PI3K δ inhibitor PI-3065 induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting survivin

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, and its clinical treatment remains challenging. The development of new treatment regimens is important for effective HCC treatment. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is a lipid kinase that plays an important role in cell growth and metabolism and is overexpressed in nearly 50% of patients with HCC. Studies have shown that PI-3065, a small-molecule inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta, significantly inhibits solid breast cancer. However, its antitumor effects against HCC and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we found that PI-3065 dose- and time-dependently reduced HCC cell viability and induced apoptosis while posing no obvious apoptotic toxicity in normal liver cells. Further mechanistic analysis showed that PI-3065 induced apoptosis mainly by inhibiting survivin protein expression, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, and promoting cytochrome C release. Simultaneously, PI-3065 markedly suppressed the colony formation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition abilities of HCC cells. Furthermore, transplantation of nude mice with HCC tumors showed that PI-3065 inhibits HCC tumor growth in vivo by targeting survivin. In summary, PI-3065 specifically inhibited survivin expression and exerted anti-HCC activity in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that it may serve as an effective antitumor drug for HCC treatment, which warrants further study.

Temporal characteristics of the light output from optical fibers with PRBS-modulated laser injection

Pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) phase modulation is an effective method to promote the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold of high-power narrow linewidth fiber lasers. Most studies focus on the subjects of PRBS pattern selection, filter parameter optimization, threshold promotion, etc. In this paper, the temporal characteristics of the light output from optical fibers with PRBS modulated laser injection are investigated theoretically. We found that serious temporal fluctuations, i.e., high intensity pulses, existed in the output laser and backward Stokes light, even though the time-averaged backward Stokes power is only 1% of the input laser power. Based on the transient three wave coupling equations, through exploring the influence of clock rate and PRBS pattern, we demonstrate that this phenomenon arises from the long dwell times in PRBS patterns. Finally, modified PRBS patterns are proposed to significantly eliminate the intense pulses without decreasing the original SBS threshold.

p53 m6A modulation sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to apatinib through apoptosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is insidious and prone to metastasis and recurrence. Currently, no effective treatment is available for HCC. Furthermore, HCC does not respond to various radio- and chemotherapies, and the molecular mechanism of treatment resistance is unclear. Here, we found that p53 n6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) played a decisive role in regulating HCC sensitivity to chemotherapy via the p53 activator RG7112 and the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor apatinib. Our results reveal that p53 activation plays a crucial role in chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and reducing cell viability. Moreover, decreasing m⁶A methyltransferase (e.g., methyltransferase-like 3, METTL3) expression through chemotherapeutic drug combinations reduced p53 mRNA m⁶A modification. p53 mRNA m⁶A modification blockage induced by S-adenosyl homocysteine or siRNA-mediated METTL3 inhibition enhanced HCC sensitivity to chemotherapy. Importantly, we observed that downregulation of METTL3 and upregulation of p53 expression by oral administration of chemotherapy drugs triggered apoptosis and xenograft tumor growth inhibition in nude mice. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that a METTL3-m⁶A-p53 axis could be a potential target in HCC therapy.

Resina Draconis extract exerts anti-HCC effects through METTL3-m6A-Survivin axis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Herbal medicines have become an important treasure reservoir for anti-HCC drugs because of their high efficiency and low toxicity. Herein, we investigated whether a 75% ethanol extract from Resina Draconis (ERD) exhibited comprehensive anti-HCC effects both in vivo and in vitro. We revealed that ERD effectively inhibited proliferation and triggered apoptosis of HCC cells in a dose- and time-dependent maner, posing no apparent apoptotic toxicity to normal liver cells. Moreover, ERD significantly inhibited the migration, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells. Importantly, ERD treatment effectively inhibited the growth of xenograft HCC in nude mice with low toxicity and low side effects. Molecular mechanism analysis showed that ERD strongly reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Survivin, ultimately leading to the cleavage activation of apoptosis executive proteins such as Caspase 3 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Survivin gene silencing apparently sensitized the apoptotic effect induced by ERD. Further experiments revealed that ERD inhibited N6-methyladenosine (m⁶ A) modification in Survivin mRNA by downregulating Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) expression and reducing the binding rate of METTL3 and Survivin mRNA. Together, our findings suggest that ERD can be severed as a novel anti-HCC natural product by targeting METTL3-m⁶ A-Survivin axis.

The HSP90 inhibitor, XL888, enhanced cell apoptosis via downregulating STAT3 after insufficient radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma

AIMS

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the first-line option for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the residual tumor attributed to insufficient RFA (iRFA) led to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Novel combination strategies are urgently needed to enhance efficiency of RFA.

MAIN METHODS

For in vitro iRFA models, HCC cells were placed in a water bath at 46 °C for 10 min and then returned to the original incubator. For in vivo models, HCC cells were implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. The nude mice were then randomly assigned into 4 groups: control group, XL888 group, iRFA group, combination of XL888 and iRFA group. CCK8 was performed to detect cell viability; Hoechst 33258 was used to explore nuclear morphology; The expression levels of proteins were demonstrated by western blotting; Co-localization of HSP90 and STAT3 was elucidated by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy; Immunohistochemistry was used to explore expression levels of proteins at tissue level.

KEY FINDINGS

XL888 promoted apoptosis of HCC cells induced by heat via inhibiting expression levels of Mcl-1 and cleaved-caspase 3 in vivo and in vitro. XL888 attenuated the complex formation of HSP90 and STAT3, leading to decreased expression levels of STAT3 and p-STAT3. In human HCC tissues, IHC scores of HSP90 were positively correlated with those of STAT3. Overexpression of STAT3 rescued cell apoptosis induced by co-treatment of XL888 and heat.

SIGNIFICANCE

We implied that XL888 promoted apoptosis of HCC cells induced by heat via disrupting the binding of HSP90 and STAT3, providing theoretical basis for a novel combination strategy for HCC.

Phenomenological Constraints on the Transport Properties of QCD Matter with Data-Driven Model Averaging

Using combined data from the Relativistic Heavy Ion and Large Hadron Colliders, we constrain the shear and bulk viscosities of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) at temperatures of ∼150-350  MeV. We use Bayesian inference to translate experimental and theoretical uncertainties into probabilistic constraints for the viscosities. With Bayesian model averaging we propagate an estimate of the model uncertainty generated by the transition from hydrodynamics to hadron transport in the plasma's final evolution stage, providing the most reliable phenomenological constraints to date on the QGP viscosities.

Foeniculum vulgare seed extract induces apoptosis in lung cancer cells partly through the down-regulation of Bcl-2

The factors behind the pathogenesis of lung cancer are not clear, and treatment failure is generally caused by drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Development of new therapeutic agents to overcome drug-resistance remains a challenge clinically. Various extracts of Foeniculum vulgare have shown promising anticancer activity; however, effects on lung cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms of action are not clear. In the present study, we found that the ethanol extract of Foeniculum vulgare seeds (EEFS) significantly reduced lung cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. EEFS decreased the viability of and triggered apoptosis in the lung cancer cell lines NCI-H446 and NCI-H661. EEFS induced apoptosis mainly through inhibition of Bcl-2 protein expression, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, and release of Cytochrome C. Moreover, EEFS significantly inhibited colony formation and cell migration in lung cancer cells. EEFS also effectively inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors derived from NCI-446 cells by reducing Bcl-2 protein expression and inducing apoptosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that EEFS exerts anti-lung cancer activity by targeting the Bcl-2 protein and may have potential as a therapeutic drug for lung cancer.

Foeniculum vulgare seed extract exerts anti-cancer effects on hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. The prognosis of HCC is very poor due to the absence of symptoms and a lack of effective treatments. Studies have shown that various Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) extracts exhibit anti-cancer effects on malignant tumors such as skin cancer and prostate cancer. However, the anti-tumor activity of Foeniculum vulgare and its underlying molecular mechanisms towards HCC are unknown. Here, we provide fundamental evidence to show that the 75% ethanol extract of Foeniculum vulgare seeds (FVE) reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis, and effectively inhibited cell migration in HCC cells in vitro. HCC xenograft studies in nude mice showed that FVE significantly inhibited HCC growth in vivo. Mechanistic analyses showed that FVE reduced survivin protein levels and triggered mitochondrial toxicity, subsequently inducing caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. Survivin inhibition effectively sensitized HCC cells to FVE-induced apoptosis. Moreover, FVE did not induce a decrease in survivin or apoptotic toxicity in normal liver cells. Collectively, in vivo and in vitro results suggest that FVE exerts inhibitory effects in HCC by targeting the oncoprotein survivin, suggesting FVE may be a potential anti-cancer agent that may benefit patients with HCC.

Nanotechnology for catalysis and solar energy conversion

This roadmap on Nanotechnology for Catalysis and Solar Energy Conversion focuses on the application of nanotechnology in addressing the current challenges of energy conversion: 'high efficiency, stability, safety, and the potential for low-cost/scalable manufacturing' to quote from the contributed article by Nathan Lewis. This roadmap focuses on solar-to-fuel conversion, solar water splitting, solar photovoltaics and bio-catalysis. It includes dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), perovskite solar cells, and organic photovoltaics. Smart engineering of colloidal quantum materials and nanostructured electrodes will improve solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency, as described in the articles by Waiskopf and Banin and Meyer. Semiconductor nanoparticles will also improve solar energy conversion efficiency, as discussed by Boschloo et al in their article on DSSCs. Perovskite solar cells have advanced rapidly in recent years, including new ideas on 2D and 3D hybrid halide perovskites, as described by Spanopoulos et al 'Next generation' solar cells using multiple exciton generation (MEG) from hot carriers, described in the article by Nozik and Beard, could lead to remarkable improvement in photovoltaic efficiency by using quantization effects in semiconductor nanostructures (quantum dots, wires or wells). These challenges will not be met without simultaneous improvement in nanoscale characterization methods. Terahertz spectroscopy, discussed in the article by Milot et al is one example of a method that is overcoming the difficulties associated with nanoscale materials characterization by avoiding electrical contacts to nanoparticles, allowing characterization during device operation, and enabling characterization of a single nanoparticle. Besides experimental advances, computational science is also meeting the challenges of nanomaterials synthesis. The article by Kohlstedt and Schatz discusses the computational frameworks being used to predict structure-property relationships in materials and devices, including machine learning methods, with an emphasis on organic photovoltaics. The contribution by Megarity and Armstrong presents the 'electrochemical leaf' for improvements in electrochemistry and beyond. In addition, biohybrid approaches can take advantage of efficient and specific enzyme catalysts. These articles present the nanoscience and technology at the forefront of renewable energy development that will have significant benefits to society.

NOB1: A Potential Biomarker or Target in Cancer

Human NIN1/RPN12 binding protein 1 homolog (NOB1), an RNA binding protein, is expressed ubiquitously in normal tissues such as the lung, liver, and spleen. Its core physiological function is to regulate protease activities and participate in maintaining RNA metabolism and stability. NOB1 is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate carcinoma, osteosarcoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and glioma. Although existing data indicate that NOB1 overexpression is associated with cancer growth, invasion, and poor prognosis, the molecular mechanisms behind these effects and its exact roles remain unclear. Several studies have confirmed that NOB1 is clinically relevant in different cancers, and further research at the molecular level will help evaluate the role of NOB1 in tumors. NOB1 has become an attractive target in anticancer therapy because it is overexpressed in many cancers and mediates different stages of tumor development. Elucidating the role of NOB1 in different signaling pathways as a potential cancer treatment will provide new ideas for existing cancer treatment methods. This review summarizes the research progress made into NOB1 in cancer in the past decade; this information provides valuable clues and theoretical guidance for future anticancer therapy by targeting NOB1.

1.5 kW polarization-maintained Yb-doped amplifier with 13 GHz linewidth by suppressing the self-pulsing and stimulated Brillouin scattering

In this work, we study the characteristics of self-pulsing in a polarization-maintained fiber amplifier operated with different linewidths based on white noise source phase modulation. It indicates that the self-pulsing is almost simultaneous with the stimulated Brillouin scattering process, and its threshold is increasing near-linearly with the linewidth. By optimizing the laser structure, the threshold of self-pulsing increases by a factor of 1.5. We demonstrate a high-power linear polarization and all-fiberized amplifier with narrow linewidth and near-diffraction-limited beam quality. The output power scales to 1.5 kW with the pumping efficiency of 83%. The full width at half-maximum linewidth was measured to be 13 GHz. The polarization extinction ratio was larger than 13 dB. The beam quality M² was about 1.14 at the maximum laser power.

5kW GTWave fiber amplifier directly pumped by commercial 976nm laser diodes

With home-made fiber perform and special fiber drawing & coating technique, a new-type of (3 + 1) GTWave fiber theoretically designed for bi-directional pump method, was successfully fabricated and justified of integrating multi-kW pump energy from commercial 976nm laser diodes. This (3 + 1) GTWave fiber amplifier demonstrated uniform absorption of pump light and easy thermal management characteristics along the whole fiber length. This amplifier is capable of simultaneously aggregating 5.19kW pump power at 976nm and finally generating 5.07kW laser output at 1066.5nm with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 74.5%, the first publically-reported multi-kW GTWave fiber directly pumped with commercial 976nm laser diodes to the best of our knowledge. No power roll-over was found at 5kW level and further power scaling can be expected with more pump power. The results indicate that GTWave fiber is a competitive integrated fiber device to collect enough pump energy from low-cost commercial laser diodes for multi-kW fiber laser development.

Microscopic contact area and friction between medical textiles and skin

The mechanical contact between medical textiles and skin is relevant in the health care for patients with vulnerable skin or chronic wounds. In order to gain new insights into the skin-textile contact on the microscopic level, the 3D surface topography of a normal and a new hospital bed sheet with a regular surface structure was measured using a digital microscope. The topographic data was analysed concerning material distribution and real contact area against smooth surfaces as a function of surface deformations. For contact conditions that are relevant for the skin of patients lying in a hospital bed it was found that the order of magnitude of the ratio of real and apparent contact area between textiles and skin or a mechanical skin model lies between 0.02 and 0.1 and that surface deformations, i.e. penetration of the textile surface asperities into skin or a mechanical skin model, range from 10 to 50µm. The performed analyses of textile 3D surface topographies and comparisons with previous friction measurement results provided information on the relationship between microscopic surface properties and macroscopic friction behaviour of medical textiles. In particular, the new bed sheet was found to be characterised by a trend towards a smaller microscopic contact area (up to a factor of two) and by a larger free interfacial volume (more than a factor of two) in addition to a 1.5 times lower shear strength when in contact with counter-surfaces. The applied methods can be useful to develop improved and skin-adapted materials and surfaces for medical applications.

Numerical and experimental analysis of the critically refracted longitudinal beam

The critically refracted longitudinal (L(CR)) wave can be used in numerous non-destructive testing (NDT) applications, such as characterization of surface geometric aspects, subsurface defect detection and mostly for residual stress measurement. However, very few works characterize the associated ultrasonic beam. This paper deals with characterization of the L(CR) beam profile both numerically and experimentally in order to optimize the incident angle choice in order to have sufficient energy in the experimental signal. The simulations are performed in time and frequency domains concerning solid elastic, homogenous and isotropic materials taking into account the liquid-solid interaction of the excitation by a water-coupled transducer. In the obtained results all components of the refracted acoustical field are demonstrated, as well as energy distributions of L(CR) wave obtained with different incident angles.

Permanent Genetic Resources added to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 February 2010-31 March 2010

This article documents the addition of 228 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Anser cygnoides, Apodemus flavicollis, Athene noctua, Cercis canadensis, Glis glis, Gubernatrix cristata, Haliotis tuberculata, Helianthus maximiliani, Laricobius nigrinus, Laricobius rubidus, Neoheligmonella granjoni, Nephrops norvegicus, Oenanthe javanica, Paramuricea clavata, Pyrrhura orcesi and Samanea saman. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Apodemus sylvaticus, Laricobius laticollis and Laricobius osakensis (a proposed new species currently being described).

Urolithiasis in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We evaluated the incidence, timing, and consequences of urolithiasis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). A total of 20 patients with urolithiasis were identified from 2095 patients with ALL treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital on consecutive protocols between 1968 and 1998. For remission induction therapy, all patients received daily prednisone; continuation chemotherapy regimens differed by protocol with some including pulses of prednisone or dexamethasone and others no glucocorticoid. Patients with urolithiasis were older at diagnosis of ALL than those without urolithiasis (median age, 7.5 vs 5.0 years; P=0.03) and less likely to be black (P=0.03) than white or Hispanic, but sex and treatment era did not differ. Presenting symptoms included abdominal or flank pain, hematuria, and dysuria. All stones analyzed biochemically were calcium stones. The incidence of urolithiasis after completion of therapy was 1.8 per 10 000 person-years. Compared to this baseline rate, the relative risk of urolithiasis was 45 (P<0.01) during induction therapy, 22 (P<0.01) during continuation therapy with glucocorticoids, and 5.1 (P>0.05) during continuation therapy without glucocorticoids. Urolithiasis occurred 4.5 times more often during continuation treatment with glucocorticoids than without (P<0.05). Seven patients (35%) had recurrent urolithiasis. Patients with ALL are at risk of developing calcium renal stones during chemotherapy, especially when a glucocorticoid is included.

Sustained-release effect of codried excipients of microcrystalline cellulose and Ganoderma fiber

The sustained-release effects of codried excipient of modified Ganoderma (treated with alkaline solution) and microcrystalline cellulose at different ratios were examined using acetaminophen (ACT) as a model drug. Results demonstrate that the crushing strength of most ACT tablets made with codried powder at all ratios increased as compaction force increased; but a rapid decline was observed when compression force exceeded 2 tons. Drug release from tablets compressed at 0.5 ton increased as modified Ganoderma fiber content increased. But when the compression force exceeded 1 ton, the release rate was not influenced by the compaction force or the increasing content of Ganoderma fiber. However, the dissolution of ACT from these tablets could be sustained for longer than 24 h. The extent of drug release was shown to increase with increasing amounts of modified Ganoderma in the codried excipient. The addition of disintegrants could further accelerate the drug release from the tablet. Drug release was also dependent upon the amount and kind of disintegrant used. The influence was in the following order: primojel>crospovidone>starch 1500.

[Poison effect of plant granules on Oncomelania hupensis]

Plant granules (phi 2-3 mm) made of starch, gelatin and medicine plant powder were used to kill Oncomelania hupensis. The results showed that after eating the plant granules, the mortality of the snail was 92.5%-100% within 24 hrs. The poison effect of the plant granules was much better than that of others, e.g., they could kill snails 12-24 h earlier than Niclosamidum (1 x 10(-3) g.L-1). In a field experiment, the snail mortality was up to 61.5% by using plant granules.

[Effect of Nerium indicum on killing Oncomelania hupensis]

A laboratory experiment at 20 +/- 5 degrees C shows that the water extract of fresh Nerium indicum had an obvious effect on killing Oncomelania hupensis. Treated with 0.1% water extract for four days, the mortality of O. hupensis was up to 100%. The effect of different tissues of N. indicum on O. hupensis was in order of stem phloem > leaf > root phloem > flower. The effect of N. indicum on O. hupensis was about ten times higher than that of Pterocarya stenoptera and Rumex japonicus, and was equal to that of 1 x 10(-3) mg.L-1 niclosamidum.

[Damage mechanisms of molecule in DNA aqueous solution induced by ultraviolet radiation]

After ultraviolet radiation treated at various time, the Raman spectra of herring sperm DNA in aqueous solution were presented. The analytic results showed that first, the out-ring amino group numeration of cytosine C4 site have reducing in the form of Raman hypochromicity; but C4O ketone group of derivative uracil assumed have not emerge with Raman hyperchromiciuy, in UV-induced DNA only with water molecule join in; second, the electron cloud of the main-groove side in pyrimidine ring have a tendency of slanting toward C6 site, which was beneficial to the deamination of C-->U transition, after some cytosine formed dipyrimidine with another adjacent pyrimidine; and third, with UV radiation, the characteristic peak 616 cm-1 of uracil N3C4 has arisen. Its very important, because the quality of the N3C4 bond have a great difference between cytosine and uracil. The result have not supported the model that cytosine can direct to be come off amino group for form the ketone type uracilo depend on UV-induced, therefore we have found that the process of get involved in imino tautomer state was probable exist by Raman spectroscopic technique.

[Characteristic of vibration spectra for hydration state of herring sperm DNA fibers]

By different temperature treatment, the herring sperm DNA fibers at various relative humidity have been analyzed using Raman scattering spectroscopic method for estimation of bound water content in fiber according to the typical peak intensity ratio between deoxyribosyl C-H stretching vibration (at 2964cm(-1)) and bound water O-H stretching vibration (at 3204cm(-1)). We found the bound water content of the fibers to be 9-14 water molecules per nucleotide pair (i.e. base pair) at variance with the calculated value of calf thymus DNA fiber by Tao's Raman test formula, but in similarity to the determined value by IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, BET gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. Thus, herring sperm DNA fibers should have the same hydration state as both calf thymus DNA and salmon sperm DNA, that has been confirmed with the new formula: 2.5926 x I2964/I3204.

Treatment of late recurrent vaginal malignancy after initial radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix: an analysis of 73 cases

PURPOSE

To evaluate the reirradiation therapy in late recurrent vaginal malignancy after initial radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix.

METHODS

From July 1972 to July 1992, 73 cases of late recurrent (over 5 years) vaginal malignancy after initial radiotherapy for cervical cancer were treated in our hospital. Both the original and recurrent cancers were biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma. All of these patients received reirradiation therapy; chemotherapy or operation was combined when necessary. The reirradiation was planned according to the site and volume of the recurrent tumor, previous radiation dose, and radiation side effects. Brachytherapy was mainly used. Before 1981, radium therapy was delivered at 30-40 Gy in 3-5 fractions to tumor base within 3-4 weeks. High-dose-rate (100 cGy/min) cobalt-60 afterloading therapy (Ralstron therapy) has been used instead of radium since 1981; the dose to the tumor base was 20-35 Gy/3-5 fractions/3-4 weeks. Then, vaginal mold was supplemented with a dose to a point 0.5 cm below the surface of the vaginal mucosa at 20-30 Gy/4-6 fractions/2-3 weeks. When the vulva or groin was involved, cobalt-60 or high-energy electron beam radiation was added with a dose at 30-40 Gy. Among these, 61 patients received irradiation therapy alone. Eleven patients received irradiation combined with chemotherapy. One patient received hysterectomy after reirradiation.

RESULTS

The 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates in this series were 54.7% (40/73), 46. 6% (28/60), and 40.3% (21/52), respectively. The 5-year survival rates for upper, upper-middle, and upper-lower vaginal tumor were 81. 8% (9/11), 33.3% (5/15), and 25.0% (3/12), respectively. The effect for upper vaginal recurrent malignancy was remarkably better than that for the upper-lower rate (P < 0.05). The local control rates for tumor >4 and <4 cm were 26.6% (4/15) and 86.5% (32/37), respectively (P < 0.01). The side effects of reirradiation in this series were serious: both moderate and severe radiation reactions were rectum 13.6% (10/73), hematuria 12.3% (9/73), vesicovaginal fistula 1.4% (1/73), and rectum-vaginal fistula 11.0% (8/73).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that reirradiation for late recurrence in the vagina after previous radiotherapy for cervical cancer is valuable. Early detection and treatment could achieve better results. The smaller the recurrent tumor volume, the better the treatment effects. Reirradiation therapy should be carefully managed in order to reduce the complications as much as possible.

[Laser Raman spectral analysis of superhelical spatial conformation on plasmid DNA]

The pBR322 recombinant plasmids DNA products, which purified by phenol-extract and equilibrium centrifugation in CsCl-ethidium bromide gradients, have been shown as mainly spatial conformation of covalently closed circular DNA (i.e. cccDNA) by agarose gel electrophoresis for homogeneity detection. Laser Raman spectra in the region 450-1750 cm-1 have been obtained for the circular double-stranded plasmids DNA molecule in an aqueous solution, indicating not only contain those marker peaks of secondary structure as in conventional B-form of DNA, but also present both 854 and 1083 cm-1 diagnostic bands of reflecting the vibration state of deoxyribosyl phosphodiester backbone. The present analysis have demonstrated relationship between the superhelical state for cccDNA and the two conformational marker bands that can be considered as the tertiary structure marker on plasmids DNA. Because of markedly Raman hypochromicity of charecter band 1378cm-1 of dT in contrast to liear DNA molecule, as well as the carbonyl double bond vibration line of dT have shifted to higher wave number position, the base stacking analysis represent occurrence of both increase in staking reaction activity of dT, and injury of a number of the Hoogsteen hydrogen bond between dA and dT with exist supercoil structure in cccDNA.

[The development of CTTM-1000 distant electrocardiogram central ambulatory monitoring system]

This article introduces a new electrocardiogam telephone transmitting and central ambulatory monitoring (receiving) system, and a device used for monitoring and transmitting the user's electrocardiogram. We also give some detailed discussion about the real time the flow display of ECG, and the signal preprocessing method based on the design of optimum FIR linear phase digital filter for the detection of QRS complexes.