[Progress of radical resection of pancreatic cancer].

Pancreatic cancer is a malignant disease with an extremely poor prognosis. For now, radical resection is the only long-term survival approach. Therefore, for complete resection of different types of pancreatic neoplasms, scholars and surgeons have innovated and applied numerous surgical methods. Aiming at various situations, a large amout of methods and principles have been suggested. Unresectable neoplasms have been challenged day by day. Meanwhile, with the progression of technology, minimally invasive techniques have been applied to resection of pancreatic neoplasms. This article mainly reviews the innovation of surgical methods and technology in radical surgery of pancreatic cancer in recent years.

[Long-term efficacy of low-dose rituximab treatment in patients with primary membranous nephropathy].

Objective: To explore the long-term efficacy of low-dose rituximab (RTX) treatment in patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven PMN who received low-dose RTX as initial or second-line regimen from August 2018 to May 2020 in the Department of Nephrology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were respectively enrolled. The clinical parameters of patients were urinary protein>3.5 g/24 h, serum albumin<30 g/L and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)>20 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1. The treatment response of patients with PMN was observed during follow-up, and the remission rate of patients with urinary protein<8 g/24 h or ≥8 g/24 h, anti-PLA2R antibody<150 RU/ml or ≥150 RU/ml, eGFR≥ 60 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 or<60 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 were analyzed, respectively. Results: A total of 40 patients were enrolled, including 26 males and 14 females, aged (53±15) years. There were 14 patients received RTX as initial treatment and 26 patients as second-line therapy. The total median dose of RTX in the first course was 800 (425, 1 075) mg. The overall remission rate at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th months were 12.5% (5/40), 17.5% (7/40), 47.5% (19/40), 57.5% (23/40), 60% (24/40), respectively. The median overall response time was 6.0 (3.0, 7.5) months. Two cases relapsed. Patients with remission (n=24) had a higher level of baseline eGFR [(93.9±28.0) vs (62.4±28.1) ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1, P=0.001), and a lower level of both urinary protein [5.9 (5.0, 6.5) vs 11.7 (8.6, 15.5) g/24 h, P<0.001] and anti-PLA2R antibody level [73 (29, 132) vs 453 (182, 950) RU/ml, P=0.004] than those without remission (n=16) 24 month after treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in the remission rate between initial and second-line treatment (P=0.101). Moreover, patients had a higher remission rate in urinary protein<8 g/24 h group (21/26 vs 3/14, P<0.001), anti-PLA2R antibody<150 RU/ml group (16/19 vs 5/16, P=0.002) and eGFR ≥ 60 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 group (22/29 vs 2/11, P=0.003). Conclusions: Low-dose RTX treatment in PMN is effective during long-term follow-up, and has a lower recurrence rate. The results also suggest that it is more suitable for patients with baseline urinary protein<8 g/24 h, anti-PLA2R antibody<150 RU/ml and eGFR≥ 60 ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1.

Probing

The isomer depletion of ^{93m}Mo was recently reported [Chiara et al., Nature (London) 554, 216 (2018)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/nature25483] as the first direct observation of nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC). However, the measured excitation probability of 1.0(3)% is far beyond the theoretical expectation. In order to understand the inconsistency between theory and experiment, we produce the ^{93m}Mo nuclei using the ^{12}C(^{86}Kr,5n) reaction at a beam energy of 559 MeV and transport the reaction residues to a detection station far away from the target area employing a secondary beam line. The isomer depletion is expected to occur during the slowdown process of the ions in the stopping material. In such a low γ-ray background environment, the signature of isomer depletion is not observed, and an upper limit of 2×10^{-5} is estimated for the excitation probability. This is consistent with the theoretical expectation. Our findings shed doubt on the previously reported NEEC phenomenon and highlight the necessity and feasibility of further experimental investigations for reexamining the isomer depletion under low γ-ray background.

An electromagnetic separation system for the enrichment of 39Ar.

An isotope enrichment system for 39Ar has been developed at the Institute of Modern Physics, which is designed to increase the abundance of 39Ar in the incident sample gas. With intense Ar+ beams produced by a 2.45 GHz electron cyclotron resonance ion source and a high mass resolution spectrometer system, Ar isotopes are evidently separated on the target plane and selectively collected by an Al target. The separated Ar isotopes have been identified on the target plane, which is consistent with the simulations. According to the recent cross-checked results with atom trap trace analysis, a high enrichment factor of 39Ar has been successfully achieved. This paper will present the design and test results of this system.

A new room temperature LECR5 ion source for the SESRI project.

The Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure project, which uses various ion beams as irradiated materials in life science research, is being built at the Harbin Institute of Technology. A new room temperature electron cyclotron resonance ion source, the Lanzhou Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source No. 5 (LECR5), has been designed and constructed. It is an intense, highly charged, heavy ion beam injector which generates ion beams from H to Bi, typically ∼50 eµA 209Bi32+. The LECR5 is designed to operate at microwave frequencies in the range of 14.5-18 GHz. The typical magnetic parameters are designed based on those optimized for SECRAL, which operates at 18 GHz. This paper presents the LECR5 ion source, its test bench, and the preliminary beam results.

[The clinical application of balloon dilation Eustachian tuboplasty in patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction].

Objective:To evaluate the clinical application of balloon dilation Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) in patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Method:Twenty-five patients who were diagnosed as ETD and reserved BET surgery were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Result:After 1-year's follow-up, among 25 ETD patients, the total cure rate was 55.9% and the effective rate was 85.3%. The cure rate and effective rate was 52.9% and 76.5% in the delayed opening of the ET group; 58.8% and 94.1% in the unopened group, which was higher than the other one. Conclusion:BET surgery is safe and effective in the treatment of BET patients.

[The expression of MiR-148a in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its effect on tumor cell biology functions in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is a common malignant tumor, in recent years,most of studies have found that micro RNA played an important role in the development of NPC.This study was to explore the expression level of MiR-148a and its effect on the biological functions of NPC cells.Method:The expression of MiR-148a in NPC cell line CNE2 was detected by Real-time PCR method.MTT,clone formation assay and flow cytometry were applied to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. We predicted that EGFR was the downstream target genes of MiR-148a through the analysis of bioinformatics software. Then the expression change of EGFR was measured by Real-time PCR and Western blot.Result:Comparing with normal nasopharyngeal epithelial tissue cells,MiR-148a expression level was significantly reduced in NPC cell line CNE2.MTT,clone formation assay and flow cytometry test show that overexpression of MiR-148a can inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis.Real-time PCR and Western blot test show that MiR 148a can reduce the expression of EGFR.Conclusion:MiR-148a can affect the proliferation and apoptosis of NPC cell,and it is likely to be involved in the development and progression of NPC.

Development of diabetic nephropathy in nude mice.

BACKGROUND: Immune dysfunction is very common in diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there is no evidence whether such immune dysfunction can influence the development of DM, especially the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). AIM: To investigate the influence of absence of T cells on DN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balb/c nude mice and Balb/c wild-type nude (WT) mice were injected with streptozotocin (STZ). Serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), blood glucose, body weight, urine albumin/creatinine ratio and rate of kidney weight to body weight (KW/BW) were measured. RESULTS: After modeling, there was no difference of blood glucose level between nude mice and WT mice except at week 2 (28.3 ± 4.9 mmol/l vs 23.1 ± 3.9 mmol/l, p<0.01). At week 4, the serum TNF- α level of nude mice got to 175.08 ± 46.03 pg/ml (p<0.05, compared with baseline level 80.19 ± 8.46 pg/ml), whereas the TNF- α levels of WT mice was stable. At week 4, the body weight of nude mice was lower than that of WT mice (14.7 ± 3.15 g vs 17.97 ± 2.85 g, p<0.05); the urine albumin/creatinine ratio (Alb/Cr) of nude mice was higher than that of WT mice (50.96 ± 5.57 mg/mmol vs 41.09 ± 5.79 mg/mmol, p<0.05); the kidney weight to body weight of nude mice was higher than that of WT mice (0.01352 ± 0.00163 vs 0.01173 ± 0.00131, p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed urine Alb/Cr positively correlated with serum TNF-α level at week 4 (r = 0.588, p<0.01). At week 4, the increase of type IV collagen in the glomeruli was more prominent in diabetic nude mice than in diabetic WT mice (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Absence of T cells in DM might influence the development of DN.

Effects of tryptophan supplementation on cashmere fiber characteristics, serum tryptophan, and related hormone concentrations in cashmere goats.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of tryptophan (Trp) supplementation on cashmere fiber characteristics and on serum Trp, melatonin (MEL), prolactin (PRL), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) concentrations in cashmere goats during the cashmere fast-growth period. Thirty-six Liaoning cashmere wether goats were stratified on the basis of body weight (28±0.8 kg) and assigned randomly to 1 of the following 4 rumen-protected Trp treatments: 0, 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 g per goat per day. The experimental period lasted 137 d. Blood samples were collected monthly during the daytime (8:00 AM) and at night (8:00 PM). Tryptophan supplementation improved cashmere growth rates, cashmere weight, and body weight (P=0.001) and increased serum Trp levels, nighttime MEL concentrations, IGF-1, and T3 and T4 concentrations (P<0.05). Across the treatments and sampling months, a highly positive correlation between cashmere growth rate and nighttime serum MEL concentrations was observed (r=0.879, P=0.001). A moderately negative correlation between cashmere growth rates and serum PRL concentrations during the day and at night (rday=-0.645, P=0.007; rnight=-0.583, P=0.018) was observed. A moderately positive correlation between the cashmere growth rate and the daytime serum IGF-1 concentration (r=0.536, P=0.032) was observed, and no correlation was found between the cashmere growth rate and the other serum hormone concentrations. These data indicate that changes in serum concentrations of MEL, IGF-1, and PRL are related to cashmere growth in Liaoning cashmere goats during the cashmere fast-growth period. Under the experimental conditions of the current trial, we suggest that Trp may promote cashmere growth by increasing daytime IGF-1 and nighttime MEL secretion.

A novel single-nucleotide polymorphism in the 5' upstream region of the prolactin receptor gene is associated with fiber traits in Liaoning cashmere goats.

The most important traits of Chinese Liaoning cashmere goat fiber are fiber diameter, weight, and length. We looked for polymorphisms and their possible association with cashmere fiber traits in the 5' upstream region (5' UTR) of the prolactin receptor gene (PRLR), which encodes an anterior pituitary peptide hormone involved in different physiological activities; it is the principal endocrine regulator in pelage replacement in mammals. A novel single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was found in the 5' UTR of PRLR by PCR-RFLP in an analysis of 590 goats. Two genotypes (CC and CT) were observed. The frequencies of allele C and T were 0.93 and 0.07, respectively. Association analysis revealed that the PRLR 5' UTR polymorphism (SNP5) was significantly associated with cashmere fiber weight and diameter. This novel SNP in hircine PRLR has potential as a molecular marker for cashmere fiber weight and diameter in Liaoning cashmere goats.

Combined therapy of rhein and benazepril on the treatment of diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice.

OBJECTIVE: Rhein and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) have been reported to prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We further explore the unknown ability to induce renal-protection of rhein and ACEI combined therapy in DN compared with the therapeutic effects of single treatment of them by using db/db mouse of type 2 diabetes model. METHODS: db/db and db/m mice, 8 weeks of age, were divided into five groups according to the following treatments: (A) db/m, given saline treatment; (B) db/db, given saline treatment; (C) db/db, given rhein treatment (150 mg/kg/day); (D) db/db, given benazepril treatment (10 mg/kg/day); (E) db/db, given rhein (150 mg/kg/day) with benazepril (10 mg/kg/day). Body weight, plasma glucose, plasma lipid and 24 h urinary albumin excretion levels were measured every 4 weeks. Morphometry of renal tissue and immunohistology of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta) and fibronectin were determined for all groups at the end of the treatment. RESULTS: It was found that after treatment urinary albumin excretion was reduced after 4 weeks treatment in group E and after 8 weeks treatment in groups C and D, when compared to group B (p<0.05). Plasma creatinine levels dropped significantly for group E, compared with the diabetic control group by the end of the treatment period. Furthermore, after the treatment body weight, plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein all decreased in groups C and E compared to group B (p<0.05). Histological morphometric analysis revealed that the whole glomerular area and extracellular matrix area was significantly reduced in groups C, D and E compared to group B, at 20 weeks of age, an effect most pronounced in group E. Using immunohistochemistry, the expression of fibronectin and TGF-beta1 in groups C, D and E was found to have decreased compared to group B, after 12 weeks treatment, again the effect being more pronounced in group E. CONCLUSIONS: There appeared to be a similar renal protective effect of rhein compared with benazepril in diabetic nephropathy. A combined therapy may offer a more beneficial complementary effect on kidney injury in db/db mice, as reflected by urinary albumin excretion, renal function and histological changes. Our findings suggest that a therapeutic approach that combines rhein with ACEI provides a more effective therapy for DN than does either agent alone.

Structure and phase transitions in Ca2CoSi2O7-Ca2ZnSi2O7 solid-solution crystals.

While the incommensurability in melilites is well documented, the underlying atomic configurations and the composition-dependent phase behavior are not yet clear. We have studied the transition from the incommensurate phase to the high-temperature normal phase (IC-N), and to the low-temperature commensurate phase (IC-C) of selected members of the Ca(2)Co(1 - x)Zn(x)Si(2)O(7) system using X-ray and single-crystal electron diffraction, as well as calorimetric measurements. The space group of the unmodulated normal phase and of the basic structure of the incommensurate phase is P42(1)m; the commensurate lock-in superstructure was refined as a pseudomerohedral twin in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2. We found that the commensurate modulation is mainly connected with a sawtooth-like periodicity of rotations of the T(1) tetrahedra in the 3 x 3 superstructure. In this structure, the clustering of the low-coordinated Ca(2+) ions is not complete so that only imperfect octagons were detected. Generally, the effect of increasing substitution of Co by Zn was a continuous reduction of the IC-N and IC-C transition temperatures.

Identification of the lipophilic factor produced by macrophages that stimulates steroidogenesis.

Macrophages are known to release a lipophilic factor that stimulates testosterone production by Leydig cells. This macrophage-derived factor (MDF) is thought to be physiologically relevant, because removal of macrophages from the testis results in altered testosterone secretion and reduced fertility. The purpose of the present study was to purify this factor, elucidate its chemical structure, and determine whether it is both present in the testis and acts when injected intratesticularly. Culture media from testicular and peritoneal macrophages were extracted with ether, and the organic phase was sequentially purified on C18, silica, and cyano-HPLC columns. MDF was detected using a rat Leydig cell bioassay, with testosterone secretion being the end point. Purified material and crude ether extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The time of elution of MDF from both testicular and peritoneal macrophages was identical on all three HPLC columns. A single peak was observed when MDF, obtained from the final HPLC column, was analyzed by gas chromatography. The MS fragmentation pattern of purified material from both peritoneal and testicular macrophages was identical to that of a reference preparation of 25-hydroxycholesterol. Also, the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of MDF was similar to that of authentic 25-hydroxycholesterol. When 25-hydroxycholesterol was subjected to the identical purification scheme as MDF, it was found to elute at the same times as MDF on all three columns and elicited activity in the Leydig cell bioassay as expected. Control medium purified identically did not contain 25-hydroxycholesterol or have biological activity. Ether extracts of testis contained 25-hydroxycholesterol, indicating that this compound is present under physiological conditions. Similarly, when 25-hydroxycholesterol was injected into the testis of adult rats, testosterone production was increased within 3 h. Taken together, these data indicate that the lipophilic factor produced by macrophages that stimulates steroidogenesis is 25-hydroxycholesterol.

Varying amounts of rumen-inert fat for high producing goats in early lactation.

This study determined the responses of early lactating goats fed varying amounts of rumen-inert fat. Forty multiparous high producing Alpine does in the first 2 wk of lactation were assigned randomly to four isonitrogenous dietary treatments containing 0, 3, 6, and 9% added fat. The study consisted of a 2-wk preliminary and a 10-wk experimental period. Feed intake, blood glucose, and rumen pH were not affected by dietary treatments. Body weight gain and milk production decreased linearly as dietary fat increased. Peak production was higher with 3% added fat than with 6 and 9%. The SCC, total solids, and lactose contents of milk were unaffected by fat percentage. Milk fat percentage increased linearly as fat percentage increased; milk protein content was highest at 6% dietary fat addition. The rumen-inert fat tended to increase long-chain fatty acids and to reduce short-chain fatty acids of milk. These findings suggest that fat supplementation at 3% of the total diet can increase fat percentage in milk from high producing dairy goats in early lactation.

Noncritical phase matching in the different frequency generation of noncollinear alignment: an exact analysis.

By analyzing the phase mismatch in the different frequency generation of noncollinear alignment, we obtain the condition in which noncritical phase matching can be realized. The relevant equation for determining the optimum angles between the incident beams is derived. The calculated result agrees exactly with the experimental one.

Effect of source and amount of protein on milk production in dairy cows.

Forty multiparous Alpine does (mean BW of 61.5 kg) were utilized in a 13-wk trial to investigate the effects of a TMR differing in CP amount (13 or 17%) and source (solvent-extracted soybean meal or heat-treated soybean meal with or without urea) on lactational performance. Protein supplements contributed 30% of the N in 13% CP diets and 50% of the N in 17% CP diets. All diets were isoenergetic (2.5 Mcal of metabolizable energy/kg of DM) and were fed for ad libitum intake for the entire trial. Mean DMI (2.88 kg/d), milk production (2.65 kg/d), milk fat (4.05%), milk protein (2.68%), milk lactose (4.54%), and milk SNF (7.81%) did not differ among dietary treatments. Plasma urea N was greater (23.2 vs. 10.9 mg/dl) in does receiving the 17% CP diets; however, blood hematocrit (27.4%), beta-hydroxybutyrate (843 microM), plasma glucose (68.8 mg/dl), NEFA (600 mu eq/dl), and plasma total protein (74.% g/L) were not significantly affected by treatment. The apparent absence of a dietary effect on lactational performance may be due to the high DMI of the does (4.7% when expressed as DMI per kilogram of BW) and high CP intake providing a surfeit of protein relative to requirements.

Steroidal saponins from Smilax lebrunii.

Two new steroidal saponins, (25 R)-spirostan-3 beta-ol-6-one-3-O-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl (1----6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside and (25 R)-spirostan-3 beta-ol-6-one-3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1---4)] [alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1----6)]-beta-glucopyranoside, were isolated from the rhizomes of Smilax lebrunii. Their structures have been established by chemical and spectral methods.