[Investigation and influencing factors on pelvic floor muscle strength of 929 adult females in gynecological outpatient department].

Objective: To investigate the present situation of pelvic floor muscle strength, and to analyze the factors affecting pelvic floor muscle strength. Methods: The data of patients who were admitted into the general outpatient department of gynecology, Peking University People's Hospital from October 2021 to April 2022 were collected, and the patients who met the exclusion criteria were included in this cross sectional study. The patient's age, height, weight, education level, defecation way and defecation time, birth history, maximum newborn birth weight, occupational physical activity, sedentary time, menopause, family history and disease history were recorded by questionnaire. Morphological indexes such as waist circumference, abdomen circumference and hip circumference were measured with tape measure. Handgrip strength level was measured with grip strength instrument. After performing routine gynecological examinations, the pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated by palpation with modified Oxford grading scale (MOS). MOS grade>3 was taken as normal group and ≤3 as decreased group. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate the related factors of deceased pelvic floor muscle strength. Results: A total of 929 patients were included in the study, and the average MOS grade was 2.8±1.2. By univariate analysis, birth history, menopausal time, defecation time, handgrip strength level, waist circumference and abdominal circumference were related to the decrease of pelvic floor muscle strength (all P<0.05). By binary logistic regression analysis, the level of handgrip strength (OR=0.913, 95%CI: 0.883-0.945; P<0.001) was correlated with normal pelvic floor muscle strength; waist circumference (OR=1.025, 95%CI: 1.005-1.046; P=0.016), birth history (OR=2.224, 95%CI: 1.570-3.149; P<0.001), sedentary time> 8 hours (OR=2.073, 95%CI: 1.198-3.587; P=0.009) were associated with the decrease of pelvic floor muscle strength. Conclusions: The level of handgrip strength is related to the normal pelvic floor muscle strength of females, while the waist circumference, birth history and sedentary time>8 hours are related to the decrease of pelvic floor muscle strength of females. In order to prevent the decrease of pelvic floor muscle strength, it is necessary to carry out relevant health education, enhance exercise, improve the overall strength level, reduce daily sedentary time, maintain symmetry, and carry out comprehensive overall intervention to improve pelvic floor muscle function.

[Diagnosis and treatment status of perioperative anemia in patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms: a multi-center study in Hubei Province].

Objective: To investigate the incidence and treatment of perioperative anemia in patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms in Hubei Province. Methods: The clinicopathological data of 7 474 patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms in 62 hospitals in 15 cities (state) of Hubei Province in 2019 were collected in the form of network database. There were 4 749 males and 2 725 females. The median age of the patients was 62 years (range: 17 to 96 years). The hemoglobin value of the first time in hospital and the first day after operation was used as the criterion of preoperative anemia and postoperative anemia. Anemia was defined as male hemoglobin <120 g/L and female hemoglobin <110.0 g/L, mild anemia as 90 to normal, moderate anemia as 60 to <90 g/L, severe anemia as <60 g/L. The t test and χ2 test were used for inter-group comparison. Results: The overall incidence of preoperative anemia was 38.60%(2 885/7 474), and the incidences of mild anemia, moderate anemia and severe anemia were 25.09%(1 875/7 474), 11.37%(850/7 474) and 2.14%(160/7 474), respectively. The overall incidence of postoperative anemia was 61.40%(4 589/7 474). The incidence of mild anemia, moderate anemia and severe anemia were 48.73%(3 642/7 474), 12.20%(912/7 474) and 0.47%(35/7 474), respectively. The proportion of preoperative anemia patients receiving treatment was 26.86% (775/2 885), and the proportion of postoperative anemia patients receiving treatment was 14.93% (685/4 589). The proportions of preoperative anemia patients in grade ⅢA, grade ⅢB, and grade ⅡA hospitals receiving treatment were 26.12% (649/2 485), 32.32% (85/263), and 29.93% (41/137), and the proportions of postoperative anemia patients receiving treatment were 14.61% (592/4 052), 22.05% (73/331), and 9.71% (20/206). The proportion of intraoperative blood transfusion (16.74% (483/2 885) vs. 3.05% (140/4 589), χ²=434.555, P<0.01) and the incidence of postoperative complications (17.78% (513/2 885) vs. 14.08% (646/4 589), χ²=18.553, P<0.01) in the preoperative anemia group were higher than those in the non-anemia group, and the postoperative hospital stay in the preoperative anemia group was longer than that in the non-anemia group ((14.1±7.3) days vs. (13.3±6.2) days, t=5.202, P<0.01). Conclusions: The incidence of perioperative anemia in patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms is high. Preoperative anemia can increase the demand for intraoperative blood transfusion and affect the short-term prognosis of patients. At present, the concept of standardized treatment of perioperative anemia among gastrointestinal surgeons in Hubei Province needs to be improved.

Biological background of the genomic variations of cf-DNA in healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: Cell-free DNA (cf-DNA)-based liquid biopsy is emerging as a revolutionary new method in individualized cancer treatment and prognosis monitoring, although detecting early-stage cancers using cf-DNA remains challenging, partially because of the undefined biological background of cf-DNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated somatic mutations in the cf-DNA of 259 cancer-free individuals with a median age of 47 years using an endogenous barcoding duplex method with an ultralow base error rate (2 × 10-7) and compared the variant allele frequencies (VAFs) of these mutations between the cf-DNA and the corresponding blood cell DNA. RESULTS: Sixty percent (155/259) of the samples showed at least one nonsynonymous mutation on either of two similar target panels covering 508 and 559 cancer-related genes. For individuals older than 50 years of age, the positive rate increased to 76%. Most cf-DNA mutations were also present at similar VAFs in the paired blood cell DNA. The most frequently mutated genes were driver genes of hematologic malignancies, including DNMT3A, TET2, AXSL1, and JAK2. However, the other 58.4% (192/329) of the mutations were likely 'passenger mutations' of clonal hematopoiesis, including mutations in NOTCH2, FAT3, EXT2, ERBB4, and ARID2, which are driver genes of solid tumors. CONCLUSION: Hematopoietic clone-derived mutations, including 'driver mutations' and 'passenger mutations', are prevalent in the cf-DNA of both healthy individuals and cancer patients and may be a potential source of false positives in the liquid biopsy. Our results also suggest the ineffectiveness for distinguishing clonal hematopoietic mutations of low VAF (≤0.1%) from tumor-derived mutations using conventional next-generation sequencing of blood cell DNA. However, an error correction model with an ultralow error rate and high coverage depth is required for blood cell DNA sequencing, which is difficult and costly to achieve with current technologies.

[Dynamic analysis of the academic influence in Chinese Journal of Hepatology from 2010 to 2016].

Objective: To dynamically analyze the discipline status, influence factors and key issues of Chinese Journal of Hepatology from 2010 to 2016 and explore the development rules of citation indexes. Methods: We collected information published by the China Institute of Scientific and Technological Information [China Science and Technology Journal Citation Report (Core Edition)] and Wanfang Database Periodicals statistical analysis platform from 2010 to 2016. A bibliometric analyses on article volume, citation frequency, citation rate, h-index, ratio of fund-aided papers, periodical influence, key number published period, number of relevant articles, and so on were analyzed for annual's impact factor. Results: According to the data released by the China Institute of Science and Technology Information, from 2010 to 2011, the impact factor of Chinese Journal of Hepatology was at leading level in the field of internal medicine and ranked sixth in the Journal of Internal Medicine. From 2012 to 2016, the overall comprehensive assessment score and citation frequency score of Chinese Journal of Hepatology were ranked first in the Journal of Gastroenterology. Core impact factors kept the discipline ahead. Indexes such as immediacy index, h- index, cited half-life and all other indicators were increased. Citation rate was >90% and cited issue number had greatly increased. Conclusion: Chinese Journal of Hepatology has a leading position in the Journal of Gastroenterology and credited by inland readers and authors of digestive and infectious fields. It has played a positive role in promoting the development of the discipline.

The first multicenter and randomized clinical trial of herbal Fufang for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

UNLABELLED: This multicenter and randomized clinical trial showed that daily oral herbal formula Xian Ling Gu Bao (XLGB) was safe in postmenopausal women over a 1-year treatment. Those patients (n ∼ 50) treated with XLGB at the conventional dose demonstrated a statistically significant increase in dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine at 6 months and a numerically increased BMD at 12 months. INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of a herbal formula XLGB in postmenopausal women (ChiCTR-TRC-00000347). METHODS: One hundred eighty healthy postmenopausal women (≥60 years old) with BMD T-score ≤ -2.0 (lumbar spine or femoral neck) were recruited from four clinical centers to receive low-dose (conventional dose) XLGB (L-XLGB group, 3 g/day, n = 61) or high-dose XLGB (H-XLGB group, 6 g/day, n = 58) or placebo (CON group, n = 61). Women received daily calcium (500 mg) and vitamin D (200 IU) supplementation. Primary endpoints were lumbar spine BMD and safety; secondary endpoints were femoral neck BMD and bone turnover markers measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Of 180 women recruited, 148 completed the study. The compliance in each group was comparable. Prominent adverse events were not observed in either group. In the L-XLGB group at 6 months, lumbar spine BMD by DXA increased significantly from baseline (+2.11% versus CON +0.58%, p < 0.05), but femoral neck BMD did not; at 12 months, BMD in the L-XLGB group decreased from 6-month levels yet remained higher than baseline, but without difference from the CON group. There was no dose-dependent response. Bone turnover marker levels declined during the first 6 months after XLGB treatment. There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of side effects among treatment and control groups. CONCLUSION: XLGB over 1-year treatment at the conventional dose demonstrated safe and only a statistically significant increase in BMD at lumbar spine at 6 months in postmenopausal women.

[Sleep quality and sleep disturbances in Chinese pregnant women: a multicenter cross-sectional study].

Objective: This study aims to investigate the sleep quality of pregnant women in Xuhui District, Shanghai, and the related factors of sleep disturbances during pregnancy. Methods: From February 2019 to February 2021, we used online integrated sleep questionnaire (including PSQI, BQ, ESS, AIS) in Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospitals of China Welfare Institution, and Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital, to investigate the sleep quality across pregnancy. We also collected maternal physical examination results, childbearing history, sociodemographic, and other clinical data. The prevalences and related factors of various sleep disturbances in pregnant women were analyzed, including insufficient/excessive nighttime sleep, low sleep efficiency, difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep quality, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and high risk of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Results: This study includes 1 898 cases in the first trimester (T1), 3 099 cases in the second trimester (T2), and 1 539 cases in the third trimester (T3). Poor sleep quality (38.6%), daytime sleepiness (mild 41.9%, moderate 17.7%, severe 2.1%), and suspicious insomnia (32.3%) are most prevalent among women in T1 (P<0.01). In comparison, short sleep time (2.7%), long sleep time (8.6%), difficulty falling asleep (12.2%), poor sleep efficiency (35.4%), very poor sleep quality (6.7%), clinical insomnia (21.8%), and high-risk SDB (6.4%) are most prevalent among women in T3 (P<0.05). During pregnancy, late gestation (OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.006-1.025) and multiple induced/drug abortions (OR=1.329, 95%CI: 1.043-1.692) are risk factors for poor sleep quality (PSQI>5), while multiple full-term deliveries (OR=0.800, 95%CI: 0.675-0.949) is its protective factor. Advanced maternal age (OR=0.976, 95%CI: 0.956-0.997), multiple full-term deliveries (OR=0.808, 95%CI: 0.680-0.959), late gestation (OR=0.983, 95%CI: 0.974-0.992) and hypertension (OR=0.572, 95%CI: 0.401-0.814) are protective factors for daytime sleepiness (ESS>6). The high-risk pregnancy category (OR=9.312, 95%CI: 1.156-74.978) is a risk factor for insomnia (AIS≥4), while multiple full-term deliveries (OR=0.815, 95%CI: 0.691-0.961) is its protective factor. High BMI (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.270-1.402) and hypertension (OR=4.427, 95%CI: 2.539-7.719) are risk factors for high-risk SDB in pregnant women. Conclusions: The prevalences of various sleep disturbances are high throughout pregnancy. Noticeably, symptoms of maternal SDB develop along with pregnancy. Different types of sleep disturbances are associated with different factors. Women of high-risk pregnancy category, in late gestation, with high BMI, hypertension, a history of induced/drug abortion, or without a history of full-term delivery can be at high risk of sleep disturbances during pregnancy.

[Obstructive sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome: an association study based on a large sample clinical database].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: From July 2007 to June 2017, a total of 8 155 adult subjects, including 6 484 males and 1 671 females, aged 18-90 (43.13±12.28), body mass index 14.61~59.56 (25.59±3.98) kg/m2,who were admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology head and Neck surgery of The Sixth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent polysomnography and biochemical tests. Subjects were divided into four groups (non-OSA, mild OSA, moderate OSA, and severe OSA) according to OSA severity. The prevalence of MS was expressed as percentage, and the correlation between OSA and MS and its characteristic pathophysiological indicators was evaluated by logistic regression model after adjusting for factors such as gender, age, BMI, neck circumference, hip circumference, smoking and alcohol consumption, and was expressed by odds ratio (OR). SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of MS was 43.6%, and that of non-/mild/moderate/severe OSA group was 18.6%, 30.4%, 43.8%, 57.1%.Logistic regression showed that patients with mild/moderate/severe OSA had an increased risk of MS compared with non-OSA patients, with adjusted OR values and confidence intervals of 1.27 (1.05-1.54), 1.84 (1.53-2.22), and 2.08 (1.76-2.46), respectively (P<0.01).In addition, indicators of OSA anoxic burden [oxygen drop index(Toxygen=7.1), minimum blood oxygen(Tminimum=56.3), blood oxygen saturation below 90% cumulative time ratio (TCT90=10.6) ]were closely associated with MS disease(P<0.01), but sleep fragmentation index (arousals index) was not significantly associated with MS disease. Conclusion: The risk of MS gradually increases with the severity of OSA, and the indicators reflecting OSA hypoxia burden are closely related to MS disease.

[Efficacy of Han-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (HUPPP) combined with radiofrequency ablation of tongue base or HUPPP with traction of tongue base on moderate to severe patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS):a multicenter randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of Han-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (HUPPP) combined with radiofrequency ablation of tongue base or HUPPP with traction of tongue base on moderate to severe patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods: This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial. From March 2017 to July 2019, moderate to severe OSAHS patients from three clinical center in Shanghai who were intolerant to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and with velopharyngeal and glossopharyngeal plane obstruction were enrolled in this study. According to the surgical type, they were 1∶1 randomized to HUPPP plus radiofrequency ablation of tongue base group (Ablation group) or HUPPP plus traction of tongue base group (Traction group). All patients completed over-night standard Polysomnography (PSG), upper-airway assessment (Friedman classification, Müller test, CT and cephalometric examination), preoperative routine examination, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Quebec sleep questionnaire (QSQ). Six to 12 months after operation, all the above-mentioned examinations were repeatedly performed. Changes of aforementioned variables before and after operation were assessed. Results: A total of 43 patients with moderate to severe OSAHS were enrolled in this study. One patient lost to follow-up, the remaining 21 were allocated to Ablation group and 21 were allocated to Traction group. The total therapeutic efficacy of all patients was 69.05% (61.90% in Ablation group and 76.19% in Traction group), but there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P= 0.317). The value of sleep scale score (ESS and QSQ), objective sleep variables (apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen saturation, percentage of time with blood oxygen less than 90% in total sleep time, oxygen desaturation index and micro-arousals) and upper airway cross-sectional area (palatopharyngeal and retrolingual area) of the two groups were improved (P<0.05), but the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: For moderate to severe OSAHS who had glossopharyngeal plane obstruction, both HUPPP plus radiofrequency ablation of tongue base or HUPPP plus traction of tongue base are effective treatment for OSAHS, and the curative effect is similar. The choice of surgical type could be selected according to patient's or surgical conditions.

Analysis of volatile species kinetics during typical medical waste materials pyrolysis using a distributed activation energy model.

The complex reactions of typical medical waste materials pyrolysis and the evolution of different volatile species can be well represented by a Distributed Activation Energy Model (DAEM). In this study, A thermogravimetric analyser (TGA), coupled with Fourier transform infrared analysis of evolving products (TG-FTIR), were used to perform kinetic analysis of typical medical waste materials pyrolysis. A simple direct search method was used for the determination of DAEM kinetic parameters and the yield of individual pyrolysis products under any given heating condition. The agreement between the model prediction and the experimental data was generally good. The results can be used as inputs to a pyrolysis model based on first-order kinetic expression with a Gaussian Distribution of Activation Energies as a sub-model to CFD code.

[Relationship between smoking and the severity of OSA].

Objective:To explore the relationship between smoking and the severity of OSA. Method:There were 719 patients included in the study, who were accompanied by snoring, daytime sleepiness and other symptoms. Laboratory-based polysomnographic variables （including AHI, oxygen desaturation index and microarousal index, etc.）, and anthropometric measurements （including weight, neck circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference etc.） were collected for all participants. The severity of OSA was determined by AHI. No OSA was defined as AHI<5, mild OSA as AHI of 5 to 15，moderate OSA as AHI of >15 to 30, and severe OSA as AHI of >30. Smoking severity was determined by the smoking index （SI）. Light smoke was defined as SI<200, moderate smoke was as SI 200 to 400, and severe smoke as SI>400. Result:There were 138 cases of non-OSA and 581 cases of OSA. There were 381 non-smokers, 279 smokers and 59 quit smokers. The smoking rate of OSA group was significantly higher than that of non-OSA group （41.5% vs. 27.5%,P<0.01）. After excluding 59 quit smokers, the remaining 660 subjects were divided into four groups according to the severity of smoking, then each group was further divided into four groups according to OSA severity. Unadjusted analysis showed that OSA severity positively correlated with smoking severity （r=0.203,P<0.01）. The positive correlation remained significant after further adjustment for age, BMI and waist-hip ratio. In addition, logistic regression analysis showed that compared to non-smokers, the odd ratios for OSA in moderate smokers were 1.72 （95%CI 1.08-2.75） and in severe smokers were 2.68 （95%CI 1.61-4.46）, after adjustment for age, BMI and waist-hip ratio. Conclusion:The severity of smoking significantly correlated with the severity of OSA. There was increased risk of OSA in patients with severe smoke. The correlation was independent of some confounders such as age and obesity.

Study on pyrolysis of typical medical waste materials by using TG-FTIR analysis.

Pyrolysis of certain medical waste materials was studied using thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR). Pyrolysis characteristics of three common materials were discussed. The pyrolysis of absorbent cotton turned out to be the most concentrative, followed by medical respirator and bamboo stick. From TG and DTG curves, pyrolysis of these three materials occurred in single, two and three stages respectively. Evolved volatile products from all these three materials included 2-butanone, benzaldehyde, formic acid, acetic acid, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water; whereas no sulphur dioxide, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide was detected. There are several differences in yield among them. However, the study in this paper is essential for medical waste pyrolysis model, the TG-FTIR approach is potential to provide valuable inputs for predictive modeling of medical waste pyrolysis. More studied are needed to get the kinetic parameters and pyrolysis models that can predict yields and evolution patterns of selected volatile products for CFD applications.

CRNDE impacts the proliferation of osteoclast by estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: Bone loss is the main reason for postmenopausal osteoporosis, caused by estrogen deficiency. ERT (estrogen replacement therapy) has been demonstrated to protect bone loss efficiently. LncRNA (long non-coding RNA) has been proved to be important in different disease progression. We aimed at analyzing whether the lncRNAs influence the activity of osteoclasts and the progression of this disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) was used to detect the expression of lncRNA CRNDE in OH (osteoclast from healthy people) and OP (osteoclast from patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis). MTT (methylthiazolyl tetrazolium) assay was used to detect the viability of the cells. The cell cycle and apoptosis rate in OH and OP were measured by the flow cytometry analysis. Western blot was used to analyze the possible related mechanism that CRNDE regulated the cells proliferation in postmenopausal osteoporosis. RESULTS: We found that the CRNDE was highly expressed in the osteoclast from patients with OP, compared with OH. We also found that overexpressing CRNDE increased the viability in OH whilst reducing CRNDE in OP decreased the viability. The cell cycle was arrested in G0/G1 phase and the apoptosis rate was improved in OP after transfection with siRNA. Moreover, CRNDE could impact the proliferation of osteoclasts by PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and estrogen could inhibit this proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: We found that lncRNA CRNDE was closely related to the postmenopausal osteoporosis with estrogen deficiency. CRNDE may be involved in the development and progression of postmenopausal osteoporosis in the absence of estrogen and become a potential target for treating.

Study of the influence of hiatus hernia on gastroesophageal reflux.

AIM: To explore whether the presence of a sliding hiatus hernia influences gastroesophageal reflux. METHODS: Endoscopy and 24 h pH monitoring were performed for 197 outpatients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 197 patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, patients with hiatus hernia accounted for 36%. The incidence of esophagitis in patients with hiatus hernia was significantly higher than that in patients without hiatus hernia. The results of 24 h pH monitoring showed that 84 patients had physiological reflux, 37 had pathological reflux without esophagitis, 64 had reflux esophagitis and 12 had physiological reflux concomitant with esophagitis. All the patients with hiatus hernia had a longer percentage time with supine reflux and a higher frequency of episodes lasting over 5 min at night compared to those without hiatus hernia. The incidence of combined daytime and nocturnal reflux in patients with hiatus hernia was significantly higher than that in patients without hiatus hernia. CONCLUSION: Pathological reflux and reflux esophagitis in some patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux represent two different stages of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Pathological reflux is the first stage, in which the lower esophageal sphincter is incompetent but the esophageal mucosal resistance effectively prevents regurgitated acid from damaging the esophageal mucosa. Reflux esophagitis represents the second stage, in which the aggression of the regurgitated acid is so strong that the esophageal mucosa fails to resist it and the epithelium of the esophagus is damaged. Patients with hiatus hernia have a high incidence of combined daytime and nocturnal reflux, with the latter being responsible for esophagitis.

Mosaic ring chromosome 13 analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization: report of a case.

A five-year-old boy with psychomotor retardation, microcephaly, bilateral cataracts, hearing impairment and hypospadia with microphallus was found to have multiple cell lines from peripheral blood: 46,XY/46,XY, -13,+r(13)/46, Xy, -13, +dic r(13) in the ratio of 35%/61%/4% by trypsin-Giemsa, and C-bandings. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with biotin-labeled alpha-satellite probe (D21Z1/D13Z1) and fluorescence staining (FITC), we confirmed that the ring originated from chromosome 13. To elucidate changes in the chromosome ends in the ring originated from chromosome 13. To elucidate changes in the chromosome ends in the ring formation, we used human telomere-specific probes for FISH study; it showed an absence of telomeres on the ring chromosome, although Ag-NOR staining was positive. These findings yielded different breaking points on the ends of both the short and long arms of chromosome 13 from those reported in the literature.

[Short-term results of intratumor BCG injection for rectal carcinoma].

Twelve patients with rectal carcinoma were treated by intratumor BCG injection concurrently with drugs which antagonize Ts cells, inactivate suppressor macrophages and depress PGE-2 production. Remarkable results were obtained with mild side effects. Four patients achieved complete response and 8 partial response. There was a significant difference (P less than 0.005) between combined treatment and intratumor BCG injection alone. The local reactions of BCG injection, their relation to therapeutic effects and pathology are discussed. The observation of single, degenerated cancer cell encapsulated by epithelioid cells is an evidence that the cancer cell is directly killed by mononuclear cells.

[Inhibition of in vitro translation of esterase mRNA of dipterex-resistant mosquito (Culex pipiens pallens) by antisense nucleic acids].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the inhibitory effect of antisense nucleic acid on the in vitro translation of esterase mRNA from dipterex-resistant Culex pipiens pallens. METHODS: 18-mer nucleic acid was synthesized and complementary to the translation initiation site of mRNA of dipterex-resistant mosquitoes. The ODNs were annealed to the corresponding mRNA molecules and they were added to rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system. The translation products were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. After fixing, the gel was exposed to X-ray film by autoradiography for analysis of protein synthesis. RESULTS: Six mumol/L of ODNs elicited a 50% reduction in specific protein expression, and 20 mumol/L of ODNs inhibited the expression of esterase by 80%. The SDS-PAGE showed that the band of reduced amounts of 65 kDa protein for resistant mosquito was almost the same as that for sensitive sample. CONCLUSION: Antisense oligonucleic acids to the esterase mRNA of dipterex-resistant mosquito could effectively inhibit its in vitro translation.