Anomalous bulk compression behaviour in a hyperstoichiometric uranium-dioxide-thorium-dioxide solid solution

The compression behaviour of a solid solution of ThO2 and hyperstoichiometric UO2 was examined up to 11 GPa hydrostatic pressure using x-ray diffraction. We observed a distortive phase transition above 3 GPa from fluorite-type to a structure isotypic with t-zirconia. The transition is tentatively explained by merging of local tetragonal UO(2+δ) clusters into an itinerant structural distortion. The bulk modulus increases from 162 ± 1 to 199 ± 4 GPa in the tetragonal phase by stiffening of the c-axis compression.

Intracranial KCl injection--an alternative method for multifetal pregnancy reduction in the early second trimester

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of transabdominal intracranial KCl injection as an alternative to intrathoracic KCl injection for multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) in the early second trimester.

METHODS

In this study, 40 cases who underwent fetal reduction between 12 and 18 weeks of gestation at the Reproductive Medical Center of Peking University Third Hospital from January 2006 to December 2011 were divided into two groups: group A (16 cases of intracranial injection) and group B (24 cases of intrathoracic injection). The groups were compared for clinical procedures and outcomes.

RESULTS

The two groups were similar in terms of patient age, gestation, as well as starting and finishing fetal numbers. Group A needed significantly fewer punctures for each fetus than group B did (1.1 ± 0.2 vs. 1.4 ± 0.6), but both groups received similar doses of KCl (2.6 ± 0.8 ml vs. 2.6 ± 1.2 ml per fetus). All cases succeeded in the first procedure, with no heartbeat recovery. The two groups had similar miscarriage rates and gestational ages at delivery.

CONCLUSION

MFPR by intracranial KCl injection was as effective as, but an easier procedure than intrathoracic KCl injection between 12 and 18 weeks of gestation.

Immunoglobulin G expression and its potential role in primary and metastatic breast cancers

Recently immunoglobulin G (IgG) was found to be produced by neoplasms and promote tumor growth in cancer cell lines and animal models. To investigate the pathophysiological significance of cancer-produced IgG in breast cancer, we examined the expressions of IgG in 68 breast cancers including 40 primary cancers without metastasis and 28 cancers with axillary lymph node metastases. IgG gene expression was detected in all these samples. We found that IgG-expressing cancer cells were predominantly located in the periphery of the primary cancer nest and that these cells showed more cellular atypia and nuclear pleomorphism. We also found that the abundance of IgG-expressing cancer cells was higher and the cells were more evenly distributed in the metastatic cancer cells than that in the primary lesion. These findings suggest that IgG-expressing breast cancer cells have a more aggressive biological behavior than the IgG negative cancer cells and it could be an indicator for progression and metastasis of the disease. Co-localization of IgG and C1q complement was detected in both primary and metastatic lesions implying that immune complexes might be formed in situ. We speculate that such immune complexes might facilitate immune escape of cancer cells. Our findings suggest that locally produced IgG plays important roles in breast cancer, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target.

Retain singleton or twins? Multifetal pregnancy reduction strategies in triplet pregnancies with monochorionic twins

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effectiveness and feasibility of retaining a singleton or twins for multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) in triplet pregnancy with monochorionic twins.

STUDY DESIGN

This retrospective study was conducted from January 2006 to September 2011 at a university reproductive medical center. Multifetal pregnant patients (n=35) with dichorionic triplets underwent MFPR in the first trimester to reduce one or both monochorionic twins. These cases were divided into two groups: Group A (9 MFPR cases to reduce one monochorionic twin) and Group B (26 MFPR for both monochorionic twins). Control A (for Group A) included another 18 cases of trichorionic triplet reduction to twins; Control B (for Group B) included 35 cases of trichorionic triplet reduction to singletons. MFPR was performed during the same period for all groups. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between groups.

RESULTS

Patients were 28-39 years old; the average gestation for fetal reduction was 6-8 weeks. The early abortion rate was lower in Group A than Group B (0 versus 11.5%, p=0.339), but the late abortion rate was significantly higher in Group A. (33.3% versus 0, p=0.000). Groups A and B did not differ significantly in premature labor rate, term birth rate, gestation at delivery and take-home baby rate. The rate of very low and low birth weight was significantly higher in Group A than Group B (50% versus 0, p=0.001), and the average birth weight was significantly lower in Group A (2391.7±318.5 versus 3119.6±523.9, p=0.001). Group A had significantly more low birth-weight newborns than Control A (50% versus 13.3%, p<0.05 [0.024]). Group B (retained singleton) had similar pregnancy outcomes and neonatal conditions as Control B.

CONCLUSIONS

Retaining a singleton is always the best choice when deciding about using MFPR to improve pregnancy outcomes. For patients having a triplet pregnancy with monochorionic twins and strongly desiring to keep twins, MFPR in one monochorionic twin was feasible by aspirating embryonic parts early in gestation (6-8 weeks) with no drug injection. Pregnancy outcomes are similar with twin reduction in trichorionic triplet pregnancy.

Effect of oxygen stoichiometry in LuFe2O(4-δ) and its microstructure observed by aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy

A series of oxygen deficient LuFe(2)O(4-δ) materials have been prepared under a controlled oxygen partial-pressure atmosphere. Measurements of magnetization reveal that the increase of oxygen deficiencies could evidently depress the ferrimagnetic phase transition temperature (T(N)). In additional to the well-known charge ordering within the (11(-)0) crystal plane, a visible structural modulation with q = (0,1/4.2,7/8) commonly appears on the (100) plane in the oxygen deficient samples. An aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy study on the oxygen deficient samples demonstrates the presence of oxygen vacancies and local structural distortion. The atomic structural features in correlation with the structural modulation, distortion of the FeO(5) polyhedron and the (001) twinning domains have been also examined.

Cell cultures derived from early zebrafish embryos differentiate in vitro into neurons and astrocytes

The zebrafish is a polular nonmammalian model for studies of neural development. We have derived cell cultures, initiated from blastula-stage zebrafish embryos, that differentiate in vitro into neurons and astrocytes. Cultures were initiated in basal nutrient medium supplemented with bovine insulin, trout serum, trout embryo extract and fetal bovine serum. After two weeks in culture the cells exhibited extensive neurite outgrowth and possessed elevated levels of acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the neurites possessed microtubules, synaptic vessicles and areas exhibiting growth cone morphology. The cultures expressed proteins recognized by antibodies to the neuronal and astrocyte-specific markers, neurofilament and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Poly-D-lysine substrate stimulated neurite outgrowth in the cultures and inhibited the growth of nonneuronal cells. Medium conditioned by the buffalo rat liver line, BRL, promoted the growth and survival of the cells in culture. Mitotically active cells were identified in cultures that had undergone extensive differentiation. The embryo cell cultures provide an in vitro system for investigations of biochemical parameters influencing zebrafish neuronal cell growth and differentiation.

[Prediction of ipsilateral mediastinal lymph node metastasis (N2 disease) in patients with lung cancer]

BACKGROUND

To determine the relation between the clinical pathophysiological characteristics and mediastinal lymph node metastasis (N2 disease) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out. Between January, 1996, and October, 1999, 378 patients with NSCLC underwent mediastinal lymph nodes dissection, and 105 of them were proved to be N2 disease through pathological examination. A clinical lymph node staging (c-N) was determined on the basis of findings of preoperative CT scan in each patient: mediastinal or hilar lymph nodes 1.0cm or larger in the shortest axis were diagnosed as metastasis (c-N1-2). Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the relationship between clinical predictors and pathologically proven N2 disease.

RESULTS

Among all of the 378 cases, N2 disease accounted for 27.8%(105/378). c-N2 disease, adenocarcinoma and c-T3 tumor were the significant clinical predictors of pathological N2 disease on the basis of multivariate analysis (P<0.001). Among 316 patients with c-N0-1 disease, N2 disease accounted for 23.4%(74/316). Adenocarcinoma and c-T2-3 tumor were significant clinical predictors of pathologic N2 disease according to multivariate analysis procedure (P<0.05). When these predictors were combined, more than 50% of adenocarcinoma with c-T3 tumor and about 40% of adenocarcinoma with c-T2 tumor had N2 disease (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In the patients with adenocarcinoma and c-T2 or c-T3 tumor, probability of pathological N2 disease should be considered.

QTL and epistatic analyses of heterosis for seed yield and three yield component traits using molecular markers in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Aiming to explore the basis of heterosis in rapeseed, QTLs for yield and three yield component traits were mapped and the digenic interactions were detected in an F2 population derived from a cross between two elite rapeseed lines, SI-1300 and Eagle, in this study. Twenty-eight QTLs were detected for the four yield traits, with only two of them detected simultaneously in the Wuhan and Jingmen environments. Additive, partial dominance, dominance, and overdominance effects were all identified for the investigated traits. Dominance (including partial dominance) was shown by 55% of the QTLs, which suggests that dominance is a major genetic basis ofheterosis in rapeseed. At the P < or = 0.01 level with 1000 random permutations, 108 and 104 significant digenic interactions were detected in Wuhan and Jingmen, respectively, for the four yield-related traits using all possible locus pairs of molecular markers. Digenic interactions, including additive by additive, additive by dominance, and dominance by dominance, were frequent and widespread in this population. In most cases (78.3%), the interactions occurred among marker loci for which significant effects were not detected by single-locus analysis. Some QTLs (57.1%) detected by single-locus analysis were involved in epistatic interactions. It was concluded that epistasis, along with dominance (including partial dominance), is responsible for the expression of heterosis in rapeseed.

A randomized controlled trial of the GnRH antagonist ganirelix in Chinese normal responders: high efficacy and pregnancy rates

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) were only recently introduced into China. The efficacy and safety of the GnRH antagonist ganirelix was assessed in a multicenter, controlled, open-label study, in which Chinese women were randomized to either ganirelix (n = 113) or a long GnRH agonist protocol of triptorelin (n = 120). The primary end point was the amount of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) required to meet the human chorionic gonadotropin criterion (three follicles ≥17 mm). The amount of rFSH needed was significantly lower for ganirelix (1272 IU) vs. triptorelin (1416 IU; P< 0.001). Ongoing pregnancy rates per started cycle were 39.8% (ganirelix) and 39.2% (triptorelin). Although both treatments were well tolerated, cancellation due to risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was less frequent with ganirelix (1.8%) than triptorelin (7.5%) (P = 0.06). Less rFSH was needed in the ganirelix protocol than the long GnRH agonist protocol, with fewer reported cases of OHSS and similar pregnancy rates.

Vaspin Serum Concentration in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Carotid Plaque

Objective:

To examine whether there is an association between the serum concentration of vaspin and the presence of carotid plaque in early stage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods:

Patients ( n = 61) with T2DM within 3 years of diagnosis were divided into those with and those without carotid plaque. Fasting serum vaspin levels, measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, and blood pressure were compared between these two groups and also with an age-matched, apparently healthy control group ( n = 26).

Results:

Fasting serum vaspin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with T2DM without carotid plaque than in controls, but significantly lower in T2DM patients with carotid plaque than inthose without. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant positive association between the presence of carotid plaque and systolic blood pressure and a significant inverse association between the presence of carotid plaque and fasting serum vaspin concentration.

Conclusion:

A significant inverse association was found, in patients with T2DM within 3 years of diagnosis, between serum vaspin concentration and the presence of carotid plaque.