[Normalization in axillary lymph node management after neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer]

Downstaging of breast cancer primary lesions and metastatic axillary lymph nodes among patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has raised the new challenges and opportunities on individualized breast cancer surgical treatment. Downstaging of the primary lesion has given patients that were previously deemed inoperable or not suitable for surgery a second chance. While downstaging of the lymph nodes has made it possible for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to safely replace axillary lymph node dissection. However, the detection rate and false negative rate of early breast cancer SLNB technique in post-NAC patients barely meet the standard of clinical practice. Therefore, it is required that SLNB in post-NAC patients to be carried out by a medical team with advanced imaging equipments and extensive experiences in SLNB. Furthermore, they should be able to precisely evaluate axillary lymph node status before and after NAC as well as mark metastatic lymph node before NAC. Indications of SLNB should be restricted to patients that are downstaged from cN0 to ycN0 or from cN1 to ycN0. Particularly, it is only safe for patients whose axillary lymph node status become negative after NAC to receive SLNB when dual tracer (blue dye and radionuclide), removing more than 2 sentinel lymph nodes and targeted axillary dissection technique are used.

Side-chain-tuned π-extended porous polymers for visible light-activated hydrogen evolution

Side-chain-tuned conjugated porous polymers with sp²-carbon-linked skeleton feature excellent π-delocalization, narrow band gaps, hydrophilicity and chemical stability, allowing for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting.

Ordered mesoporous carbon-covered carbonized silk fabrics for flexible electrochemical dopamine detection

Flexible dopamine sensors were fabricated with ordered mesoporous carbon-covered carbonized silk fabrics (OMC/CSFs) as the working electrodes, which exhibited high sensitivity, good selectivity, a large linear detection range of 0.2–80 μM, and a low limit detection of 0.11 μM.

[Advances in the treatment of tinnitus]

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source. Its impact is wide-ranging and heterogeneous across individuals. Since tinnitus is a subjective sensation, the treatment of tinnitus is still in the research and exploration stage at present. This study summarized the common treatments of tinnitus and their research progress to provide clinicians with references for selecting the appropriate treatments for the tinnitus sufferers.

Icariside II prevents hypertensive heart disease by alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress via the PERK/ATF-4/CHOP signalling pathway in spontaneously hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVES

Reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis is a key strategy for preventing hypertensive heart disease. In our previous study, Icariside II can improve left ventricular remodelling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study aims to determine whether Icariside II can exert its effect by inhibiting ERS-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via the PERK/ATF-4/CHOP signalling pathway.

METHODS

Spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into model group and Icariside II groups. The rats in the Icariside II groups were intragastrically administrated with Icariside II 4, 8 and 16 mg/kg from 14 to 26 week-age, respectively. The left ventricular function was measured at the 18, 22 and 26 week-age by small animal ultrasound. At the end of the 26th week, cardiomyocyte apoptosis was analysed and the levels of GRP78, PERK, ATF-4 and CHOP gene and protein were detected.

KEY FINDINGS

The function of left ventricular became declined with age in SHRs, but improved in Icariside II groups. Myocardial apoptosis was aggravated in SHRs, but alleviated in Icariside II groups. Icariside II could reduce the levels of GRP78, PERK, ATF-4, CHOP gene and protein that increased in SHRs.

CONCLUSIONS

Icariside II prevents hypertensive heart disease by alleviating ERS-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and its mechanism is related to the impediment of the PERK/ATF-4/CHOP signalling pathway.

[The clinical characteristics of immunocompetent adults with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus associated enteritis]

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus associated enteritis (CAEAE) . Methods: The clinical data of 6 CAEAE patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed from January 2010 to November 2017, including clinical manifestations, endoscopic, pathological features, medications and clinical outcome. Results: The male∶female ratio was 4∶2 and the average age was 34 years old. All patients did not have personal and family history of immunodeficiency. The common symptoms consisted of fever (6/6), abdominal pain (6/6), hematochezia (6/6) and diarrhea (5/6). The most frequently affected sites were colorectum (5/6), followed by small intestine (3/6). Further serologic tests revealed a high load of serum Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) DNA. The main manifestations under endoscopy were multifocal or diffuse irregular ulcers. There was inflammation in the ulcer bases and surrounding areas, where EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) was positive by in situ hybridization (6/6). The common complications were massive hemorrhage (3/6) and intestinal perforation (2/6). None of treatment agents including glucocorticoid, ganciclovir, foscarnet sodium and cytotoxic drugs was effective. All patients died within 0.5 to 13 months after diagnosis. Conclusions: CAEAE in immunocompetent individuals is a rare disorder with poor prognosis. It is difficult to differentiate CAEAE from inflammatory bowel disease due to similar clinical and endoscopic manifestations.

SOX9, miR-495, miR-590-3p, and miR-320d were identified as chemoradiotherapy-sensitive genes and miRNAs in colorectal cancer patients based on a microarray dataset

The study aimed to identify chemoradiotherapy (CRT)-sensitive biomarkers in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The GSE15781 dataset used in this study contains 42 samples: 22 CRC tissues (non-CRT: n = 13; CRT: n = 9) and 20 normal colorectal tissues (non-CRT: n = 10; CRT: n = 10). Following pretreatment, differentially expressed genes were selected using the limma package. Potential CRT-sensitive genes were identified with Venn analysis and then enriched in function and pathway clusters using the DAVID online tool. Moreover, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was implemented using the STRING database. The TRRUST database was used to establish a transcription factor (TF)-target transcriptional network. A miRNA-mRNA network was constructed based on relevant databases. miRNA and mRNA expression levels were analyzed using real-time quantitative PCR. A group of 259 candidate CRT-sensitive genes were identified that were mainly enriched in cell cycle regulation, adhesion-associated processes, and the p53 signaling pathway. A PPI network was established that contained striking nodes, including ITGA2, MYC, ESR1, and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD), among which ESR1 was linked to MYC, and the two nodes were also highlighted in the TF-target regulation network. SRY-box 9 (SOX9) was another key TF. Hsa-miR-590-3p, hsa-miR-495, hsa-miR-320c, and hsa-miR-320d were predominant in the miRNA-mRNA network. Expression levels of SOX9, DPYD mRNA, miR-495, and miR-590-3p were clearly reduced after X-ray treatment in irradiated HT-29 cells, whereas that of miR-320d was notably enhanced. SOX9 may be a CRT-sensitive gene in CRC patients, and hsa-miR-590-3p, hsa-miR-495, and hsa-miR-320d may be CRT-sensitive microRNAs in CRC patients. Therefore, SOX9, hsa-miR-590-3p, hsa-miR-495, and hsa-miR-320d may be used as sensitive biomarkers in CRC patients.

Hsp70 expression induced by Co-Enzyme Q10 protected chicken myocardial cells from damage and apoptosis under in vitro heat stress

The aim of this study was to investigate whether induction of Hsp70 expression by co-enzyme Q10 (Q10) treatment protects chicken primary myocardial cells (CPMCs) from damage and apoptosis in response to heat stress for 5 hours. Analysis of the expression and distribution of Hsp70 and the levels of the damage-related enzymes creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as pathological analysis showed that co-enzyme Q10 alleviated the damage caused to CPMCs during heat stress. Further, analysis of cell apoptosis and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 indicated that co-enzyme Q10 did have an anti-apoptotic role during heat stress. Western blot analysis showed that pretreatment with co-enzyme Q10 led to a significant increase in the expression of Hsp70 during heat stress. Immunostaining assays confirmed the results of western blot analysis and also showed that co-enzyme Q10 could accelerate the translocation of Hsp70 into the nucleus during heat stress, but this was not observed in the group that was treated with only co-enzyme Q10. These findings seem to indicate that co-enzyme Q10 protected CPMCs from heat stress via the induction of Hsp70. To investigate this, 200 μM quercetin, an Hsp70 inhibitor, was used to inhibit the expression of Hsp70 2 h before heat stress. Quercetin pre-treatment was observed to suppress the expression of Hsp70 as well the protective function of co-enzyme Q10 at 5 h of heat stress. This finding confirms that Q10 brought about its effects via Hsp70 expression, but the mechanism underlying this needs further investigation.

Highly Uniform Carbon Sheets with Orientation-Adjustable Ordered Mesopores

A soft-hard template-assisted method toward the unconventional free-standing ordered mesoporous carbon sheets (OMCSs) with uniform hexagonal morphology is developed by applying MgAl-layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) as the hard template, triblock copolymer F127 as the soft template, and phenolic resols as the carbon sources. It is found that the surface of MgAl-LDH can induce the morphology variation of resol-F127 monomicelles, leading to the formation of vertically or horizontally aligned mesopore arrays in the OMCSs, which can in turn determine their electrochemical energy storage behaviors in supercapacitors with different configurations. In an all-solid-state supercapacitor with two face-to-face electrodes, an OMCS with vertical mesopores manifests the best performance among the samples. By contrast, in a micro-supercapacitor with in-plane film-like electrodes, an OMCS with horizontal mesopores delivers higher energy/power densities than the other OMCSs, which are also comparable to the state-of-the-art supercapacitors based on ordered mesoporous carbons. The achievement of uniform carbon sheets with orientation-adjustable mesopore arrays can help elucidate their electrochemical storage mechanism and allow the optimization of the performances according to the device configuration, thus providing a powerful tool for the manipulation of energy storage devices on the nanoscale.

[The 463rd case: rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure and acute hepatic failure]

We represented a 22-year-old male patient who developed rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney failure and acute hepatic failure and was finally diagnosed as multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. The patient appeared temporary stable status after high dose vitamine-B(2) supplement whereas deterioration was still fatal with pulmonary infection, acute respiratory failure and acute heart failure.

[Optimization of the experimental condition on separating lipoproteins by self-constructed asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze and characterize the separation effectiveness of self-constructed asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation system on proteins and lipoproteins, to achieve the optimization of the experimental conditions when separating lipoproteins by orthogonal design test and to investigate the carrier viscosity's influence on separation effectiveness.

METHODS

The evaluation of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation separation capacity was conducted by using two standard proteins (carbonic anhydrase and thyroglobulin). Under the optimized separation conditions of carbonic anhydrase and thyroglobulin, the channel actual thickness (after assembling, the actual thickness of separation channel was less than initial thickness) was calculated by the analytes' elution time based on the hydrokinetic theory. With orthogonal design test the optimized experimental conditions were studied and statistical analysis was carried on to find out the factors with statistical significance which needed further exploration.

RESULTS

According to the hydrodynamics principle and Stoke's function, the channel actual thickness was measured to be 164 μm by separating the two standard proteins, carbonic anhydrase and thyroglobulin, under proper experimental conditions. By the optimization based on orthogonal design test, base-line separation (the resolution had to be higher than 1.50) was achieved. The resolutions of the two experiments were 1.61 and 1.58. According to previous study/ pre-study and supporting theory, in the orthogonal design test, the total 5 factors were integrated for comprehensive investigation: the total flow rate (3.00, 3.50, 4.00, 4.50 mL/min), focus time (3.00, 3.50, 4.00, 4.50 min), transition time (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 min), pH of the carrier fluid(6.8, 7.00, 7.20, 7.40) and viscosity of the carrier fluid hydroxypropylmethylcellulose concentration: 0.00%, 0.03%, 0.06%, 1.00%). Among the 5 factors, viscosity was found to have the statistical significance on separation effectiveness which was further investigated. The resolution of high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein was increased by the increasing viscosity which also caused more obvious negative spikes.

CONCLUSION

The separating capacities of self-constructed asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation system on lipoproteins were verified to be effective and an optimized experimental condition was found to achieve the base-line separation of high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein. Viscosity of the carrier fluid was proved to have the statistical significance on lipoprotein separation.

[Interleukin-1β and C-reactive protein level in plasma and gingival crevicular fluid in adolescents with diabetes mellitus]

OBJECTIVE

Cytokines produced by various cells are strong local mediators of inflammation. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP) play essential roles in the development and progression of diabetes mellitus (DM). Thus periodontal diseases could be related to DM via the same mediators of inflammation. To evaluate plasma and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of IL-1β and CRP in adolescents with DM to further investigate whether DM has an impact on the levels of inflammation factors at an early stage, and to analyze the risk of developing periodontal diseases in adolescents with DM.

METHODS

A total of 121 adolescents aged from ten to sixteen years were enrolled, 41 adolescents diagnosed with diabetes mellitus were collected in the DM group, and 80 nondiabetic adolescents as the control group. The periodontal indices of each individual were recorded, including plaque index (PLI), modified bleeding index (mBI), probing depth (PD) and attachment loss (AL). GCF and intravenous blood samples were collected, and CRP and IL-1β levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

(1) PLI of DM group and control group were 1.23±0.05 and 0.95±0.04 separately, with significant difference (P=0.001). DM group and control group had mBI of 0.80±0.08 and 0.51±0.06 separately, with significant difference (P=0.003). Attachment loss was found in none of the subjects. PDs of DM group and control group were (2.37±0.51) mm and (2.31±0.05) mm separately, and there was no significant difference. (2) CRP in GCF was only detectable in partial of the individuals, with a detectable rate of 22.9% (11/48) in total. The detectable rate of CRP in GCF was significantly higher in DM group (38.5%) than that in control group (4.5%, P=0.006). The plasma level of CRP in DM group [0.23 (0.15, 1.89) mg/L] was higher than that in control group [0.19 (0.12, 4.18) mg/L], but without significance (P=0.776). (3) The plasma levels of IL-1β in DM group and control group were (14.11±0.57) ng/L and (14.71±0.50) ng/L separately, but there was no significance (P=0.456). GCF levels of IL-1β in DM group and control group were (12.91±1.95) μg/L and (17.68±3.07) μg/L, without significant difference (P=0.185).

CONCLUSION

Periodontitis was not observed in adolescents with DM at an early stage. However, the rising levels of periodontal indices and CRP in GCF, might indicate that adolescents with DM have a higher risk of developing periodontal diseases in the future.

[Comparison of Dengue viral nonstructural protein 1 antigen testing kits]

Objective: To investigate the sensitivity and specificity of commercial nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) testing kits for Dengue fever diagnose, and provide the evidence for diagnostic criteria revision. Methods: 300 PCR or virus isolation positive blood samples for dengue virus were collected from sentinel hospitals for dengue surveillance in Guangzhou, Dongguang and Zhongshang from May 2015 to Nov. 2016. At the same time, 308 PCR negative samples for Dengue virus were collected as control group. The information of the sample was collected using questionnaires. These samples were tested using imported and domestic ELISA and the colloidal gold-labeled kits that were widely used for detecting dengue NS1. Sensitivity, specificity and coincidence were calculated and analyzed, and Z hongshan's result was regarded as the reslut of the third part. Results: The positive group includes 133 males and 167 females, average ages are 47.2±13.3, 179, 110 and 11 of them is Dengue Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ respectively. The negative group includes 154 males and 154 females, average ages are (40.1±11.6) years old. The sensitivity of domestic ELISA Kits (94.5%) is less than imported (99.5%), and the result has statistical significance (χ(2)=8.59, P=0.030), the specificity is 99.7% and 97.7% respectively; The sensitivity of imported and domestic the colloidal gold-labeled Kits is 97.5% and 96.5% respectively, both of specificities are 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of Dengue Ⅰ for NS1 test are more than 97.0%. The sensitivity of domestic ELISA and gold-labeled Kits is 90.0% and 95.0%, and the specificity is 96.8% and 100% respectively for Dengue Ⅱ test. The sensitivity of imported ELISA and gold-labeled Kits is 100% and 98.0%, and the specificity is 99.4% and 100% respectively for Dengue Ⅱ test. The result of the third party show the sensitivity and specificity of domestic ELISA and gold-labeled Kits are 90.0% and 98.0%, the differences has statistical significance (χ(2)=5.67, P=0.020). Conclusion: NS1 testing can be used as early dengue fever diagnose for higher sensitivity and specificity.

[Human papillomavirus infection and sinonasal inverted papilloma]

Sinonasal inverted papilloma is the most common seen benign disease of nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses area characterized by great recurrence rate and malignancy tendency. The infection of human papillomavirus is considered as a risk factor playing a role underneath the mechanism. However, the association between the infection of HPV and the recurrence or malignancy of SNIP remains controversial. By summarizing the existing research results, this paper further explores the association between HPV infection and SNIP.

[Application of uterine lower part breakwater-like suture operation in placenta previa]

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of uterine lower posterior wall breakwater-like suture technique in controlling the intraoperative bleeding of placenta previa. Methods: From June 2016 to June 2017, 47 patients were diagnosed placenta previa in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Posterior wall breakwater-like suture technique was used preferentially, as for cases with poor myometrium layer, lower anterior wall stitch suture was used at the same time. Bilateral descending branches of uterine artery ligation and Cook balloon compression of uterine lower segment was conducted when necessary. The clinic data of the 47 cases were analyzed. Results: Thirty cases (63.8, 30/47) were diagnosed placenta inccreta or percreta by ultrasound or MRI preoperatively. Senventeen cases were diagnosed as placenta accreta (36.2%, 17/47) . Thirty-four cases had the previous history of cesarean section. The average cervical canal length of 47 patients was (2.8±0.9) cm. There were 19 cases (40.4%,19/47) with 1 time posterior wall breakwater-like sutured and 16 cases (34.0%,16/47) with 2 or 3 times posterior wall breakwater-like sutured; 12 cases (25.5%,12/47) were treated with anterior wall stitch suture simultaneously.Ten cases (21.3%, 10/47) underwent uterine artery ligation, 17 cases (36.2%, 17/47) underwent COOK balloon compression on the staxis surface of lower segment. None of them had postpartum hemorrhage or performed internal iliac artery embolization. The median blood loss in the operation was 700 ml, the percentiles 25 was 500 ml, and the percentiles 75 was 1 200 ml. The blood loss ≥1 000 ml in 18 (38.3%, 18/47) patients,and the most serious one was 2 500 ml. The median blood transfusion volume (including allogenetic transfusion and autotransfusion) was 450 ml, the percentiles 25 was 228 ml, and the percentiles 75 was 675 ml. The average vaginal bleeding volume was (150±63) ml first day after operation. The mean hospitalization time was (4.7±1.0) days. The mean gestational weeks of pregnancy termination was (36.1±1.5) weeks, and the mean birth weight of newborns was (2 817±492) g. Apgar score:1-minute 7.8±1.1, 5-minute 8.9±0.8. No neonatal death, 16 cases were transferred to neonatal ICU (34.0%, 16/47) mainly for premature delivery and low birth weight. No complication was found in 6 months post-operation. Conclusions: Uterine posterior wall breakwater-like suture technique is a simple, safe and effective way in controlling intraoperative bleeding of placental previa.Lower anterior wall stitch suture could effectively stop bleeding and restore the normal uterine shape. Combined application of various methods could significantly reduce the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy, and improve maternal and fetal prognosis.

[Predict response to decitabine in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and related neoplasms]

目的

探索预测骨髓增生异常综合征（MDS）及相关肿瘤地西他滨治疗反应的临床及分子学指标。

方法

回顾性分析109例接受地西他滨治疗的MDS及相关肿瘤患者临床资料，采用二代测序检测MDS常见突变基因的突变情况，分析患者临床特征及基因突变与地西他滨临床反应的关系。

结果

地西他滨中位疗程数为4（2~11）个，共74例（67.9%）患者获得治疗反应，其中30例（27.5%）获得完全缓解（CR）；35例（32.1%）患者无反应。单因素分析结果显示，国际预后积分系统（IPSS）中危2+高危、复杂核型、单体核型、7号染色体异常及1个疗程后PLT倍增的患者可获得更高的CR率。66.7%（14/21）的复杂核型患者、58.8%（10/17）的单体核型患者及66.7%（10/15）的TP53基因突变患者获得CR；TP53基因突变常合并复杂核型及单体核型；多因素分析显示TP53突变、1个疗程后PLT倍增及复杂核型是预测地西他滨治疗获得CR的独立预后因素，其中TP53突变是最强的预测因子（OR=4.39，95%CI 1.20~16.06，P=0.026）。

结论

TP53基因突变、1个疗程后PLT倍增及复杂核型可预测地西他滨完全缓解。

Inhibition of heat stress-related apoptosis of chicken myocardial cells through inducing Hsp90 expression by aspirin administration in vivo

1. This experiment investigated the anti-apoptosis effects and the mechanism of aspirin action in the heat shock response of chicken myocardial cells in vivo, via changes in the heat stress (HS) protein Hsp90 and the rate of apoptosis. Broiler chickens were administered aspirin (1 mg/kg body weight) 2 h before exposure to HS, and then exposed to 40 ± 1°C for 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 24 h. 2. The induction and consumption of the HS factor heat shock factor (HSF)-1, and reductions of HSF-2 and HSF-3 induced by HS led to a delay in Hsp90 expression. HSF-1, 2 and 3 regulation of hsp90 expression in turn inhibited the synthesis and activation of protein kinase β (Akt), which resulted in a significant increase in caspase-3 at 2 and 10 h, caspase-9 from 1 to 7 h (except at 5 h), and the heat-stressed apoptosis of the myocardial cells. 3. Administration of aspirin changed the expression patterns of HSF-1, 2 and 3 such that the expression of Hsp90 protein was significantly upregulated (by 2.3-4.1 times compared with that of the non-treated cells). The resultant increase in Akt expression and activation, compared with the HS group, inhibited caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities and reduced the myocardial cells apoptosis rate (by 2.14-2.56 times). 4. Aspirin administration could inhibit heat-stressed apoptosis of myocardial cells in vivo and may be closely associated with its promotion of HS response of chicken hearts, especially Hsp90 expression.

Genetic polymorphism in cytochrome P450 2E1 and alcoholic pancreatitis sus-ceptibility: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The association between cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) polymorphism and the risk of alcoholic pancreatitis is contentious. This meta-analysis aimed to demonstrate the association between CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI, or DraI polymorphisms and the susceptibility of alcoholic pancreatitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched for sources and background in Pubmed, Medline, Web of science and CNKI (Chinese national knowledge infrastructure), using the following keywords: "cytochrome P450 2E1" or "CYP2E1", "polymorphism" or "genotype", in combination with "alcoholic pancreatitis". All meta-analyses were performed with Stata 12.0. Subgroup analyses on ethnicity and type of alcoholic pancreatitis were conducted as well.   Results: Eleven articles, which met the inclusion criteria, included 595 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis, and 1767 controls. For the general population, our analysis suggested no obvious association between CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI or DraI polymorphisms and the risk of alcoholic pancreatitis. However, in the non-Asian subgroup, significant associations were found between the risk for alcoholic pancreatitis and CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism [dominant model: odds ratio (OR) =1.92, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.25-2.95, p =0.003; allelic contrast model: OR =1.99, 95 % CI: 1.35-2.92, p <0.001. There was not a significant association found within the Asian group. Meanwhile, the susceptibilities of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis were significantly increased for dominant and allelic contrast models of CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism [OR =1.62, 95 % CI: 1.12-2.34; p =0.011; OR =1.62, 95 % CI: 1.17-2.24, p = 0.004, respectively] but not for acute alcoholic pancreatitis for all population.

CONCLUSIONS

CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism may increase the risk of alcoholic pancreatitis in the non-Asian population. Additionally, the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism may increase the susceptibility for chronic alcoholic pancreatitis for all population. HIPPOKRATIA 2018, 22(2): 60-67.

Association between bedtime and self-reported illness among college students: a representative nationwide study of China

OBJECTIVE

This study was to examine the association between bedtime and self-reported illness among Chinese college students.

METHODS

Participants were 11,942 students, who were identified through a multistage survey sampling process. Sleep and illness status were obtained by self report. Both unadjusted and adjusted methods were considered in the analyses.

RESULTS

The logistic regression model found that late bedtime was positively associated with self reported short and long-term illness (OR: 3.70 and 1, 79) after adjusting for demographic characteristics, short sleep duration, and mental disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to find a positive relationship between late bedtime and self reported illnesses in China or elsewhere. The findings underscore the importance of educating college students about the importance of sleep.

Preliminary study of the homologous recombination repair pathway in mouse spermatogonial stem cells

The present study was designed to detect DNA repair response through the homologous recombination pathway in mouse spermatogonial stem cells. Mouse spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs) were obtained from the adult DBA/2 mouse testes by MACS sorting. mSSCs and mice animals were divided into four groups (30 min, 2, 24 h, control) and treated with ionizing irradiation while the control group received pseudo-irradiation. Proteins involved in the homologous recombination pathway (γH2AX, ATM, RAD51, CtIP, and RPA2) were assessed in mSSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the non-homologous end-joining or homologous recombination (NHEJ/HR) reporter plasmids were transfected into mSSCs to assess NHEJ/HR pathway activity after DNA double-strand break (DSB). γH2AX, a classical DNA DSB marker, was absent in mSSCs both in vivo and in vitro after DSB repair, but was highly expressed in other tissue stem cells. In addition, ATM and phosphorylated ATM (p-ATM) were involved in DNA damage response (DDR) in mSSCs. p-ATM foci were overexpressed immediately after irradiation (30 min and 2 h), but gradually decreased over the repair time. The HR pathway-related proteins, CtIP and RPA2 were negatively regulated after treatment in Western blot (WB). NHEJ/HR reporter plasmid transfection indicated that the HR pathway played a minor role in mSSCs during DDR, consistent with the WB findings. This study demonstrates that mSSCs may have a unique response to DNA damage since crucial proteins involved in HR pathway were negatively regulated after DSB. In addition, the expression level of p-ATM, but not γH2AX, was increased after DSB, suggesting that DNA damage repair in mSSCs might be a γH2AX-independent response. Furthermore, the HR pathway may play a minor role during DDR in mSSCs.

Antiferromagnetic Order in Epitaxial FeSe Films on SrTiO_{3}

Single monolayer FeSe film grown on a Nb-doped SrTiO_{3}(001) substrate shows the highest superconducting transition temperature (T_{C}∼100  K) among the iron-based superconductors (iron pnictides), while the T_{C} value of bulk FeSe is only ∼8  K. Although bulk FeSe does not show antiferromagnetic order, calculations suggest that the parent FeSe/SrTiO_{3} films are antiferromagnetic. Experimentally, because of a lack of a direct probe, the magnetic state of FeSe/SrTiO_{3} films remains mysterious. Here, we report direct evidence of antiferromagnetic order in the parent FeSe/SrTiO_{3} films by the magnetic exchange bias effect measurements. The magnetic blocking temperature is ∼140  K for a single monolayer film. The antiferromagnetic order disappears after electron doping.

IRX3 is a genetic modifier for birth weight, adolescent obesity and transaminase metabolism

OBJECTIVE

IRX3 expression has been functionally associated in obesity-associated long-distance susceptibility loci, but the effect of the IRX3 genetic variants on human obesity and obesity-related metabolism remains uncertain.

METHODS

To determine the genetic role of IRX3, we conducted a molecular epidemiological analysis using three haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs8053360, rs3751723 and rs12445085) and one nonsynonymous SNP (rs1126960) at the IRX3 locus in 333 junior and senior high school students from a northeast Chinese population.

RESULTS

We identified significant associations between IRX3 SNPs and birth weight, body mass index (BMI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST/ALT ratio. The rs8053360 CC and rs1126960 GG genotypes were associated with increased birth weight and BMI, especially in females. Individuals with the rs12445085 TT genotype had significantly higher levels of AST and ALT, whereas individuals with the rs1126960 GG genotype had a significantly lower AST/ALT ratio than did individuals with other genotypes. However, no significant relationships were found between any of the IRX3 SNPs and metabolic syndrome or diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

IRX3 genetic variants associate with birth weight, BMI and AST/ALT-related transaminase metabolism, supporting the role of IRX3 as an obesity-associated susceptibility gene.

Liquid-like thermal conduction in intercalated layered crystalline solids

As a generic property, all substances transfer heat through microscopic collisions of constituent particles ¹ . A solid conducts heat through both transverse and longitudinal acoustic phonons, but a liquid employs only longitudinal vibrations^2,3. As a result, a solid is usually thermally more conductive than a liquid. In canonical viewpoints, such a difference also serves as the dynamic signature distinguishing a solid from a liquid. Here, we report liquid-like thermal conduction observed in the crystalline AgCrSe₂. The transverse acoustic phonons are completely suppressed by the ultrafast dynamic disorder while the longitudinal acoustic phonons are strongly scattered but survive, and are thus responsible for the intrinsically ultralow thermal conductivity. This scenario is applicable to a wide variety of layered compounds with heavy intercalants in the van der Waals gaps, manifesting a broad implication on suppressing thermal conduction. These microscopic insights might reshape the fundamental understanding on thermal transport properties of matter and open up a general opportunity to optimize performances of thermoelectrics.

Validation of the Chinese version of EORTC QLQ-BN20 for patients with brain cancer

This is a single centre study in mainland China aiming to evaluate the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Chinese version of EORTC QLQ-BN20, designed by The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group to evaluate the life quality of patients with brain tumour, cancer or metastases. One hundred and eighty-eight patients with primary or secondary brain cancer from Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital during September 2013 to June 2014 completed the Chinese EORTC QLQ-C30/BN20 questionnaires developed by translation, back translation and cultural adaptation. Results were statistically analysed using SPSS17.0. The internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient) was between .753 and .869, the correlation coefficients among items and its own dimension were bigger than .4, and all items had a better correlation with its own dimension. The Spearman was used to analyse the correlation of each dimension between EORTC QLQ-BN20 and EORTC QLQ-C30, and the result showed that individual dimensions were moderately correlated, other dimensions were weakly correlated. In conclusion, the Chinese version of EORTC QLQ BN20 questionnaire had great relevance, reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity. It provides a valuable tool for the assessment of health-related quality of life in clinical studies of Chinese patients with primary or secondary brain cancer.

Body Surface Laplacian Mapping of Bioelectrical Activity

A method is described to process and interpret multi-channel bioelectrical signals. The bioelectrical signals were recorded noninvasively over the body surface of human subjects at 120 sites. The body surface Laplacian maps were then constructed from the multi-channel bioelectrical potential measurement. The method was evaluated by means of computer simulations, and applied to imaging cardiac electrical activity. The present investigation suggests body surface Laplacian mapping provides an important means in interpreting bioelectrical signals.