Detection of acute cerebral hemorrhage in rabbits by magnetic induction

Acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH) is an important clinical problem that is often monitored and studied with expensive devices such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. These devices are not readily available in economically underdeveloped regions of the world, emergency departments, and emergency zones. We have developed a less expensive tool for non-contact monitoring of ACH. The system measures the magnetic induction phase shift (MIPS) between the electromagnetic signals on two coils. ACH was induced in 6 experimental rabbits and edema was induced in 4 control rabbits by stereotactic methods, and their intracranial pressure and heart rate were monitored for 1 h. Signals were continuously monitored for up to 1 h at an exciting frequency of 10.7 MHz. Autologous blood was administered to the experimental group, and saline to the control group (1 to 3 mL) by injection of 1-mL every 5 min. The results showed a significant increase in MIPS as a function of the injection volume, but the heart rate was stable. In the experimental (ACH) group, there was a statistically significant positive correlation of the intracranial pressure and MIPS. The change of MIPS was greater in the ACH group than in the control group. This high-sensitivity system could detect a 1-mL change in blood volume. The MIPS was significantly related to the intracranial pressure. This observation suggests that the method could be valuable for detecting early warning signs in emergency medicine and critical care units.

[The coding correction of slit diffraction in Hadamard transform spectrometer]

According to the principles of Hadamard transform spectrometer and the slit diffraction characteristics, the influence of spectrometer entrance slit diffraction of Hadamard transform spectrometer on the measurement result was analyzed, for the diffraction case, the Hadamard transform spectrometer instrument structure matrix was studied, and the Hadamard transform spectrometer encoding/decoding method was established. The analysis of incident spectral verified the correctness of the coding/ decoding. This method is very important for the high precision measurement of Hadamard transform spectrometer.

Attributable causes of cancer in China

BACKGROUND

Most cancers are due to modifiable lifestyle and environmental risk factors, and are potentially preventable. No studies have provided a systematic quantitative assessment of the burden of cancer mortality and incidence attributable to known risk factors in China.

METHODS

We calculated the proportions of cancer deaths and new cases attributable to known risk factors in China, based on the prevalence of exposure around 1990 and national data on cancer mortality and incidence for the year 2005.

RESULTS

Chronic infection is the main risk factor for cancer in China, accounting for 29.4% of cancer deaths (31.7% in men and 25.3% in women), followed by tobacco smoking (22.6% with 32.7% in men and 5.0% in women), low fruit intake (13.0%), alcohol drinking (4.4%), low vegetable intake (3.6%) and occupational exposures (2.7%). The remaining factors, including environmental agents, physical inactivity, the use of exogenous hormones and reproductive factors are each responsible for <1.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Modifiable risk factors explain nearly 60% of cancer deaths in China, with a predominant role of chronic infection and tobacco smoking. Our findings could provide a basis for cancer prevention and control programs aimed at reducing cancer risk in other developing countries.

Acute behavioral effects of nicotine in male and female HINT1 knockout mice

Human genetic association and brain expression studies, and mouse behavioral and molecular studies implicate a role for the histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1 (HINT1) in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety. The high comorbidity between smoking and psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia in particular, is well established. Associations with schizophrenia and HINT1 are also sex specific, with effects more predominant in males; however, it is unknown if sex differences associated with the gene extend to other phenotypes. Thus, in this study, using a battery of behavioral tests, we elucidated the role of HINT1 in acute nicotine-mediated behaviors using male and female HINT1 wild-type (+/+) and knockout (-/-) mice. The results show that male HINT1 -/- mice were less sensitive to acute nicotine-induced antinociception in the tail-flick, but not hot-plate test. At low nicotine doses, male and female HINT1 -/- mice were less sensitive to nicotine-induced hypomotility, although the effect was more pronounced in females. Baseline differences in locomotor activity observed in male HINT1 +/+ and -/- mice were absent in females. Nicotine did not produce an anxiolytic effect in male HINT1 -/- mice, but rather an anxiogenic response. Diazepam also failed to induce an anxiolytic response in these mice, suggesting a general anxiety phenotype not specific to nicotine. Differences in anxiety-like behavior were not observed in female mice. These results further support a role for HINT1 in nicotine-mediated behaviors and suggest that alterations in the gene may have differential effects on phenotype in males and females.

Astragalus polysaccharide improves palmitate-induced insulin resistance by inhibiting PTP1B and NF-κB in C2C12 myotubes

We investigated the effects of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on palmitate-induced insulin resistance in C2C12 skeletal muscle myotubes. Palmitate-reduced glucose uptake was restored by APS. APS prevented palmitate-induced C2C12 myotubes from impaired insulin signaling by inhibiting Ser307 phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and increasing Ser473 phosphorylation of Akt. Moreover, the increases in protein-tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) protein level and NF-κB activation associated with palmitate treatment were also prevented by APS. However the treatment with APS didn’t change AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in palmitate-induced myotubes. The results of the present study suggest that Astragalus polysaccharide inhibits palmitate-induced insulin resistance in C2C12 myotubes by inhibiting expression of PTP1B and regulating NF-κB but not AMPK pathway.

Melting, expansion behavior and electric transport of In-filling in MgO nanotubes

By using a one-step approach, In-filled MgO nanotubes with diameters of 200-300 nm and lengths of several micrometers are synthesized. A Gatan heating experiment in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) shows that In-filling begins to melt far below the melting point 156.6 degrees C of In and abnormally shrinks upon increasing temperature above 270 degrees C. Massive In-filled MgO nanotubes were pressed into a disk and its resistance starts dramatically decrease upon increasing temperature above -150 degrees C, suggesting a temperature switch with a protective point -150 degrees C. The expansion and I-V characteristics were discussed.

A chronic oral toxicity study of marine collagen peptides preparation from chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) skin using Sprague-Dawley rat

Due to the increased consumption of marine collagen peptides preparation (MCP) as ingredients in functional foods and pharmaceuticals, it was necessary to carry out safety requirements in the form of an oral chronic toxicity assessment. In order to define the oral chronic toxicity of MCP, a 24-month feeding study of MCP was carried out. Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats at the age of four-week of both sexes were treated with MCP at the diet concentrations of 0%, 2.25%, 4.5%, 9% and 18% (wt/wt). The actual food intake and bodyweight of the individual animals were recorded periodically until sacrifice. Blood and urine samples were collected for serum chemistry evaluations and urinalysis. Throughout the experimental period, there was no toxicologically significant difference between the vehicle and MCP-treated animals with respect to the survival rate, body weight, food consumption, urinalysis, clinical biochemistry parameter and relative organ weight in either sex. Moreover, incidences of non-neoplastic lesions in MCP-treated groups did not significantly increase compared with the control group. Under the present experimental conditions, no higher risk of chronic toxic effects was observed in MCP-treated rats at the diet concentrations of 2.25%, 4.5%, 9% and 18% (wt/wt) than in the rats fed with basal rodent diet.

Junction temperature measurement of light emitting diode by electroluminescence

Junction temperature (JT) is a key parameter of the performance and lifetime of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In this paper, a mobile instrument system has been developed for the non-contact measurement of JTs of LED under LabVIEW control. The electroluminescence (EL) peak shift of the LED is explored to measure the JT. Commercially available high power blue LEDs are measured. A linear relation between emission peak shift and JT is found. The accuracy of the JT is about 1 °C determined by the precision of the emission peak shift, ±0.03 nm, at 3σ standard deviation for blue LED. Using this system, on-line temperature rise curves of LED lamps are determined.

Association of two glyoxalase I gene polymorphisms with nephropathy and retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Glyoxalase I (GLO1), which is the major enzyme that catalyzes the metabolism of methylglyoxal (MG), may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular complications.

AIM

To investigate whether the C-7T and A419C polymorphisms of the GLO1 gene are associated with nephropathy and retinopathy in Chinese Type 2 diabetic patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 364 Type 2 diabetic patients and 301 healthy controls were enroled in the study. Diabetic microvascular complications were determined by urinary albumin excretion measurements and ophthalmological examinations. Genetic analyses were performed using either Taqman PCR or direct sequencing. The effect of C-7T polymorphism on promoter activity was measured by reporter gene assays.

RESULTS

The albumin/ creatinine ratio (ACR) and prevalence of nephropathy and retinopathy were significantly higher in diabetic patients with GLO1 -7CC genotype than in patients with -7CT and -7TT genotypes (p=0.02, p=0.02, and p=0.04, respectively). The - 7CC genotype is independently associated with ACR (β=0.13, p=0.01) and the risk for retinopathy [odds ratio (OR): 2.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.25-4.24, p<0.01]. The luciferase activity of the -7T promoter was higher than that of the -7C promoter (13.2±0.2 vs 11.7±0.8, p=0.04). No differences were found between ACR and the prevalence of nephropathy and retinopathy for A419C polymorphism in Type 2 diabetic patients.

CONCLUSIONS

GLO1 C-7T polymorphism alters promoter activity and confers susceptibility to nephropathy and retinopathy to Type 2 diabetic patients.

[Study on fluorescence measurement system of wastewater treatment process]

The present paper, focusing on the relationship between the fluorescence characteristics of fluorescent substances produced by the anaerobic reactors in process of the wastewater treatment status, aims to build an online detection platform of anaerobic wastewater treatment process for the wastewater treatment process parameter control, to provide effective, credible and stable technical basis, and to a certain extent can improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment. The results showed that it is feasible for this system to use fluorescence spectroscopy of wastewater treatment anaerobic reactor during the test; compared with the conventional detection method, it has simple structure, high sensitivity, and less time-consuming advantages; for other fluorescent substances in waste water treatment, it has broad application prospects.

Marine collagen peptides prepared from chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) skin extend the life span and inhibit spontaneous tumor incidence in Sprague-Dawley Rats

To observe the effects of marine collagen peptides (MCPs) prepared from chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) skin on life span and spontaneous tumor incidence, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets supplemented with MCP at concentrations of 0%, 2.25%, 4.5%, and 9% (wt/wt) from the age of 4 weeks until natural death. There were 40 rats in each group (male:female ratio = 1:1). The results showed that the MCP did not significantly influence body weight or food consumption of rats of either sex throughout the life span; it did dose-dependently inhibit the age-related decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the age-related increase in the levels of lipid peroxidation product in both sexes. MCP notably increased the mean life span, the life span of the last 30% of the survivors, and the maximal life span; it decreased overall spontaneous tumor incidence of both sexes with significance in the 4.5% and 9% MCP-treated male groups and 9% MCP-treated female group. Compared to the control group, the incidence of death from tumors was decreased in MCP groups in comparison with the control group of both sexes. Therefore, we concluded that MCPs dose-dependently increase life span and decrease spontaneous tumor incidence in Sprague-Dawley rats. Moreover, the antioxidative property of MCPs may be responsible for the increased life span and protection against tumor development.

[Study on the fluorescent characteristic of tryptophan in the process of the waste water treatment]

Tryptophan is one kind of representative pollutants in waste water. The present paper focuses on the research on the relation between the consistence, pH, ionic strength and the fluorescent characteristic of tryptophan. The result shows that: (1) Tryptophan in the low consistence range (0.01-3 m x L(-1)) shows good linear relation, the correlation coefficient is up to 0.995 88, while the linear relation in the high consistence range (3-30 mg x L(-1)) is slightly worse and the correlation coefficient is only 0.942 24; (2) In the acidic condition, the relative fluorescence intensity of tryptophan strengthens while the pH arises, and when the pH is in the range (6.5, 7.5), the intensity is relatively steady, while when the pH reaches 12, it drops off; (3) With the enhancement of the ionic strength, the relative fluorescence intensity of tryptophan reduces to some extent, and when the nitrate ion reaches to a high consistence, the spectrogram shows EERS.

Microstructure and photoluminescence studies of Sb-doped SnO2 zigzag nanobelts

SnO2 zigzag nanobelts were successfully Sb-doped by a simple vapor deposition method. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize these Sb-doped nanobelts. The Sb doping in SnO2 nanobelts was confirmed by Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is found that there is no apparent lattice distance difference between the pure SnO2 and the 0.705 at% Sb doped SnO2 nanobelts. A slight blue-shift in the photoluminescence (PL) spectra was shown with the increase of Sb doping concentration and a reasonable explanation was given.

Reliable fiber sensor system with star-ring-bus architecture

This work presents a novel star-ring-bus sensor system and demonstrates its effectiveness. The main trunk of the proposed sensor system is a star topology and the sensing branches comprise a series of bus subnets. Any weakness in the reliability of the sensor system is overcome by adding remote nodes and switches to the ring and bus subnets. To construct the proposed star-ring-bus sensor system, a fiber ring laser scheme is used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor system. The proposed system increases the reliability and capacity of fiber sensor systems.

Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) protects the insulin sensitivity in rat L6 muscle cells exposed to dexamethasone condition

The tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) displays some antidiabetic effects; however the mechanisms are incompletely understood. In the present study, the investigation of the effects of EGCG on insulin resistance was performed in rat L6 cells treated with dexamethasone. We found that dexamethasone increased Ser307 phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and reduced phosphorylation of AMPK and Akt. Furthermore, glucose uptake and glucose transporter (GLUT4) translocation were inhibited by dexamethasone. However, the treatment of EGCG improved insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by increasing GLUT4 translocation to plasma membrane. Furthermore, we also demonstrated these EGCG effects essentially depended on the AMPK and Akt activation. Together, our data suggested that EGCG inhibited dexamethasone-induced insulin resistance through AMPK and PI3K/Akt pathway.

Considerable Enhancement of Field Emission of SnO(2) Nanowires by Post-Annealing Process in Oxygen at High Temperature

The field emission properties of SnO(2) nanowires fabricated by chemical vapor deposition with metallic catalyst-assistance were investigated. For the as-fabricated SnO(2) nanowires, the turn-on and threshold field were 4.03 and 5.4 V/mum, respectively. Considerable enhancement of field emission of SnO(2) nanowires was obtained by a post-annealing process in oxygen at high temperature. When the SnO(2) nanowires were post-annealed at 1,000 degrees C in oxygen, the turn-on and threshold field were decreased to 3.77 and 4.4 V/mum, respectively, and the current density was increased to 6.58 from 0.3 mA/cm(2) at the same applied electric field of 5.0 V/mum.

Effects of cod bone gelatin on bone metabolism and bone microarchitecture in ovariectomized rats

Several animal studies have showed that gelatin may be effective for minimizing bone loss in OVX rats with established osteopenia. To gain insight into how cod bone gelatin administration affects bone loss after ovariectomy, studies were carried out focusing on bone quality and the molecular mechanisms. Eighty-four female rats were ovariectomized, 12 sham-operated, divided into six groups of 12 each and treated one week after ovariectomy either with vehicle or cod bone gelatin (0.375, 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6 mg/kg body weight) for 90 days. Bone densitometry, microCT analysis, real-time PCR analysis and biochemical analysis were used at the end of the study. After 90 days, BMD of proximal tibia and femoral neck decreased in OVX rats, whereas the loss of BMD in those regions was prevented at 3 g/kg (P<0.05). However, the BMD of midshaft femurs showed no significant differences. BV/TV, Tb.N. and Tb.Th. in the 3 g/kg group were, respectively, 30.4% (P<0.05), 145.5% (P<0.05) and 81.5% (P<0.05) higher than in the OVX group. A significant decrease was detected in urine CTX, NTX and DPD, suggesting decreased bone resorption. Treatment with 3 g/kg and 6 g/kg cod bone gelatin attenuated the increase in serum IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha observed in the OVX group. Real-time PCR showed significantly decreased levels of mRNA expression for RANKL at the dosage of 6 g/kg and the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio in the 3 g/kg and 6 g/kg group significantly decreased compared to the OVX group (P<0.05). In conclusion, our data confirmed that the cod bone gelatin treatment at 3 g/kg is effective in the prevention of estrogen deficient bone loss by modulating the expression of RANKL and OPG and suppressing the release of proinflammatory cytokines.

Quitting cigarettes completely or switching to smokeless tobacco: do US data replicate the Swedish results?

BACKGROUND

Swedish male smokers are more likely than female smokers to switch to smokeless tobacco (snus) and males' smoking cessation rate is higher than that of females. These results have fuelled international debate over promoting smokeless tobacco for harm reduction. This study examines whether similar results emerge in the United States, one of few other western countries where smokeless tobacco has long been widely available.

METHODS

US DATA SOURCE: national sample in Tobacco Use Supplement to Current Population Survey, 2002, with 1-year follow-up in 2003. Analyses included adult self-respondents in this longitudinal sample (n = 15,056). Population-weighted rates of quitting smoking and switching to smokeless tobacco were computed for the 1-year period.

RESULTS

Among US men, few current smokers switched to smokeless tobacco (0.3% in 12 months). Few former smokers turned to smokeless tobacco (1.7%). Switching between cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, infrequent among current tobacco users (<4%), was more often from smokeless to smoking. Men quit smokeless tobacco at three times the rate of quitting cigarettes (38.8% vs 11.6%, p<0.001). Overall, US men have no advantage over women in quitting smoking (11.7% vs 12.4%, p = 0.65), even though men are far likelier to use smokeless tobacco.

CONCLUSION

The Swedish results are not replicated in the United States. Both male and female US smokers appear to have higher quit rates for smoking than have their Swedish counterparts, despite greater use of smokeless tobacco in Sweden. Promoting smokeless tobacco for harm reduction in countries with ongoing tobacco control programmes may not result in any positive population effect on smoking cessation.

Hemocompatibility and antibacterial properties of lanthanum oxide films synthesized by dual plasma deposition

Lanthanum oxide (La(2)O(3)) films with good hemocompatibility and antibacterial properties have been fabricated using dual plasma deposition. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that La exists in the +3 oxidation state. The band gap of the materials is determined to be 3.6 eV. Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and blood platelet adhesion tests were used to evaluate the blood compatibility. The bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, were used in plate counting tests to determine the surface antibacterial properties. The APTT is a little longer than those of blood plasma and stainless steel (SS). Furthermore, the numbers of adhered, aggregated, and morphologically changed platelets are reduced compared with those on low-temperature isotropic carbon and SS. The antibacterial plate-counting test indicates that La(2)O(3) has good antibacterial activity against S. aureus. These unique hemocompatibility and antibacterial properties make La(2)O(3) useful in many biomedical applications.

Adsorption of DNA and dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide mixtures at the air/water interface: a neutron reflectometry study

The interactions between dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (C12TAB) and two samples of DNA with widely differing molecular weights have been studied using surface tension and neutron reflectometry. Neutron reflection data show that the surfactant and polymer are adsorbed together in a highly cooperative fashion over a 1000-fold change in surfactant concentration. Furthermore, the shorter DNA fragments adsorb with C12TAB as trilayers at higher surfactant concentrations, with overall layer thicknesses of 65-70 A. The high molecular weight DNA, however, shows only approximate monolayer adsorption with thicknesses varying from 19 to 26 A over the entire range of C12TAB concentrations. The difference in behavior between the different samples is believed to be a result of the rigid double helical structure of DNA which makes the formation of bulk phase polymer/micelle aggregates much less favorable for the short fragments. The resulting increase in the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) then leads to the adsorption of additional surfactant/polymer complex to the underside of the initial stable surface active DNA/C12TAB complex. Comparison with previous results obtained for synthetic polyelectrolytes shows that DNA/C12TAB complexes are not capable of reducing the surface tensions to the extent that other mixtures such as the poly(styrene sulfonate)/C12TAB mixtures do. A possible reason for this is the high rigidity of DNA combined with the fact that its hydrophobic moieties are positioned within the double helix so that the external molecule is largely hydrophilic.

Spatial distribution of impurities in ZnO nanotubes characterized by cathodoluminescence

Low-energy cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging and spectroscopy technique was employed to study the impurity distribution in individual ZnO hexagonal nanotubes fabricated by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on the sapphire (0001) substrate. The CL spectra at 10 K show that acceptor and donor impurities are incorporated in the ZnO nanotubes. CL monochromatic images indicate that the concentration of donor is higher at the bottom part and the distribution of acceptors is more inhomogeneous at the surface of the nanotubes. The non-uniform defects and impurities distributions are explained by unstable growth conditions and contamination from the environment. These results indicate that the low-energy CL is a very powerful method to investigate the inhomogeneity of luminescence properties in the individual nanostructures.

High frequency occurrence of 1-OPRD variant of PRNP gene in gastric cancer cell lines and Chinese population with gastric cancer

The prion protein gene PRNP encodes PrPc and PrPsc, causing a number of neurological disorders. Approximately 10-15% of human prion disease is inherited and more than 20 pathogenic mutations have been found. Most of the genetic alterations are point mutations, with the exception of genetic insertions of one to nine extra octapeptide repeats occurring in the important octapeptide-coding region. Our previous work showed that PrPc was overexpressed in gastric cancer. We wondered whether mutations of PrPc existed in human gastric cancer. DNA sequencing and gel electrophoresis were used to determine the possible mutation of PrPc in patients and cell lines of gastric cancer. We found that 1-OPRD (one octapeptide-repeat deletion) homozygosity or heterozygosity exists in several gastric cancer cell lines, e.g. MKN28 and KatoIII are homozygous for 1-OPRD, and SGC7901 and BGC-823 are heterozygous for 1-OPRD. The mutation frequency in tissues of gastric cancer cases is significantly higher than that in the common population (p<0.05). All positive cases in gastric cancer were found to be heterozygous for 1-OPRD. Further study of the variant may be helpful in understanding the mechanisms of occurrence and development of clinical gastric carcinoma as well as the biology of the mysterious gene PRNP.