[Therapeutic effectiveness of the soft palate fold surgery in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between anatomical changes and treatment outcomes after modified velopharyngeal surgery in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients with the soft palate drooping. Methods: From November 2011 to November 2015, 44 OSHS patients (AHI 5-30 times/h) with the soft palate drooping determined by Muller test and drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) were randomly selected. Treatment group included 23 patients who underwent modified velopharyngeal surgery, in which uvula was preserved and soft palate was shortened and advanced. Control group included 21 patients who received conventional UPPP surgery.Compared the differences in preoperative and postoperative Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), lowest arterial blood oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)), and apnea hypoventilation index (AHI) between the two groups. Each data rows normality test. The two groups' preoperative and postoperative data row intra-group comparison and matching t test. Used the independent sample t test after homogeneity of variance test to compare the two groups. The difference was statistically significant when P<0.05. Results: There were statistically significant differences in AHI , LSaO(2) and ESS score between before and after surgery in individual groups. There were not significant differences in preoperative AHI and LSaO(2) between the two groups, but with a higher ESS in treatment group compared to control group. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative AHI, LSaO(2) or ESS between the two groups. Compared with control group, treatment group had a lower postoperative pain scale score (4.3±1.3 vs 6.3±0.8, P=0.000) and a shorter time to resume normal eating ((6.7±1.6) d vs (15.5±3.5) d, P=0.000). Conclusion: OSAHS patients (AHI 5-30 times/h) with the soft palate drooping are more likely to have favorable anatomical changes after revised velopharyngeal surgery.

Annealing Stability Study of Co20Fe60B20\MgO\ Co20Fe60B20 Perpendicular Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

A full Co20Fe60B20\MgO\ Co20Fe60B20 perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (pMTJ) with (Co\Pt) multilayers as pinning layers and different functional multilayers stacks were made and annealed at different temperatures. The tunneling magnetoresistance ratio (TMR) and MgO barrier resistance-area product (RA) were measured and analyzed as a function of annealing temperature. The TMR of pMTJs dramatically declines with increasing annealing temperatures from 320 °C to 400 °C while the RA increases with temperature from 375 °C to 450 °C. The pMTJs and partial stacks were also measured in a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). We found that the (Co\Pt) multilayers are very stable and maintain a magnetization direction perpendicular to the film plane up to 450 °C. However, the magnetization direction of the CoFeB above and below the MgO barrier rotates from perpendicular to in-plane with increasing annealing temperature. Furthermore, the CoFeB layer influences the adjacent (Co\Pt) layers to rotate at the same time. The pMTJs' elemental depth profiles in the as deposited and annealed states were determined by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). We found that Boron and Tantalum migrate towards the top of the stack. The other elements (Platinum, Cobalt, Ruthenium, and Magnesium) are very stable and do not interdiffuse during annealing up to 450°C.

Point-defect-induced colossal dielectric behavior in GaAs single crystals

We herein reported colossal dielectric constant (CDC) behavior in GaAs single crystals.

Identification of novel variants associated with warfarin stable dosage by use of a two-stage extreme phenotype strategy

Essentials Required warfarin doses for mechanical heart valves vary greatly. A two-stage extreme phenotype design was used to identify novel warfarin dose associated mutation. We identified a group of variants significantly associated with extreme warfarin dose. Four novel identified mutations account for 2.2% of warfarin dose discrepancies.

SUMMARY

Background The variation among patients in warfarin response complicates the management of warfarin therapy, and an improper therapeutic dose usually results in serious adverse events. Objective To use a two-stage extreme phenotype strategy in order to discover novel warfarin dose-associated mutations in heart valve replacement patients. Patients/method A total of 1617 stable-dose patients were enrolled and divided randomly into two cohorts. Stage I patients were genotyped into three groups on the basis of VKORC1-1639G>A and CYP2C9*3 polymorphisms; only patients with the therapeutic dose at the upper or lower 5% of each genotype group were selected as extreme-dose patients for resequencing of the targeted regions. Evaluation of the accuracy of the sequence data and the potential value of the stage I-identified significant mutations were conducted in a validation cohort of 420 subjects. Results A group of mutations were found to be significantly associated with the extreme warfarin dose. The validation work finally identified four novel mutations, i.e. DNMT3A rs2304429 (24.74%), CYP1A1 rs3826041 (47.35%), STX1B rs72800847 (7.01%), and NQO1 rs10517 (36.11%), which independently and significantly contributed to the overall variability in the warfarin dose. After addition of these four mutations, the estimated regression equation was able to account for 56.2% (R2Adj = 0.562) of the overall variability in the warfarin maintenance dose, with a predictive accuracy of 62.4%. Conclusion Our study provides evidence linking genetic variations in STX1B, DNMT3A and CYP1A1 to warfarin maintenance dose. The newly identified mutations together account for 2.2% of warfarin dose discrepancy.

In situ Biofilm Formation by Multi-species Oral Bacteria Under Flowing and Anaerobic Conditions

An understanding of biofilm behavior of periodontopathic bacteria is key to the development of effective oral therapies. We hypothesized that interspecies bacterial aggregates play an important role in anaerobic biofilm establishment and proliferation, and contribute to the survivability of the biofilm against therapeutic agents. The system developed in this study assessed a multi-species ( Streptococcus gordonii, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, and Fusobacterium nucleatum) biofilm formation under anaerobic and flowing conditions with the use of an in situ image analysis system. The biofilm was comprised of a base film of non-aggregated cells and complex interspecies aggregates that formed in the planktonic phase which rapidly colonized the surface, reaching 58 ± 9% and 65 ± 11.8% coverage by 5 and 24 hrs, respectively. Upon SDS (0.1%) treatment of a 24-hour biofilm, substantial detachment (55 ± 14%, P < 0.05) of the aggregates was observed, while the base film bacteria remained attached but non-viable. Rapid re-establishment of the biofilm occurred via attachment of viable planktonic aggregates.

Genome-wide genetic variation discovery in Chinese Taihu pig breeds using next generation sequencing

The Chinese Taihu pig breeds are an invaluable component of the world's pig genetic resources, and they are the most prolific breeds of swine in the world. In this study, the genomes of 252 pigs of the six indigenous breeds in the Taihu Lake region were sequenced using the genotyping by genome reducing and sequencing approach. A total of 950 million good reads were obtained using an Illumina Hiseq2000 at an average depth of 13× (for SNP calling) and an average coverage of 2.3%. In total, 122 632 indels, 31 444 insertions, 44 056 deletions and 455 CNVs (copy number variants) were identified in the genomes of the pigs. Approximately 2.3% of these genetic markers were mapped to gene exon regions, and 25% were in QTL regions related to economically important traits. The KEGG pathway or GO enrichment analyses revealed that genetic variants assumed to be large‐effect mutations were significantly overrepresented in 22 SNP, 56 indel, 26 insertion, 28 deletion and three CNV gene sets. A total of 343 breed‐specific SNPs were also identified in the six Chinese indigenous pigs. The findings from this study can contribute to future investigations of the genetic diversity, population structure, positive selection signals and molecular evolutionary history of these pigs at the genome level and can serve as a valuable reference for improving the breeding and cultivation of these pigs.

Polarity in Cell-Fate Acquisition in the Early Mouse Embryo

Establishing polarity is a fundamental part of embryogenesis and can be traced back to the earliest developmental stages. It can be achieved in one of two ways: through the preexisting polarization of germ cells before fertilization or via symmetry breaking after fertilization. In mammals, it seems to be the latter, and we will discuss the various cytological and molecular events that lead up to this event, its mechanisms and the consequences. In mammals, the first polarization event occurs in the preimplantation period, when the embryo is but a cluster of cells, free-floating in the oviduct. This provides a unique, autonomous system to study the de novo polarization that is essential to life. In this review, we will cover modern and past studies on the polarization of the early embryo, using the mouse as a model system, as well as hypothesizing the potential implications and functions of the biological events involved.

Day surgery is effective and safe for patients with great saphenous vein varices who meet American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II grading

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Since the concept of "Day Surgery"; (DS) was firstly put forward in 1995, DS for great saphenous vein varices (GSVV) becomes more and more dominant in worldwide, but it is accepted only in a limited population in China. Hence in the present retrospective study, patients who received DS and regular surgery are compared to assess the effectiveness and safety of DS for GSVV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 2011 to 2013, 452 patients who received DS and 372 patients who received inpatient surgery (IS) were collected from hospital main clinical database. Baseline characteristics, prognosis, and 12-month-long follow-up were compared.

RESULTS

Mean age in DS group was 52.76 ± 4.89, 53.42 ± 5.52 in IS group. During follow-up after surgery, incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), saphenous nerve injury (SNI), wound infection, and recurrence in DS and IS groups was 0.9% versus 0.8%; 2% versus 3%; 3.3% versus 3.8%; and 1.3% versus 1.1%, respectively. Moreover, there was no significant difference in incidence of DVT, SNI, wound infection, and recurrence between groups (P = 0.904; 0.376; 0.719; and 0.742). However, average hospital stays in DS group was 1 day, compared to 4.2 days in IS group. Moreover with respect to average medical cost (dollar), it was 780.33 dollars and 1021.06 dollars in DS and IS group, respectively.

CONCLUSION

DS for GSVV is an effective and safe procedure, which was the same as IS. However compared with IS, DS could decrease the average medical cost for patients and hospital stays obviously. Hence DS for GSVV is a win-win procedure for patient and health care.

Colossal Magnetoresistance in a Mott Insulator via Magnetic Field-Driven Insulator-Metal Transition

We present a new type of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) arising from an anomalous collapse of the Mott insulating state via a modest magnetic field in a bilayer ruthenate, Ti-doped Ca_{3}Ru_{2}O_{7}. Such an insulator-metal transition is accompanied by changes in both lattice and magnetic structures. Our findings have important implications because a magnetic field usually stabilizes the insulating ground state in a Mott-Hubbard system, thus calling for a deeper theoretical study to reexamine the magnetic field tuning of Mott systems with magnetic and electronic instabilities and spin-lattice-charge coupling. This study further provides a model approach to search for CMR systems other than manganites, such as Mott insulators in the vicinity of the boundary between competing phases.

Pretreated baseline neutrophil count and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia may be conveniently available as prognostic biomarkers in advanced gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Increasing evidence suggests that neutrophils play a critical role in tumorigenesis, tumour cell proliferation and metastasis. The prognostic significance of such inflammation-associated markers has been explored in different cancers.

AIM

To evaluate the prognostic effect of baseline neutrophil counts and nadir neutrophils on advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients who were treated with two different chemotherapy regimens in our institution.

METHODS

Data were collected retrospectively for 260 AGC patients treated between 1 February 2009 and 31 December 2011. The prognostic effect of baseline neutrophil counts and nadir neutrophils on AGC patients was evaluated.

RESULTS

Approximately 79% of the patients experienced neutropenia during chemotherapy. The median survival was 369 days for patients with neutrophil counts ≤7.5 × 10(9) /L and 326 days for patients with neutrophil counts >7.5 × 10(9) /L (P < 0.001).The median survival was 340 days for patients with no neutropenia (grade 0), 422 days for patients with mild neutropenia (grade 1-2) and 339 days for patients with severe neutropenia (grade 3-4) (P < 0.001).The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for mild and severe neutropenia compared with absent neutropenia were 0.572 (P = 0.002) and 1.246 (P = 0.219) respectively. Furthermore, it was suggested that pretreatment baseline neutrophil counts ≤7.5 × 10(9) /L may be an independent predictor (HR = 0.683; P = 0.005). We also observed that other factors were independently associated with worse survival, such as higher performance status, stage IV and the presence of ascites.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that baseline neutrophil count and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia can be conveniently available as clinical biomarkers in AGC. Mild myelosuppression in patients with AGC most likely leads to better overall survival, whereas a high baseline neutrophil count may be associated with a worse prognosis.

Ca2+-Dependent Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Regulates Mechanical Stress-Mediated Cartilage Thinning

Our previous study identified that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a critical role in chondrocyte apoptosis and mandibular cartilage thinning in response to compressive mechanical force, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Because the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a primary site of intracellular Ca(2+) storage, we hypothesized that Ca(2+)-dependent ERS might be involved in mechanical stress-mediated mandibular cartilage thinning. In this study, we used in vitro and in vivo models to determine Ca(2+) concentrations, histological changes, subcellular changes, apoptosis, and the expression of ERS markers in mandibular cartilage and chondrocytes. The results showed that in chondrocytes, cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) was dramatically increased by compressive mechanical force. Interestingly, the inhibition of Ca(2+) channels by ryanodine and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, inhibitors of ryanodine receptors and inositol trisphosphate receptors, respectively, partially rescued mechanical force-mediated mandibular cartilage thinning. Furthermore, chondrocyte apoptosis was also compromised by inhibiting the increase in [Ca(2+)]i that occurred in response to compressive mechanical force. Mechanistically, the ERS induced by compressive mechanical force was also repressed by [Ca(2+)]i inhibition, as demonstrated by a decrease in the expression of the ER stress markers 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) and 94 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP94) at both the mRNA and protein levels. Collectively, these data identified [Ca(2+)]i as a critical mediator of the pathological changes that occur in mandibular cartilage under compressive mechanical force and shed light on the treatment of mechanical stress-mediated cartilage degradation.

[Sequent therapy for adenoidal and tonsillar hypertrophy patients with OSDB]

Children suffering from adenoidal and tonsillar hypertrophy are very common, the hypertrophy of adenoid and tonsil could obstruct the upper airway to cause mouth breathing,as a result, some dentofacial deformities are developed. The key reason for these deformities is mouth breathing. For the children with adenoidal and tonsillar hypertrophy, T&A is just the first step for treatment, most patients need a sequent treatment by the doctors from multiple departments, such as ENT doctors,orthodontics doctors,orthognathic surgeon. The earlier the treatment begins, the better the effect is.

A potentially functional polymorphism in ABCG2 predicts clinical outcome of non-small cell lung cancer in a Chinese population

ABCG2, CD133 and CD117 are pivotal markers of cancer stem cell, which are involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. The expression of these genes has been reported to be associated with the development and progression of many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We selected and genotyped 9 potentially functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3 genes in a clinical cohort of 1001 NSCLC patients in a Chinese population. We found that variant genotypes of ABCG2 rs3114020 were associated with a significantly increased risk of death for NSCLC (additive model: adjusted hazard ratio=1.25, 95% confidence intervals=1.10-1.42, P<0.001). Further stepwise regression analysis suggested that rs3114020 was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of NSCLC. Besides, histology interacted with the genetic effect of rs3114020 in relation to NSCLC survival in the interaction analysis. Our findings show that ABCG2 rs3114020 might be one of the candidate biomarkers for NSCLC survival in this Chinese population, especially among patients with adenocarcinoma.

Transcriptomic landscape for lymphocyte count variation in poly I:C-induced porcine peripheral blood

Lymphocyte count is an important phenotypic metric that has been reported to be related to the individual antiviral capacity of pigs and other mammals. To date, aside from information regarding several genes and pathways, little is known about the mechanism by which gene expression affects variation in lymphocyte count. In this work, we investigated the lymphocyte count variation after poly I:C stimulation and compared the transcriptomes of pigs with large and small differences of lymphocyte counts before and after poly I:C stimulation. Pigs with large and small differences of lymphocyte counts were designated as extreme response (ER) and moderate response (MR) pigs respectively. Lymphocyte counts in all animals were observed to decline after poly I:C stimulation. Transcriptomic analysis identified 1121 transcripts (981 differentially expressed genes) in MR pigs and 1045 transcripts (904 differentially expressed genes) in ER pigs. We found that the majority of the differentially expressed genes were involved in both innate and adaptive immune responses. However, the innate immune response of ER pigs was more rapid than that of MR pigs. Results indicated that the activation of signaling pathways associated with cell death, cytotoxicity and apoptosis may contribute to the poly I:C-induced decrease of lymphocyte counts in the periphery. Moreover, the differential expression patterns of chemokines and FAS either totally or partially provided an interpretation for the different degrees of decrease in the lymphocyte counts between MR and ER pigs. Overall, our study will provide further understanding of the molecular basis for the antiviral capacity of pigs and other mammals.

Loperamide-induced expression of immune and inflammatory genes in Collies associated with ivermectin sensitivity

This study evaluated the impact of the ABCB1-1Δ mutation in Collies which exhibited toxicity toward ivermectin, on changes in gene expression when given the unrelated ABCB1 substrate loperamide, to identify potential biomarkers predictive of drug safety. Thirty-two healthy intact Collies consisting of dogs with either a wild-type, heterozygous mutant, or homozygous mutant genotype were used. Whole blood samples were collected from Collies at 0 or 5 h following administration of loperamide at a dose of 0.10 mg/kg. Whole-genome gene expression microarray was conducted to examine for changes in gene expression. Microarray analysis identified loperamide-induced changes in gene expression which were specifically associated with ivermectin-sensitive phenotypes in Collies possessing the ABCB1-1Δ mutation. Gene pathway analysis further demonstrated that the altered genes are involved in immunological disease, cell death and survival, and cellular development. Thirteen genes, including CCL8 and IL-8, were identified. Collie dogs harboring ABCB1-1Δ mutation which also exhibited toxicity toward ivermectin demonstrated systematic responses following loperamide treatment exhibited by altered expression of genes involved in immune and inflammatory signaling pathways. Genes such as CCL8 and IL-8 are potential biomarkers in whole blood that may predict the safety of loperamide in dogs with ABCB1-1∆ mutation associated with ivermectin sensitivity.

1,25(OH)2D3 downregulates the Toll-like receptor 4-mediated inflammatory pathway and ameliorates liver injury in diabetic rats

BACKGROUND

Fatty acid deposition in the liver can activate a number of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways such as the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway, which may be important in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. 1,25(OH)2D3 downregulates the expression of TLR4 and may represent a novel treatment strategy for reducing hepatocyte injury. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the protective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on diabetic liver injury in vivo.

METHODS

Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into five groups and treated with low-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 (0.025 μg/kg/day), medium-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 (0.15 μg/kg/day), high-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 (0.3 μg/kg/day), insulin (protamine zinc insulin 16 U/kg/day, subcutaneous injection), or no intervention (the control group). Sixteen weeks later, the rats were killed, and blood samples were obtained to test lipid profiles and hepatic function. The infiltration of inflammatory cells, the level of fibrosis, and the expression levels of TLR4, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the liver were analyzed. The hepatocytes were treated with vehicle control, LPS (100 ng), high fat [DMEM + FFA (0.1 mM: palmitic acid, oleic acid, 1:2)], LPS + high fat, vehicle + 1,25(OH)2D3 (10(-7) M), LPS + 1,25(OH)2D3, high fat + 1,25(OH)2D3, or LPS + high fat + 1,25(OH)2D3. RNA and protein were extracted to detect the expression of TLR4 and downstream inflammatory factors such as NF-ΚB, TNF-α, and IL-6. Groups of data were compared by single factor variance analysis.

RESULTS

High-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 administration for 16 weeks downregulated the expression of TLR4, NF-κB, and TNF-α in the liver tissue of diabetic rats and attenuated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, as shown by immunohistochemical staining, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and western blotting. In vitro, hepatocytes treated with high fat or LPS exhibited significantly increased expression of TLR4, NF-κB, and downstream inflammatory factors (P < 0.05). Intervention with 1,25(OH)2D3 decreased the expression of TLR4, NF-κB, and inflammatory factors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

1,25(OH)2D3 exhibited protective effects against diabetes-related liver injury, possibly through downregulation of components of the TLR4 signaling pathway.

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model to Assess the Influence of Blinatumomab-Mediated Cytokine Elevations on Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Activity

Blinatumomab is a CD19/CD3 bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) antibody construct for treatment of leukemia. Transient elevation of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)) has been observed within the first 48 hours of continuous intravenous blinatumomab infusion. In human hepatocytes, blinatumomab showed no effect on cytochrome P450 (CYP450) activities, whereas a cytokine cocktail showed suppression of CYP3A4, CYP1A2, and CYP2C9 activities. We developed a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to evaluate the effect of transient elevation of cytokines, particularly IL-6, on CYP450 suppression. The predicted suppression of hepatic CYP450 activities was <30%, and IL-6-mediated changes in exposure to sensitive substrates of CYP3A4, CYP1A2, and CYP2C9 were Collapse

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Randomized phase II study evaluating veliparib (ABT-888) with temozolomide in patients with metastatic melanoma

BACKGROUND

Veliparib (ABT-888) is a potent, orally bioavailable, small-molecule inhibitor of the DNA repair enzymes poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1 and -2. Veliparib enhances the efficacy of temozolomide (TMZ) and other cytotoxic agents in preclinical tumor models.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this multicenter, double-blind trial, adults with unresectable stage III or IV metastatic melanoma were randomized 1:1:1 to TMZ plus veliparib 20 or 40 mg, or placebo twice daily. Efficacy end points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

Patients (N = 346) were randomized between February 2009 and January 2010. Median [95% confidence interval (CI)] PFS was 3.7 (3.0-5.5), 3.6 (1.9-4.1), and 2 (1.9-3.7) months in the 20-mg, 40-mg, and placebo arms, respectively. Median (95% CI) OS was 10.8 (9.0-13.1), 13.6 (11.4-15.9), and 12.9 (9.8-14.3) months, respectively; ORR was 10.3%, 8.7%, and 7.0%. Exploratory analyses showed patients with low ERCC1 expression had longer PFS when TMZ was combined with veliparib. Toxicities were as expected for TMZ. The frequencies of thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and leukopenia were significantly increased in the veliparib groups. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events, mainly hematologic toxicities, were seen in 55%, 63%, and 41% of patients in the 20-mg, 40-mg, and placebo arms, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Median PFS with 20 and 40 mg veliparib almost doubled numerically compared with placebo, but the improvements did not reach statistical significance. OS was not increased with veliparib. Toxicities were similar to TMZ monotherapy, but with increased frequency.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rilotumumab: a decade of experience in preclinical and clinical cancer research

Rilotumumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody against hepatocyte growth factor, the only known ligand of the MET receptor. Over the last decade, rilotumumab has been extensively tested in preclinical studies and in clinical studies in a variety of cancer types. In this review, we examine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data that have been collected in the rilotumumab programme to date, and discuss retrospectively how the knowledge acquired in this programme can be applied to a number of key issues in oncology drug development, including: (i) using preclinical data to inform first-in-human study design; (ii) the role of biomarkers in the identification of a target patient population; (iii) the potential for drug interactions between therapeutic proteins and other anticancer agents; and (iv) pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations in phase 3 study design.

Sorafenib combined with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of medium-sized hepatocellular carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Sorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, is the proved therapy method for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on heat delivery, Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been found to achieve complete neoplasm necrosis. It is the most widely performed percutaneous therapy for HCC. However, Study associated combined Sorafenib with RFA therapy for patients with advanced HCC has never been reported. The aim of present study is to explore the efficacy and safety of sorafenib combined with RFA therapy for the patients with medium-sized HCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 62 patients diagnosed as HCC were involved in this study. All patients were randomly assigned to sorafenib and RFA (n=30) or RFA-alone (n=32) treatment groups. Treatment outcomes, including recurrence rates, time to progression (TTP) and adverse reactions induced by sorafenib were observed and recorded to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination method.

RESULTS

During the overall follow-up period, the recurrence rate of the combination subgroup was 56.7% (17/30), and that of the RFA-alone subgroup was 87.5% (28/32) (p < 0.01). The median TTP was 17.0 months in the combination therapy vs. 6.1 months in the RFA-alone (p < 0.05). Hand-foot skin reactions were reported by 83.3% (25/30) of patients and 46.7% (14/30) reported diarrhea while the most adverse events (AEs) were mild to moderate in the combination subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

Sorafenib combined with RFA significantly decreased recurrence rates and prolonged the survival time of medium-sized HCC patients. The combination therapy is safer and more effective than the control without unexpected side effects. Furthermore, the earlier application, the better results were.

Suppression of peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) expression by miR29 inhibits the progression of lung cancer

PMP22 is recently recognized as a key player in a variety of prevalent cancers. In this study, we sought to explore the correlation of peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) expression with cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis in lung cancer cell line. miR29 was transfected into Anip973 lung adenocarcinoma cell line to interfere the expression of PMP22 using Lipofectamine ® 2000 reagent. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were performed to determine the expression level of PMP22 at mRNA and protein level. Then MTT, Matrigel transwell assay and flow cytometry were respectively used to explore the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis in Anip973 lung adenocarcinoma cell line in vitro. miR29 could significantly down-regulate the expression level of PMP22 in Anip973 cells not only at mRNA level but also at protein level. Moreover, the proliferation rate, invasive cell number and apoptosis rate of Anip973 cells in miR29 transfected group significantly decreased compared with blank group, while no significant difference existed between control group and blank group. Our study found that suppression of PMP22 expression could inhibit cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis in lung cancer cells. All these findings suggest that PMP22 may be involved in progression of lung cancer and could be a new therapeutic target for this disease.

Ultrafast high-power microwave window breakdown: nonlinear and postpulse effects

The time- and space-dependent optical emissions of nanosecond high-power microwave discharges near a dielectric-air interface have been observed by nanosecond-response four-framing intensified-charged-coupled device cameras. The experimental observations indicate that plasma developed more intensely at the dielectric-air interface than at the free-space region with a higher electric-field amplitude. A thin layer of intense light emission above the dielectric was observed after the microwave pulse. The mechanisms of the breakdown phenomena are analyzed by a three-dimensional electromagnetic-field modeling and a two-dimensional electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulation, revealing the formation of a space-charge microwave sheath near the dielectric surface, accelerated by the normal components of the microwave field, significantly enhancing the local-field amplitude and hence ionization near the dielectric surface. The nonlinear positive feedback of ionization, higher electron mobility, and ultraviolet-driven photoemission due to the elevated electron temperature are crucial for achieving the ultrafast discharge. Following the high-power microwave pulse, the sheath sustains a glow discharge until the sheath collapses.

Efficacy and safety of 1 % terbinafine film-forming solution in Chinese patients with tinea pedis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group study

Background and objectives

Superficial fungal skin infections are treated using topical antifungals. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of a single application of 1 % terbinafine film-forming solution (FFS) versus placebo for the treatment of tinea pedis in the Chinese population.

Methods

Six centers in China randomized 290 patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 1 % terbinafine FFS or FFS vehicle (placebo) once on the affected foot/feet. Efficacy assessments included microscopy and mycologic culture, and assessing clinical signs and symptoms at baseline, and at weeks 1 and 6 after the topical treatment. All adverse events were recorded.

Results

At week 6, 1 % terbinafine FFS was superior to placebo for effective treatment rate (63 vs. 8 %); clinical cure (30 vs. 6 %); mycological cure (86 vs. 12 %); negative microscopy (90 vs. 24 %); and negative mycological culture (90 vs. 27 %): all p ≤ 0.001 and clinically relevant. At week 6, 1 % terbinafine FFS was clinically superior to placebo for the absence of: erythema (69 vs. 29 %); desquamation (33 vs. 8 %); and pruritus (70 vs. 30 %): all p ≤ 0.001 and clinically relevant. At week 6, differences in the average total signs and symptoms scores were significantly lower for 1 % terbinafine FFS versus placebo (p ≤ 0.001). Both 1 % terbinafine FFS and placebo were safe and well tolerated based on adverse events and investigator and patient assessments.

Conclusions

This double-blind, randomized, multicenter study demonstrated one single topical application of 1 % terbinafine FFS was safe and effective in the treatment of tinea pedis in the Chinese population.

Tuning the magnetic exchange via a control of orbital hybridization in Cr(2)(Te(1-x)W(x))O(6)

We report the complex magnetic phase diagram and electronic structure of Cr_{2}(Te_{1-x}W_{x})O_{6} systems. While compounds with different x values possess the same crystal structure, they display different magnetic structures below and above x_{c}=0.7, where both the transition temperature T_{N} and sublattice magnetization (M_{s}) reach a minimum. Unlike many known cases where magnetic interactions are controlled either by injection of charge carriers or by structural distortion induced via chemical doping, in the present case it is achieved by tuning the orbital hybridization between Cr 3d and O 2p orbitals through W 5d states. The result is supported by ab initio electronic structure calculations. Through this concept, we introduce a new approach to tune magnetic and electronic properties via chemical doping.

Effects of simulated weightlessness on cellular morphology and biological characteristics of cell lines SGC-7901 and HFE-145

We investigated the effects of simulated weightlessness on cellular morphology, proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of the human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 and the human gastric normal cell line HFE-145. A rotating clinostat was used to simulate weightlessness. The Image-Pro4.5 image analysis system was used for morphometric analysis. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Changes in the cell cycle were examined using a cytometer. Apoptosis was measured using the terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. When subjected to simulated weightlessness, the cellular morphology of SGC-7901 cells was changed at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, cell conversion from the G1 to S phase was blocked, proliferation was inhibited at 48 and 72 h, and the apoptosis index was increased at 72 h. The same changes were observed for HFE-145 cells at 12 h when subjected to simulated weightlessness, but no significant changes were found afterward compared with controls. SGC-7901 cells change their cellular morphology and biological characteristics during clinostat-simulated weightlessness at 72 h, but HFE-145 cells only change at 12 h and adapt to simulated weightlessness after that point.

Altered structural covariance of the striatum in functional dyspepsia patients

BACKGROUND

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is thought to be involved in dysregulation within the brain-gut axis. Recently, altered striatum activation has been reported in patients with FD. However, the gray matter (GM) volumes in the striatum and structural covariance patterns of this area are rarely explored. The purpose of this study was to examine the GM volumes and structural covariance patterns of the striatum between FD patients and healthy controls (HCs).

METHODS

T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were obtained from 44 FD patients and 39 HCs. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was adopted to examine the GM volumes in the two groups. The caudate- or putamen-related regions identified from VBM analysis were then used as seeds to map the whole brain voxel-wise structural covariance patterns. Finally, a correlation analysis was used to investigate the effects of FD symptoms on the striatum.

KEY RESULTS

The results showed increased GM volumes in the bilateral putamen and right caudate. Compared with the structural covariance patterns of the HCs, the FD-related differences were mainly located in the amygdala, hippocampus/parahippocampus (HIPP/paraHIPP), thalamus, lingual gyrus, and cerebellum. And significant positive correlations were found between the volumes in the striatum and the FD duration in the patients.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

These findings provided preliminary evidence for GM changes in the striatum and different structural covariance patterns in patients with FD. The current results might expand our understanding of the pathophysiology of FD.

Linkage Disequilibrium Estimation of Chinese Beef Simmental Cattle Using High-density SNP Panels

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) plays an important role in genomic selection and mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL). In this study, the pattern of LD and effective population size (N_e) were investigated in Chinese beef Simmental cattle. A total of 640 bulls were genotyped with IlluminaBovinSNP50BeadChip and IlluminaBovinHDBeadChip. We estimated LD for each autosomal chromosome at the distance between two random SNPs of <0 to 25 kb, 25 to 50 kb, 50 to 100 kb, 100 to 500 kb, 0.5 to 1 Mb, 1 to 5 Mb and 5 to 10 Mb. The mean values of r² were 0.30, 0.16 and 0.08, when the separation between SNPs ranged from 0 to 25 kb to 50 to 100 kb and then to 0.5 to 1 Mb, respectively. The LD estimates decreased as the distance increased in SNP pairs, and increased with the increase of minor allelic frequency (MAF) and with the decrease of sample sizes. Estimates of effective population size for Chinese beef Simmental cattle decreased in the past generations and N_e was 73 at five generations ago.

Visualizing cerebral veins in fetal brain using susceptibility-weighted MRI

AIM

To explore the feasibility of two-dimensional (2D) susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in the visualization of cerebral veins in the foetal brain.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-two pregnant healthy women (gestational age: 19-37 weeks, mean: 28.5 ± 7.1 weeks) underwent SWI examination using a 1.5 T MRI system. Two neurologists independently analysed all magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. The relationship between the veins detected and the gestational age was investigated. The prominence of veins was assessed using a categorical score.

RESULTS

In total, 167 veins were detected by SWI in 29 subjects with a symmetric hemisphere distribution (p > 0.05). An additional vein was detected by SWI biweekly from 24 weeks of gestation. Most veins of Galen and internal cerebral veins on SWI images were prominent, whereas others were faint or moderate.

CONCLUSION

SWI appears to be a feasible method of detecting cerebral veins in the foetal brain.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis

The prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) remains controversial. Eligible studies that investigated the association between survival in EAC and the expression status of EGFR were identified by an electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science. A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the impact of EGFR overexpression on clinicopathological parameters or overall survival (OS) in EAC. A total of seven studies including 1028 patients were subjected to the final analysis. The overall results suggested that overexpression of EGFR was significantly correlated with not only the depth of invasion, lymph node status, and tumors stage of EAC, with a pooled odds ratio of 2.99 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-8.35; Z = 2.09; P = 0.037), 3.05 (95% CI: 1.77-5.27; Z = 4.00; P < 0.001), and 5.37 (95% CI: 2.49-11.57; Z = 4.29; P < 0.001), respectively, but also the poorer OS with a pooled hazard ratio of 2.20 (95% CI: 1.47-3.31; Z = 3.79; P < 0.001). Overexpression of EGFR correlates with not only the clinicopathological features, but also the worse OS, and it might be useful as a predictive biomarker in clinical practice, yet the clinicopathological and prognostic role of EGFR in EAC still needs further confirmation by well-designed prospective studies.