[Research on early warning model of the hearing loss of workers exposed to noise]

Objective: To explore the change of hearing threshold of workers exposed to noise, establish an individual-based hearing loss early warning model, accurately and differentiated the health of workers exposed to noise. Methods: In September 2019, all physical examination data of 561 workers exposed to noise from an enterprise were collected since their employment. Three indicators of average hearing threshold of the better ear, namely, at high frequency, 4000 Hz and speech frequency, were constructed. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to adjust gender and age and establish the warning model of each indicator. Finally, sensitive indicators and warning models were screened according to AUC and Yoden index. Results: Among the 561 workers exposed to noise, 26 (4.6%) workers had hearing loss. The sensitivity indicators were the average hearing threshold at speech frequency ≥20 dB, high frequency ≥30 dB and 4000 Hz ≥25 dB. The AUC of each index was 0.602, 0.794 and 0.804, and the Youden indexes were 0.204, 0.588 and 0.608, respectively. In GEE of hearing loss warning models, high-frequency hearing threshold ≥20 dB and 4000 Hz hearing threshold ≥25 dB were the optimal models, with AUC of 0.862. Conclusion: Combined with the changes of individual hearing threshold over the years, can accurately assess the risk of individual hearing loss of workers exposed to noise.

A diagnostic and predictive lncRNA lnc-MPEG1-1 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer cells by occupying miR-766-5p

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as important biological regulators in human cancers. The purpose of this study was to identify promising biomarkers for improved diagnosis and prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We analyzed the lncRNA expression profile of PTC patients and identified five upregulated and three downregulated lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for PTC in our cohorts, which were confirmed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Several lncRNAs have been linked with lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with PTC. A nomogram combining two lncRNAs, lnc-MPEG1-1:1 and lnc-ABCA12-5:2, with age, T stage, histological type, and predicted LN metastasis was developed. The area under the curve of the developed nomogram was 0.77 (0.73–0.81) in the TCGA training cohort and 0.88 (0.79–0.96) in our validation cohort. In particular, in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that overexpression of lnc-MPEG1-1:1 in PTC cell lines promoted the proliferation and migration of PTC. lnc-MPEG1-1:1 is overexpressed in the cytoplasm of PTC cells and functionally promotes cellular proliferation and migration and functions as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by competitively occupying the shared binding sequences of miR-766-5p. lnc-MPEG1-1:1 knockdown suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition by miR-766-5p in PTC cells. Collectively, these results revealed a lnc-MPEG1-1:1/miR-766-5p pathway for thyroid cancer progression and suggest that a nomogram effectively predicted the LN metastasis in PTC.

Inherited rare and common variants in PTCH1 and PTCH2 contributing to the predisposition to reproductive cancers

PTCH1 and PTCH2 are associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome and basal cell carcinoma. We determined the prevalence of their common and rare variants in 877 patients with various reproductive cancers and 296 healthy subjects. Using targeted next-generation sequencing, we found significantly statistical associations of the minor alleles at seven common variants of PTCH1 and PTCH2 with a decreased risk of reproductive cancers (P = 9.69 × 10^-12). Among these variants, two haplotype blocks in high linkage disequilibrium were consisted of rs2277184, rs2066829 and rs2236405 sites at PTCH1 and rs3795720, rs11573590 and rs11211040 sites at PTCH2. Single marker and haplotype-based analysis consistently revealed a decreased risk of reproductive cancers especially breast and prostate cancers in the subjects carrying the minor alleles, and on the contrary, an increased risk for major alleles. Healthy control subjects showed a higher rate of rare variants than that of cancer patients (P = 0.017). Notably, two frameshift variants (p.Ser391* and p.Cys101Alafs*48) of PTCH2 with deleterious effects were found in only four cancer patients. Higher frequencies of variants of PTCH genes might have a protective role against the development of reproductive cancers, whereas rare deleterious variants of PTCH2 might predispose a carrier to reproductive cancers.

[Discussion on the application of ventilatory threshold in classification of physical workload in plateau]

Objective: To explore the application of the first ventilatory threshold (VT1) and the second ventilatory threshold (VT2) in the classification of physical workload for plateau workers, to provide reference for formulating the classification in plateau. Methods: In August 2018, 88 male workers from substations at different altitudes (500 m, 2000 m, 3000 m and 4000 m) of a company were selected as study subjects by cluster sampling. They were divided into plain group and plateau groups.The intensities of workload were simulated by power bicycle, and physiologic parameters, including VO(2), heart rate (HR) and energy metabolic rate per body surface area (E/BSA) , were recorded in test system when reaching VT1, VT2 and peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)Peak) . The ratios of VT1, VT2 and VO(2)Peak to the quiet and work potential at different altitudes were compared. Results: In a quiet state, compared with the plain group, the HR and E/BSA of the workers in the 2000 m and 3000 m groups increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . At VT2, compared with the plain group, the HR of the workers in the 4000 m group decreased, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . VO(2) and E/BSA of workers in each plateau group were lower than those in the plain group at VO(2)Peak, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . At VT2 and VO(2)Peak, the ratios of VO(2), HR, and E/BSA relative to the quiet state of the workers in each plateau group were lower than those of the plain group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . In the quiet state and VT1, compared with the plain group, the remaining percentages of VO(2) and E/BSA of workers in each plateau group decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . Taking VT1, VT2 and VO(2)Peak as cut-off points and VO(2), HR and E/BSA as indicators, the physical workload in plateau could be divided into four levels, namely medium, heavy, extremely heavy and extreme physical workload. Conclusion: It is practicable to use ventilatory threshold to classification of physical workload. VT1 and VT2 can be applied to the classification in plateau to supplement and optimize current national standard of physical workload.

lncRNA GAS8-AS1 genetic alterations in papillary thyroid carcinoma and their clinical significance

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) GAS8-AS1 is the second-most frequently altered gene, following the BRAF gene, in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We aimed to study the specificity and significance of genetic alterations in GAS8-AS1 in PTC. In this study, we reported the prevalence of genetic alterations of GAS8-AS1 in tissues of 48 nodular goiter, 573 papillary thyroid cancer, 95 colorectal cancer, 101 non-small cell lung cancer, 92 glioma, and 69 gastrointestinal stromal tumor patients, and in peripheral white blood cells of 286 healthy volunteers. We observed that the genomic sequence of GAS8-AS1 had a high frequency of genetic alterations in addition to the previously reported c.713A>G/714T>C substitution. Substitution of c.713A>G was completely linked with four other loci at c.714T>C, c.728A>G, c.737G>A, and c.752G>A. Two novel substitutions at c.749G>A and c.826A>G were also found. Interestingly, evidence from different samples indicated that these variations were not unique variants for PTC; they were also found in other malignant tissues and white blood cells of healthy volunteers. The c.713A>G substitution was associated with the T stage of PTC, while c.749G>A was more likely to occur in younger patients with PTC. PTC patients carrying heterozygous variants at the c.749 and c.826 loci had a higher risk of developing multiple lesions. These associations were also observed in patients with PTC and concomitant benign thyroid disease. Notably, the rare homozygous GG at the c.826 site conferred a higher risk of developing T2 PTC without benign thyroid disease, and a lower risk of developing T2 PTC with benign thyroid disease. Alterations of c.749G>A and c.826A>G had higher levels of serum TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) in PTC subjects. Our study provides evidence that the detection of GAS8-AS1 genetic alterations would be useful in diagnostic screening and prognostic assessment of PTC.

Relationship of HER2 Alteration and Microsatellite Instability Status in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

Background

The impact of HER2 somatic mutations in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) has not been well studied and its relationship with microsatellite instability‐high (MSI‐H) is yet to be fully elucidated.

Materials and Methods

From February 2017 to February 2020, the data of patients with CRC who underwent next‐generation sequencing and had detailed record of clinicopathological information were investigated. HER2 alteration and its relationship with MSI‐H were analyzed.

Results

Among 731 patients who underwent sequencing, 55 patients (7.5%) had HER2 alteration, including 29 (4.0%) with HER2 somatic mutations, 24 (3.3%) with HER2 gene amplification, and 2 patients (0.2%) with both HER2 mutations and amplification. R678Q was the most common mutated kinase domain, and no HER2 kinase domain in‐frame insertions/deletions were found in HER2 mutated cases. MSI‐H was found in 5.2% of our cohort and 36.8% of MSI‐H patients had HER2 mutation. For HER2 mutated cases, 48.3% were MSI‐H, whereas none of the HER2 amplification cases were MSI‐H. MSI‐H patients with HER2 mutation had significantly worse median progression‐free survival for programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) antibody than those without HER2 alteration (p = .036).

Conclusion

High MSI‐H rate was found in HER2 mutated cases, but no MSI‐H was found in HER2 amplification cases. MSI‐H patients with HER2 mutated had worse progression‐free survival for PD‐1 antibody than those without.

Implications for Practice

This study highlights the high microsatellite instability‐high (MSI‐H) rate in HER2 mutated cases but no MSI‐H in HER2 amplification cases. Moreover MSI‐H patients with HER2 mutated had worse progression‐free survival for programmed death‐1 antibody than those without. Further research to explore the internal relationship between HER2 alteration and MSI‐H is needed.

The clinical significance of HER2 somatic mutations and its relationship with high microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer is not fully understood. This study investigated the relationship by analyzing data of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent next‐generation sequencing.

Performance of common genetic variants in risk prediction for colorectal cancer in Chinese: A two-stage and multicenter study

The efficacy of susceptible variants derived from genome-wide association studies (GWAs) optimizing discriminatory accuracy of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Chinese remains unclear. In the present validation study, we assessed 75 recently identified variants from GWAs. A risk predictive model combining 19 variants using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) statistics offered certain clinical advantages. This model demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) of 0.61 during training analysis and yielded robust AUCs from 0.59 to 0.61 during validation analysis in three independent centers. The individuals carrying the highest quartile of risk score revealed over 2-fold risks of CRC (ranging from 2.12 to 2.90) compared with those who presented the lowest quartile of risk score. This genetic model offered the possibility of partitioning risk within the average risk population, which might serve as a first step toward developing individualized CRC prevention strategies in China.

Associations between lncRNA-related polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: A two-stage case-control study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are potential biomarkers for cancer risk, but their association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. We examined the association of lncRNA-related SNPs with HCC susceptibility and explored the optimal genetic models for SNPs.

METHODS

Five candidate SNPs linked with digestive tumors were first genotyped in a screening population of 700 HCC and 2800 control cases. The association between each SNP and HCC risk was estimated by multivariate logistic regression adjusted by sex and age and recorded as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval. Significant associations were further tested in a validation population with 1140 HCC and 5115 control cases. Finally, the most appropriate genetic models for HCC-associated SNPs were identified using pairwise allele differences; the overall gene effects of each SNP were further evaluated based on optimal genetic models.

RESULTS

Three candidate SNPs, rs7315438, rs6983267, and rs10795668, showed statistical connections with HCC risk in the discovery stage. Among these, rs7315438 remained steadily significant in the validation stage; rs7315438 and rs10795668 both reached statistical threshold in the combined analysis of both stages. SNP rs7315438 (TC vs TT/CC, OR = 1.410, P < 0.001) was associated with increased risk of HCC in a complete overdominant model, whereas rs10795668 (AG vs AA/GG, OR = 0.892, P = 0.035) exerted a protective effect on HCC risk in a complete overdominant model.

CONCLUSIONS

Long non-coding RNA-related SNPs rs7315438 and rs10795668 are potential biomarkers for HCC susceptibility, especially when evaluated based on their optimal genetic models.

Comparison of the diagnostic performances of US-guided fine needle aspiration cytology and thyroglobulin measurement for lymph node metastases in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Ultrasound (US)-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and thyroglobulin measurement (FNA-Tg) are two common methods for confirming lymph node metastases (LNM) in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). This study aimed at comparing the diagnostic performance of FNAC, FNA-Tg alone, and in combination by means of a meta-analysis.

METHODS

Eligible articles were selected according to predefined criteria, and their quality was evaluated as per the QUADAS-2 checklist. We calculated pooled sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive/negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and plotted the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve using the Meta-DiSc1.4 software.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies pooling 1662 malignant and 1279 benign LNs from 2712 patients with DTC were included. The results showed that FNAC was more specific (pooled Sp, 0.98) while FNA-Tg was more sensitive (pooled Se, 0.94). FNAC and FNAC+FNA-Tg performed better postoperatively than FNA-Tg, while FNA-Tg performed better preoperatively. The combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg could achieve a better diagnostic performance than each alone (DOR 446.00, area under the curve [AUC] 0.9862), no matter preoperatively (DOR 378.14, AUC 0.9879) or postoperatively (DOR 788.72, AUC 0.9930). Besides, the combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg/serum-Tg ratio obtained a higher Sp (0.98) than the combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg.

CONCLUSION

The addition of FNA-Tg, especially the FNA-Tg/serum-Tg ratio, to FNAC could increase the diagnostic performance of LNM in both preoperative and postoperative patients with DTC. Since one test or test combinations could perform differently according to the clinical situation, the best-fitting test should be chosen accordingly.

KEY POINTS

• FNAC is more specific than FNA-Tg while FNA-Tg is more sensitive than FNAC. • The combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg could achieve a better diagnostic performance than either alone, no matter preoperatively or postoperatively. • The combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg/serum-Tg ratio could reach a higher Sp than the combination of FNAC and FNA-Tg.

A 10-Year Study on Larynx Preservation Compared With Surgical Resection in Patients With Locally Advanced Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Cancers

Background

Few reports from China provide confirmed evidence of the effectiveness of the larynx preservation strategy compared with surgery on the treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. This study assessed the clinical outcomes of patients with locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers treated with larynx preservation and determined the optimal larynx preservation procedure.

Methods

Data of 1,494 patients treated with total laryngectomy or larynx preservation between 2006 and 2014 were retrieved from the database of Sun-Yat Sen University Cancer Center in Guangzhou, China, and 366 eligible patients were selected for final analysis. The clinical outcomes of 228 patients received total laryngectomy and 138 patients received larynx preservation treatments, which comprises induction followed by radiotherapy and concurrent radio-chemotherapy, were compared.

Results

There was no statistical difference in the 3-, 5-, and 10-year PFS and OS in patients received larynx preservation compared with patients treated with laryngectomy. With respect to T stage, a better overall OS in T2-stage disease (P = 0.036) but poorer PFS (P = 0.005) in T3-stage disease was observed in the larynx preservation group compared with the surgery group in Univariate analysis. T3-stage disease had poorer PFS in multivariable analysis (P = 0.022). With larynx preservation intent, induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy showed no advantage in the control of disease progression and survival compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The patient subpopulations who received efficacy assessment after induction chemotherapy exhibited significantly longer PFS and OS compared with those without efficacy assessment.

Conclusions

This is the largest sample size study on larynx preservation treatment for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers in China. Our results indicated that larynx preservation treatments did not jeopardize the survival of patients with advanced resectable laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancers. Efficacy assessment should be emphasized in induction chemotherapy.

Polymorphisms in matricellular SPP1 and SPARC contribute to susceptibility to papillary thyroid cancer

There is a compelling need to identify novel genetic variants for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) susceptibility. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data showed associations between SPP1 and SPARC mRNA overexpression and aggressive behaviors of PTC, which prompted us to assess potential associations between genetic variants in these genes and PTC risk. Three highly linked SPARC loci (rs1054204, rs3210714, and rs3549) contributed to reduced PTC risk under a codominant model (odds ratio [OR], 0.79-0.80). Variant CAG alleles at these loci significantly enhanced SPARC transcription activation upon cotransfection with miR-29b and miR-495 when compared to the common alleles GGC (all P < 0.05). The three SPARC polymorphisms interacted with SPP1 rs4754, with elevated joint ORs of 2.43, 2.52, and 2.52, respectively. Additionally, interaction between SPP1 rs2358744 and SPARC rs2304052 was observed. Our study revealed associations between SPP1 and SPARC polymorphisms that, individually or in combination, are involved in PTC susceptibility.

Observational cohort study of clinical outcome in Epstein-Barr virus associated gastric cancer patients

Background:

Epstein–Barr virus-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) has unique clinicopathologic features and our present understanding of its treatment outcome is limited. Here, we investigated the clinical outcomes of resectable and metastatic EBVaGC cases with regards to their respective treatment.

Methods:

We retrieved the data of EBVaGC patients treated at our center from October 2014 to June 2019. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS) for stage I–III patients, progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) for stage IV patients.

Results:

Patients classified as stage I–III accounted for 83.7% of the total 197 cases analyzed. Two patients had mismatched repair-deficiency. The 5-year OS rate of the entire cohort was 63.51% [95% (confidence interval (CI): 52.31–72.76%]. Tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and gastric stump cancer were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS. The 3- and 5-year DFS rate for stage I–III patients were 83.72% (95% CI: 75.86–89.19%) and 73.83% (95% CI: 60.39–83.32%), respectively. TNM stage III, neural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and baseline plasma EBV-DNA positive were correlated with shorter DFS. The ORR and disease control rate (DCR) for metastatic EBVaGC patients to first-line therapy were 29.0% and 90.3% (median PFS: 9.8 months), respectively, and to second-line therapy were 25.0% and 75.0%, respectively. Seven patients received anti-PD1 therapy and had an ORR of 28.5% and a median PFS of 2.8 months.

Conclusions:

EBVaGC patients have few metastases, long DFS, and high DCR. TNM stage and gastric stump cancer were independent prognostic factors for OS.

TSHR rs2288496 associated with thyroid hormone and predict the occurrence of lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer

This study aimed to evaluate the association of potential functional tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) in BRAF and TSHR with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Two tagSNPs (rs6464149 and rs7810757) in BRAF and six tagSNPs (rs17630128, rs2075179, rs7144481, rs2371462, rs2268477, and rs2288496) in TSHR were genotyped in 300 cases of PTC and 252 healthy controls. There was no difference in the genotype frequencies of BRAF and TSHR between PTC patients and control subjects, suggesting no contribution of BRAF or TSHR polymorphisms to the susceptibility to PTC. We observed that a tagSNP located in the 3' untranslated region of TSHR, rs2288496, could affect the incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM). The variant TC and TC + CC genotypes conferred an increased risk of LNM (for TC vs. TT: odds ratio (OR) = 2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-3.77; P= 0.030; for TC + CC vs. TT: OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.04-3.39, P= 0.038). Moreover, subjects carrying variant genotypes had higher TSH levels and lower thyroxine (T4) and Anti-TG levels compared with those in subjects carrying common genotypes. Our findings showed that PTC patients carrying the TSHR rs2288496 TC and CC variants were associated with higher TSH level and lower T4 and Anti-TG levels and were prone to developing LNM. To confirm these results, additional studies and functional experiments, especially in other ethnic populations, are needed.

Deterministic Coherence Distillation

Coherence distillation is one of the central problems in the resource theory of coherence. In this Letter, we complete the deterministic distillation of quantum coherence for a finite number of coherent states under strictly incoherent operations. Specifically, we find the necessary and sufficient condition for the transformation from a mixed coherent state into a pure state via strictly incoherent operations, which recovers a connection between the resource theory of coherence and the algebraic theory of majorization lattice. With the help of this condition, we present the deterministic coherence distillation scheme and derive the maximum number of maximally coherent states obtained via this scheme.

[The effect of miR-155 on HBV replication and PTEN expression in vivo]

Objective: To construct the mmu-miR-155 eukaryotic overexpression vector pmR-155 and to investigate its effect on HBV replication and expression of PTEN in vivo. Methods: The mmu-mir-146a precursor gene fragment pre-mmu-mir-146a was amplified by PCR, then connected to the pmR-mCherry plasmid vector after double enzyme digestion, the accuracy of recombinant vector was verified by colony PCR、double enzyme digestion and sequencing; then the recombinant vector was transfected HBV transgene mice(Experimental Group)with hydrodynamics-based injection via vena caudalis, and pmR-mCherry plasmid、PBS were respectively transfected into the mice as Empty plasmid Group、Blank Group. The concentration of IFN-γ in the serum was detected by ELISA. The expression of SOCS1、PTEN mRNA in the liver was detected by qPCR at 30d post-transfectioned. The Western blot was performed to detect the changes in SOCS1、PTEN、HBX in the liver tissue at 30 d post-transfectioned. The results were analyzed with Student's t-test, or one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference test. Results: the colony PCR、double enzyme digestion and sequencing verified that the gene was inserted into the pmR-mCherry vector. Compared with Blank Group, the expression of miR-155 in the Experimental Group was significantly increased(t = 8.90, P < 0.01); the concentration of IFN-γ in the Experimental Group was significantly increased(F = 26.58, P < 0.01); the mRNA(F(SOCS1 mRNA) = 19.72, P < 0.01; F(PTEN mRNA) = 7.38, P < 0.05) and protein(F(SOCS1) = 50.30, P < 0.01; F(PTEN) = 129.00, P < 0.01) expression of COCS1、PTEN was significantly decreased in the Experimental group and the protein of HBX was also significantly(F(HBX) = 77.97, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The pmR-155 eukaryotic overexpression vector is successfully constructed, this recombinant vector can express miR-155 stably; miR-155 can down-regulate cocs1、PTEN gene expression and up-regulate the expression of IFN-γ, it can inhibit the replication of HBV and a potential targets to treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

Dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid inhibits tumor growth in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with a poor prognosis, accounting for approximately 12-24% of breast cancer cases. Accumulating evidence has indicated that there is no effective targeted therapy available for TNBC. Dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (DPPA) is a bioactive phospholipid. However, the function of DPPA in the growth of TNBC has not yet been studied. In this study, we employed TNBC cells and a subcutaneous tumor model to elucidate the possible effect of DPPA on tumor growth in TNBC. We showed that DPPA significantly inhibited tumor growth in the mouse subcutaneous tumor model and suppressed cell proliferation and angiogenesis in TNBC tumor tissues. This inhibition was mediated partly by suppressing the expression of cyclin B1 (CCNB1), which directly promoted the accumulation of cells in the G2 phase and arrested cell cycle progression in human TNBC. In addition, the inhibition of tumor growth by DPPA may also be mediated by the suppression of tumor angiogenesis in TNBC. This work provides initial evidence that DPPA might be vital as an anti-tumor drug to treat TNBC.

Graph states of prime-power dimension from generalized CNOT quantum circuit

We construct multipartite graph states whose dimension is the power of a prime number. This is realized by the finite field, as well as the generalized controlled-NOT quantum circuit acting on two qudits. We propose the standard form of graph states up to local unitary transformations and particle permutations. The form greatly simplifies the classification of graph states as we illustrate up to five qudits. We also show that some graph states are multipartite maximally entangled states in the sense that any bipartition of the system produces a bipartite maximally entangled state. We further prove that 4-partite maximally entangled states exist when the dimension is an odd number at least three or a multiple of four.

Comparison of clinical outcomes of open, laparoscopic and single port appendicectomies

INTRODUCTION

Appendicectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in general surgery. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of open appendicectomy (OA), laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) and single port laparoscopic appendicectomy (SPLA).

METHODS

Fifty consecutive patients with suspected acute appendicitis were studied (OA: n=20, LA: n=20, SPLA: n=10). Clinical outcomes were compared between the three groups in terms of operative time, blood loss, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and cost.

RESULTS

Patient demographics were similar among groups (p>0.05). SPLA was characterised by longer operative time (88.1 minutes vs 35.6 minutes in OA and 33.4 minutes in LA) and higher costs (12.84 thousand Chinese yuan [RMB] vs 8.41 thousand RMB in LA and 4.99 thousand RMB in OA). OA was characterised by more blood loss (9.8ml vs 7.5ml in SPLA and 6.8ml in LA), longer hospital stay (7.5 days vs 3.5 days in LA and 3.4 days in SPLA) and lower costs. The total number of complications was higher for OA (n=2) than for LA and SPLA (n=0) although this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Where feasible, LA should be undertaken as the initial treatment of choice for most cases of suspected appendicitis.

Irreducible multiparty correlations in quantum states without maximal rank

The correlations of an n-partite quantum state are classified into a series of irreducible k-party ones (2<or=k<or=n), with the irreducible k-party correlation being the correlation in the states of k parties but nonexistent in the states of (k-1) parties. A measure of the degree of irreducible k-party correlation is defined based on the principle of maximal entropy. Adopting a continuity approach, we overcome the difficulties in calculating the degrees of irreducible multiparty correlations for the multipartite states without maximal rank. In particular, we obtain the degrees of irreducible multiparty correlations in the n-qubit stabilizer states and the n-qubit generalized Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states, which reveals the distribution of multiparty correlations.

Dynamical instability and domain formation in a spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensate

We interpret the recently observed spatial domain formation in spin-1 atomic condensates as a result of dynamical instability. Within the mean field theory, a homogeneous condensate is dynamically unstable (stable) for ferromagnetic (antiferromagnetic) atomic interactions. We find that this dynamical instability naturally leads to spontaneous domain formation as observed in several recent experiments for condensates with rather small numbers of atoms. For trapped condensates, our numerical simulations compare quantitatively to the experimental results, thus largely confirming the physical insight from our analysis of the homogeneous case.

Measuring the parity of an N-qubit state

We present a scheme for a projective measurement of the parity operator Pz = Product(N)i=1 sigma(i)z of N qubits. Our protocol uses a single ancillary qubit, or a probe qubit, and involves manipulations of the total spin of the N qubits without requiring individual addressing. We illustrate our protocol in terms of an experimental implementation with atomic ions in a two-zone linear Paul trap, and further discuss its extensions to several more general cases.

Assembly of Electroactive Ordered Multilayer Films of Cobalt Phthalocyanine Tetrasulfonate and Polycations

Films with alternating layers of the anion cobalt phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (CoIIPcTS4-) and cationic polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride (PDDA) were prepared by electrostatic layer-by-layer adsorption. Quartz crystal microbalance and optical studies demonstrated formation of smooth ultrathin films with a linear increase in thickness with the number of deposition steps. Films containing 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 bilayers of CoIIPcTS4-/PDDA on a gold electrode gave reversible, reproducible steady state cyclic voltammetry for the CoII/CoI redox couple with midpoint potential at -0.28 V vs a saturated calomel reference electrode. Voltammetry was controlled predominantly by charge transport processes in the film, even for films containing only a bilayer of PDDA/CoIIPcTS4-. The peak reduction current increased with the number of layers and showed a tendency to saturation after a deposition of 4-5 bilayers. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Cloning and characterization of the rpfC gene of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae: involvement in exopolysaccharide production and virulence to rice

rpfC is one of a cluster of genes which coordinately regulate the synthesis of extracellular enzymes and exopolysaccharide and pathogenicity in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, the black rot pathogen of brassicas. An rpfC homolog which could functionally complement an rpfC mutant of X. campestris pv. campestris was identified in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and the gene was characterized. Mutation of this gene in X. oryzae pv. oryzae had no effect on extracellular enzymes, but exopolysaccharide synthesis and virulence to rice were substantially reduced.

Long-term observation after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)

One thousand one hundred twenty-seven cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with routine radiotherapy from October 1969 to March 1976, of which 436 cases have survived for more than 5 years, 323 cases have survived for over 10 years. The follow-up rate was 98.4%. The present paper analyzes the factors involved in these 436 cases. All patients were treated with tele60Co unit, and in the neck some cases were treated with orthovoltage therapy. The total dose to the primary lesion was 60-75 Gy in 6-8 weeks and in a few cases over 80 Gy were needed, and 50 Gy were applied bilateral cervical lymphatic chain. In this series of cases the 10-year overall survival rate was 28.7%, with Stage I being 66.7%, Stage II 46.5%, Stage III 28.0%, and Stage IV 18.6%, respectively. Statistically, 68 cases died of cardiovascular and other diseases and should be eliminated for net survival calculations. Therefore, we could obtain an actual 10-year survival rate of 30.5%. However, it should be noted that most of these cases were advanced, with Stage III, IV accounting for 82.3%, thus at Stage I, II the 10-year survival rate was 48%, while at Stage III, IV rate was down to 24.5%, which was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Local and cervical recurrence as well as distant spread of diseases, for these cases started from the fifth to the tenth year after radiotherapy, the mortality caused by the above-mentioned three sites together was 76.9%. According to these findings, we propose that follow-up after radiotherapy in NPC exceeds 10-years. Of the 323 NPC cases, 10 were nasopharyngeal local recurrence which were re-irradiated, accounting for 3.1%. This paper shows that the 3-year survival rate in the local recurrence which were re-irradiated was 34.5%, the 5-year survival rate was 14.8%, and the 10-year survival rate was 11.5%. The failure after re-irradiation was caused by local recurrence and metastasis with a mortality of 83.6%. These results emphasize that the success of initial irradiation is important.

[Research on the dose-response relationship of hand transmitted vibration and its hygienic standard]

According to ISO 5349-1986, the akw(4) was 9.04-41.47m/s2 which was measured and calculated in 5 types of instruments: chain saw, cleaner, rock driller, riveter & emery wheel. There were 170 cases with white finger through epidemiologic investigation on 5 types of workers in 1,675 persons. Based on the work mentioned above, a formula, which represented worker cumulative exposure to vibration was deduced: D = [(a2kw(4).T)1/2.Y.d]2 Furthermore, the dose-response relationship of hand transmitted vibration and prevalence of white finger was computed, the regression equation was: P = 1.0904X - 6.214 2 Under precondition of exposure to vibration for 20 years with 90% of workers having no white fingers, the limit of hygienic standard of hand transmitted vibration in china should be set at 4 hours and as akw(4) less than or equal to 5 m/s2 based on the regression equation.