A compact radio-frequency ion source for high brightness and low energy spread negative oxygen ion beam production

A high brightness and low energy spread (∆E) ion source is essential to the production of a high-quality primary ion beam applied in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). A compact 13.56 MHz radio-frequency (RF) ion source with an external planar spiral antenna has been developed as a candidate ion source for the production of negative oxygen ion beams for SIMS application. This ion source is designed with a three-and-a-half-turn water-cooled planar antenna for RF power coupling, a multi-cusp magnetic field for effective plasma confinement, and a three-electrode extraction system. The experimental results show that more than 50 µA negative oxygen ion beams have been extracted, which consist of 56% O-, 25% O2-, and 19% O3-. The ion energy distribution of the negative oxygen ion beam exhibits a Gaussian distribution with a minimum ∆E of 6.3 eV. The brightness of the O- beam is estimated to be 82.4 A m-2 Sr-1 V-1. The simulation, design, and experimental study results of this RF ion source will be presented in this paper.

A minimized and efficient low temperature loading device for indentation

A minimized and efficient low temperature loading device cooling with Peltier coolers for indentation test is developed. Both specimen and indentation tip are immersed in 50% methanol-water solution, totally eliminating the contact thermal drift problem. Low temperature indentation tests down to 253.8 K can be realized within 10 min. The size of the device is miniaturized within 50 × 40 × 30 mm³, and no vacuum environment is required. Monocrystalline copper is tested to perform the feasibility of the device. Based on the simple structure and stable experimental effect, the developed device can be integrated into various types of current indentation devices to attach low temperature testing ability.

[Study on the correlation between PPG and HVPG in patients with portal hypertension]

Objective: To explore the correlation between portal vein pressure gradient (PPG) and hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) in patients with portal hypertension (PHT). Methods: 752 cases with portal hypertension (PHT) who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and met the enrollment criteria between January 2016 to December 2019 were analyzed for hepatic vein, inferior vena cava and portal vein pressure. Paired t-test was used for analysis. Pearson correlation test was used to estimate correlation coefficient and coefficient of determination. P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Wedged hepatic vein pressure (WHVP), portal vein pressure (PVP), correlation coefficient, and coefficient of determination were 27.98±8.95 mmHg, 33.85±7.33 mmHg, 0.329 (P<0.001), and 0.108, respectively. HVPG, PPG,correlation coefficient, and coefficient of determination were 16.84±7.97 mmHg, 25.11±6.95 mmHg (P<0.001), 0.145, and 0.021 (P<0.001), respectively. The difference between HVPG and PPG was greater than 5 mmHg in 524 cases, accounting for 69.7%. The difference between HVPG and PPG was within 5 mmHg or basically equal in 228 cases, accounting for 30.3%. The correlation coefficient between free hepatic venous pressure (FHVP) and inferior vena cava pressure (IVCP) was 0.568 (P<0.001), and the coefficient of determination was 0.323. According to the presence or absence of hepatic venous collaterals after balloon occluded hepatic angiography, they were divided into two groups: 157 (20.9%) cases in the group with hepatic venous collaterals, and 595 (79.1%) cases in the group without hepatic venous collaterals. The parameters of the two groups were compared: WHVP (15.73±3.63) mmHg vs. (31.22±6.90) mmHg, P<0.001; PVP (31.69±8.70) mmHg vs. (34.42±6.81) mmHg, P<0.001; HVPG (7.18±4.40) mmHg vs. (19.40±6.62) mmHg, P<0.001; PPG (24.24±8.11) mmHg vs. (25.34±6.60) mmHg, P<0.001; free hepatic venous pressure (FHVP) (8.58±3.37) mmHg vs. (11.82±5.07) mmHg , P<0.001; inferior vena cava pressure (IVCP) (7.45±3.29) mmHg vs. (9.09±4.14) mmHg, P<0.001. Conclusion: The overall correlation is poor between HVPG and PPG. HVPG of most patients is not an accurate representation of PPG, and the former is lower than the latter. Hepatic venous collateral formation is one of the important reasons for the serious underestimation of HVPG values.

[Analysis of 53 cases of transjugular liver biopsy]

Objective: To investigate the practicability and safety of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB). Methods: Data of 53 cases with transjugular liver biopsy from June 2015 to June 2020 were collected. LABS-100 was used in all patients who underwent transjugular liver biopsy. Among them, 45 cases and eight were biopsied via hepatic vein and intrahepatic segment of the inferior vena cava. The surgical indications, related complications, and postoperative pathological diagnosis were analyzed and summarized. Results: TJLB was successful in all patients, with an average of 2.8 punctures per case. Satisfactory liver tissue and histopathological diagnosis was obtained in all patients. Two cases developed a cervical hematoma that was improved spontaneously, and one patient developed an intrahepatic hematoma that was improved after conservative treatment. Conclusion: TJLB is a practical and safe method for patients with contraindications to percutaneous liver biopsy.

[Comparison of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome and sporadic ovarian cancer in ovarian cancer BRCA mutations]

Objective: To study the difference between BRCA gene mutations in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) and in sporadic ovarian cancer (SOC). Methods: This study was for exploratory research, the inclusion criteria were 284 patients with ovarian cancer admitted at Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital from November 2018 to December 2019, with high-throughput DNA sequencing including the full coding regions and exon-intron link regions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene. Pathogenic mutations in the BRCA gene of patients with ovarian cancer were collected and mutation site analysis was performed to compare phenotypic differences in pathogenic mutations between HBOC syndrome and SOC patients. Results: (1) Of the 284 ovarian cancer patients, seventy-seven had BRCA pathogenic mutations with a mutation rate of 27.1% (77/284), with BRCA1 mutation rate of 19.7% (56/284), BRCA2 gene 6.7% (19/284) and BRCA1/2 common mutation rate of 0.7% (2/284). Of the 284 patients with ovarian cancer, the pathogenic mutation rate in the BRCA gene in HBOC syndrome patients was 43.8% (32/73), which were significantly higher than that in SOC patients [21.3% (45/211); χ²=13.905, P<0.01]. Among BRCA1 gene mutation, the mutation rate in HBOC syndrome was higher than that of SOC [87.5% (28/32) vs 62.2% (28/45)], the BRCA2 gene mutation rate in patients with HBOC syndrome was lower than that in SOC patients [6.2% (2/32) vs 37.8% (17/45)], and there were statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Two of the 77 patients with pathogenic mutations in the BRCA gene were multisite mutations, including one simultaneous two site mutation, one simultaneous three site mutation. There were 80 mutation sites with frameshift deletion mutations (55.0%, 44/80) and nonsense mutations (31.2%, 25/80). (2) Of the 73 patients with HBOC syndrome, 32 cases had pathogenic mutations in BRCA gene, including 28 cases in BRCA1, mainly in exon 11 and 24 (9 and 7 cases, respectively), and only two cases in BRCA2, both in exon 11; another two had multiple locus mutations. Of the 211 patients with SOC, 45 cases had pathogenic mutants in BRCA gene, including 28 cases in BRCA1, mainly in exon 11 and 24 (15 and 2 cases, respectively), and 17 cases in BRCA2, mainly in exon 11 (11 cases). (3) Thirty-four pathogenic mutation sites in BRCA gene were found newly, twenty of them were located in the BRCA1 gene, including a locus located on the intron 6, 301+1G>A, and the remaining 19 sites were located on the exons, including 283_286delCTTG, 68_69delAG, 132C>T, 514_547+3del37, 742delA, 1126_1129delAATA, 1196delA, 1352_1364del, 1465G>T, 2171delC, 2341G>T, 3359_3363delTTAAT, 4085_4086ins11, 4161_4162delTC, 4165_4166delAG, 4258G>T, 4338_4339del8insAGAA, 4468G>T, and 4783delA; fourteen sites were located in the BRCA2 gene, including a locus located on the intron 7, 631+1G>A, and the remaining 13 sites were located on the exons, including 2648delT, 2914A>T, 2950_2951insG, 4357+1G>A, 5054C>T, 5257A>T, 5291_5292insTC, 5913delT, 3593delA, 6091_6092insA, 6135_6136delTT, 7452delT, 9097_9098insA. A tal of 28 repeat mutations were located in the BRCA1 gene; among them, the site 5470_5477del8 was repeated 6 times, while 3 times in 981_982delAT. Conclusions: Patients with HBOC syndrome have a significantly higher rate of pathogenic mutation in the BRCA gene than that in patients with SOC. BRCA gene pathogenic mutation sites in HBOC syndrome patients occur commonly in exon 11 and 24 of BRCA 1 gene, while SOC patients occur mainly in exon 11 and 24 of BRCA1 gene and exon 11 of BRCA2 gene. The two loci of BRCA1∶5470_5477del8, BRCA1∶981_982delAT may be ancestor mutations in Chinese ovarian cancer patients, and 34 newly discovered pathogenic mutations in the BRCA gene, enriching the BRCA gene mutation spectrum in the Chinese population.

Direct Measurement of the Astrophysical ^{19}F(p,αγ)^{16}O Reaction in the Deepest Operational Underground Laboratory

Fluorine is one of the most interesting elements in nuclear astrophysics, where the ^{19}F(p,α)^{16}O reaction is of crucial importance for Galactic ^{19}F abundances and CNO cycle loss in first generation Population III stars. As a day-one campaign at the Jinping Underground Nuclear Astrophysics experimental facility, we report direct measurements of the essential ^{19}F(p,αγ)^{16}O reaction channel. The γ-ray yields were measured over E_{c.m.}=72.4-344  keV, covering the Gamow window; our energy of 72.4 keV is unprecedentedly low, reported here for the first time. The experiment was performed under the extremely low cosmic-ray-induced background environment of the China JinPing Underground Laboratory, one of the deepest underground laboratories in the world. The present low-energy S factors deviate significantly from previous theoretical predictions, and the uncertainties are significantly reduced. The thermonuclear ^{19}F(p,αγ)^{16}O reaction rate has been determined directly at the relevant astrophysical energies.

Metformin reduces pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and increases apoptosis through MTOR signaling pathway and its dose-effect relationship

OBJECTIVE

To study the influences of metformin on the proliferation and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells and its dose-effect relationship and crucial molecular mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

With human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 as the study object, different concentrations of metformin were added for intervention. Then, the proliferation of PANC-1 cells was detected via methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay to determine the dose-effect relationship of metformin in PANC-1 cell proliferation. PANC-1 cells were treated with metformin at three appropriate concentrations as Metformin treatment groups, and an equal amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was added in Control group. Flow cytometry was performed to detect PANC-1 cell cycle and apoptosis, and the apoptosis of PANC-1 cells was also evaluated via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Caspase-3 protein localization and expression in PANC-1 cells were detected using immunofluorescence assay. Besides, the expressions of the apoptosis-associated proteins Caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) proteins related to the mTOR pathway were detected using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Metformin repressed the proliferation of human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. Compared with Control group, Metformin treatment groups (0, 20 and 40 mM) exhibited a higher proportion of PANC-1 cells in G0/G1 phases, and a lower proportion of PANC-1 cells in S phase (p<0.05), and the change in the proportion of cells in G2/M phase was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Moreover, Metformin treatment groups (0, 20, and 40 mM) had more apoptotic PANC-1 cells, higher expression levels of pro-apoptosis proteins Caspase-3 and Bax and lower expression levels of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 and the mTOR pathway-related proteins PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR in cells than Control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Metformin modulates the mTOR signaling pathway to reduce the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell, but increase their apoptosis.

Production of metallic ion beams by electron cyclotron resonance ion sources equipped with inductive heating ovens at the Institute of Modern Physics

A high-temperature oven based on the inductive heating technology was developed successfully at the Institute of Modern Physics in 2019. This oven features a durable operation temperature of over 2000 °C inside the tantalum susceptor. By carefully designing the oven structure, the material compatibility issue at high temperature has been successfully solved, which enables the production and routine operation of refractory metal ions with SECRAL-II (Superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou No. 2). To further apply this type of oven to the room temperature ECR ion sources LECR4 and LECR5 (Lanzhou Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source No. 4 and 5), a mini-inductive heating oven has been fabricated and tested in 2020. By directly evaporating calcium oxide, some high charge state calcium beams have been produced successfully, such as 52 euA of ⁴⁰Ca¹⁶⁺, 30 euA of ⁴⁰Ca¹⁷⁺, and 12 euA of ⁴⁰Ca¹⁸⁺. The detailed design and testing results will be presented and discussed.

Morphine alleviates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of morphine on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and its underlying mechanism, thereby providing a reference for the prevention and treatment of myocardial I/R injury in clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, including: Sham group (n=20), I/R group (n=20) and I/R + morphine group (n=20) using a random number table. The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of rat was ligated and re-canalized, and the I/R model was established in rats. Rats in I/R + sevoflurane (SEV) group were pretreated with 2.5% SEV. Infarction area of heart in each group was detected using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) test. Ejection fraction % (EF%) and fraction shortening % (FS%) were determined by echocardiography. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assay was performed to detect the morphological changes of cardiac myocardial cells in each group. Meanwhile, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining was adopted to detect the apoptosis of myocardial cells and fibroblasts. In addition, the expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and p65 in heart samples of rats in each group were measured via immuno-histochemical staining. Finally, the influence of morphine on TLR4/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway was detected using Western blotting.

RESULTS

Morphine significantly alleviated I/R-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats, whereas significantly increased EF% and FS% (p<0.05). In addition, morphine evidently inhibited myocardial infarction caused by I/R injury. Meanwhile, it reduced the infarction area from [(59.61±3.41) %] to [(26.67±3.62) %] (p<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that compared with I/R group, I/R + morphine group exhibited remarkably tidier cardiac myofilament, less degradation and necrosis, as well as significantly relieved cellular edema. Immuno-histochemical staining results revealed that morphine overtly reversed decreased expressions of TLR4 and p65 induced by I/R in rats (p<0.05). Furthermore, Western blotting found that morphine significantly inhibited the protein expressions of TLR4 and phosphorylated p65.

CONCLUSIONS

Morphine clearly alleviates I/R-induced myocardial injury in rats. The possible mechanism may be associated with the inhibition on TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

MiR-216a-5p act as a tumor suppressor, regulating the cell proliferation and metastasis by targeting PAK2 in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to investigate the expression of microRNA-216a-5p (miR-216a-5p) in breast cancer (BC) and its effect on the proliferation and metastasis of BC cells by regulating the expression of p21-activated protein kinase 2 (PAK2) gene.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 50 cases of cancer tissue specimens and corresponding para-carcinoma normal tissue specimens were collected from the breast surgery department of our hospital from July 2016 to December 2017. BC MCF-7 cell line and normal breast epithelial MCF-10A cells were cultured. MiR-NC (negative control), LV-p21-activated protein kinase 2 (PAK2) and/or miR-216a-5p mimics were synthesized and transfected. The protein and mRNA expression level in BC tissues and cells were detected by Western blot and quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) assay, respectively. Additionally, the Luciferase Reporter Assays, cell proliferation detection, clone formation assays and transwell migration and invasion assay were performed to determine the functional alteration of BC cells, respectively.

RESULTS

The results of qRT-PCR demonstrated that miR-216a-5p was decreased in both BC tissues and cells compared with that in normal controls. Online target gene prediction software and Dual-Luciferase reporter assay were used for target identification, and PAK2 was identified as a functional target of miR-216a-5p in BC cells. The results were further clarified with the Western blot (WB) experiment. In vitro, cell functions were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), crystal violet staining and transwell experiment, respectively. The results indicated that decreased expression of PAK2 resulting from the up-regulation of miR-216a-5p could restrain the proliferation, clone formation, invasion and migration abilities of BC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We showed that miR-216a-5p played a role as antioncogene in BC, which provides a new therapeutic target for the treatment of BC.

Influence of electron cyclotron resonance ion source parameters on high energy electrons

In order to diagnose the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma, a high-efficiency collimation system has been developed at the Institute of Modern Physics, and the bremsstrahlung spectra in the range of 10 keV-300 keV were measured on a third generation superconducting ECR ion source, SECRAL-II, with a CdTe detector. Used as a comparative index of the mean energy of the high energy electron population, the spectral temperature, T_s, is derived through a linear fitting of the spectra in a semi-logarithmic representation. The influences of some main source parameters, such as the neutral gas pressure, extraction voltage, microwave power, and bias disk voltage, on the high energy electrons are systemically investigated.

[Predictive value of vascular health indicators on newly cardiovascular events: Preliminary validation of Beijing vascular health stratification system]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the predictive value of carotid femoral artery pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV), carotid radial artery pulse wave velocity (CR-PWV), cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), and ankle brachial index (ABI) on coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebral infarction (CI), and the preliminary validation of Beijing vascular health stratification (BVHS).

METHODS

Subjects with at least 2 in-patient records were included into the study between 2010 and 2017 from Vascular Medicine Center of Peking University Shougang Hospital. Subjects with CHD or CI, and without data of vascular function at baseline were excluded. Eventually, 467 subjects free of CHD [cohort 1, mean age: (63.4±12.3) years, female 42.2%] and 658 subjects free of CI [cohort 2, mean age: (64.3±12.2) years, female 48.7%] at baseline were included. The first in-patient records were as the baseline data, the second in-patient records were as a following-up data. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to establish the predictive models of CHD or CI derived from BVHS by multivariable-adjusted analysis.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time of cohort 1 and cohort 2 was 1.9 years and 2.1 years, respectively. During the follow-up, 164 first CHD events occurred in cohort 1 and 117 first CI events occurred in cohort 2. Four indicators were assessed as continuous variables simultaneously by multivariable-adjusted analysis. In cohort 1, CF-PWV, CR-PWV, ABI, and CAVI reached statistical significance in the multivariable-adjusted models (P<0.05). In cohort 2, only CAVI (P<0.05) was of statistical significance. In addition, the higher CF-PWV became a protector of CHD or CI (P<0.05). The prediction value of BVHS reached the statistical significance for CHD and CI in the unadjusted models (all P<0.05), however, BVHS could only predict the incidence of CHD (P<0.05), but not the incidence of CI (P>0.05) in the multivariable-adjusted models. CF-PWV, CR-PWV, ABI, and CAVI were associated factors of CHD independent of each other (P<0.05), only CAVI (P<0.05) was the risk factor of CI independent of the other three.

CONCLUSION

The different vascular indicators might have different effect on CHD or CI. CAVI might be a stable predictor of both CHD and CI. Higher baseline CF-PWV was not necessarily a risk factor of CHD or CI because of proper vascular health management. BVHS was a potential factor for the prediction of CHD, and further research is needed to explore the prediction value for CI.

Overview of high intensity ion source development in the past 20 years at IMP

Ion source development over the last 20 years at the IMP is reviewed. For versatile purposes, several types of ion sources have been involved in the research and development work at the IMP, i.e., the highly charged ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance) ion source, intense microwave ion source or the 2.45 GHz intense beam ECR ion source, and laser ion source (LIS). In the development of ECR ion sources, SECRAL (Superconducting ECR ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou), Lanzhou ECR ion source, and Lanzhou all permanent magnet ECR ion source series have been made, which can cover the operation microwave frequency range of 10-28 GHz. The LIS with an Nd:YAG laser with a maximum output energy of 8 J in 8 ns pulse duration has been developed for very intense short pulse ion beams from solid materials such as C, Ti, Ni, Ag, and so on. Microwave ion sources have been built to produce intense pulsed or direct current beams from several mA to 100 mA for either high intensity accelerators or applications. This paper will give an overview of the high intensity ion source development at the IMP, especially on the recent progress and new results, such as the status of the fourth generation ECR ion source (first fourth generation ECR ion source), the production of recorded highly charged ion beams with SECRAL sources, key technology research studies, and so on.

A new room temperature LECR5 ion source for the SESRI project

The Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure project, which uses various ion beams as irradiated materials in life science research, is being built at the Harbin Institute of Technology. A new room temperature electron cyclotron resonance ion source, the Lanzhou Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source No. 5 (LECR5), has been designed and constructed. It is an intense, highly charged, heavy ion beam injector which generates ion beams from H to Bi, typically ∼50 eμA ²⁰⁹Bi³²⁺. The LECR5 is designed to operate at microwave frequencies in the range of 14.5-18 GHz. The typical magnetic parameters are designed based on those optimized for SECRAL, which operates at 18 GHz. This paper presents the LECR5 ion source, its test bench, and the preliminary beam results.

A new microwave coupling scheme for high intensity highly charged ion beam production by high power 24-28 GHz SECRAL ion source

The efficiency of the microwave-plasma coupling is a key issue to enhance the performance of electron cyclotron resonance ion sources (ECRISs) in terms of higher ion beam intensity yield. The coupling properties are affected by the microwave coupling scheme, especially for the high frequency (f > 20 GHz) and high power (P > 5 kW) ECR ion sources. Based on the study of 24 GHz SECRAL ion source performances working at different launching systems, a new microwave coupling scheme, called the Vlasov launcher, is proposed, which can not only realize efficient power matching and feeding but also enhance the microwave power distribution on the ECR surface. The first promising results are presented in this article. Then, a prototype dedicated to the next generation ECRIS is described.

Emittance study of the high intensity highly charged heavy ion beams extracted from electron cyclotron resonance ion source

According to the requirements of ion beams extracted from an electron cyclotron resonance ion source transverse phase space coupling research and the afterglow beam property effective measurement, a pepper pot type meter called PEMiL (Pepper Pot Emittance Meter in Lanzhou) has been designed, fabricated, and commissioned to obtain the emittance of high intensity highly charged heavy ion beams. The direct current beam emittance measurement results verify the coupling property caused by the semisolenoid field. This paper also describes the scheme of multiple exposure accumulation which was applied to measure the afterglow beam property, and the transverse phase space distribution of the oxygen afterglow beam which was measured for the first time is presented.

Intense carbon beams production with an all permanent magnet electron cyclotron resonance ion source for heavy ion medical machine

LAPECR3 (Lanzhou All Permanent magnet Electron cyclotron Resonance ion source No. 3) had been developed as an ion injector of Heavy Ion Medical Machine (HIMM) accelerator facility since 2009. The first HIMM accelerator facility was built in Wuwei city in 2015, and the LAPCER3 ion source has delivered C⁵⁺ ion beam to HIMM for more than 1000 days in the past four years. In order to improve the performance of the LAPECR3 ion source for intense carbon beams production, continuous research and development work has been made. The recently developed LAPECR3 ion source together with the new low-energy beam transportation can provide better performance in terms of both beam intensity and quality. This paper will generally review the LAPECR3 ion source operation status for HIMM, and the recent improvement will be presented, especially the stable beams production of C⁴⁺ and C⁵⁺.

Ion charge state and energy distributions of laser produced plasma from pure metals and their alloy

A high intensity highly charged laser ion source has been studied at the Institute of Modern Physics for the last few years. In order to investigate the processes of plasma heating and expansion of laser produced plasma, the charge state and energy distributions of the ions from pure copper, silver, and copper-silver alloy, in which the atom number ratio between copper and silver is 2:3, were measured with a 90° cylindrical electrostatic ion analyzer. It was shown that the yields of highly charged copper ions from the pure copper target are higher compared with those of the alloy target. In contrast, higher yields of highly charged silver ions were obtained from the copper-silver alloy target. Moreover, the ion energy distributions were derived from the time-of-flight spectra for the ions with different ion charge states and compared between the pure metal and alloy targets.

Laser ablation plasma with solenoid field confinement

A Laser Ion Source (LIS) can produce high charge state and high intensity ion beams (∼emA), especially, refractory metallic ion beams, which makes it a promising candidate as an ion source for heavy ion cancer therapy facilities and future accelerator complexes, where pulsed high intensity and high charged heavy ion beams are required. However, it is difficult for the LIS to obtain a long pulse width while ensuring high current intensity, thus limiting the application of the LIS. To solve the conflict, magnetic fields are proposed to confine the expansion of the laser produced plasma. With a solenoid along the normal direction to the target surface, the lateral adiabatic expansion of the laser ablation plasma is suppressed which extends the pulse width of the ion beam effectively. The characteristics of laser ablation plasma with solenoid field confinement will be presented and discussed in this paper.

Production of O- and O2 - beams with the negative ion source at Institute of Modern Physics

A negative oxygen ion source is under development to produce O^- and O₂ ^- beams used for a secondary ion mass spectrometer at Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), and both filament and radio frequency (RF) schemes are tested. The filament driven ion source, which was initially designed for H^- production, has a 10-pole multicusp plasma chamber, two sets of virtual magnetic filters, and a 3-electrode extraction system. The RF scheme, which is improved by changing a RF back plate from the filament ion source, has an external planar spiral RF antenna behind an AlN window. The RF power system consists of a continuous wave (CW) 13.56 MHz/2 kW power supply, a capacitive automatching network and a water-cooled flat RF antenna made from a 6-mm copper tube. Oxygen and carbon dioxide gases are used to produce O^- and O₂ ^- ion beams, and ion composition is analyzed by using a Wien filter. However, the lifetime of filaments sustains from several minutes to hours before fracture occurred while the RF one can work stably with no maintenance, and the experiment results will be given on O^- ion production with two different technologies using our ion source test facility.

Production of intense uranium beams with inductive heating oven at Institute of Modern Physics

HIAF (High Intensity heavy ion Accelerator Facility) is a new accelerator complex under construction at the Institute of Modern Physics. As the main injector of this project, the high-charge-state ECR ion source needs to provide intense uranium beams, such as 700 eμA of U³⁵⁺. This requires the performance of metal ovens to be further improved so that the crucible can operate at an ultrahigh temperature for a long time without damage in a high magnetic field (>3 T). In order to meet these requirements, an inductive oven with special thermal shielding and support has been developed in the past two years. The off-line test result has shown that this oven can reach up to 2000 °C with ∼1.2 kW of heating power. After ∼5 days of continuous running on the SECRAL-II platform, the tantalum crucible survived. In this contribution, we will discuss the structure of this inductive oven and analyze the test results as well.

[Trend in proportion and clinicopathological characteristics of young women with stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer]

Objective: To analyze the 13 years trend in proportion, risks factors and clinicopathological characteristics of young women with stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer by using multi-center data of cervical cancer in China. Methods: The clinicopathological data of 46 313 patients with cervical cancer treated from 37 hospitals in China were obtained from January 2004 to December 2016. Using clinical and pathologic data, each patient's stage was reclassified by the 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system. A total of 19 041 patients were selected according to the following criteria: FIGO stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2, underwent type B or C radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. All the patients were divided into two groups: the study group of 1 888 patients aged 35 years or younger and the control group of 17 153 patients aged over 35 years. The 13 years trend in proportion of young women with stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer, risks factors and clinicopathological characteristics of two groups were retrospectively analyzed. Results: (1) The total number of hospitalized patients with stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer increased annually. However, a downward trend of patients aged 35 years or younger was observed (P<0.01) . The constituent ratio of patients aged 35 years or younger was significantly greater during 2004-2010 than that during 2011-2016 [12.6% (820/6 484) and 8.5% (1 068/12 557) , respectively; χ(2)=82.101, P<0.01]. (2) Compared with patients aged over 35 years, patients aged 35 years or younger had an earlier age at menarche, a later age at marriage, lesser gravida and parity (all P<0.01). The positive rate of high-risk HPV infection was not statistically different between two groups (all P>0.05). (3) The proportions of stage Ⅰ, exophytic type and non-squamous histological type in patients aged 35 years or younger were clearly higher than those in patients aged over 35 years (83.4% vs 68.5%, P<0.01; 63.2% vs 56.2%, P<0.01; 13.9% vs 12.0%, P<0.05, respectively). Whereas the poor differentiation ratios of the two groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05). (4) As for the postoperative pathological risk factors, the rate of surgical margin involvement in patients aged 35 years or younger was lower than that aged over 35 years (1.1% vs 1.8%, P<0.05), and the rate of depth of stromal invasion >1/2 in patients aged 35 years or younger was lower than that in patients aged over 35 years (40.1% vs 50.9%, P<0.01). In addition, there were no significant difference in parametrial margin involvement, tumor size and lymph vascular space invasion between two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The trend in proportion among hospitalized patients for stage Ⅰa2 to Ⅱa2 cervical cancer in young women is decreasing yearly. Compared with cervical cancer in middle-aged and elderly women, cervical cancer in young women have an earlier age at menarche, a higher proportion of stage Ⅰ patients and non-squamous histological type. In terms of the postoperative pathological risk factors, the rate of surgical margin involvement and depth of stromal invasion >1/2 in young women with cervical cancer are lower than in middle-aged and elderly women.

Correlations of ultrasound and pathological features of thyroid carcinoma with TC-1 mRNA and protein expression

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlations of ultrasound and pathological characteristics of thyroid carcinoma through evaluating the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level and protein expression of thyroid cancer-1 (TC-1).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) hospitalized in our hospital were enrolled. Then, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) technique were applied to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of TC-1 in PTC and corresponding adjacent tissues (NCE) of 50 patients. The relations with clinicopathological and ultrasound characteristics were analyzed.

RESULTS

The expression of TC-1 mRNA in PTC tissues was statistically higher than that in corresponding adjacent tissues and significantly correlated with tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, pathological grade, and lymph node metastasis of PTC (p<0.05). According to IHC, TC-1 positive expression was mainly found in the cytoplasm in PTC samples, which was statistically increased compared to adjacent tissues (p<0.05). Western blotting results revealed that the relative protein expression of TC-1 in PTC tissues was 2.646±195, which was significantly higher than that in corresponding adjacent tissues (892±76) (p<0.05). The TC-1 protein expression also showed significant associations with TNM stage, pathological grade, and lymph node metastasis of patients (p<0.05). The level of TC-1 mRNA in PTC tissues with micro-calcification detected by ultrasound (87.46±49.55) was higher than that in those without micro-calcification (38.46±29.15) (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of TC-1 plays an important role in the occurrence and development of PTC. Ultrasound characteristics reflect the expression of TC-1 in PTC tissues to some extent, providing a certain value in evaluating the prognosis of PTC.

Fatigue device driven by a three degree of freedom tripodal piezoelectric actuator

A miniature piezoelectric-driven fatigue device with three degrees of freedom is developed. The device integrates two fatigue testing functions, including uniaxial tensile fatigue and tensile-bending combined loading modes. The synchronous tensile-bending loading principle is described, which is applicable for calculating the vector displacements along two orthogonal directions and investigating the anisotropic fatigue properties. Regarding the combined loading mode, maximum load/displacement amplitudes for tensile and bending vector components that could be achieved are 16.9 N/22.8 µm and 3.3 N/5.6 µm, respectively. Based on tensile and tensile-bending combined fatigue loading modes, the displacement responses and fatigue lives at loading frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to 100 Hz are valuated experimentally to indicate the validation.

Gene expression profiling analysis of the role of miR-22 in clear cell ovarian cancer

This study aimed to investigate the role and potential mechanism of miR-22 in clear cell ovarian cancer (CCOC) progression. The gene expression profile of GSE16568, including 3 CCOC samples with miR-22 overexpression and 3 negative controls, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using the limma package in R. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs were performed by using The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Furthermore, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs was constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database. Besides, the miR-22-mRNA interaction pairs were predicted to explore the critical genes involved in the cancer. Totally, 95 up-regulated DEGs and 51 down-regulated DEGs were identified. The DEGs were enriched in different GO terms and pathways. The up-regulated genes cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK6), MDM2 oncogene, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (MDM2), and thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) were involved in the p53 signaling pathway. The up-regulated gene FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog (FOS) was a hub protein in the PPI network of the DEGs. The down-regulated DEGs including lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) and v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB) were mainly associated with immunity. Nine DEGs as target genes were identified to be recognized by miR-22. Our study suggested that several key genes such as CDK6, MDM2, LEF1, MYB, and FOS that involved in different pathways including p53 signaling pathway were associated with CCOC progression. miR-22 may play an essential role in cell migration and invasion in CCOC through targeting responsive genes.

Superconducting ECR ion source: From 24-28 GHz SECRAL to 45 GHz fourth generation ECR

The development of superconducting ECR source with higher magnetic fields and higher microwave frequency is the most straight forward path to achieve higher beam intensity and higher charge state performance. SECRAL, a superconducting third generation ECR ion source, is designed for 24-28 GHz microwave frequency operation with an innovative magnet configuration of sextupole coils located outside the three solenoids. SECRAL at 24 GHz has already produced a number of record beam intensities, such as ⁴⁰Ar¹²⁺ 1.4 emA, ¹²⁹Xe²⁶⁺ 1.1 emA, ¹²⁹Xe³⁰⁺ 0.36 emA, and ²⁰⁹Bi³¹⁺ 0.68 emA. SECRAL-II, an upgraded version of SECRAL, was built successfully in less than 3 years and has recently been commissioned at full power of a 28 GHz gyrotron and three-frequency heating (28 + 45 + 18 GHz). New record beam intensities for highly charged ion production have been achieved, such as 620 eμA ⁴⁰Ar¹⁶⁺, 15 eμA ⁴⁰Ar¹⁸⁺, 146 eμA ⁸⁶Kr²⁸⁺, 0.5 eμA ⁸⁶Kr³³⁺, 53 eμA ¹²⁹Xe³⁸⁺, and 17 eμA ¹²⁹Xe⁴²⁺. Recent beam test results at SECRAL and SECRAL II have demonstrated that the production of more intense highly charged heavy ion beams needs higher microwave power and higher frequency, as the scaling law predicted. A 45 GHz superconducting ECR ion source FECR (a first fourth generation ECR ion source) is being built at IMP. FECR will be the world's first Nb₃Sn superconducting-magnet-based ECR ion source with 6.5 T axial mirror field, 3.5 T sextupole field on the plasma chamber inner wall, and 20 kW at a 45 GHz microwave coupling system. This paper will focus on SECRAL performance studies at 24-28 GHz and technical design of 45 GHz FECR, which demonstrates a technical path for highly charged ion beam production from 24 to 28 GHz SECRAL to 45 GHz FECR.

Note: Motor-piezoelectricity coupling driven high temperature fatigue device

The design and performance evaluation of a novel high temperature fatigue device simultaneously driven by servo motor and piezoelectric actuator is our focus. The device integrates monotonic and cyclic loading functions with a maximum tensile load of 1800 N, driving frequency of 50 Hz, alternating load of 95 N, and maximum service temperature of 1200 °C. Multimodal fatigue tests with arbitrary combinations of static and dynamic loads are achieved. At temperatures that range from RT to 1100 °C, the tensile and tensile-fatigue coupling mechanical behaviors of UM Co50 alloys are investigated to verify the feasibility of the device.

[Relationship between large artery elasticity function and coronary heart disease, lower extremity arterial disease in patients with carotid plaque]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between large artery elastic function and coronary heart disease (CHD) or lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in patients with carotid plaque.

METHODS

A total of 491 patients with carotid plaque were enrolled into the study with complete data of arterial stiffness detection and blood test [male: 208 and female: 283, and mean age: (61.66±11.60) years]. All the subjects were divided into 2 groups according to CHD or LEAD, namely non-CHD&LEAD group (neither CHD nor LEAD) and CHD/LEAD group (either CHD or LEAD). Accor-ding to the mean age level (age<61.66 years or age>61.66 years), the independent association was analyzed between higher large arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, CF-PWV, CF-PWV>9 m/s) and CHD/LEAD.

RESULTS

In the present research population, the mean level of arterial stiff-ness was high (the mean CF-PWV was 10.71 m/s), and 76.6% of them had arteriosclerosis, and 36.9% CHD/LEAD. The age, male and smoking proportion, systolic blood pressure (SBP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homocysteine (Hcy), creatinine (Cr), CF-PWV, prevalence rate of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, medication on hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia were higher in CHD/LEAD group, and total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were lower in CHD/LEAD group than in non-CHD&LEAD group (all P<0.05).In multivariate Logistic regression analysis, the results showed that in the patients with age below 61.66 years, large artery stiffness (CF-PWV>9 m/s) was an independent risk factor of CHD/LEAD (OR=3.229, 95%CI 1.156-9.022, P<0.05); In the patients with age above 61.66 years, there was no independent association between large artery stiffness and CHD/LEAD (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The large artery elasticity function in the patients with carotid plaque was poor. In the patients with carotid plaque and higher large artery stiffness below 61.66 years, the risk of the prevalence of CHD/LEAD was increased significantly than with normal arterial stiffness. In the patients with carotid plaque below or above 61.66 years, the independent influencing factors on the prevalence of CHD/LEAD were different.

[Effect of curcumin on intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease]

Objective: To investigate the effect of curcumin on intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Methods: A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into normal control group, model group, and curcumin intervention group. The rats in the model group and the curcumin intervention group were given high-fat feed for 16 weeks, and those in the curcumin intervention group were given curcumin 200 mg/kg/day by gavage once a day after 8 weeks of high-fat feeding. The rats were sacrificed at the end of week 16. A light microscope was used to observe pathological changes in the liver, an electron microscope was used to observe the tight junction of the intestinal mucosa, an automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), chromogenic substrate Limulus amebocyte lysate assay was used to measure plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level, spectrophotometric method was used to measure the activity of serum diamine oxidase, ELISA was used to measure the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of the tight junction protein occludin. One-way ANOVA test and SNK-q test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Under the light microscope, the control group had no hepatocyte steatosis, the model group had significant hepatocyte steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, and the curcumin intervention group had reduced hepatocyte steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Under the electron microscope, the control group had a clear and complete structure of the tight junction of the intestinal mucosa and normal structures of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum; in the model group, the structure of the tight junction of the intestinal mucosa was destroyed, the intercellular space was widened, the desmosomes had a loose structure, there was edema in some mitochondria, and the endoplasmic reticulum was dilated; the curcumin intervention group had improvements in the structure of tight junction of the intestinal mucosa, intercellular space, edema in the mitochondria, and dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum. Compared with the control group, the model group had significant increases in the serum levels of AST, ALT, DAO, TNFα, and LPS (q = -15.918, -14.402, -33.700, -8.944, and -10.832, P < 0.05); compared with the model group, the curcumin intervention group had significant reductions in the serum levels of AST, ALT, DAO, TNFα, and LPS (q = 10.457, 7.752, 18.802, 5.202, and 4.279, P < 0.05). In the control group, occludin showed a linear distribution along the top of small intestinal mucosal epithelial cells. The model group had a significant reduction in positive staining compared with the control group, and the curcumin intervention group had a significant increase in positive staining compared with the model group. The relative expression of occludin was 0.29±0.03 in the control group, 0.12±0.02 in the model group, and 0.21±0.02 in the curcumin intervention group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier is impaired in rats with NAFLD. Curcumin can reduce such damage, and its mechanism of action may be related to up-regulating the expression of occludin in the intestinal mucosa and reducing the levels of TNFα and LPS.

[Effect of Δ40p53 isoform on enhancing the pro-apoptotic function of p53 in tumor cells]

Objective: To investigate the effect of Δ40p53, an alternative spliced isoform of p53 lacking the N-ter minus, on the pro-apoptotic function of p53. Methods: The wild-type p53 was ectopically expressed in HCT116-p53(-/-) (endogenous Δ40p53 expression), HCT116-p53(+ /+) (wild-type p53) and H1299 (p53-null) cells by adenoviral delivery, while Δ40p53 plasmid were transfected into these cells to overexpress Δ40p53. The levels of Δ40p53 and p53 mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative PCR. The expression of related proteins was deter mined by Western blotting. The interaction of p53 and Δ40p53 was observed by co-immunoprecipitation assay. Calcein-AM/propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry were used to detect the apoptotic rate of tested cells in each group. Results: HCT116-p53(-/-) cells expressed endogenous Δ40p53 isoform. Neither transcription nor protein expression of wild-type p53 was interfered by the increased expression of Δ40p53. Full length p53 and Δ40p53 could bind to each other. Calcein-AM/PI staining showed that the apoptotic rates of H1299-Control, HCT116-p53(-/-) -Control, H1299+ p53, HCT116-p53(-/-)+ p53, H1299+ oxaliplatin (Oxa), HCT116-p53(-/-)+ Oxa, H1299+ p53+ Oxa and HCT116-p53(-/-)+ p53+ Oxa groups were (2.50±0.47)%, (2.40±0.32)%, (5.20±0.58)%, (4.10±0.18)%, (22.40±1.73)%, (19.30±1.11)%, (29.90±1.15)% and (39.30±2.26)%, respectively. It was statistically significant between H1299+ p53+ Oxa and HCT116-p53(-/-)+ p53+ Oxa groups (t=3.721, P=0.0205). Moreover, the apoptotic rates of H1299-Control, H1299+ Δ40p53, H1299+ p53, H1299+ p53+ Δ40p53, H1299+ Oxa, H1299+ Δ40p53+ Oxa, H1299+ p53+ Oxa and H1299+ p53+ Δ40p53+ Oxa groups were (2.60±0.35)%, (2.20±0.17)%, (4.80±0.49)%, (4.90±1.10)%, (20.30±1.10)%, (19.60±1.45)%, (27.90±1.39)%, (35.20±1.43)%, respectively. Furthermore, flow cytometry assay showed that the apoptotic rates of above cells were (2.70±0.32)%, (2.20±0.24)%, (4.60±0.48)%, (3.90±0.67)%, (19.30±1.11)%, (17.70±0.66)%, (28.30±2.76)% and (37.50±1.51)%, respectively. H1299+ p53+ Δ40p53+ Oxa cells showed higher cell apoptosis than H1299+ p53+ Oxa cells (t=2.930, P=0.042). Conclusion: Δ40p53 isoform can bind to full-length p53, and enhance its pro-apoptotic function in tumor cells.

[Effect of home noninvasive positive pressure ventilation on patients with severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of home noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) on patients with severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) by meta-analysis. Methods: The data of this meta-analysis was retrieved from the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Wanfang, Weipu and CNKI databases from January 1980 to January 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on comparison of the effect of home NPPV in patients with severe stable COPD were enrolled. The enrolled data were divided into different subgroups in terms of the levels of inspiratory positive airway pressure(IPAP), different duration of ventilation per day, and different levels of baseline hypercapnia on change in PaCO(2). Meta-analysis was performed to compare the effect of different subgroups by RevMan 5.3. Results: Ten studies with a total of 789 patients were included. Home NPPV improved 6-minute walk distance (WMD: -45.12, 95%CI: -85.39--4.85, P=0.03) and forced expiratory volume in the first second [standard mean difference(SMD): -0.26, 95%CI: -0.51--0.02, P=0.03]after 1 year of ventilation, but did not improve the mortality, PaCO(2,)PaO(2,)pH, FVC, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), FEV(1)/FVC, maximal voluntary ventilation(MVV) total sleep time, sleep efficiency and the proportion of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Subgroup analysis showed that home NPPV can significantly reduce the PaCO(2) in patients ventilated with 18 cmH(2)O(1 cmH(2)O=0.098 kPa) and higher IPAP levels than those with lower IPAP levels (SMD: -0.6, 95%CI: -1.09--0.12, P=0.01), and in patients with NPPV for at least 5 h per day and those with lower duration (SMD: -0.45, 95%CI: -0.87--0.02, P=0.04), and in patients with baseline PaCO(2) of at least 55 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) (SMD: -0.69, 95%CI: -1.07--0.31, P=0.00) than those with lower levels. Conclusions: Home NPPV can improve 6MWD and FEV(1) in severe stable COPD patients but does not improve the mortality, gas exchange and sleep efficiency. Patients may gain more benefits when using higher IPAP levels, longer ventilation per day and in those with higher baseline PaCO(2).

Interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in diagnosing neonatal septicemia

Neonatal septicemia (NS) is a common cause of death of newborn infants, hence early diagnosis and treatment are of the utmost importance. However, lack of specific clinical symptoms and late detection delay a correct diagnosis. It is therefore of great importance to establish auxiliary indexes for the early diagnosis of NS. To evaluate the value of interleukin (IL-6 and IL-8) in the diagnosis of NS, a prospective study was carried out. Seventy-five newborns who developed septicemia and received treatment in our hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 were selected as research subjects; also, 50 healthy newborns were set as a control group. The levels of serum IL-6 and IL-8 were compared between the two groups. Results demonstrated that levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and IL-8 of the septicemia group were higher than those of the control group on admission, although the difference had no statistical significance (P less than 0.05); the septicemia group had higher sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores but lower pediatric critical illness scores (PCIS) compared to the control group (P less than 0.05); levels of CRP, IL-6 and IL-8 were in positive correlation to the SOFA scores and in negative correlation to PCIS. Analysis of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve demonstrated that the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 85.7%, 80.2% and 81.8%, respectively, when IL-6 level was set as 32 pg/mL, 78.1%, 64.2% and 66.9%, respectively when IL-8 level was set as 54 pg/mL, and 71.4%, 86.3% and 82.7% respectively, when detection of IL-6 and IL-8 were combined together. Hence it can be concluded that: IL-6 and IL-8 are involved in inflammatory reactions; levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were correlated to the severity of the infection; the value of IL-6 is higher than that of IL-8 in the diagnosis of neonatal septicemia and the combined detection of IL-6 and IL-8 can improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of neonatal septicemia.

Semitendinosus and gracilis transfer for treatment of medial collateral ligament injury of total knee arthroplasty

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study is to evaluate the clinic effectiveness of semitendinosus and gracilis transfer for the treatment of medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury of total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From March 2009 to May 2014, a series of 11 patients with MCL injuries of primary TKA were treated by semitendinosus and gracilis transfer. Another 18 patients (21 knees) were recruited as control group. The two groups of patients were comparable for gender, age, body mass index, varus knee deformity, KSS score, joint activity degree and type of prosthesis comparison without significant difference (p > 0.05). All the patients were regularly followed-up using the American Knee Society Scoring System (KSS).

RESULTS

No patient of either group reported impaired wound healing, joint instability, pain, prosthesis loosening and other complications. At the final follow-up, the mean knee objective score and the functional score of the injury group include (89.82 ± 3.76) points and (89.54 ± 3.50) points, respectively. The control group includes (90.19 ± 3.39) and (90 ± 3.53) points. They were significantly higher than the preoperative conditions. The difference was not statistically significant. The difference of KSS score was not statistically significant (t = 0.158, p = 0.877; t = 0.820, p = 0.432).

CONCLUSIONS

The semitendinosus and gracilis transfer are reliable for the treatment of MCL injury of TKA. The semitendinosus and gracilis are close to the knee MCL, which can effectively improve knee function.

[Jaridonin, a new diterpenoid from Isodon rubescens, induces cell cycle arrest in gastric cancer cells through activating ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of Jaridonin, a novel diterpenoid from isodon rubescens, on the cell cycle of human gastric cancer cells and its molecular mechanism of action.

METHODS

Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle distribution and expression of ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) after Jaridonin treatment. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of cell cycle-related proteins.

RESULTS

The results of flow cytometry showed that the percentages of MGC-803 cells in G(2)/M phase at 6 hours after 0, 10, 20 μmol/L Jaridonin-treatment were (10.8±2.2)%, (18.2±2.5)%, (27.3±3.2)%, respectively; those at 12 hours after Jaridonin-treatment were (12.0±1.5)%, (24.1±2.0)% and (39.7±5.2)%, respectively, indicating a G2/M phase arrest of MGC-803 cells was resulted in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The expressions of ATM, Chk1, Chk2, phosphorylated Cdc2 and CDK2 were up-regulated in the MGC-803 cells after Jaridonin treatment, while the levels of Cdc2 and CDK2 were decreased. KU-55933, an inhibitor of ATM, reversed the expression of relevant proteins and G(2)/M phase arrest induced by Jaridonin.

CONCLUSIONS

Jaridonin can significantly induce G(2)/M arrest in gastric cancer MGC-803 cells. Its mechanism may be related to the activation of ATM and Chk1/2, and inactivation of Cdc2 and CDK2 phosphorylation.

Advancement of highly charged ion beam production by superconducting ECR ion source SECRAL (invited)

At Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source SECRAL (Superconducting ECR ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou) has been put into operation for about 10 years now. It has been the main working horse to deliver intense highly charged heavy ion beams for the accelerators. Since its first plasma at 18 GHz, R&D work towards more intense highly charged ion beam production as well as the beam quality investigation has never been stopped. When SECRAL was upgraded to its typical operation frequency 24 GHz, it had already showed its promising capacity of very intense highly charged ion beam production. And it has also provided the strong experimental support for the so called scaling laws of microwave frequency effect. However, compared to the microwave power heating efficiency at 18 GHz, 24 GHz microwave heating does not show the ω(2) scale at the same power level, which indicates that microwave power coupling at gyrotron frequency needs better understanding. In this paper, after a review of the operation status of SECRAL with regard to the beam availability and stability, the recent study of the extracted ion beam transverse coupling issues will be discussed, and the test results of the both TE01 and HE11 modes will be presented. A general comparison of the performance working with the two injection modes will be given, and a preliminary analysis will be introduced. The latest results of the production of very intense highly charged ion beams, such as 1.42 emA Ar(12+), 0.92 emA Xe(27+), and so on, will be presented.

Status of intense permanent magnet proton source for China-accelerator driven sub-critical system Linac

Two compact intense 2.45 GHz permanent magnet proton sources and their corresponding low energy beam transport (LEBT) system were developed successfully for China accelerator driven sub-critical system in 2014. Both the proton sources operate at 35 kV potential. The beams extracted from the ion source are transported by the LEBT, which is composed of two identical solenoids, to the 2.1 MeV Radio-Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ). In order to ensure the safety of the superconducting cavities during commissioning, an electrostatic-chopper has been designed and installed in the LEBT line that can chop the continuous wave beam into a pulsed one. The minimum width of the pulse is less than 10 μs and the fall/rise time of the chopper is about 20 ns. The performance of the proton source and the LEBT, such as beam current, beam profile, emittance and the impact to RFQ injection will be presented.

High intensity high charge state ion beam production with an evaporative cooling magnet ECRIS

LECR4 (Lanzhou ECR ion source No. 4) is a room temperature electron cyclotron resonance ion source, designed to produce high current, high charge state ion beams for the SSC-LINAC injector (a new injector for sector separated cyclotron) at the Institute of Modern Physics. LECR4 also serves as a PoP machine for the application of evaporative cooling technology in accelerator field. To achieve those goals, LECR4 ECR ion source has been optimized for the operation at 18 GHz. During 2014, LECR4 ion source was commissioned at 18 GHz microwave of 1.6 kW. To further study the influence of injection stage to the production of medium and high charge state ion beams, in March 2015, the injection stage with pumping system was installed, and some optimum results were produced, such as 560 eμA of O(7+), 620 eμA of Ar(11+), 430 eμA of Ar(12+), 430 eμA of Xe(20+), and so on. The comparison will be discussed in the paper.

New development of laser ion source for highly charged ion beam production at Institute of Modern Physics (invited)

A laser ion source based on Nd:YAG laser has been being studied at the Institute of Modern Physics for the production of high intensity high charge state heavy ion beams in the past ten years, for possible applications both in a future accelerator complex and in heavy ion cancer therapy facilities. Based on the previous results for the production of multiple-charged ions from a wide range of heavy elements with a 3 J/8 ns Nd:YAG laser [Zhao et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85, 02B910 (2014)], higher laser energy and intensity in the focal spot are necessary for the production of highly charged ions from the elements heavier than aluminum. Therefore, the laser ion source was upgraded with a new Nd:YAG laser, the maximum energy of which is 8 J and the pulse duration can be adjusted from 8 to 18 ns. Since then, the charge state distributions of ions from various elements generated by the 8 J Nd:YAG laser were investigated for different experimental conditions, such as laser energy, pulse duration, power density in the focal spot, and incidence angle. It was shown that the incidence angle is one of the most important parameters for the production of highly charged ions. The capability of producing highly charged ions from the elements lighter than silver was demonstrated with the incidence angle of 10° and laser power density of 8 × 10(13) W cm(-2) in the focal spot, which makes a laser ion source complementary to the superconducting electron cyclotron resonance ion source for the future accelerator complex especially in terms of the ion beam production from some refractory elements. Nevertheless, great efforts with regard to the extraction of intense ion beams, modification of the ion beam pulse duration, and reliability of the ion source still need to be made for practical applications.

24 GHz microwave mode converter optimized for superconducting ECR ion source SECRAL

Over-sized round waveguide with a diameter about Ø33.0 mm excited in the TE01 mode has been widely adopted for microwave transmission and coupling to the ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance) plasma with the superconducting ECR ion sources operating at 24 or 28 GHz, such as SECRAL and VENUS. In order to study the impact of different microwave modes on ECRH (Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating) efficiency and especially the production of highly charged ions, a set of compact and efficient TE01-HE11 mode conversion and coupling system applicable to 24 GHz SECRAL whose overall length is 330 mm has been designed, fabricated and tested. Good agreements between off-line tests and calculation results have been achieved, which indicates the TE01-HE11 converter meets the application design. The detailed results of the optimized coupling system will be presented in the paper.

Simulation study of LEBT for transversely coupled beam from an ECR ion source

A Low-Energy intense-highly charged ion Accelerator Facility (LEAF) program has been launched at Institute of Modern Physics. This accelerator facility consists of a superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source, a Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT) system, and a Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ). It is especially of interest for the extracted ion beam from the ECR ion source, which is transversely coupled, and this property will significantly affect the beam transmission in the LEBT line and the matching with the downstream RFQ. In the beam transport design of LEAF, beam decoupling in the LEBT is considered to lower down the projection emittances and the feasibility of the design has been verified by beam simulation with a transversely coupled beam from the ECR ion source.

The Impact of Clinical Pharmacist Support on Patients Receiving Multi-drug Therapy for Coronary Heart Disease in China

The study determined pharmacist support on patients receiving multi-drug therapy for coronary heart disease by evaluating patient self-care ability, quality of life, and drug therapy compliance. In this study, ninety patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=45) and a control group (n=45). The control group received conventional clinical care. The experimental group received clinical care plus pharmacist support that included medication review, patient education, lifestyle management, discharge guidance, and telephone follow-up. Eighty-five patients completed the study. Self-care ability and quality of life were evaluated before hospital discharge. The experimental group understood their condition better than the control group (P<0.05), the differences between the groups in understanding treatment goals, drug regimens, lifestyle modifications, psychogenic disorders, and satisfaction evaluations were more pronounced (P<0.01). At six-month follow-up, the difference between the groups in drug therapy compliance was P<0.01, as was success rate by intention-to-treat (77.8% vs. 48.9%) and per-protocol (81.4% vs. 52.4%). Two adverse drug reactions occurred in the experimental group and three in the control group. Pharmacist support improved self-care ability, quality of life, drug therapy compliance, and treatment success rate in coronary heart disease patients.

The development of a room temperature electron cyclotron resonance ion source (Lanzhou electron cyclotron resonance ion source No. 4) with evaporative cooling technology at Institute of Modern Physics

LECR4 (Lanzhou electron cyclotron resonance ion source No. 4) has been successfully constructed at IMP and has also been connected with the Low Energy Beam Transport (LEBT) and Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) systems. These source magnet coils are cooled through evaporative cooling technology, which is the first attempt with an ECR ion source in the world. The maximum mirror field is 2.5 T (with iron plug) and the effective plasma chamber volume is 1.2 l. It was designed to be operated at 18 GHz and aimed to produce intense multiple charge state heavy ion beams for the linear injector project SSC-Linac at IMP. In February 2014, the first analyzed beam at 18 GHz was extracted. During about three months' commissioning, some outstanding results have been achieved, such as 1.97 emA of O(6+), 1.7 emA of Ar(8+), 1.07 emA of Ar(9+), and 118 euA of Bi(28+). The source has also successfully delivered O(5+) and Ar(8+) ion beams for RFQ commissioning in April 2014. This paper will give a brief overview of the design of LECR4. Then, the latest results of this source at 18 GHz will be presented.

Altered iPSC-derived neurons' sodium channel properties in subjects with Monge's disease

Monge's disease, also known as chronic mountain sickness (CMS), is a disease that potentially threatens more than 140 million highlanders during extended time living at high altitudes (over 2500m). The prevalence of CMS in Andeans is about 15-20%, suggesting that the majority of highlanders (non-CMS) are rather healthy at high altitudes; however, CMS subjects experience severe hypoxemia, erythrocytosis and many neurologic manifestations including migraine, headache, mental fatigue, confusion, and memory loss. The underlying mechanisms of CMS neuropathology are not well understood and no ideal treatment is available to prevent or cure CMS, except for phlebotomy. In the current study, we reprogrammed fibroblast cells from both CMS and non-CMS subjects' skin biopsies into the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), then differentiated into neurons and compared their neuronal properties. We discovered that CMS neurons were much less excitable (higher rheobase) than non-CMS neurons. This decreased excitability was not caused by differences in passive neuronal properties, but instead by a significantly lowered Na(+) channel current density and by a shift of the voltage-conductance curve in the depolarization direction. Our findings provide, for the first time, evidence of a neuronal abnormality in CMS subjects as compared to non-CMS subjects, hoping that such studies can pave the way to a better understanding of the neuropathology in CMS.

Transverse coupling property of beam from ECR ion sources

Experimental evidence of the property of transverse coupling of beam from Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) ion source is presented. It is especially of interest for an ECR ion source, where the cross section of extracted beam is not round along transport path due to the magnetic confinement configuration. When the ions are extracted and accelerated through the descending axial magnetic field at the extraction region, the horizontal and vertical phase space strongly coupled. In this study, the coupling configuration between the transverse phase spaces of the beam from ECR ion source is achieved by beam back-tracking simulation based on the measurements. The reasonability of this coupling configuration has been proven by a series of subsequent simulations.

Studies on a Q/A selector for the SECRAL electron cyclotron resonance ion source

Electron cyclotron resonance ion sources are widely used in heavy ion accelerators in the world because they are capable of producing high current beams of highly charged ions. However, the design of the Q/A selector system for these devices is challenging, because it must have a sufficient ion resolution while controlling the beam emittance growth. Moreover, this system has to be matched for a wide range of ion beam species with different intensities. In this paper, research on the Q/A selector system at the SECRAL (Superconducting Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion source with Advanced design in Lanzhou) platform both in experiment and simulation is presented. Based on this study, a new Q/A selector system has been designed for SECRAL II. The features of the new design including beam simulations are also presented.

Simulation of direct plasma injection for laser ion beam acceleration with a radio frequency quadrupole

The direct plasma injection scheme (DPIS) has been being studied at Institute of Modern Physics since several years ago. A C(6+) beam with peak current of 13 mA, energy of 593 keV/u has been successfully achieved after acceleration with DPIS method. To understand the process of DPIS, some simulations have been done as follows. First, with the total current intensity and the relative yields of different charge states for carbon ions measured at the different distance from the target, the absolute current intensities and time-dependences for different charge states are scaled to the exit of the laser ion source in the DPIS. Then with these derived values as the input parameters, the extraction of carbon beam from the laser ion source to the radio frequency quadrupole with DPIS is simulated, which is well agreed with the experiment results.

EIF5A2 predicts outcome in localised invasive bladder cancer and promotes bladder cancer cell aggressiveness in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

EIF5A2, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A2, is associated with several human cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of EIF5A2 in the metastatic potential of localised invasive bladder cancer (BC) and its underlying molecular mechanisms were explored.

METHODS

The expression pattern of EIF5A2 in localised invasive BC was determined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the function of EIF5A2 in BC and its underlying mechanisms were elucidated with a series of in vitro and in vivo assays.

RESULTS

Overexpression of EIF5A2 was an independent predictor for poor metastasis-free survival of localised invasive BC patients treated with radical cystectomy. Knockdown of EIF5A2 inhibited BC cell migratory and invasive capacities in vitro and metastatic potential in vivo and reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas overexpression of EIF5A2 promoted BC cells motility and invasiveness in vitro and metastatic potential in vivo and induced EMT. In addition, we found that EIF5A2 might activate TGF-β1 expression to induce EMT and drive aggressiveness in BC cells. EIF5A2 stabilized STAT3 and stimulated nuclear localisation of STAT3, which resulted in increasing enrichment of STAT3 onto TGF-β1 promoter to enhance the transcription of TGF-β1.

CONCLUSIONS

EIF5A2 overexpression predicts tumour metastatic potential in patients with localised invasive BC treated with radical cystectomy. Furthermore, EIF5A2 elevated TGF-β1 expression through STAT3 to induce EMT and promotes aggressiveness in BC.

Study on space charge effect in an electrostatic ion analyzer applied to measure laser produced ions

The abundance of different ions produced by laser ion sources is usually analyzed by an electrostatic ion analyzer (EIA). Ion current intensities in the range of several mA/cm(2) at the position of the EIA have been achieved from the laser ion source developed by the Institute of Modern Physics; this indicates that a noticeable influence of space charge effect during the ion transmission will occur. Hence, while the parameters of the EIA or the beams are changed, such as ion species, current intensity, the ions' transmission efficiency through the EIA is different, which will result in an uncertainty in the estimation of the ions' yields. Special attention is focused on this issue in this paper. Ion's transmissions through the EIA under different circumstances are studied with simulations and experiments, the results of which are consistent with each other.

The study towards high intensity high charge state laser ion sources

As one of the candidate ion sources for a planned project, the High Intensity heavy-ion Accelerator Facility, a laser ion source has been being intensively studied at the Institute of Modern Physics in the past two years. The charge state distributions of ions produced by irradiating a pulsed 3 J/8 ns Nd:YAG laser on solid targets of a wide range of elements (C, Al, Ti, Ni, Ag, Ta, and Pb) were measured with an electrostatic ion analyzer spectrometer, which indicates that highly charged ions could be generated from low-to-medium mass elements with the present laser system, while the charge state distributions for high mass elements were relatively low. The shot-to-shot stability of ion pulses was monitored with a Faraday cup for carbon target. The fluctuations within ±2.5% for the peak current and total charge and ±6% for pulse duration were demonstrated with the present setup of the laser ion source, the suppression of which is still possible.