB) are highly expressed in the hippocampus, where an interaction with adenosine A(2A) receptors (A(2A)Rs) has been recently reported. In the present paper, we evaluated the role of A(2A)Rs in mediating functional effects of BDNF in hippocampus using A(2A)R knock-out (KO) mice. In hippocampal slices from WT mice, application of BDNF (10 ng/mL) increased the slope of excitatory post-synaptic field potentials (fEPSPs), an index of synaptic facilitation. This increase of fEPSP slope was abolished by the selective A(2A) antagonist ZM 241385. Similarly, genetic deletion of the A(2A)Rs abolished BDNF-induced increase of the fEPSP slope in slices from A(2A)R KO mice The reduced functional ability of BDNF in A(2A)R KO mice was correlated with the reduction in hippocampal BDNF levels. In agreement, the pharmacological blockade of A(2)Rs by systemic ZM 241385 significantly reduced BDNF levels in the hippocampus of normal mice. These results indicate that the tonic activation of A(2A)Rs is required for BDNF-induced potentiation of synaptic transmission and for sustaining a normal BDNF tone in the hippocampus.

Male Sex as a Risk Factor for Pseudophakic Retinal Detachment after Cataract Extraction in Taiwanese Adults

PURPOSE

To investigate the role of sex in modifying risk factors for retinal detachment (RD) after cataract surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study based on medical records and insurance claims from Taiwan's Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI).

PARTICIPANTS

Nine thousand three hundred eighty-eight patients who underwent extracapsular cataract extraction (CE), including phacoemulsification procedures, between August 1999 and December 2001.

METHODS

Medical charts and claims submitted by insurance beneficiaries who underwent CE and intraocular lens implantation were collected from the sixth branch of the BNHI. Data recorded for analysis included each patient's demographic characteristics, medical history, refractive status, axial length (AL), type of CE, and intraoperative complications. Posterior capsulotomy, diagnostic procedures, and treatments for retinal complications and other ocular diseases were identified on the basis of codes from physicians' billing records at the end of 2005.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence of RD in the full study group and in subgroups defined by sex, age, AL, type of CE procedure, concurrent systemic diseases, presence of intraoperative complications, and subsequent posterior capsulotomy.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time of patients at the time of analysis was 54.99+/-15.53 months. The rate of lost follow-up was 11.55%. Cumulative 6-year RD rates were 1.16% in the full study group, 1.90% in the male subgroup, and 0.56% in the female subgroup at the end of the follow-up period. Gender distribution had a significant influence on the occurrence of RD after CE (P<0.001). Factors that were found to have a significant effect on the risk of pseudophakic RD included age under 50 years (P = 0.002), AL (P<0.001), and history of RD (P = 0.003). Surgical types (extracapsular vs. phacoemulsification) were not correlated significantly with RD, and neither were such systemic diseases as diabetes and hypertension. Subgroup analysis indicated that the significance of age, AL, and history of RD as risk factors persisted in the male subgroup but not in the female subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

The impact of axial myopia, age, and RD history as risk factors for pseudophakic RD was seen predominantly in males.