Singlet oxygen induces cell wall thickening and stomatal density reducing by transcriptome reprogramming

Singlet oxygen (1O2) has a very short half-life of 10-5 s; however, it is a strong oxidant that causes growth arrest and necrotic lesions on plants. Its signaling pathway remains largely unknown. The Arabidopsis flu (fluorescent) mutant accumulates a high level of 1O2 and shows drastic changes in nuclear gene expression. Only two plastid proteins, EX1 (executer 1) and EX2 (executer 2), have been identified in the singlet oxygen signaling. Here, we found that the transcription factor abscisic acid insensitive 4 (ABI4) binds the promoters of genes responsive to 1O2-signals. Inactivation of the ABI4 protein in the flu/abi4 double mutant was sufficient to compromise the changes of almost all 1O2-responsive-genes and rescued the lethal phenotype of flu grown under light/dark cycles, similar to the flu/ex1/ex2 triple mutant. In addition to cell death, we reported for the first time that 1O2 also induces cell wall thickening and stomatal development defect. Contrastingly, no apparent growth arrest was observed for the flu mutant under normal light/dim light cycles, but the cell wall thickening (doubled) and stomatal density reduction (by two-thirds) still occurred. These results offer a new idea for breeding stress tolerant plants.

Real-World Evaluation of Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Recommendations of adjuvant therapy after surgical resection of UTUC was updated in NCCN guideline of 2021.Adjuvant radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy was recommended for patients of T3-4 or N+. However, the renal insufficiency after RNU limits the use of adjuvant chemotherapy of UTUC. Adjuvant radiotherapy alone may be another option. This study aims to verify the real-world choices and effectiveness of adjuvant therapies in UTUC patients with recurrence risk factors.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with high recurrence factors (T2-4, N+, G3 and multifocal tumor) of UTUC patients after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in our hospital since 2020 were prospectively recommended to use adjuvant therapy. Patients' adverse events, recurrence and survival rates were investigated. This trial was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100044477).

RESULTS

Between 2020 and 2022, 195 UTUC patients with recurrence factors had been enrolled. The median follow up time was 13 months. Nearly half of the patients (90 patient) with high-risk factors refused to receive adjuvant treatment. The other 105 patients received adjuvant therapy. Thirty-six patients (34.3%) received adjuvant chemotherapy; 43 patients (41.0%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. Fifteen patients (14.3%) received adjuvant combination therapy (chemo-radiotherapy). The 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were59.4% and77.5%, respectively in control group and adjuvant therapy group (P = 0.008). The 1-year overall survival (OS) rates were 89.7% and 98.2%, respectively in control group and adjuvant therapy group (P = 0.011). The 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were 58.6%.and 90.2% (P = 0.003). The combination therapy group had the most serious side effects, grade 3 and 2 hematotoxicity were 40% and 20% respectively. Grade 3 hematotoxicity were 22.2% for adjuvant chemotherapy group. Side effects of adjuvant radiotherapy alone were mild. Only one patient had grade 3 hematotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Although both NCCN guidelines suggest UTUC patient with more than T2 stage and N+ to receive adjuvant therapy, nearly half of them refused any adjuvant therapies. The prognosis of these patients without adjuvant therapy were poor. The side effects of chemoradiotherapy in UTUC is serious. Adjuvant radiotherapy has less side effects and the effectiveness are equivalent to adjuvant chemotherapy in high risk UTUC patients.

Integration of Multiparameter MRI into Conventional Pretreatment Risk Factors to Predict Adverse Features after Radical Prostatectomy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The purpose of this study was to Integration of Multiparameter MRI into conventional pretreatment risk factors to develop nomogram for the prediction of adverse features (i.e., positive margin (PM) or extra-prostatic extension (EPE)) indicated for postoperative radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We analyzed 203 histologically proven prostate cancer patients underwent preoperative 3T multiparametric MRI including high b value (0, 1500 s/mm2) diffusion-weighted imaging between 2019 and 2022 at our hospital. Patients with a history of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, or patients whose surgeon's experience was ≤3 years were excluded. Age, surgical technique, serum PSA level, PSA density, clinical T stage, and biopsy Gleason score were clinical predictors. MRI parameters include prostate volume, tumor size, ECE score, seminal vesicle invasion score, tumor location (apex, peripheral region, or bladder neck), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), tumor contact length (TCL), PI-RADS score. Predictors were used in nomograms developed from multivariable logistic regression analysis to estimate the probability of positive margin (PM) or extra-prostatic extension (EPE) after RP. The nomogram's predictive accuracy and discriminative ability were determined by the concordance index with calibration and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

(1) Patient characters: Table 1 lists the MRI characteristics of the patients. Median PSA level is 17.6ng/ml. All patients received extra-fascial resection. 44% of the patients underwent robotic surgery. 24% of the patients had positive margins. In 226 patients who was clinically confined to the prostate, 100 (44%) had a postoperative pathological upgrade of pT3a or above. 46 (29%) of the 158 patients with biopsy grade group (GG)1 was confirmed GG3-5 after RP.

CONCLUSION

Using mpMRI parameters and clinicopathological information, we produced nomograms that may accurately predict adverse Features that are indications for postoperative radiotherapy after RP, which may help individualize treatment decision-making.

Safety and Efficacy of Radiotherapy Combined with Chemotherapy for Recurrent Metastatic Renal Pelvic and Ureteral Carcinoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To retrospectively investigate the safety and efficacy of radiotherapy combined with systemic chemotherapy for recurrent metastatic renal pelvic and ureteral carcinoma.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 109 patients were enrolled in this study, including 44 patients in the Radio-chemotherapy group and 65 patients in the Chemotherapy group. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the clinical baseline characteristics of the two groups by 1:1 matching. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) before and after matching. Prognostic factors were analyzed by Cox proportional risk model. Treatment-related adverse events were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 5.0.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 14.5 months. Multivariate analysis showed that radiotherapy was a good independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with recurrent metastatic renal pelvic and ureteral carcinoma (HR: 0.327, 95% CI: 0.157∼0.680, P = 0.003). After matching, there were 40 patients in the Radio-chemotherapy group and 40 patients in the Chemotherapy group, and the median PFS and median OS in the Radio-chemotherapy group were better than those in the Chemotherapy group (PFS: 10.4 months vs. 6.7 months, P = 0.035; OS: 43.5 months vs. 18.8 months, P<0.001). The 1-year OS and 2-year OS of the Radio-chemotherapy group were higher than those of the Chemotherapy group (1-year OS: 88.1% vs. 70.4%; 2-year OS: 81.1% vs. 39.3%). In addition, in the Radio-chemotherapy group, patients treated with radiotherapy before first-line chemotherapy failure had longer PFS than those treated with radiotherapy after chemotherapy failure (median PFS: 15.7 months vs. 6 months, P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in the incidence of grade 3∼4 toxicities between the Radio-chemotherapy group and the Chemotherapy group (52.3% vs. 50.8%, P = 0.878).

CONCLUSION

For patients with advanced renal pelvic and ureteral carcinoma, adding radiotherapy on the basis of systemic chemotherapy is well tolerable and expected to bring long-term survival benefits to patients, and the benefits of early interventional radiotherapy may be more obvious.

Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy Boost to Bladder Tumor for Bladder Preservation in Patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Previous studies showed that selective bladder-sparing approach using TMT is an established therapy of MIBC with outcomes that are comparable to those of radical cystectomy. However, it has been shown that the 5-year local recurrence in the bladder is greater than 40% after TMT. One of the possible reasons was that the RT dose to the bladder tumor or tumor bed was insufficient. Thus, we assessed the effectiveness and safety of Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) boost to bladder tumor or tumor bed for patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 59 consecutive patients with cT2-4 bladder cancer underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). TURBT was visibly complete in 25 cases. Patients received SABR to the tumor or tumor bed in the bladder followed by conventionally fractionated RT (CFRT) to pelvis and total bladder with concomitant weekly radio-sensitizing chemotherapy. During SABR intravesical installation of isovolumetric saline through urinary catheter ensured adequate bladder filling. Response rate was assessed by cystoscopic evaluation and pelvic MRI or CT. Toxicities were reported per the RTOG acute and late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Schema.

RESULTS

The median age of all patients was 76 years (35-90 years). All patients completed SBRT boost and 61% patients received concurrent Gemcitabine chemotherapy. After a median follow-up time of 28 months, the rate of local control (LC) at 3 years was 90.0%. The overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates at 3 years were 61.6% and 77.5%, respectively. Of the surviving patients, 84.4% have a disease-free and functioning bladder. Acute grade 3 gastrointestinal (GI) or genitourinary (GU) toxicities occurred in only 1.7% of the patients. Late grade 3 GU toxicity occurred in 5.1% of the patients. No patients experienced grade 4 GI or GU toxicities.

CONCLUSION

SABR boost followed by chemoradiation to the pelvis was found to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for MIBC patients who are either not candidates for cystectomy or who desire bladder preservation. Randomized study is required to further evaluate this novel tri-modality treatment paradigm.

Effect of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Highly Malignant Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer: An Interim Analysis of Non-Randomized Comparative Trials

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Gleason grade group 5 (GG5) prostate cancers is aggressive with high metastatic rates and is not sensitive to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Even the presence of a limited (tertiary) Gleason pattern 5 component may have high aggressive biological behavior. This study aims to prospectively evaluate whether a non-androgen receptor pathway therapy - adjuvant chemotherapy could improve clinical outcomes among non-metastatic prostate cancer with the above highly malignant characters.

MATERIALS/METHODS

This prospective non-randomized clinical trial included non-metastatic prostate cancer patients with pathologically proven Gleason score of 9-10 or tertiary Gleason pattern 5. Each subject was allowed to decide whether to receive four to six cycles chemotherapy of docetaxel after receiving a standard treatment (i.e., radical surgery ± radiotherapy or radical radiotherapy combined with long-term ADT). The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS). Event was defined as any of biochemical failure or imaging failure, or change of systemic therapy due to PSA arises, or death. The secondary end points were distant metastasis-free survival (MFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events.

RESULTS

A total of 188 consecutive patients were enrolled from November 2019 to November 2022. Median prostate-specific antigen was 26.6 ng/ml. 52% had T3b to T4 disease, 27% had N1 disease. 140 patients received standard therapy only, and 48 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy after radical therapy. The median follow-up time was 18.4 (3.0-36.7) months. The estimated 36-month EFS of the chemotherapy group and the control group were 94.7% vs. 72.8% (p = 0.044). There were 1 event who added novel endocrine therapy in the chemotherapy group, and 21 events in the control group, including 6 cases of biochemical recurrence and 9 cases of lymph node and distant metastasis, 4 cases that changed systemic therapy and 2 cases died. The MFS of the two groups at 36 months were 100% and 90.7%, respectively (P = 0.143). After the 1:1 propensity score match, the EFS and MFS of the two groups were 94.7% and 80.8% (P = 0.069), and 100% and 93.1% (P = 0.132), respectively. The urinary toxicity of grade 2 and 3 in the chemotherapy group and the control group were 4.2% and 7.1% (P = 0.134) while the grade 2 rectal toxicity were 5.0% and 10.4% (P = 0.317), respectively. No grade 4 toxicity occurred. Considering the chemotherapy-related side effects, grade 3 or above toxicity were leukopenia (41.7%), alopecia (27.1%), thrombocytopenia (2.1%) and edema (2.1%).

CONCLUSION

Results of this interim analysis shows that the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy after standard radical therapy tends to improve the overall recurrence and metastasis free survival of patients with highly malignant prostate cancer, and the adverse effects are tolerable, which should be confirmed by long-term follow-up results.

Outcomes of Targeted Therapy Plus Immunotherapy and High-Dose Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) for Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Patients

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is one of the treatment options for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) but is limited by a lack of data to evaluate targeted therapy plus immunotherapy concurrently with high-dose SABR to multiple sites. We evaluated the safety and disease control for mRCC patients who concurrently received the above tri-modality treatment.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients were treated with SABR (40-70 Gy/5-10 fractions) for small lesions or partial-SABR (tumor center boosted with 6-8 Gy/3-5 fractions with 50-60 Gy/20-25 fractions to the whole tumor volume) for bulky tumors or tumors adjacent to critical organs. When SABR/partial-SABR was not feasible, a moderate fractionated radiotherapy plan, usually 60Gy/20 fractions were applied. of Targeted therapy plus immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitor) was not interrupted during or after radiotherapy (RT). Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated. Disease control rate (DCR), objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. The PFS1 was defined as the first progression since the start of RT. The PFS2 was defined as the second progression after the second RT course, if new metastases occurred after first RT were all re-irradiated, and the systemic therapy was not changed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for time-to-event endpoints.

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients, with a median age of 57 yr, were enrolled. The median follow-up was 12 months. There were 75% of patients with intermediate-risk and 18% with favorable-risk disease. 61% of the patients were oligometastatic. 71% had clear cell renal cancer. There were 241 metastases while 161 (67%) were irradiated. 80% of the lesions received SABRP/partial SABR. 1 patient with 14 lesions irradiated received proton therapy. All the surviving patients are continuing using targeted therapy while 81% patients complete at least 1-year PD-1 therapy. 10 patients (20%) had grade 3 drug-related AEs: pneumonitis (n = 2), elevated alanine transaminase (n = 4), myositis (n = 1), hand-foot syndrome myositis (n = 1), enteritis (n = 1), fatigue (n = 1). There were 1 grade 4 AEs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. No grade 3-5 RT-related AEs was found. ORR and DCR for irradiated lesion were 51% and 98%. Median OS and PFS2 was not reached. Median PFS1 was 14(6-22) months. Estimated 1- and 2-yr OS, PFS1 and PFS2 were 90% and 90%, 56% and 38%, 74% and 51% respectively. Univariate analysis showed that an PFS1 benefit was found in patients who received radiation before systemic therapy failure (p = 0.038).

CONCLUSION

We investigated the high-dose RT in combination of concurrent targeted and immunotherapy in patients with metastatic RCC. We found that this treatment regimen was well tolerated, with good cancer control. Early use of high-dose RT to multi-lesions may improve PFS. Partial-SABR for bulky lesions close to critical organs could be safely and effectively applied under certain circumstances. These encouraging findings warrant further investigation.

Progress in research of non-cirrhotic chronic viral hepatitis with osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is one of the complications of chronic viral hepatitis related cirrhosis, and the pathogenesis and treatment methods for osteoporosis have been extensively studied. However, whether chronic viral hepatitis is the risk factor for osteoporosis is still controversial. Some studies have demonstrated the relationship between them, but there is still no systematic judgment on its pathogenesis and treatment. In this review, we systematically summarize the risk, possible pathogenesis, and treatment scheme of osteoporosis secondary to non-cirrhosis chronic viral hepatitis, with an aim to clarify the relationship between chronic viral hepatitis and osteoporosis, remind clinicians to be alert to the possibility of osteoporosis complicated by chronic viral hepatitis, and provide support for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Two new photoactive metal-organic compounds for degradation of methylene blue and treatment in ophthalmic local anesthesia

Two new metal-organic compounds, namely [Cu(CrO₄)(4,4'-bipy)(H₂O)]·n(H₂O) (1) together with [Mn(Cr₂O₇)(bpp)₂]_n (2) (4,4'-bipy is 4,4'-bipyridine and bpp is 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane), were hydrothermally generated, which were characterized structurally through a series of characterization techniques. Moreover, compounds 1 and 2 have 2.95 eV and 3.02 eV of narrow optical band gap values, and possess outstanding photocatalytic effects for the methylene blue degradation under irradiation of visible light. The application of above compounds in the ophthalmic local anesthesia was examined and the specific mechanism was tested. First of all, the acetylcholine content in the synaptic cleft was measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay after treated with the CPs. The acetylcholine receptor relative expression on nerve cells was subsequently measured via real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) under the treatment of compounds. In the end, the complexes' toxicity was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) detection.

[Spatial Characteristics and Potential Ecological Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Cultivated Land in the Transition Zone of a Mountain Plain]

The purpose of this study was to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and potential ecological risk factors of heavy metal pollution in cultivated soil in the transitional zone of a typical mountain plain. In this study, a county in Sichuan Province, which has the typical transitional topography of the Chengdu Plain-Longmen Mountain transition zone, was taken as the study area. Geostatistics and potential ecological risk index methods were used to analyze the spatial distribution of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn from cultivated land in the study area, and a potential ecological risk assessment was carried out. This was combined with geographical detector analysis to further explore the main influencing factors leading to the spatial difference in potential ecological risk. The results showed that:① The average values of ω(Cd), ω(Cr), ω(Cu), ω(Pb), and ω(Zn) of cultivated land in the study area were 0.39, 123.00, 31.28, 51.04, and 119.66 mg·kg^-1, respectively, which were more than 2.60, 1.59, 1.19, 2.00, and 1.54 times the soil background value in the study area. ② The high value areas of Cd and Cr in cultivated land in the study area were mainly distributed in the west of the mountain area, the south of the transition zone, and the west of the plain area; the high value areas of Cu and Zn were mainly distributed in the west of the mountain area; the high value areas of Pb were mainly distributed in the south of the transition zone and the west of the plain area; and the low values of the five heavy metals were mainly distributed in the north of the transition zone. ③ The soil of cultivated land in the study area was dominated by slight potential ecological risk, and the average value of potential ecological risk index of heavy metals was Cd(32.58) > Pb(3.12) > Cu(2.82) > Cr(1.58) > Zn(0.98). Cd was the main factor causing the potential ecological risk of cultivated land in the study area. ④ There were significant differences in the key influencing factors of soil potential ecological risk of cultivated land in different topographic regions of the study area. The distance from the river and the soil type were the key factors affecting the mountain area; the multiple cropping index and the distance from the industry and mine were the key factors affecting the transition zone, and the soil pH value and the amount of chemical fertilizer were the key factors affecting the plain area.

Prediction models for development of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem in Asian-Pacific regions. Antiviral therapy reduces, but does not completely prevent, HCC development. Thus, there is a need for accurate risk prediction to assist prognostication and decisions on the need for antiviral therapy and HCC surveillance. A few risk scores have been developed to predict the occurrence of HCC in CHB patients. Initially, the scores were derived from untreated CHB patients. With the development and extensive clinical application of nucleos(t)ide analog(s) (NA), the number of risk scores based on treated CHB patients has increased gradually. The components included in risk scores may be categorized into host factors and hepatitis B virus factors. Hepatitis activities, hepatitis B virus factors, and even liver fibrosis or cirrhosis are relatively controlled by antiviral therapy. Therefore, variables that are more dynamic during antiviral therapy have since been included in risk scores. However, host factors are more difficult to modify. Most existing scores derived from Asian populations have been confirmed to be accurate in predicting HCC development in CHB patients from Asia, while these scores have not offered excellent predictability in Caucasian patients. These findings support that more relevant variables should be considered to provide individualized predictions that are easily applied to CHB patients of different ethnicities. CHB patients should receive different intensities of HCC surveillance according to their risk category.

Phase transitions in the classical exchange-anisotropic Kitaev-Heisenberg model

The Kitaev model on the honeycomb lattice has been receiving substantial attention due to the discovery of quantum spin liquid state associated with this model. Consequently, its classical partners such as the Kitaev-Heisenberg (KH) model and associated phase transitions become concerned. Specifically, an intermediate Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) phase engaged in the transition from the high-temperature (T) disordered state to the low-T sixfold degenerate state is predicted in the isotropic KH model [Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 187201 (2012)10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.187201], but so far no sufficient experimental proof has been reported. In this work, we consider an essential extension of this KH model on the honeycomb lattice by including the Kitaev exchange anisotropy that is non-negligible in realistic materials. The associated phase transitions are thus investigated using the Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that such an anisotropy will result in a degradation of the sixfold degeneracy of the ground state in the isotropic KH model down to the fourfold or twofold degenerate ground state, and the finite-T phase transitions will also be modified remarkably. Interestingly, the intermediate KT phase can be suppressed by this Kitaev exchange anisotropy. This work thus provides a more realistic description of the physics ingredient with the KH model and presents a possible explanation on absence of the intermediate phase in real materials where the Kitaev exchange anisotropy can be more or less available.

[Effect of the small needle knife through the Zusanli(ST 36) on behavior and hippocampal expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in myalgia comorbid depressed rats]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of the small needle knife through the Zusanli(ST 36) on behavior and hippocampal expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in myalgia comorbid depressed rats.

METHODS

The rat models of myalgia comorbid depression were prepared by intraperitoneal injection of acute reserpine. Twenty-four SD male rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, small needle knife group and amitriptyline group, 6 rats in each group. The open field behavior and mechanical pain threshold of each group were detected. The thermal pain threshold was detected by intelligent hot plate test. The expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in hippocampus of rats was detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Compared with the model group, the mechanical pain threshold of the foot was significantly improved in the small needle knife group (P<0.01). Compared with the amitriptyline group, the small needle knife stimulation of Zusanli(ST 36) can significantly increase the thermal pain threshold in rats(P<0.05); in the comparison of the horizontal movement distance and the number of crossings in the open field behavioral rats, the total distance of the open field activity of the small needle knife group was significantly increased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the number of crossings in the small needle knife group had no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The expressions of NLRP3 and IL-1β in the hippocampus of the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05), and the expression of IL-1β in the small needle knife group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The stimulation of small needle knife at Zusanli(ST 36) could inhibit the expression of NLRP3 in hippocampus of rats. However, there was no statistically significant difference compared with the model group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Small needle knife can improve the pathological state of myalgia comorbid depression caused by reserpine in rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β expression in central hippocampus.

Magnetic impurity doping induced spin-glass state and short-range zigzag order in the honeycomb iridate Na2IrO3

Based on the modified Heisenberg-Kitaev model, the effects of magnetic substitution on the magnetic properties of the honeycomb-lattice iridate [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] are studied using Monte Carlo simulations. It is observed that the long-range zigzag state of the original system is rather fragile and can be replaced by a spin-glass state even for small substitution, well consistent with the experimental observation in Ru-substituted samples (Mehlawat et al 2015 Phys. Rev. B 92 134412). Both the disordered Heisenberg and Kitaev interactions caused by the magnetic ion-doping are suggested to be responsible for the magnetic phase transitions in the system. More interestingly, a short-range zigzag order is suggested to survive above the freezing temperature even at high magnetic impurity doping levels.

Ashkin-Teller criticality and weak first-order behavior of the phase transition to a fourfold degenerate state in two-dimensional frustrated Ising antiferromagnets

We study the thermal phase transition of the fourfold degenerate phases (the plaquette and single-stripe states) in the two-dimensional frustrated Ising model on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice using Monte Carlo simulations. The critical Ashkin-Teller-like behavior is identified both in the plaquette phase region and the single-stripe phase region. The four-state Potts critical end points differentiating the continuous transitions from the first-order ones are estimated based on finite-size-scaling analyses. Furthermore, a similar behavior of the transition to the fourfold single-stripe phase is also observed in the anisotropic triangular Ising model. Thus, this work clearly demonstrates that the transitions to the fourfold degenerate states of two-dimensional Ising antiferromagnets exhibit similar transition behavior.

Understanding the multiferroicity in TmMn2O5 by a magnetically induced ferrielectric model

The magnetically induced electric polarization behaviors in multiferroic TmMn₂O₅ in response to varying temperature and magnetic field are carefully investigated by means of a series of characterizations including the high precision pyroelectric current technique. Here polycrystalline rather than single crystal samples are used for avoiding the strong electrically self-polarized effect in single crystals, and various parallel experiments on excluding the thermally excited current contributions are performed. The temperature-dependent electric polarization flop as a major character is identified for different measuring paths. The magneto-current measurements indicate that the electric polarization in the low temperature magnetic phase region has different origin from that in the high temperature magnetic phase. It is suggested that the electric polarization does have multiple components which align along different orientations, including the Mn³⁺-Mn⁴⁺-Mn³⁺ exchange striction induced polarization P_MM, the Tm³⁺-Mn⁴⁺-Tm³⁺ exchange striction induced polarization P_TM, and the low temperature polarization P_LT probably associated with the Tm³⁺ commensurate phase. The observed electric polarization flop can be reasonably explained by the ferrielectric model proposed earlier for DyMn₂O₅, where P_MM and P_TM are the two antiparallel components both along the b-axis and P_LT may align along the a-axis. Finally, several issues on the unusual temperature dependence of ferroelectric polarizations are discussed.

Effect of further-neighbor interactions on the magnetization behaviors of the Ising model on a triangular lattice

In this work, we study the magnetization behaviors of the classical Ising model on the triangular lattice using Monte Carlo simulations, and pay particular attention to the effect of further-neighbor interactions. Several fascinating spin states are identified to be stabilized in certain magnetic field regions, respectively, resulting in the magnetization plateaus at 2/3, 5/7, 7/9 and 5/6 of the saturation magnetization M S, in addition to the well-known plateaus at 0, 1/3 and 1/2 of M S. The stabilization of these interesting orders can be understood as the consequence of the competition between Zeeman energy and exchange energy.

Role of further-neighbor interactions in modulating the critical behavior of the Ising model with frustration

In this work, we investigate the phase transitions and critical behaviors of the frustrated J(1)-J(2)-J(3) Ising model on the square lattice using Monte Carlo simulations, and particular attention goes to the effect of the second-next-nearest-neighbor interaction J(3) on the phase transition from a disordered state to the single stripe antiferromagnetic state. A continuous Ashkin-Teller-like transition behavior in a certain range of J(3) is identified, while the four-state Potts-critical end point [J(3)/J(1)](C) is estimated based on the analytic method reported in earlier work [Jin, Sen, and Sandvik, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 045702 (2012)]. It is suggested that the interaction J(3) can tune the transition temperature and in turn modulate the critical behaviors of the frustrated model. Furthermore, it is revealed that an antiferromagnetic J(3) can stabilize the staggered dimer state via a phase transition of strong first-order character.

Multi-step magnetization of the Ising model on a Shastry-Sutherland lattice: a Monte Carlo simulation

The magnetization behaviors and spin configurations of the classical Ising model on a Shastry-Sutherland lattice are investigated using Monte Carlo simulations, in order to understand the fascinating magnetization plateaus observed in TmB(4) and other rare-earth tetraborides. The simulations reproduce the 1/2 magnetization plateau by taking into account the dipole-dipole interaction. In addition, a narrow 2/3 magnetization step at low temperature is predicted in our simulation. The multi-step magnetization can be understood as the consequence of the competitions among the spin-exchange interaction, the dipole-dipole interaction, and the static magnetic energy.

Vortex polarization states in nanoscale ferroelectric arrays

Two-dimensional arrays of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanodots were fabricated using pulsed laser deposition through ultrathin anodic aluminum oxide membrane stencil masks. The static distribution of polarization configurations was investigated using in- and out-of-plane piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The observed presence of an in-plane polarization component in nominally (001) oriented PZT suggests the existence of a significant deviation from the regular tetragonal structure that allows the formation of complex core-polarization states. Core-polarization states may indicate the presence of quasi-toroidal polarization ordering. The experimental results are compared with a theoretical model to determine the fingerprint of a vortex polarization state in PFM.

Cloning of hepatitis B virus DNAPTP1 transactivating genes by suppression subtractive hybridization technique

AIM: To clone and identify the new target genes transactivated by DNAPTP1 of the hepatitis B virus with the suppression subtractive hybridization technique and bioinformatics.

METHODS: The mRNA was isolated from HepG2 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1 (-)-DNAPTP1, and then it was transcribed into the cDNA. The pcDNA3.1 (-) empty vector was used as control. After digested by Rsa I, the tester cDNA was then divided into two groups and ligated with two different adaptors. After the tester cDNA was hybridized twice with the driver cDNA and underwent two times of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the amplified cDNA fragments were subcloned into pGEM-Teasy plasmid vectors to construct the subtractive library. The library was amplified by E. coli strain DH5a. The randomly picked cDNA was sequenced and analyzed in the GenBank after the PCR.

RESULTS: The cDNA subtractive library of HBV PTP1 transactivating genes was successfully constructed. The amplified library contained 60 positive clones, from which 32 inserts with 200-1?000 bp in length were obtained. Three differentially expressed protein genes and 4 sequences with unknown function were found by sequence analysis.

CONCLUSION: The obtained genes may code the proteins involved in the regulation of cell cycle, metabolism, immunity and cell apoptosis.

Screening of hepatocyte proteins binding to F protein of hepatitis C virus by yeast two-hybrid system

AIM: To investigate the biological function of F protein by yeast two-hybrid system.

METHODS: We constructed F protein bait plasmid by cloning the gene of F protein into pGBKT7, then recombinant plasmid DNA was transformed into yeast AH109 (a type). The transformed yeast AH109 was mated with yeast Y187 (α type) containing liver cDNA library plasmid in 2×YPDA medium. Diploid yeast was plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing X-α-gal for selection and screening. After extracting and sequencing plasmids from positive (blue) colonies, we underwent sequence analysis by bioinformatics.

RESULTS: Thirty-six colonies were selected and sequenced. Among them, 11 colonies were zymogen granule protein, 5 colonies were zinc finger protein, 4 colonies were zinc-α-2-glycoprotein, 1 colony was sialyltransferase, 1 colony was complement control protein factor I, 1 colony was vitronectin, and 2 colonies were new genes with unknown function.

CONCLUSION: The yeast two-hybrid system is an effective method for identifying hepatocyte proteins interacting with F protein of hepatitis C virus. F protein may bind to different proteins.

Screening of genes of proteins interacting with p7 protein of hepatitis C virus from human liver cDNA library by yeast two-hybrid system

AIM: To investigate the biological function of p7 protein and to look for proteins interacting with p7 protein in hepatocytes.

METHODS: We constructed p7 protein bait plasmid by cloning the gene of p7 protein into pGBKT7, then transformed it into yeast AH109 (a type). The transformed yeast was mated with yeast Y187 (α type) containing liver cDNA library plasmid, pACT2 in 2 × YPDA medium. Diploid yeast was plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing x-α-gal for selection and screening. After extracting and sequencing of plasmids from blue colonies, we performed sequence analysis by bioinformatics.

RESULTS: Fifty colonies were selected and sequenced. Among them, one colony was Homo sapiens signal sequence receptor, seven colonies were Homo sapiens H19, seven colonies were immunoglobulin superfamily containing leucine-rich repeat, three colonies were spermatid peri-nuclear RNA binding proteins, two colonies were membrane-spanning 4-domains, 24 colonies were cancer-associated antigens, four colonies were nucleoporin 214 ku and two colonies were CLL-associated antigens.

CONCLUSION: The successful cloning of gene of protein interacting with p7 protein paves a way for the study of the physiological function of p7 protein and its associated protein.

Screening of binding protein of hepatitis B virus pre-pre-s promoter by phage display technique

AIM: To screen the binding protein gene of hepatitis B virus pre-pre-s promoter using phage display technique.

METHODS: Taking HBV pre-pre-S promoter as a solidified selective molecule, the phage-human liver cDNA library was biopanned and the positive clones were selected. The positive plaques were amplified and then cloned into pGEM-Teasy vector. The selected positive plaques were analyzed using bioinformatics and DNA sequencing.

RESULTS: Twenty positive clones were obtained, which included 17 clones with known function and 3 with unknown function.

CONCLUSION: The binding protein genes of HBV pre-pre-s promoter can be obtained by phage display technique, which may be helpful for further study of the pathogenesis of HBV infection.

[Application of continuous epidural analgesia with ropivacaine and fentanyl during delivery]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficiency of ropivacaine and fentanyl for continuous epidural analgesia during delivery.

METHODS

Altogether 98 full-term primigravidas with vertex presentation were selected for this study. Epidural catheter was placed during delivery with the cervical dilation of 3 cm, and the mixture of 0.2% ropivacaine and 2 microgram/ml fentanyl at the initial dose of 5 ml was given for continuous epidural analgesia. Drug infusion was discontinued when the second stage of delivery started. Another 98 primigravidas of similar conditions without analgesia served as the control group.

RESULTS

Analgesic group showed obvious pain-relieving effect (P<0.001) during the delivery, in which the active phase was significantly shortened (P<0.05). No obvious adverse effect arose in the mother and fetuses from the administration of analgesia.

CONCLUSION

Continuous epidural analgesia by pumping ropivacaine and fentanyl is effective and convenient for pain relief during delivery, and can be beneficial to the smooth progress of delivery.

[Experimental study of allogenic tendon with sheath grafting in chicken]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate availability of deep freeze stored allogenic tendon with sheath grafting in repairing the tendon and sheath defect in the II area of flexor digitorum tendon.

METHODS

Sixty chickens with tendon and sheath defect were divided into 2 groups randomly, group A was treated with allogenic grafting and group B was treated with autogenic grafting, these two groups were divided into two subgroups respectively, they were, group A1 allogenic tendon with whole sheath grafting, group A2 allogenic tendon with partial sheath grafting, group B1 autogenic tendon with whole sheath grafting and group B2 autogenic tendon with whole sheath grafting. All the allogenic grafts were treated by deep freeze. Histomorphological study, histoimmunological study and slipping function of the grafts were measured after operation.

RESULTS

In group A1 and B1, the local reaction was sever, the nutrition of tendon graft was barricaded by the whole sheath resulting in adhesion, degeneration and necrosis. In group A2 and B2, the tendon graft healed well and little adhesion existed between tendon and sheath. The results showed that there were significant differences between tendon grafting with whole sheath and tendon grafting with partial sheath.

CONCLUSION

Deep freeze store can reduce the immunogenicity of allogenic tendon with sheath. Allogenic tendon with partial sheath grafting can be used as a new biological material for repairing the tendon and sheath defect.

Influence of cell membrane potential, and selectivity of the Na+/H+ exchanger and Cl-/HCO3- exchanger on the intracellular accumulation of adriamycin

Intracellular accumulation of adriamycin (ADR) has been reported to be influenced by cell membrane potential. We first evaluated intracellular accumulation of ADR and 3,3'-(di-n-hexyl)-2,2'-oxacarbocyanine iodide (NK-2280), an indicator of cell membrane potential, and found a good correlation between ADR and NK-2280 intracellular accumulation in several cell lines. This suggests that ADR accumulation may be influenced by cell membrane potential or the mechanisms of NK-2280 accumulation may be similar to those of ADR accumulation. Next, we observed the influence of the NA+/H+ exchanger and Cl-/HCO3- exchanger on the intracellular accumulation of ADR and NK-2280, and found that ADR accumulation decreased with increasing concentrations of 3,5-diamino-6-chloro-N-(diaminomethylene)pyrazinecarboxamide (amiloride), an inhibitor of the Na+/H+ exchanger, and 4,4'-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), an inhibitor of the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, however, NK-2280 accumulation was increased by amiloride, and decreased by DIDS. The increased accumulation of NK-2280 induced by amiloride may be due to the increased cell membrane potential caused by the inhibition of H+ ion efflux and NA+ ion influx due to the inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger. The decreased accumulation of NK-2280 may be also due to the decreased cell membrane potential caused by the inhibition of Cl- ion efflux due to the inhibition of the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger by DIDS. However, the decreased rate caused by DIDS was greater than the increased rate caused by amiloride. Therefore, it is suggested that the decreased accumulation of NK-2280 by DIDS may be influenced by other factors apart from cell membrane potential. These results suggest that the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger may be related to both ADR accumulation, and NK-2280 accumulation, and that the Na+/H+ exchanger may be related to ADR accumulation, but not NK-2280. This suggests that the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger is of low selectivity.

Sensitivity of anticancer drugs in NIH3T3' cells transfected with oncogenes accompanied by pSV2neo vector

NIH3T3 cells and NIH3T3 cell lines, which were transfected with several oncogenes accompanied by pSV2neo vector, were observed for their survival rate when treated with commonly used anticancer drugs. The survival rates in the cell line transfected with the pSV2neo vector only did not differ significantly from that of parental NIH3T3 cells against bleomycin, nimustine and adriamycin, but it was significantly more resistant to cisplatin and more sensitive to mitomycin C. Therefore, the survival rate in each transfectant was compared with that in the pSV2neo transfectant. The Val-12, v-Ha-ras, v-int-2, v-erbB or v-abl transfectants accompanied by pSV2neo vector were significantly more sensitive to cisplatin than transfection with pSV2neo vector only. The Val-12, v-Ha-ras, v-int-2 and v-abl transfectants were significantly more sensitive, and the v-erbB transfectant more resistant to bleomycin than the pSV2neo transfectant. The v-int-2, v-erbB, frg, v-raf and v-myc transfectants were more sensitive, and the v-Ha-ras transfectant more resistant to nimustine than the pSV2neo transfectant. The N-ras, v-Ha-ras, v-sis, v-int, v-abl and v-myc transfectants were significantly more sensitive to adriamycin than the pSV2neo transfectant. The v-sis and v-int-2 transfectants were more sensitive, and the c-Ki-ras, Val-12, v-erbB and the v-src transfectants more resistant to mitomycin C than the pSV2neo transfectant. Thus there was no relationship between the drug sensitivity and the location of oncogenes, but the transfection was associated with either increased or decreased sensitivity to a number of commonly used anticancer drugs. Therefore, it may be important to take into consideration or overexpression of oncogenes in cancer chemotherapy.

Hyperthermotherapy for postoperative local recurrences of rectal cancer

Between November 1984 and August 1992 we used hyperthermotherapy in six cases of local recurrence of rectal cancer. Hyperthermotherapy was performed on the average 8.7 times (range: 3-18) for each patient for 60 min each. All patients underwent combined radiotherapy and received a mean radiation dose of 42.5 Gy (range: 9-60 Gy). Five patients underwent heating within 1 h after irradiation and one patient simultaneously with the irradiation. Four patients underwent combined chemotherapy and two patients immunotherapy. Before the treatment all patients had painful lesions, but pain decreased posttherapeutically in five patients. Performance status improved in two patients. High carcinoembryonic antigen levels prior to the therapy in four patients decreased in all cases after treatment. Posttherapeutical computed tomograms revealed only minor response or no changes. After the treatment, four patients died of exacerbations of recurrent tumors and one patient of distant metastases. The patient who underwent simultaneous radiohyperthermotherapy is presently alive, in August 1992, 38 months after initiation of the treatment. The 50% survival time after initiation of the treatment was 25 months (range: 10-38 months). Hyperthermotherapy combined with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy was useful for the alleviation of pain in patients who developed local recurrence after surgery, and improved survival after recurrences can be expected.

[Absorptive capacity of upper gastrointestinal tract with Chinese herbal medicine]

285 reports on the intoxication of Chinese herbal medicine per os were reviewed. The toxic symptoms occurred after oral administration for less than 10 min in about 110 reports. Some components of these herbal medicines might be absorbed and then reach effective level more rapidly. By segmental ligation of GI tract, experiments in rabbits, cats, rats or mice were conducted, in which principal ingredients of Rheum palmatum, Coptis chinensis, Veratrum nigrum, and aconitine were absorbed in esophagus or stomach within short period of time was observed. It suggested that the absorptive capacity of upper GI tract might have universal significance. The treatment of acute diseases by oral administration of Chinese herbal medicines is feasible.

Hyperthermotherapy added to the multidisciplinary therapy for penile cancer

We performed a long-term follow-up of 4 patients with penile cancer who underwent hyperthermotherapy from August 1985 until August 1992. Hyperthermia was applied using a frequency of 350 MHz with a waveguide applicator twice a week for 60 min each for an average of 9.5 times (varying from 6 to 13 times). The total heating time that the temperature of urethra could be kept above 42 degrees C, was 166 min on the average (ranging from 0 to 463 min). Two patients classified as stage I according to the Jackson classification and 1 patient classified as stage IV underwent combined radiotherapy and received an average radiation dose of 53 Gy (range, 40-70 Gy). Among these patients 2 underwent combined chemotherapy with bleomycin or peplomycin. Malignant cells disappeared posttherapeutically and in August 1992, after an average of 5 years and 9 months (varying from 4 years 6 months to 6 years 10 months), the patients were free of recurrences. The one patient on stage IV had extensive invasion of the abdominal wall, but still recovered completely. One patient on stage III underwent combined chemotherapy and hyperthermotherapy, but heating had obviously been insufficient. There was a residue of malignant cells after the treatment and we performed a penectomy. Regarding functional preservation of the penis a multidisciplinary therapy incorporating hyperthermotherapy can be expected to increase the curativity. This indicates that it could induce in an advanced case, where an operation would be difficult, complete remission.

Medial upper arm skin flap: vascular anatomy and clinical applications

We present the use of a medial arm free flap with the superior ulnar collateral artery as the arterial supplier in 8 patients. The flaps succeeded in 7 cases. In addition, by cadaver dissections the vascular anatomy of this flap was reevaluated. We found that the direct cutaneous arterial branches other than the superior ulnar collateral artery could be used for vascular anastomosis, in case the latter artery is not available.

Experimental end-to-side anastomosis of arteries less than one millimeter in diameter and clinical applications

Experimental end-to-side anastomoses of rabbit arteries less than 1.0 mm in diameter were performed. Technical details, angle of inset, and vessel opening discrepancy are discussed. We emphasize the value of end-to-side arterial anastomoses in increasing the patency rates of anastomoses and consequently the survival rates of composite graft transfers. Twenty-eight clinical free composite tissue transfers using end-to-side arterial anastomoses were completed with total graft survival.