Increased expression of chitinase 3-like 1 is a prognosis marker for non-small cell lung cancer correlated with tumor angiogenesis.

Increasing evidence demonstrated that chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) was highly expressed and tightly associated with human tumor development and progression. However, its precise role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains to be delineated. The aim of this study was to examine CHI3L1 expression in patients with NSCLC and explore the relationship of CHI3L1 protein with clinicopathologic factors, tumor angiogenesis, and prognosis. CHI3L1 protein and intratumoral microvessels were examined by immunohistochemical staining in 95 NSCLC patients. Intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) was measured by counting CD34-positive immunostained endothelial cells. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses were used to investigate the CHI3L1 expression status in tissues. Our result showed that CHI3L1 was significantly up-regulated in NSCLC tissues. In addition, univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that CHI3L1 protein overexpression and high MVD were significantly associated with tumor relapse. Although CHI3L1 overexpression and high MVD indicated poor overall survival (P < 0.05), multivariate analysis suggested that only CHI3L1 overexpression was an independent prognostic marker for unfavorable overall survival in patients with NSCLC (P < 0.05). The current results demonstrated that CHI3L1 may be a promising biomarker to identify individuals with poor prognostic potential and a possible target for anti-angiogenic therapy in patients with early stage NSCLC.

Impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on the gastric microbiome.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication has been used for many years. Yet, the impact of this eradication on the normal gastric microflora is not well understood. In this study, we explored the effect of eradication on the stomach microbial community and its recovery after successful Hp eradication. METHODS: Among the 89 included patients, 23, 17, 40, and 9 were included in the Hp-negative, Hp-positive, successful eradication, and failed eradication groups, respectively. Four subgroups were further determined according to disease status (Hp-negative chronic gastritis [N-CG], Hp-negative atrophic gastritis [N-AG], successful-eradication chronic gastritis [SE-CG], and atrophic gastritis with successful eradication [SE-AG]). During the endoscopic examination, one piece of gastric mucosa tissue was obtained from the lesser curvature side of the gastric antrum and gastric corpus, respectively. In addition, 16S rDNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the gastric mucosal microbiome. RESULTS: In the Hp-negative group, the gastric microbiota was dominated by five phyla: Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria. After successfully eradicating Hp, the bacterial flora in the stomach recovered to a considerable extent. In the failed eradication group, the flora was similar to the flora in Hp-positive subjects based on the alpha and beta diversities. Among the groups, Curvibacter and Acinetobacter were enriched in the presence of Hp (i.e., failed eradication and Hp-positive groups), suggesting that these two genera could be used as biomarkers in the symbiotic flora in the presence of Hp. SE-CG was characterized by an increase in Firmicutes taxa and a decrease in Proteobacteria taxa compared with N-CG. SE-AG was characterized by a decrease in Firmicutes relative to N-AG. Finally, no differences were found in the pairwise comparisons of nitrate and nitrite reductase functions of the microflora among the four subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: After Hp infection, the diversity and relative abundance of gastric microflora were significantly decreased. Yet, gastric microbiota could be partially restored to the Hp-negative status after eradication. Still, this effect was incomplete and might contribute to the long-term risks.

[A clinical analysis of screw-retained implant-supported casted integrated abutment crowns in the molar region with limited interocclusal space].

PURPOSE: To observe the clinical effects of screw-retained implant-supported casted abutment integrated crowns (IACs) in the molar region with limited interocclusal space. METHODS: This study involved 507 implants in 376 patients with limited interocclusal space in the molar region. All implants were inserted to the jaw by standard one-stage protocol. Screw-retained IACs were used as the final prosthesis. With 6 to 24 months follow-up, the clinical effects of screw-retained IACs were recorded and analyzed using SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: During 6 to 24 months of follow-up, the implant survival rate was 99.61%. 37 patients had ceramic fracture which mainly happened in the group with 3-4 mm interocclusal space. In each group, porcelain fused to metal (PFM) prosthesis had ceramic fracture more easily than PFM prosthesis without porcelain on occlusal surface(P<0.05). As the interocclusal space became smaller, the probability of collapsing porcelain increased(P<0.05).13 patients had screw loosening. 13 patients suffered from gingival swelling and bleeding, they were given periodontal treatment and oral hygiene instruction. Patients were satisfied with the restoration results. CONCLUSIONS: Screw-retained IACs can be used to repair missing teeth in the molar region with limited interocclusal space.

Production of 1,3-propanediol by Klebsiella pneumoniae from glycerol broth.

Broth containing 152 g glycerol l(-1) from Candida krusei culture was converted to 1,3-propanediol by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Residual glucose in the broth promoted growth of K. pneumoniae while acetate was inhibitory. After desalination treatment of glycerol broth by electrodialysis, the acetate in the broth was removed. A fed-batch culture with electrodialytically pretreated broth as substrate was developed giving 53 g 1,3-propanediol l(-1) with a yield of 0.41 g g(-1) glycerol and a productivity of 0.94 g l(-1) h(-1).

[Application of one-piece implant-supported detachable telescope retained fixed bridge in edentulous cases].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of one-piece implant-supported detachable telescopic fixed bridge in edentulous patients. METHODS: Seventeen patients were treated with one-piece implant-supported detachable telescopic fixed bridge. A total of 18 prostheses were fabricated with 8 in the upper jaws and 10 in the lower jaws.Fixed bridges retained by telescopic crowns were used as final prostheses, with milling titanium or all-ceramic abutments as primary crowns, gold-electroforming crowns as secondary crowns. Surveys about clinical and radiographic examination, satisfaction and prosthetic complications were conducted after 3 months,1 year, 2 years, 3 years after final rehabilitation. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: Radiography showed stable bone levels for all implants except 2 implants, which were observed slight marginal bone resorption. The results of one-way ANOVA showed that no significant difference in modified plaque index or modified sulcus blooding index was found during the follow-up period (P>0.05). The probing attachment level deteriorated by 1.5 mm during the first 3 years (P<0.05). Eighteen restoration provided sufficient fixation and stability. Two porcelain fractures occured but had no influence on restoration. The patients were highly satisfied with the outcomes. The frequency of prosthetic maintenance per patient per year was 0.11. CONCLUSIONS: One-piece implant-supported detachable telescopic fixed bridge is an effective method with satisfactory long-term aesthetic and stable outcomes in edentulous patients.

Sugarcane bagasse mild alkaline/oxidative pretreatment for ethanol production by alkaline recycle process.

In order to decrease the alkali and water consumptions in the sugarcane bagasse alkaline/oxidative pretreatment for ethanol production, an alkaline recycle process was carried out. Two recycles of NaOH/H2O2 pretreatment did not decrease the pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis efficiencies and the consumptions of NaOH and water would be saved by 26% and 40%, respectively. A simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) culture with pretreated bagasse as substrate was developed giving 25 g ethanol l(-1) with a yield of 0.2 g g(-1) bagasse and productivity of 0.52 g l(-1) h(-1).

Fermentation of pretreated sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate to ethanol by Pachysolen tannophilus.

Sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysates, pretreated by either over-liming or electrodialysis and, supplemented with nutrient materials, were fermented to ethanol using Pachysolen tannophilus DW06. Compared with detoxification by over-liming, detoxification by electrodialysis decreased the loss of sugar and increased the acetic acid removal, leading to better fermentability. A batch culture with electrodialytically pretreated hydrolysate as substrate was developed giving 21 g ethanol l(-1) with a yield of 0.35 g g(-1) sugar and productivity of 0.59 g l(-1) h(-1).