Evaluation of cochlear implantation in children with inner ear malformation

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of cochlear implantation (CI) in children with malformed versus normal inner ear anatomy.

METHODS

We assessed 63 children with prelingual deafness, including 12 with inner ear malformations. All had undergone CI before the age of 5 y. We evaluated Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scores before surgery and at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.

RESULTS

In both groups, the CAP and SIR scores increased with time after implantation in follow-up assessments. No significant differences were found in the CAP or SIR scores between the two groups at any of the four follow-up assessments.

CONCLUSION

Children with inner ear malformation can benefit from CI. Although additional factors may influence the outcome of CI in children with inner ear malformations compared to children with deafness from other causes, early implantation may provide similar results.

Ray transfer matrix for a spiral phase plate

We present a ray transfer matrix for a spiral phase plate. Using this matrix we determine the stability of an optical resonator made of two spiral phase plates and trace stable ray orbits in the resonator. Our results should be relevant to laser physics, optical micromanipulation, quantum information, and optomechanics.

Differential expression of L-FABP and L-BABP between fat and lean chickens

Liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and liver bile acid-binding protein (L-BABP), in the liver intra-cytoplasm of chicken, are members of the fatty acid-binding protein subfamily. This study was designed to analyze and compare L-FABP and L-BABP expression levels between fat and lean lines in chicken liver tissue, and to determine the relationship between their expression and lipid metabolism. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression in liver tissue between the lean and fat lines. Real-time PCR showed that L-FABP mRNA expression in fat male chickens was higher than that in lean male chickens at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 weeks of age (P < 0.05), and L-BABP mRNA expression in fat male chickens was higher than that in lean male chickens at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 10 weeks of age (P < 0.05). Western blotting showed that the L-FABP protein expression in fat male chickens was higher than that in lean male chickens at 3, 5, 6, and 7 weeks of age (P < 0.05), and L-BABP protein expression in fat male chickens was higher than that in lean male chickens at 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks of age (P < 0.05). These results suggested that chicken L-FABP and L-BABP affect abdominal fat deposition through differences in their expression level, and the possible mechanism is that a high expression level of L-FABP and L-BABP leads to a high lipogenesis rate and, ultimately, to lipid deposition.

Atorvastatin overcomes gefitinib resistance in KRAS mutant human non-small cell lung carcinoma cells

The exact influence of statins on gefitinib resistance in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with KRAS mutation alone or KRAS/PIK3CA and KRAS/PTEN comutations remains unclear. This work found that transfection of mutant KRAS plasmids significantly suppressed the gefitinib cytotoxicity in Calu3 cells (wild-type KRAS). Gefitinib disrupted the Kras/PI3K and Kras/Raf complexes in Calu3 cells, whereas not in Calu3 KRAS mutant cells. These trends were corresponding to the expression of pAKT and pERK in gefitinib treatment. Atorvastatin (1 μM) plus gefitinib treatment inhibited proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and reduced the AKT activity in KRAS mutant NSCLC cells compared with gefitinib alone. Atorvastatin (5 μM) further enhanced the gefitinib cytotoxicity through concomitant inhibition of AKT and ERK activity. Atorvastatin could interrupt Kras/PI3K and Kras/Raf complexes, leading to suppression of AKT and ERK activity. Similar results were also obtained in comutant KRAS/PTEN or KRAS/PIK3CA NSCLC cells. Furthermore, mevalonate administration reversed the effects of atorvastatin on the Kras/Raf and Kras/PI3K complexes, as well as AKT and ERK activity in both A549 and Calu1 cells. The in vivo results were similar to those obtained in vitro. Therefore, mutant KRAS-mediated gefitinib insensitivity is mainly derived from failure to disrupt the Kras/Raf and Kras/PI3K complexes in KRAS mutant NSCLC cells. Atorvastatin overcomes gefitinib resistance in KRAS mutant NSCLC cells irrespective of PIK3CA and PTEN statuses through inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase-dependent disruption of the Kras/Raf and Kras/PI3K complexes.

Strong-interaction shifts and widths of kaonic helium isotopes

The kaonic ³He and ⁴He [Formula: see text] transitions in gaseous targets were observed by the SIDDHARTA experiment. The X-ray energies of these transitions were measured with large-area silicon-drift detectors using the timing information of the [Formula: see text] pairs produced by the DAΦNE [Formula: see text] collider. The strong-interaction shifts and widths both of the kaonic ³He and ⁴He 2p states were determined, which are much smaller than the results obtained by the previous experiments. The "kaonic helium puzzle" (a discrepancy between theory and experiment) was now resolved.

Fas-associated factor 1 plays a negative regulatory role in the antibacterial immunity of Locusta migratoria

Insect immune responses are precisely regulated to maintain immune balance. In this study, the Fas-associated factor 1 (FAF1) gene of Locusta migratoria manilensis, a homologue of the caspar gene that functions as a specific negative regulator in the antibacterial immunity pathway, was cloned. Gene expression analysis showed that FAF1 was expressed throughout the developmental stages and in all tested tissues, but its transcription levels varied significantly. Thus, FAF1 appears to be tightly regulated and is probably involved in multiple physiological processes. In addition, the antimicrobial peptide gene prolixicin was cloned and characterized. After bacterial challenge, prolixicin was rapidly up-regulated, whereas FAF1 was markedly down-regulated. This result was consistent with the observation that prolixicin was hyperactivated when FAF1 was suppressed by RNA interference. Moreover, after bacterial infection, the survival rate of FAF1-knockdown locusts was much higher than that of the wild-type. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest that FAF1 shares a similar function as caspar in Drosophila and may be involved in the negative regulation of antibacterial immunity in locusts.

Preliminary study of kaonic deuterium X-rays by the SIDDHARTA experiment at DAΦNE

The study of the [Formula: see text] system at very low energies plays a key role for the understanding of the strong interaction between hadrons in the strangeness sector. At the DAΦNE electron-positron collider of Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati we studied kaonic atoms with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], taking advantage of the low-energy charged kaons from Φ-mesons decaying nearly at rest. The SIDDHARTA experiment used X-ray spectroscopy of the kaonic atoms to determine the transition yields and the strong interaction induced shift and width of the lowest experimentally accessible level (1s for H and D and 2p for He). Shift and width are connected to the real and imaginary part of the scattering length. To disentangle the isospin dependent scattering lengths of the antikaon-nucleon interaction, measurements of [Formula: see text] and of [Formula: see text] are needed. We report here on an exploratory deuterium measurement, from which a limit for the yield of the K-series transitions was derived: [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (CL 90%). Also, the upcoming SIDDHARTA-2 kaonic deuterium experiment is introduced.

First Report of Soybean Cyst Nematode (Heterodera glycines) on Tobacco in Henan, Central China

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines) commonly infests soybean (Glycine max), but has also been reported to infest haricot bean, mung bean, adzuki bean, some species of Lespedeza and Melilotus (3), purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule), field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), and shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) (4). During 2009 to 2011, a survey for plant parasitic nematodes on tobacco was made in Xuchang, Henan Province, central China. Thirty six percent of 50 tobacco fields showed yellowing symptoms, and females and cysts of cyst-forming nematode were observed in the yellowing tobacco roots. The cysts were characterized by a lemon shape, with posterior protuberance, ambifenestrate, bullae, and underbridge present. The key morphometrics of cysts were fenestra length (38 to 44 μm) and width (34 to 40 μm), vulval silt (41 to 50 μm), and underbridge length (73 to 99 μm), all of which were similar to SCN (1). DNA was extracted by putting a single cracked cyst collected from the tobacco root to a 0.2-ml Eppendorf tube containing 10 μl double distilled water, 8 μl 10 × PCR Buffer (Mg-), and 2 μl of proteinase K (600 μg/ml) and frozen at -70°C for 30 min, then incubated at 65°C for 1 h and at 95°C for 10 min. After centrifugation at 12,000 rpm for 2 min, the DNA suspension was used for PCR amplification. Primers TW81 (5'-GTTTCCGTAGGTGAACCTGC-3') and AB28 (5'-ATATGCTTAAGTTCAGCGGGT-3') were used to amplify the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and a PCR fragment of 1,030 bp was obtained. The sequence (GenBank Accession No. JX561139) showed 99% similarity to H. glycines strain Hg1-Ark1 (EF611124). Duplex PCR containing the universal primers D2A (5'-ACAAGTACCGTGAGGGAAAGTTG-3'), D3B (5'-TCGGAAGGAACCAGCTACTA-3') and SCAR primers SCNFI (5'-GGACCCTGACCAAAAAGTTTCCGC-3'), SCNRI (5'-GGACCCTGACGAGTTATGGGCCCG-3'), obtained a 477-bp fragment, which is specific for SCN populations (2). Based on both morphological and molecular identification, the populations of cyst-forming nematodes on tobacco from Henan, China were confirmed as SCN. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on 30 each of 50-day-old tobacco and 5-day-old soybean plants (one plant per pot), respectively, by adding 2 ml of a suspension of 1,000 eggs and J2 of cysts collected from tobacco roots. After 35 days, 20 to 35 white females could be detected in each of the tobacco roots, and the yellowing symptom on almost all of tobacco plants was observed. Although infection on soybean plants was observed, the nematodes infected in roots was just 10 to 20 per pot, and they all stayed in the infective J2 stage. Except for one J3 until 48 dpi, no mature females could be found, and the nematode population could not reproduce on soybean tested. This suggests that the cyst nematode population from tobacco is a new pathotype of SCN. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SCN parasitized on tobacco in naturally infected fields, which is a potential threat to tobacco growth and should attract worldwide attention. References: (1) R. H. Mulvey. Can. J. Zool. 50:1277, 1972. (2) S. Ou et al. Nematology 10:397, 2008. (3) R. D. Riggs. In: Biology and Management of the Soybean Cyst Nematode, p. 107-114, 1992. (4) R. Venkatesh et al. Weed Technol. 14:156, 2000.

Safety and effectiveness of repeat arterial closure using the StarClose vascular closure device in patients with hepatic malignancy

AIM

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the use of the StarClose vascular closure device for repeat arterial closure in patients with hepatic malignancy undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients with hepatic malignancy who had undergone arterial closure with the StarClose device was performed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2009 and March 2012. A total of 165 patients (94 men, 71 women; mean age 60.1 ± 17.2 years) had arterial puncture closure after TACE (using a 5 F sheath). Percutaneous closure of the common femoral artery with the StarClose device was performed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. The patients were examined for complications on follow-up. Device success was defined as haemostasis achieved immediately after StarClose device deployment with or without applying 3 min or less of manual compression. All the patients were evaluated clinically for wound complications and follow-up angiograms of the puncture site were obtained at subsequent TACE sessions.

RESULTS

There were a total of 593 closures using StarClose devices in 165 patients who underwent TACE, including 194 (32.7%) single closures and 399 (67.3%) repeat closures for the same femoral access. The number of repeat closures for the same femoral access ranged from one to nine (median 2). Haemostasis was achieved in 571 closures, and success rate was 96.3% (96.9% in single closures and 96% in repeat closures). There was no statistically different haemostasis success rate between single closures or repeat closures. No severe complications occurred during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The repeat use of the StarClose device is safe and effective in patients with hepatic malignancy undergoing TACE.

The prognostic value of CDKN2A hypermethylation in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis

Background:

The prognostic value of CDKN2A promoter hypermethylation in colorectal cancer remains controversial. We systematically reviewed the evidence for assessment of CDKN2A methylation in colorectal cancer to elucidate this issue.

Methods:

Pubmed, Embase and ISI web of knowledge were searched to identify eligible studies to evaluate the association of CDKN2A hypermethylation and overall survival and clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer patients. Combined hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were pooled using a random-effects model.

Results:

A total of 11 studies encompassing 3440 patients were included in the meta-analysis. CDKN2A hypermethylation had an unfavourable impact on OS of patients with colorectal cancer (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.29–2.11). Subgroup analysis indicated that CDKN2A hypermethylation was significantly correlated with OS in Europe (HR 1.49; 95% CI 1.28–1.74) and Asia (HR 3.30; 95% CI 1.68–6.46). Furthermore, there was a significant association between CDKN2A hypermethylation and lymphovascular invasion (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.15–2.47), lymph node metastasis (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.09–2.59) and proximal tumour location (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.34–3.26) of colorectal cancer.

Conclusion:

This meta-analysis indicated that CDKN2A hypermethylation might be a predictive factor for unfavourable prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.

A Warpage Optimization Method for Injection Molding Using Artificial Neural Network Combined Weighted Expected Improvement

A surrogate-based warpage optimization for injection molding is proposed in this study. The optimization process aims at minimizing the warpage of the injection molding parts in which process parameters, i.e., the mold temperature, melt temperature, injection time, packing time, packing pressure, and cooling time are the design variables. The warpage values are reduced by optimizing the process parameters. A new optimization iteration scheme based on artificial neural network (ANN) combined weighted expected improvement (WEI) is employed to speed up the optimization process and to ensure very rapid and steady convergence. The ANN is used to build an surrogate warpage function for the process parameters, replacing the expensive simulation analysis in the optimization iterations. The adaptive process is executed by the WEI function, which is an infilling sampling criterion. Although the design of experiment (DOE) size is small, this criterion can precisely balance the local and global search and tend to find the global optimal design. As examples, a TV cover and a scanner are investigated. The results show that the proposed approach can effectively reduce the warpage of the injection molding parts.

Polyelectrolyte capsules packaging BSA gels for pH-controlled drug loading and release and their antitumor activity

Polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules, promising candidates for multifunctional drug delivery systems, have recently received increased interest. However, the low encapsulation efficiency of drugs and the lack of reports about animal experiments have greatly slowed down their development for drug delivery. Here, a polyelectrolyte multilayer capsule filled with bovine serum albumin gel (BSA-gel-capsule) was constructed by a layer-by-layer assembly technique and thermally induced gelation of BSA. Owing to the charge variability of BSA with change in pH, BSA-gel-capsules not only showed a pronounced accumulation effect of drugs into capsules, but also displayed excellent pH-controlled loading and release properties. Moreover, a remarkable targeting action to the lung was discovered after intravenous injection of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled BSA-gel-capsules into mice. After treatment with doxorubicin-loaded BSA-gel-capsules, effective cytotoxicity against B16-F10 cells and inhibition of the pulmonary melanoma growth were revealed. This paper introduces a new type of smart microstructure with notable pH-responsive ability. This material renders feasible the intravenous administration of polyelectrolyte microcapsules, which will be a big step towards their application as drug delivery vehicles.