Description of Nesterenkonia aerolata sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from air of manufacturing shop in a pharmaceutical factory

During our studies on the microorganism diversity from air of manufacturing shop in a pharmaceutical factory in Shandong province, China, a Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, cocci-shaped bacterium, designated LY-0111T, was isolated from a settling dish. Strain LY-0111T grew at temperature of 10-42 °C (optimum 35 °C), pH of 5.0-10.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and NaCl concentration of 1-12% (optimum 0.5-3%, w/v). Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain shared the highest sequence similarities to Nesterenkonia halophila YIM 70179T (96.2%), and was placed within the radiation of Nesterenkonia species in the phylogenetic trees. The genome of the isolate was sequenced, which comprised 2,931,270 bp with G + C content of 66.5%. A supermatrix tree based on the gene set bac120 indicated that LY-0111T was close related to Nesterenkonia xinjiangensis YIM 70097T (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity 95.3%). Chemotaxonomic analysis indicated that the main respiratory quinones were MK-7, MK-8, and MK-9, the predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0, and the major polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. According to the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic features, strain LY-0111T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Nesterenkonia aerolata sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LY-0111T (= JCM 36375T = GDMCC 1.3945T). In addition, Nesterenkonia jeotgali was proposed as a later synonym of Nesterenkonia sandarakina, according to the ANI (96.8%) and dDDH (72.9%) analysis between them.

[Analysis of the prognosis and survival of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure]

Objective: To explore the influencing factors and the impact of artificial liver treatment on the prognosis and survival of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Methods: Clinical data from 201 cases with ACLF from January 2016 to December 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. The survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test of univariate analysis, and the multivariate analysis of the stepwise Cox regression forward method. Results: The median survival time of patients was 6 months, and the survival rates at 6, 9, and 12 months were 51.2%, 38.3%, and 29.9%, respectively. In univariate analysis, age, presence or absence of hypertension and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, treatment method, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and cholinesterase were associated with prognosis (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis results showed that MELD score was the main factor affecting the 1-year prognosis of ACLF patients (P = 0.002). Artificial liver treatment was beneficial for the 1-year prognosis of ACLF patients aged < 50 years or with a MELD score of ≥20 (P < 0.05 ). The relative risk ratio (RR) of mortality was 2.55 times higher in patients with advanced age (≥50 years old) than that of younger patients (P < 0.001). Regression analysis was performed using age as a stratification factor, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding was related to the prognosis of younger patients, while choline esterase was related to the prognosis of advanced age. Regression analysis after stratified MELD score showed that age and hypertension were related to the prognosis of patients with MELD score < 20, and treatment method and age were related to the prognosis of patients with MELD score≥20. Conclusion: Artificial liver treatment is beneficial for the 1-year prognosis of ACLF patients. Age, MELD score, hypertension, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding are independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of ACLF patients.

Quantum control of bosonic modes with superconducting circuits

Bosonic modes have wide applications in various quantum technologies, such as optical photons for quantum communication, magnons in spin ensembles for quantum information storage and mechanical modes for reversible microwave-to-optical quantum transduction. There is emerging interest in utilizing bosonic modes for quantum information processing, with circuit quantum electrodynamics (circuit QED) as one of the leading architectures. Quantum information can be encoded into subspaces of a bosonic superconducting cavity mode with long coherence time. However, standard Gaussian operations (e.g., beam splitting and two-mode squeezing) are insufficient for universal quantum computing. The major challenge is to introduce additional nonlinear control beyond Gaussian operations without adding significant bosonic loss or decoherence. Here we review recent advances in universal control of a single bosonic code with superconducting circuits, including unitary control, quantum feedback control, driven-dissipative control and holonomic dissipative control. Various approaches to entangling different bosonic modes are also discussed.

[An analysis of insomnia and its influencing factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the current situation of insomnia in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and analyze the influencing factors of insomnia in the ACS patients, so as to provide information on the development of new strategies for the treatment of insomnia in ACS patients. Methods: This is a multicenter and prospective observational study. A total of 771 ACS patients who met the criteria were selected from March 2013 to June 2015. The baseline social demographic information, sleep quality questionnaire, general anxiety disorder scale-7(GAD-7),patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), short-form 12 health survey questionnaire(SF-12), and enhancing recovery in coronary heart disease patients social inventory(ESSI) were completed within 7 days after admission. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the influencing factors of insomnia in ACS patients. Results: A total of 741 subjects with valid questionnaires were collected, including 510 males (68.8%) and 231 females (31.2%). Among them, 487 (65.7%) subjects had at least one insomnia symptom: 308 (41.6%) subjects had difficulty in falling asleep, 369 (49.8%) subjects were easy to wake at night, 116 (15.7%) subjects woke up earlier than they expected, 74 (10.0%) subjects experienced both woke up earlier and difficulty in falling asleep, and 53 (7.2%) subjects woke up earlier, woke up at night and had difficulty in falling asleep at the same time. Logistic regression analyses showed that before admission physical activity (OR =0.636, 95%CI 0.411-0.984), depression (OR=1.908, 95%CI 1.101-3.305) and low social support (OR=0.278, 95%CI 1.198-3.301) were independent factors of insomnia in ACS patients. Conclusions: Nearly 2/3 ACS patients have symptoms of insomnia. Difficulty in falling asleep and easy to wake up at night are the most common manifestations. Physical activity, depression and social support independently are associated with insomnia.

Path-Independent Quantum Gates with Noisy Ancilla

Ancilla systems are often indispensable to universal control of a nearly isolated quantum system. However, ancilla systems are typically more vulnerable to environmental noise, which limits the performance of such ancilla-assisted quantum control. To address this challenge of ancilla-induced decoherence, we propose a general framework that integrates quantum control and quantum error correction, so that we can achieve robust quantum gates resilient to ancilla noise. We introduce the path independence criterion for fault-tolerant quantum gates against ancilla errors. As an example, a path-independent gate is provided for superconducting circuits with a hardware-efficient design.

[A preliminary study of serum marker alpha-enolase in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of serum α-enolase (ENO1) in the primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: From May 2012 to March 2017, 163 cases with liver diseases who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. Among them, 28 cases were of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 31 cases with liver cirrhosis (LC), 104 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and 18 healthy volunteers (NC). Patient data and serum samples were collected and liver disease related indicators were measured to detect ENO1 levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The measured indicators were expressed in median. Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test was used to analyze the differences between the data. A Spearman's correlation analysis was used for bivariate correlation analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of ENO1 and alpha-fetoprotein in the diagnosis of liver cancer were analyzed by ROC curve. Results: Serum level of ENO1 in CHB group, LC group and HCC group was significantly higher than normal group. Serum level of ENO1 in HCC group was higher than CHB group (P = 0.001) and LC group (P < 0.01). Area under the curve (AUC) for serum ENO1 and alpha-fetoprotein were 0.782 (cut-off value 75.96, P = 0.000 1) and 0.800 (cut-off value 27.02, P = 0.000 1), respectively. There was a positive correlation between ENO1 and AFP (P = 0.001). The combined detection had significantly improved the detection efficiency (AUC = 0.835). Serum ENO1 was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in HCC tumor size (AUC = 0.663), tumor metastasis (AUC = 0.681), TNM stage (AUC = 0.710, stage I vs. II), and Edmondson grade (AUC = 0.685) (P < 0.05) and the elevated levels of ENO1 had significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the survival time. Conclusion: ENO1 can be a new candidate marker for the diagnosis of early stage HCC and its progression.

[Changes of sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin levels in male adults with hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid drug treatment]

Objective: To observe the changes of sex hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in young male patients with hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment. Methods: Between January 2015 and July 2016, forty male patients with hyperthyroidism aged 19-52 years (with an median age of 33.1 years) were enrolled in the Department of Endocrinology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Blood samples were taken before treatment and at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 5 months after treatment to evaluate thyroid function, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone(T), free testosterone(FT), estradiol(E2), prolactin and SHBG. Results: A total of 40 patients were enrolled but only 35 patients completed the follow-up. The patients had high levels of thyroid function, SHBG and sex hormones before treatment. Before treatment, free thyroxine (FT(4)), free triiodothyronine (FT(3)), SHBG, LH, estradiol, testosterone and free testosterone was (0.30±0.12) pmol/L, (9.68±4.73) pmol/L, (146±111) nmol/L, (8.41±3.61) U/L, (19.9±7.7) pmol/L, (29.9±9.5) nmol/L and (0.24±0.08) nmol/L, respectively. After treatment, the level of triiodothyronine, thyroxine, FT(3) and FT(4) gradually decreased to normal (all P<0.001). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) gradually increased to normal (P<0.001). LH and estradiol levels gradually decreased (all P<0.001). FSH decreased but the difference was not statistically significant. Prolactin did not change significantly. Testosterone and SHBG levels decreased significantly while the levels of free testosterone, free testosterone percentage (FT%), bio-available testosterone (BAT), bio-available testosterone percentage (BAT%), free androgen index (FAI) gradually increased and stabilized (all P<0.001). The difference was not statistically significant between T/LH and E2/LH before and after treatment (all P>0.05). However FT/LH gradually increased and its difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: The levels of LH, estradiol, testosterone and SHBG in male patients with hyperthyroidism significantly increased, while the free testosterone level decreased, but they all gradually returned to normal with the lowering of thyroid hormone levels during ATD treatment.

[Treatment of multi-segment fracture of complex femoral shaft with instrument-assisted reduction combined with intramedullary interlocking nail fixation]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of minimally invasive mini-incision and instrumented reduction combined with interlocking intramedullary nailing in the treatment of patients with multi-segment fracture of complex femoral shaft.

METHODS

From January 2013 to January 2016, 32 patients with multiple fractures segments of femoral shaft were treated with instrumentation-assisted reduction combined with interlocking intramedullary nailing, including 22 males and 10 females with an average age of 45 years old ranging 17 to 68 years old. The time from injured to operation was 5 to 10 days with an average of 7 days. After admission, routine tibial tubercle or supracondylar bone traction was performed. The patient's general condition was evaluated, the operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. According to Thorsen femoral fracture morphology evaluation criteria and Hohl knee function evaluation of postoperative efficacy, postoperative fracture healing, complications and postoperative recovery of limb function were observed.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months with an average of 12 months. The operative time ranged from 48 to 76 minutes with an average of 67 min. The intraoperative blood loss was 150 to 400 ml with an average of 220 ml. The surgical incisions all achieved grade A healing. The fractures reached the clinical standard of healing. The fracture healing time ranged from 4.2 to 10.8 months with an average of 5.7 months. There were no nonunion, incision infection and internal fixation fracture, failure and other complications. According to Thorsen femoral fracture morphology evaluation criteria, the result was excellent in 28 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case. According to Hohl knee function evaluation criteria, the result was excellent in 30 cases, good in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Instrument-assisted reduction combined with interlocking intramedullary nail fixation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of complex femoral shaft fractures. It has advantages of small trauma, fixed fixation, quick recovery, early postoperative functional exercise.

[Clinical features of renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocation/TFE3 gene fusions-single-center study]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment methods and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocation/TFE3 gene fusions (Xp11.2 tRCC). Methods: From January 2007 to February 2018, 48 patients were diagnosed with Xp11.2 tRCC at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The epidemiological features, treatment methods and long-term follow-up results were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 48 patients, 20 cases were female and 28 cases were male, aged from 2 to 72 years. Gross hematuria and flank pain were the most frequent symptoms, which occurred on 14 cases and 8 cases respectively. The mean tumor size of 48 cases was (5.3±2.5)cm. Among the 34 cases who were classified as stageⅠ/Ⅱ, 14 cases received laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery(NSS)and 20 cases received radical nephrectomy(RN). The other 14 cases who were classified as stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ received RN but one case received target therapy. On univariate analysis, tumor diameter, adjuvant treatment, AJCC stage, lymph node metastasis and vein tumor thrombosis showed association with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that AJCC stage (P=0.023, 95% CI: 0.048-0.081)and vein tumor thrombosis (P=0.046, 95% CI: 1.004-1.590)were independent prognostic factors of PFS. Conclusions: Xp11.2 tRCC mainly occurs in females. RN was the major method for Xp11.2 tRCC. However, NSS can also receive satisficed results for stage T1a case. High AJCC stage and the occurrence of vein tumor thrombosis indicated poor prognosis.

Single-Shot Readout of a Nuclear Spin Weakly Coupled to a Nitrogen-Vacancy Center at Room Temperature

Single-shot readout of qubits is required for scalable quantum computing. Nuclear spins are superb quantum memories due to their long coherence time, but are difficult to be read out in a single shot due to their weak interaction with probes. Here we demonstrate single-shot readout of a weakly coupled ^{13}C nuclear spin at room temperature, which is unresolvable in traditional protocols. States of the weakly coupled nuclear spin are trapped and read out projectively by sequential weak measurements, which are implemented by dynamical decoupling pulses. A nuclear spin coupled to the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center with strength 330 kHz is read out in 200 ms with a fidelity of 95.5%. This work provides a general protocol for single-shot readout of weakly coupled qubits at room temperature and therefore largely extends the range of physical systems for scalable quantum computing.

[Comparison of long-term dental treatment effects of children treated under general anesthesia and passive restraint]

Objective: To compare the long-term dental treatment effects, oral health habits and oral-health-related qualities of life of children treated under general anesthesia (GA) and passive restraint (PR), respectively. Methods: Twenty seven 2 to 4-year-old children treated under GA and thirty four children treated under PR were recruited in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. Up to 2 years after the treatment, a follow up assessment was conducted. The data of general information, dental plaque level and the unplanned treatments were recorded and analyzed. The questionnaire of oral health habits and early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) for each child was also completed and analyzed. The survival rate and median survival time of the deciduous teeth were calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed by using Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Twenty-five children under GA and 32 under PR were finally included, with a total of 1 098 deciduous teeth. The postoperative dental plaque indicesin both GA and PR groups had significantly improved than that of before the treatments (P=0.019, P<0.001). The oral health habits had also improved, and the improvement in PR group was more obvious than that in GA group. Totally 128 teeth (27.0%) appeared unplanned treatments in GA group and 232 teeth (37.2%) in PR group during the follow-ups. The new caries and recurrent caries in PR group were significantly more than that in GA group (P<0.001, P=0.012). No significant differences were found between the two groups in restoration failure, secondary caries and endodontic diseases (P=0.129, P=0.822, P=0.642). However, the time of occurrence of endodontic disease and secondary caries in GA group were significantly longer than that in PR group (P<0.01, P<0.001). The median survival time of teeth in GA group was 1 018 days comparing to 944 days in PR group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The survival rate was associated with such factors as decayed-missing-filled tooth (dmft), anterior or posterior teeth, feeding frequency, brushing habits and behavior management techniques. Conclusions: The long-term dental treatment effects of children treated under GA was significantly better than that of PR group. Continuous reinforcement of proper dietary and oral hygiene habits might help in maintaining the long-term treatment effect.

[Bioinformatics analysis of microRNA comprehensive regulatory network in B- cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

目的

通过生物信息分析途径，从系统水平揭示参与急性B淋巴细胞白血病（B-ALL）发病的分子机制，为研究提供新的思路。

方法

从公共数据库GEO中下载B-ALL的microRNA (miRNA）芯片数据，利用Qlucore Omics Explorer 3. 0软件筛选差异表达miRNA，再分析得到差异miRNA与靶基因、长链非编码RNA和转录因子各自的调控数据，然后构建以差异miRNA为中心的综合调控网络。另外，功能富集分析有功能的靶基因。

结果

共筛选出15个差异miRNA，其中7个miRNA表达上调，8个miRNA表达下调。通过差异miRNA为中心的综合调控网络可知，hsa-miR-126和hsa-miR-486-3p调控大量的靶基因，其中hsa-miR-126的靶基因包括MYC基因。hsa-miR-29a、hsa-miR-130a和hsa-miR-181c调控大量的长链非编码RNA，包括XIST。hsa-miR-181a-2、hsa-miR-181b-2和hsa-miR-663调控大量的转录因子，包括CDX2、YY1等。hsa-miR-126靶基因的通路分析显示富集到Wnt通路。

结论

通过生物信息学方法分析得出，hsa-miR-29a、hsa-miR-126和hsa-miR-181家族是B-ALL的核心差异miRNA，及其转录因子CDX2、长链非编码RNA XIST和靶基因MYC基因在B-ALL的发生发展中起重要作用，可能为潜在的治疗靶点。

Quantum many-body theory for electron spin decoherence in nanoscale nuclear spin baths

Decoherence of electron spins in nanoscale systems is important to quantum technologies such as quantum information processing and magnetometry. It is also an ideal model problem for studying the crossover between quantum and classical phenomena. At low temperatures or in light-element materials where the spin-orbit coupling is weak, the phonon scattering in nanostructures is less important and the fluctuations of nuclear spins become the dominant decoherence mechanism for electron spins. Since the 1950s, semi-classical noise theories have been developed for understanding electron spin decoherence. In spin-based solid-state quantum technologies, the relevant systems are in the nanometer scale and nuclear spin baths are quantum objects which require a quantum description. Recently, quantum pictures have been established to understand the decoherence and quantum many-body theories have been developed to quantitatively describe this phenomenon. Anomalous quantum effects have been predicted and some have been experimentally confirmed. A systematically truncated cluster-correlation expansion theory has been developed to account for the many-body correlations in nanoscale nuclear spin baths that are built up during electron spin decoherence. The theory has successfully predicted and explained a number of experimental results in a wide range of physical systems. In this review, we will cover this recent progress. The limitations of the present quantum many-body theories and possible directions for future development will also be discussed.

[Subtype classification of Garden III femoral neck fractures in the elderly based on frontal Garden index and its clinical significance]

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively study postoperative Garden III femoral neck fractures in the elderly so as to explore the different degree of displacement of Garden III femoral neck fracture, and discuss the basis and clinical significance of the subtype classification.

METHODS

A total of 492 patients with complete clinical data out of the 1397 patients with femoral neck fractures treated by closed reduction and internal fixation with cannulated compression screws from September 2005 to September 2010 were included in the study. Each patient's frontal Garden Index was measured. On the basis of the frontal Garden Index, these cases were divided into three types:type A, which frontal Garden Index was more than or equal to 140°, included 53 males and 84 females with an average age of(65.3±7.2) years old ranging from 60 to 75 years old; type B, more than 120°and less than 140°, included 79 males and 172 females with an average age of (67.5±3.6) years old;and type C, less than or equal to 120°, included 38 males and 66 with an average age of(68.6±5.7) years old. Aspects were followed up including complications, consequences and hip joint function. The fracture healing and femoral head necrosis were compared among three types.

RESULTS

Operative incision of 492 cases was primary healing, and no infection and other complications occurred. All patients were followed up from 2 to 10 years with an average of 6.3 years, the healing of femoral neck fracture occurred in 432 cases, and the total union rate was 87.8%. Femoral head necrosis occurred in 83 cases, and the total necrosis rate of femoral head was 16.9%. The nonunion rate of type A was 6.6%, type B was 13.5%, and type C was 16.3%, there were significant differences among three types(χ²2AB=4.377, P=0.036;χ²2AC=5.872, P=0.015;χ²2BC=0.469, PBC=0.494). The necrosis rate of femoral head of group A was 8.8%, group B was 16.7%, and group C was 27.9%, there were significant differences among three groups(χ²2AB=4.704, P=0.030;χ²2AC=15.317, P=0.000;χ²2BC=5.715, P=0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

It is different for the degree of displacement of Garden III femoral neck fracture in the elderly. Based on frontal Garden Index to differentiate degree of fracture displacement, Garden III femoral neck fracture would be divided into A, B and C subtypes. The prognosis of Garden III femoral neck fracture in the elderly is negatively related to its degree of displacement, which has clinical significance to make treatment plan for Garden III femoral neck fracture in the elderly.

Effect of phosphorylation and methylation on the function of the p16INK4a protein in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells

The p16^INK4a protein (p16) has been reported to be a tumor suppressor gene that suppresses the proliferation of cells through the direct inhibition of cell cycle progression. Accordingly, p16 is a potential target for cancer gene therapy. In the present study, the arginine 22, 131 and 138 residues of p16 were found to be methylation sites, as the mutation of these arginine residues to lysine resulted in the hypomethylation of p16. Furthermore, the protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), such as PRMT1, PRMT4 and PRMT6, were determined to be involved in the methylation of the p16 arginine residues. PRMT6 effectively reduced the intensity of the association between p16 and CDK4, and also weakened the function of p16 in preventing cell proliferation. In addition, the p16 protein was found to be phosphorylated in various cell lines, and mutations in the serine residues weakened the cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis mediated by p16. Preliminarily, the crosstalk between the phosphorylation and arginine methylation modification of p16 was examined. These findings predict a role for serine phosphorylation against arginine methylation of p16.

Risk of postoperative deep venous thrombosis in patients with colorectal cancer treated with open or laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Whether the incidence rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) between laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer surgery the same or not were under the debated without conclusion. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery by meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The open published articles comparing the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer were collected in the data bases of Medline, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials and CNKI. The relative risk (RR) was pooled by using random or fixed effect mode to evaluate the incidence of DVT between laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery.

RESULTS

After searching the databases, 9 randomized clinical studies with 2606 colorectal cancer cases were included in this meta-analysis. The mean operation time was 201.8 ± 17.28 min with its range of 180.0-224.4 min in the laparoscopic surgery group and 148.1 ± 18.8 min with its range of 135.0-184.0 min in the open surgery group. The operation time for laparoscopic surgery group were significant lower than in the open surgery group (P < 0.05). The RR of DVT between the laparoscopy and open surgery groups was 0.71 with its 95% confidence interval of 0.35-1.45 (P = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

The operation time in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery was statistical longer than in the open colorectal cancer surgery, but the DVT risk of the two surgery approach was not different according to this meta-analysis.

Effect of transplantation of marrow mesenchymal stem cells transfected with insulin-like growth factor-1 gene on fracture healing of rats with diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of transplantation of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transfected with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on fracture healing of rats with diabetes and discuss the gene therapy for diabetic fracture.

METHODS

60 8-week-old male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g were divided into the control group and experimental group at random. All of them suffered from right tibia fracture following the model of diabetes induced by streptozotocin. BMSCs were transfected with Ad- IGF-1 and BMSCs of the appropriate group were transplanted to part of the fracture area. 6 rats were selected from each group at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 weeks after the surgery. Local bone callus was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and IGF-1 in the bone callus and serum was tested.

RESULTS

Osteoid tissues formed at 3 weeks in the experimental group; mature lamellar bone formed at 7 weeks in the experimental group; fibrous bone callus was observed in the control group. IGF-1 in bone callus of the experimental group is increasing and significantly different from that of the control group (p < 0.05). Concentrations of IGF-1 in the serum of the two groups were increasing gradually from the first week. The control group reached its peak in the 5th week. The experimental group reached a high concentration in the 5th week and maintained a high concentration in the 7th week. The differences at various times between the two groups have statistical significance (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Transplantation of BMSCs transfected with IGF-1 gene can promote fracture healing of rats with diabetes (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 20).

Uncovering many-body correlations in nanoscale nuclear spin baths by central spin decoherence

Central spin decoherence caused by nuclear spin baths is often a critical issue in various quantum computing schemes, and it has also been used for sensing single-nuclear spins. Recent theoretical studies suggest that central spin decoherence can act as a probe of many-body physics in spin baths; however, identification and detection of many-body correlations of nuclear spins in nanoscale systems are highly challenging. Here, taking a phosphorus donor electron spin in a (29)Si nuclear spin bath as our model system, we discover both theoretically and experimentally that many-body correlations in nanoscale nuclear spin baths produce identifiable signatures in decoherence of the central spin under multiple-pulse dynamical decoupling control. We demonstrate that under control by an odd or even number of pulses, the central spin decoherence is principally caused by second- or fourth-order nuclear spin correlations, respectively. This study marks an important step toward studying many-body physics using spin qubits.

[Danhong injection, ligustrazine injection, combined adsorbable biomembranes prevented adhesion of tendons after the repair operation: a clinical research]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect and the mechanism of Danhong Injection (DI), Ligustrazine Injection (LI), and adsorbable biomembranes in preventing the adhesion of tendons and tissues.

METHODS

Totally 120 patients all suffering from simple flexor digitorum tendon rupture on the hand zone two damaged by sharp weapons were randomly assigned to Group A (Dikang adsorbable biomembrane), Group B (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane), Group C (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane + Ligustrazine group), and Group D (Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembrane + DI group) in accordance with random digit table, 30 cases in each group. Indicators such as total active movement (TAM) of the hand tendon, Minnesota manual dexterity test (MMDT), and finger flex strength test (FFST) were observed.

RESULTS

The TAM and the favorable rate were higher in Group C and D than in Group A and B at post-operative 4 and 8 week (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference between Group C and D (P > 0.05). Each index of MMDT was lower in Group C and D than in Group A and B (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in FFST among all the 4 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Combined application of LI or DI with Tianxinfu adsorbable biomembranes could effectively prevent the adhesion of tendons. DI showed equivalent effect as LI did. Besides, the combined application was superior in preventing adhesion to using Xintianfu adsorbable biomembrane or Dikan adsorbable biomembrane alone.

Efficiency enhancement in low-bandgap polymer solar cells by processing with alkane dithiols

High charge-separation efficiency combined with the reduced fabrication costs associated with solution processing and the potential for implementation on flexible substrates make 'plastic' solar cells a compelling option for tomorrow's photovoltaics. Attempts to control the donor/acceptor morphology in bulk heterojunction materials as required for achieving high power-conversion efficiency have, however, met with limited success. By incorporating a few volume per cent of alkanedithiols in the solution used to spin-cast films comprising a low-bandgap polymer and a fullerene derivative, the power-conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells (air-mass 1.5 global conditions) is increased from 2.8% to 5.5% through altering the bulk heterojunction morphology. This discovery can potentially enable morphological control in bulk heterojunction materials where thermal annealing is either undesirable or ineffective.

High prevalence of human papillomavirus type 58 in Chinese women with cervical cancer and precancerous lesions

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) among 332 Hong Kong Chinese women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The overall HPV positive rate was 44.3% with 18.6% (16/86) for normal/inflamed cervices, 36.4% (32/88) for condyloma, 64.7% (33/51) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN 1), 37.9% (11/29) for CIN 2, 68.3 (41/60) for CIN 3, and 77.8% (14/18) for carcinoma. Double HPV infection was detected in 17 of the 147 positive samples, with a significantly higher proportion in patients with normal or inflamed cervices than those with CIN or carcinoma (31.3% vs 10.5%, P =.029). The six most commonly identified genotypes were HPV 16 (33.3%), HPV 58 (23.8%), HPV 11, 18, 31 (8.8% each), and HPV 33 (6.8%). The worldwide uncommon genotype HPV 58 was found to be the second most common genotype detected in patients with cervical carcinoma (6 of 18 patients). HPV 58 infection showed a significant association with CIN/carcinoma (odds ratio [OR] = 3.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-14.35) and a significant trend of increase in prevalence with increasing severity of cervical lesion (chi(2) = 5.84; P =.016). Among Hong Kong Chinese women with abnormal cervical cytology, the detection of HPV 58 carried a positive predictive value of 68.6% for a cervical lesion of CIN 1 or higher severity. The high prevalence of HPV 58 among Chinese women, particularly in patients with carcinoma, has an implication on the design of HPV detection methods and the development of vaccines.

kdgREcc negatively regulates genes for pectinases, cellulase, protease, HarpinEcc, and a global RNA regulator in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora

Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora produces extracellular pectate lyase (Pel), polygalacturonase (Peh), cellulase (Cel), and protease (Prt). The concerted actions of these enzymes largely determine the virulence of this plant-pathogenic bacterium. E. carotovora subsp. carotovora also produces HarpinEcc, the elicitor of the hypersensitive reaction. We document here that KdgREcc (Kdg, 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate; KdgR, general repressor of genes involved in pectin and galacturonate catabolism), a homolog of the E. chrysanthemi repressor, KdgREch and the Escherichia coli repressor, KdgREco, negatively controls not only the pectinases, Pel and Peh, but also Cel, Prt, and HarpinEcc production in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora. The levels of pel-1, peh-1, celV, and hrpNEcc transcripts are markedly affected by KdgREcc. The KdgREcc- mutant is more virulent than the KdgREcc+ parent. Thus, our data for the first time establish a global regulatory role for KdgREcc in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora. Another novel observation is the negative effect of KdgREcc on the transcription of rsmB (previously aepH), which specifies an RNA regulator controlling exoenzyme and HarpinEcc production. The levels of rsmB RNA are higher in the KdgREcc- mutant than in the KdgREcc+ parent. Moreover, by DNase I protection assays we determined that purified KdgREcc protected three 25-bp regions within the transcriptional unit of rsmB. Alignment of the protected sequences revealed the 21-mer consensus sequence of the KdgREcc-binding site as 5'-G/AA/TA/TGAAA[N6]TTTCAG/TG/TA-3'. Two such KdgREcc-binding sites occur in rsmB DNA in a close proximity to each other within nucleotides +79 and +139 and the third KdgREcc-binding site within nucleotides +207 and +231. Analysis of lacZ transcriptional fusions shows that the KdgR-binding sites negatively affect the expression of rsmB. KdgREcc also binds the operator DNAs of pel-1 and peh-1 genes and represses expression of a pel1-lacZ and a peh1-lacZ transcriptional fusions. We conclude that KdgREcc affects extracellular enzyme production by two ways: (i) directly, by inhibiting the transcription of exoenzyme genes; and (ii) indirectly, by preventing the production of a global RNA regulator. Our findings support the idea that KdgREcc affects transcription by promoter occlusion, i.e., preventing the initiation of transcription, and by a roadblock mechanism, i.e., by affecting the elongation of transcription.

Detection of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients with the 38-kilodalton antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a rapid membrane-based assay

A rapid membrane-based serologic assay using the 38-kDa antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) was evaluated with 201 patients with pulmonary TB, 67 patients with extrapulmonary TB, 79 Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated healthy controls, and 77 non-TB respiratory patients. The overall sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values were, respectively, 92, 92, 84, and 96% for sputum-positive TB patients; 70, 92, 87, and 79% for sputum-negative TB patients; and 76, 92, 80, and 90% for extrapulmonary-TB patients. Only 2% (1 of 44) of the healthy control BCG-vaccinated subjects gave weak positive signals in the assay, indicating that this rapid serological assay is a valuable aid in clinical diagnosis for both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB.

[The study of the relationships between the processes of denucleation and vimentin, lamin]

By employing K-RRneo cells which were cybridized between rabbit reticulocytes and the K562 cells, the relationships between the denucleation and vimentin/lamin were studied. It was demonstrated that, accompanying with the differentiation and denucleation of K-RRneo cells, the expression of vimentin mRNA and lamin proteins were significantly reduced. These results testified our earlier conclusion drawn from the whole mount and Western blot studies, and would provide a basis for further elucidation of the mechanism of erythroblast denucleation.

[Nuclear matrix-intermediate filament scaffold of cybrid cells crossed between rabbit reticulocytes and K562 cells]

To elucidate the role of the mammalian erythroid cytoplasmic factor on erythroid cell denucleation, cybridization of neo gene transferred rabbit reticulocytes with human K562 erythroleukemia cells was performed, the structure and composition of the nuclear matrix-intermediate filaments (NM-IF) system of the reticulocytes, K562 cells and the cybrids between them, the K-RRneo Cells, were studied by employing the techniques of selective extraction and whole mount electron microscopy. It was shown that regional condensation of nuclear matrix with a thinned nuclear lamina were seen in the cybrids, while the intermediate filaments exhibited a network pattern reorganization comparatively similar with those of reticulocytes but different from the radiation pattern of the K562 cells. SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis also revealed that the proteins affinity to vimentin antibody in the cybrids migrate in a pattern similar with that of the rabbit reticulocytes, both of them with only residual depolymerized vimentin complex but not the polymerized vimentin band of 55 kd. These results suggested that the factors in the cytoplasm of the rabbit reticulocytes might function through a mechanism of vimentin depolymerization or blockage of gene expression, which finally resulted in destruction of intermediate filaments that facilitates the expellation of nucleus from cytoplasm.

Elimination of malignant clonogenic cells from human bone marrow using multiple myeloid cell-specific monoclonal antibodies and complement

Single or combined monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) Zh53, Zh820, and Zh2-1 have been used to eliminate malignant clonogenic cells from human bone marrow. The test of cytotoxicity showed that all of these McAbs could express high specific cytotoxic action against HL-60 cells and were selectively complement-dependent cytotoxic to various types of fresh leukemic cells. Clonogenic assay detected that single treatment with antibody and rabbit complement (RC) could reduce clonogenic units of HL-60 cells by more than 2 logs and two treatments reduced clonogenic units by more than 4 logs. However, combination of 2 McAbs could reduce clonogenic units by 4-5 logs. The data suggest that multiple treatments with McAbs and RC or a combination of 2 McAbs are more effective than a single treatment in eliminating clonogenic tumor cells. Treatment of normal human bone marrow with Zh53, Zh2-1 and RC did not produce a loss of normal CFU-GM, but treatment with Zh820 reduced the clonic units of normal CFU-GM by 24%.

[Diagnostic significance of carcinoembryonic antigen measurement in bronchial lavage fluids in bronchial carcinoma]

Using monoclonal antibody against CEA, we have measured carcino-embryonic antigen in bronchial lavage fluids and sera in 36 pts with bronchial carcinoma. Simultaneously, 28 pts and 36 pts were performed with bronchial brush biopsy and cytological examination respectively. There were 25 cases with other pulmonary diseases such as TB and pneumonia as control. CEA levels of lavage fluids, sera in malignant group and control were 42.2 +/- 44.9; 12.8 +/- 23.6; and 8 +/- 11.6; 1.6 +/- 2.4 (ng/ml) respectively. CEA lavage was adjusted with albumin concentration in each case. The results showed: (1) 83.3% of malignant patients were greater than 10 ng/ml in lavage fluids and 16% in non-malignant group. Positive rate was higher than controls (P less than 0.01). (2) CEA level of lavage fluids was higher than that of sera in malignancy (P less than 0.01). (3) There were 16 patients with negative bronchial brush biopsy in malignant group but they were 93.7% positive for CEA measurement of lavage fluids. It is reasonable to consider that CEA measurement in bronchial lavage fluid is an important technique for the supplementary of bronchogenic carcinoma.

Studies on response characteristics of drug ISE's (VII)--performance and theoretical treatment of microcells connected in series

A new type of MCCS (microcells connected in series) has been constructed and its performances investigated. It has been applied to the determination of streptomycin. The sensitivity and accuracy have been increased significantly. A theoretical model for the error of determination using the MCCS has been suggested and proved experimentally using the Monte Carlo method, and the error model proposed in Ref. [1] revised.

Uptake of oleate from albumin solutions by rat liver. Failure to detect catalysis of the dissociation of oleate from albumin by an albumin receptor

The hepatic removal of albumin-bound substances from plasma requires that they dissociate from albumin. Using indirect methods, we and others have proposed that dissociation may be catalyzed by interaction of albumin with the liver cell surface. This study looked for direct evidence of catalysis by comparing the rate of dissociation of oleate from albumin in vitro with the rate observed within the sinusoids of perfused rat liver. No evidence for catalysis was found. The rate of hepatic oleate removal from dilute albumin solutions did not exceed but instead closely paralleled the rate predicted from the in vitro dissociation rate constant (0.14s-1). These results suggest that under some conditions the liver can remove unbound material from the sinusoids faster than it can be replenished by dissociation from albumin, resulting in dissociation-limited removal. However, dissociation of oleate does not appear to be catalyzed by the liver.

Characterization of non-transferrin-bound iron clearance by rat liver

Recent evidence suggests that the hepatic iron-loading characteristic of hemochromatosis may result in part from efficient hepatic clearance of non-transferrin-bound iron, which is increased in this disorder. However, this hypothesis assumes that hepatic clearance remains highly efficient despite excess iron stores. We therefore studied hepatic uptake of non-transferrin-bound iron in the single-pass perfused rat liver under varying conditions. Animals were iron loaded or depleted by dietary manipulation, but no changes in the efficiency of ferrous iron uptake or the kinetic parameters were seen (single-pass extraction, 59-74%; Km, 16-19 microM; Vmax, 30-32 nmol X min-1 X g liver-1). Added divalent zinc, cobalt, and manganese ions reversibly inhibited ferrous iron uptake and the inhibition by zinc was shown to be competitive. Uptake required calcium, was markedly temperature-sensitive (delta E = 14.3 Kcal/mol), and was relatively insensitive to inhibition of cellular energy metabolism. Particles consistent with ferritin cores were seen in lysosomes of hepatic parenchymal cells within 30 min of perfusion with ferrous iron. These results suggest that ferrous iron is cleared from plasma by a passive, saturable transport process that is not regulated by the iron content of the liver and that may be shared with other transition metal ions. Because clearance is highly efficient, increased levels of non-transferrin-bound iron in plasma may present the liver with an obligatory iron load resulting in progressive accumulation and toxicity.

Efficient clearance of non-transferrin-bound iron by rat liver. Implications for hepatic iron loading in iron overload states

In hemochromatosis and other disorders associated with iron overload, a significant fraction of the total iron in plasma circulates in the form of low molecular weight complexes not bound to transferrin. Efficient and unregulated clearance of this form of iron by the liver may account for the hepatic iron loading and toxicity that characterize these diseases. We tested this possibility by examining the hepatic removal process for representative iron complexes in the single-pass perfused rat liver. Hepatic uptake of both ferrous and ferric 55Fe from ultrafiltered human serum was found to be highly efficient and effectively irreversible (single-pass extraction of 1 microM iron, 58-75%). Similar high efficiencies were seen for iron complexed to specific physiologic and nonphysiologic coordinators, including histidine, citrate, fructose, oxalate and glutamate, and tricine. Because of lower plasma flow rates, single-pass extraction of these iron complexes in vivo should be even greater. Autoradiography confirmed that most iron had been removed by parenchymal cells. Hepatic removal from Krebs-tricine buffer was saturable with similar kinetic parameters for ferrous and ferric iron (apparent Km, 14-22 microM; V max, 24-38 nmol min-1 g liver-1). These findings suggest that high levels of non-transferrin-bound iron in plasma may be an important cause of hepatic iron loading in iron overload states.

Sex differences in hepatic uptake of long chain fatty acids in single-pass perfused rat liver

The primary determinants of hepatic uptake of long chain fatty acids have been considered to be the plasma concentrations of fatty acid and albumin, with little or no intrinsic control by the hepatocyte itself. However, recent studies of liver cell suspensions have shown that in immature, adult, castrated, and hormone-treated rats, sex steroids exert striking effects on [(14)C]oleate uptake and utilization (which were significantly increased by estradiol and diminished by testosterone). To determine whether these observed sex differences in fatty acid uptake also were present in the intact liver, single-pass [(14)C]oleate uptake was measured in isolated perfused livers. Livers from sexually mature female and male rats were perfused single-pass with albumin-bound [(14)C]oleate in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer. Net uptake, calculated as the product of the transhepatic difference in (14)C-labeled fatty acid concentration and perfusate flow rate, reached a steady-state within 1 min and remained constant throughout the 10-min perfusion period. At 0.17 mM [(14)C]oleate and 0.15 mM albumin, extraction fraction and net uptake of [(14)C]oleate per gram liver were more than twice as great in females as in male livers (0.33 +/- 0.03 versus 0.15 +/- 0.02, P < 0.001; and 218 +/- 22 versus 101 +/- 15 nmol/g liver, P < 0.01, with parallel differences in [(14)C]oleate total utilization and incorporation into triglycerides. Significant differences in uptake also were observed at higher [(14)C]oleate concentrations (0.34 and 0.68 mM). Under all conditions, oxidation of [(14)C]oleate in female liver equaled or exceeded that in male liver, indicating that the increased incorporation into triglycerides and other glycerolipids was not simply the result of differences in the distribution of [(14)C]oleate among cellular metabolic pathways. These studies demonstrate that in the intact liver, as in isolated hepatocytes, there are profound sex differences in the uptake of long chain fatty acids. This difference may account in part for the observed sex steroid effects on hepatic triglyceride biosynthesis and VLDL production. The mechanism of these uptake differences remains to be determined.-Kushlan, M. C., J. L. Gollan, W-L. Ma, and R. K. Ockner. Sex differences in hepatic uptake of long chain fatty acids in single-pass perfused rat liver.