Controlling a new plasma regime.

Success of the UK's Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme requires a robust plasma control system. This system has to guide the plasma from initiation to the burning phase, maintain it there, produce the desired fusion power for the desired duration and then terminate the plasma safely. This has to be done in a challenging environment with limited sensors and without overloading plasma-facing components. The plasma parameters and the operational regime in the STEP prototype will be very different from tokamaks, which are presently in operation. During fusion burn, the plasma regime in STEP will be self-organizing, adding further complications to the plasma control system design. This article describes the work to date on the design of individual controllers for plasma shape and position, magneto hydrodynamic instabilities, heat load and fusion power. Having studied 'normal' operation, the article discusses the philosophy of how the system will handle exceptions, when things do not go exactly as planned. This article is part of the theme issue 'Delivering Fusion Energy - The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)'.

Efficacy and nephrotoxicity of polymyxin B in elderly patients with carbapenem resistant bacterial infection.

BACKGROUND: To study the efficacy and nephrotoxicity of polymyxin B in the treatment of elderly patients with carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO) infection. METHODS: The clinical and microbiological data of patients with CRO-infected sepsis treated with polymyxin B were retrospectively analyzed. The effective rate, bacterial clearance, incidence and recovery rate of acute renal injury (AKI) and prognosis-related indicators in AKI at different stages were compared. RESULTS: The effective rate of 215 elderly patients with CRO infection treated with polymyxin was 50.7%. The total bacterial clearance rate was 44.2%, the total incidence of AKI was 37.2%, the recovery rate of AKI was 35%, and the incidence range of polymyxin B-related AKI was 10.2-37.2%. Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that the predictors of AKI in elderly patients were high APACHE II score, long duration of polymyxin, chronic renal insufficiency and ineffective outcome; the ROC curve showed that the cutoff value for predicting AKI was a serum creatinine concentration of 73 mmol/L before polymyxin B use, and the AUC was 0.931. CONCLUSIONS: Rational use of polymyxin B is safe and effective in elderly patients with CRO infection, and its effective outcome can improve the recovery rate of AKI.

[Safety of double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis in radical gastrectomy: A prospective, multi-center, single arm trial].

Objective: To evaluate the safety of double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis in radical gastrectomy. Methods: This prospective, multi-center, single-arm study was initiated by the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University in June 2021 (CRAFT Study, NCT05282563). Participating institutions included Nanyang Central Hospital, Zhumadian Central Hospital, Luoyang Central Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan Polytechnic University, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University, Luohe Central Hospital, the People's Hospital of Hebi, First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Anyang Tumor Hospital, First People's Hospital of Pingdingshan, and Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) gastric adenocarcinoma confirmed by preoperative gastroscopy;(2) preoperative imaging assessment indicated that R0 resection was feasible; (3) preoperative assessment showed no contraindications to surgery;(4) esophagojejunostomy planned during the procedure; (5) patients volunteered to participate in this study and gave their written informed consent; (6) ECOG score 0-1; and (7) ASA score I-III. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) history of upper abdominal surgery (except laparoscopic cholecystectomy);(2) history of gastric surgery (except endoscopic submucosal dissection and endoscopic mucosal resection); (3) pregnancy or lactation;(4) emergency surgery for gastric cancer-related complications (perforation, hemorrhage, obstruction); (5) other malignant tumors within 5 years or coexisting malignant tumors;(6) arterial embolism within 6 months, such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular accident; and (7) comorbidities or mental health abnormalities that could affect patients' participation in the study. Patients were eliminated from the study if: (1) radical gastrectomy could not be completed; (2) end-to-side esophagojejunal anastomosis was not performed during the procedure; or (3) esophagojejunal anastomosis reinforcement was not possible. Double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis was performed as follows: (1) Open surgery: the full thickness of the anastomosis is continuously sutured, followed by embedding the seromuscular layer with barbed or 3-0 absorbable sutures. The anastomosis is sutured with an average of six to eight stitches. (2) Laparoscopic surgery: the anastomosis is strengthened by counterclockwise full-layer sutures. Once the anastomosis has been sutured to the right posterior aspect of the anastomosis, the jejunum stump is pulled to the right and the anastomosis turned over to continue to complete reinforcement of the posterior wall. The suture interval is approximately 5 mm. After completing the full-thickness suture, the anastomosis is embedded in the seromuscular layer. Relevant data of patients who had undergone radical gastrectomy in the above 12 centers from June 2021 were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome was safety (e.g., postoperative complications, and treatment). Other studied variables included details of surgery (e.g., surgery time, intraoperative bleeding), postoperative recovery (postoperative time to passing flatus and oral intake, length of hospital stay), and follow-up conditions (quality of life as assessed by Visick scores). Result: [1] From June 2021 to September 2022,457 patients were enrolled, including 355 men and 102 women of median age 60.8±10.1 years and BMI 23.7±3.2 kg/m2. The tumors were located in the upper stomach in 294 patients, mid stomach in 139; and lower stomach in 24. The surgical procedures comprised 48 proximal gastrectomies and 409 total gastrectomies. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 85 patients. Other organs were resected in 85 patients. The maximum tumor diameter was 4.3±2.2 cm, number of excised lymph nodes 28.3±15.2, and number of positive lymph nodes five (range one to four. As to pathological stage,83 patients had Stage I disease, 128 Stage II, 237 Stage III, and nine Stage IV. [2] The studied surgery-related variables were as follows: The operation was successfully completed in all patients, 352 via a transabdominal approach, 25 via a transhiatus approach, and 80 via a transthoracoabdominal approach. The whole procedure was performed laparoscopically in 53 patients (11.6%), 189 (41.4%) underwent laparoscopic-assisted surgery, and 215 (47.0%) underwent open surgery. The median intraoperative blood loss was 200 (range, 10-1 350) mL, and the operating time 215.6±66.7 minutes. The anastomotic reinforcement time was 2 (7.3±3.9) minutes for laparoscopic-assisted surgery, 17.6±1.7 minutes for total laparoscopy, and 6.0±1.2 minutes for open surgery. [3] The studied postoperative variables were as follows: The median time to postoperative passage of flatus was 3.1±1.1 days and the postoperative gastrointestinal angiography time 6 (range, 4-13) days. The median time to postoperative oral intake was 7 (range, 2-14) days, and the postoperative hospitalization time 15.8±6.7 days. [4] The safety-related variables were as follows: In total, there were 184 (40.3%) postoperative complications. These comprised esophagojejunal anastomosis complications in 10 patients (2.2%), four (0.9%) being anastomotic leakage (including two cases of subclinical leakage and two of clinical leakage; all resolved with conservative treatment); and six patients (1.3%) with anastomotic stenosis (two who underwent endoscopic balloon dilation 21 and 46 days after surgery, the others improved after a change in diet). There was no anastomotic bleeding. Non-anastomotic complications occurred in 174 patients (38.1%). All patients attended for follow-up at least once, the median follow-up time being 10 (3-18) months. Visick grades were as follows: Class I, 89.1% (407/457); Class II, 7.9% (36/457); Class III, 2.6% (12/457); and Class IV 0.4% (2/457). Conclusion: Double and a half layered esophagojejunal anastomosis in radical gastrectomy is safe and feasible.

Evaluation of growth adaptation of Cinnamomum camphora seedlings in ionic rare earth tailings environment.

The root system is an important organ for nutrient uptake and biomass accumulation in plants, while biomass allocation directly affects essential oils content, which plays an essential role in plant growth and development and resistance to adverse environmental conditions. This study was undertaken to investigate the differences and correlation of biomass allocation, root traits and essential oil content (EOC), as well as the adaptations of camphor tree with different chemical types to the ionic rare earth tailing sand habitats. Data from 1-year old cutting seedlings of C. camphora showed that the biomass of C. camphora cuttings was mainly distributed in root system, with the ratio of root biomass 49.9-72.13% and the ratio of root to canopy 1.00-2.64. The total biomass was significantly positively correlated with root length (RL), root surface area (RSA) and dry weight of fine roots (diameter ≤ 2 mm) (P < 0.05). Root biomass and leaf biomass were negatively and positively with specific root length (SRL) and specific root surface area (SRSA), respectively. Leaf biomass presented a positive effect on EOC (P < 0.05), with the correlation coefficient of 0.808. The suitability sort of these camphor trees was as follows: C. camphora ß-linalool, C. camphora α-linaloolII, C. camphora α-linaloolI being better adapted to the ionic rare earth tailings substrate, C. camphora citral being the next, and C. porrectum ß-linalool and C. camphora borneol being the least adaptive. EOC played a positive role in the adaptation of C. camphora (R2 = 0.6099, P < 0.05). Therefore camphor tree with linalool type is the appropriate choice in the ecological restoration of ionic rare earth tailings. The study could provide scientific recommendations for the ecological restoration of ionic rare earth tailings area combined with industrial development.

The effects of ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism on vasovagal syncope patients undergoing head-up tilt test supplemented with sublingual nitroglycerin.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Head-up tilt test (HUTT) is clinically advantageous for diagnosing patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS). Nitroglycerin is mainly used as a stimulant during HUTT, and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is involved in the metabolism of nitroglycerin (NTG). ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism (ALDH2 rs671) is the most common variant in the East Asian population. This study aimed to assess the effects of ALDH2 rs671 on VVS patients undergoing HUTT supplemented with sublingual NTG (HUTT-NTG).  METHODS: Patients with recurrent VVS (at least 2 times) who were admitted to the syncope center of our hospital were enrolled. All VVS patients have undergone HUTT. The polymorphism of Glu487Lys gene of ALDH2 was measured by the DNA Microarray Chip Method. The results of HUTT-NTG of VVS patients with different ALDH2 genotypes were compared and their hemodynamic characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 199 VVS patients were enrolled, including 101 patients in the ALDH2*1/*1 group and 98 patients in the ALDH2*2 group. Among patients undergoing HUTT-NTG, 70.3% of patients in the ALDH2*1/*1 group and 68.4% of patients in the ALDH2*2 group were positive, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.77). The proportions of VASIS I, VASIS II, and VASIS III were 40.6%, 8.9%, and 20.8% in the ALDH2*1/*1 group, respectively, and the corresponding proportions in the ALDH2*2 group were 36.7%, 11.2%, and 20.4%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.91). The hemodynamic characteristics of different genotypes in VVS patients undergoing HUTT-NTG were compared, and no statistically significant difference was found. The median time of syncopal episode occurred after NTG administration in the ALDH2*1/*1 group was 6 min (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.0-9.0), and it was 6.0 min in the ALDH2*2 group (IQR: 4.25-8.0, P = 0.64). CONCLUSION: ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism did not affect the outcome of VVS patients undergoing HUTT-NTG, and no significant change in the hemodynamic characteristics of different genotypes was found.

Efficacy and safety of polymyxin B in carbapenem-resistant gram-negative organisms infections.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how to use polymyxin B rationally in order to produce the best efficacy and safety in patients with carbapenem-resistant gram-negative organisms (CRO) infection. METHODS: The clinical characteristics and microbiological results of 181 patients caused by CRO infection treated with polymyxin B in the First Affiliated Hospital from July 2018 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The bacterial clearance rate, clinical efficacy, adverse drug reactions and 28 days mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall effective rate of 181 patients was 49.72%, the total bacterial clearance rate was 42.0%, and the 28 day all-cause mortality rate was 59.1%. The effective rate and bacterial clearance rate in the group of less than 24 h from the isolation of CRO to the use of polymyxin B were significantly higher than those in the group of more than 24 h. Logistics multivariate regression analysis showed that the predictive factors for effective treatment of CRO with polymyxin B were APACHEII score, duration of polymyxin B treatment, combination of polymyxin B and other antibiotics, and bacterial clearance. 17 cases (9.36%) of acute kidney injury were considered as polymyxin B nephrotoxicity and 4 cases (23.5%) recovered after polymyxin B withdrawal. After 14 days of polymyxin B use, 3 cases of polymyxin B resistance appeared, and there were 2 cases of polymyxin B resistance in the daily dose 1.5 mg/kg/day group. CONCLUSION: For CRO infection, the treatment of polymyxin B should be early, combined, optimal dose and duration of treatment, which can achieve better clinical efficacy and microbial reactions, and reduce the adverse reactions and drug resistance.

Integrated microRNA-mRNA analysis reveals the roles of microRNAs in the muscle fat metabolism of Yanbian cattle.

Fat deposition is an important economic trait in farm animals. However, it is difficult to genetically improve intramuscular fat deposition via trait-based cattle breeding. The main objectives of this study were to analyze the factors about beef flavor, and to detect functional microRNA (miRNA, miR) associated with intramuscular fat deposition in Yanbian cattle. Longissimus dorsi samples from six steers were separated into high- and low-fat groups (n = 3 each) based on the marbling score, and transcriptomic analysis was performed using miRNA sequencing. A total of 33 miRNAs and 38 genes were found to be differentially expressed in the high- and low-fat groups. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate the sequencing results. Integrated miRNA-mRNA analysis revealed that miRNA-associated target genes were primarily associated with skeletal muscle development. However, some of the miRNAs (miR-424 etc.) and genes (ATF3 etc.) were also associated with fat metabolism. A targeted relationship between miR-22-3p and the WFIKKN2 gene and its involvement in adipocyte differentiation were confirmed experimentally. The study findings may provide potential candidate molecular targets for the selection of cattle with improved meat quality.

[Mechanism of Ziyin recipe for treatment of ovulatory infertility: a network pharmacology-based study and clinical observations].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms of Ziyin recipe for treatment of ovulatory infertility based on network pharmacology analysis and evaluate the clinical efficacy of this recipe. OBJECTIVE: TCMSP, PubChem, Genecards, String, Swiss Target Prediction, and Uniprot databases were searched to identify all the action targets of Ziyin recipe and ovulatory infertility to construct the PPI network. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed and the "TCM-active ingredient-target-pathway" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.6.0. We also designed a controlled clinical trial to verify the clinical effectiveness of Ziyin recipe. The patients were randomized into 2 groups to receive treatment with Western medicine including CC and HMG (control group) and additional treatment with Ziyin recipe, and the dosage of GN, follicular development days, E2 level of a single dominant follicle on trigger day, ovulation rate, the rate of LUFS, and clinical pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups. OBJECTIVE: We identified 22 active ingredients and 354 targets of action in Ziyin recipe, 791 targets of ovulatory infertility, and 96 common targets of action shared by Ziyin recipe and ovulatory infertility. According to Degree, the key targets included SRC, MAPK1, HSP90aa1, MAPK3, PTPN11, ESR1, Akt1, EGFR, NR3C1 and KNG1. Enrichment analysis of GO biological process showed that Ziyin recipe mainly focused on steroid hormonemediated signaling pathway, oxidation, reduction, and apoptosis. The most significantly enriched signaling pathways included PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, RAP1 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, ovarian steroid production, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. The results of the clinical trial showed that Ziyin recipe significantly reduced the dose of GN, accelerated follicle development, increased E2 level of single dominant follicle on the trigger day, and increased the cycle ovulation rate and pregnancy rate. OBJECTIVE: The therapeutic effects of Ziyin recipe are probably mediated through different pathways to promote follicle development, thus improving ovulation rate and clinical pregnancy rate of infertile patients with ovulatory disorders.

The atypical imaging findings of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and its evolution.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the atypical imaging findings of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and its evolution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The atypical imaging data of ten patients in our hospital who tested positive for COVID-19 were analyzed retrospectively, and the distribution, morphology, and image evolution of the lesions were analyzed. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed in all cases, and the imaging features were analyzed and summarized by two senior radiologists. RESULTS: Of these ten patients, three were male, and seven were female. The age of these patients ranged from 21-53 years, with an average age of 36.3 ± 3.6. The first symptom was fever in nine cases and dry cough in one case. A total of 17 lesions were detected in these ten patients. Five patients had a single lesion, and five patients had multiple lesions, for a total of 12 lesions. Ten lesions (58.82%) were located in the inferior lobe of the right lung, four lesions (23.53%) in the left inferior lobe, two lesions (11.76%) in the left upper lobe, and one lesion (5.88%) in the right middle lobe. Among the five single lesions, two were solid lesions, two were mixed ground-glass lesions, and one was a pure ground-glass lesion. Among the 12 multiple lesions, eight were solid lesions, two were mixed ground-glass lesions, and two were pure ground-glass lesions. Atypical manifestations in image signs: five lesions (29.41%) had single solid and sub-solid nodules, and four lesions (23.53%) had cavitary nodules. Typical manifestation (the presence of "white lung"): three lesions (17.65%) had an air bronchogram, two lesions (11.76%) had crazy-paving signs, two lesions (11.76%) had vascular thickening, and one lesion (5.88%) had halo signs. At reexamination 2-6 days later, 15 lesions (88.24%) had enlarged or increased, and two lesions (11.76%) had decreased or absorbed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 may have atypical imaging findings. Radiologists should improve their understanding of the novel coronavirus pneumonia to avoid any missed diagnoses.

Bovine bta-microRNA-1271 Promotes Preadipocyte Differentiation by Targeting Activation Transcription Factor 3.

Yanbian yellow cattle are one of the top five largest breeds of cattle in China. We had previously found that bta-miR-1271 is differentially expressed in the longissimus dorsi muscles of Yanbian yellow bulls and steers. However, whether bta-miR-1271 affects bovine fat formation is unclear. In this study, we used target gene prediction, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and transfection-mediated overexpression and inhibition of bta-miR-1271 in a culture of Yanbian yellow cattle preadipocytes to investigate the role of bta-miR-1271 in adipogenesis. We showed that bta-miR-1271 directly targets the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) mRNA and downregulates its expression. Overexpression of bta-miR-1271 enforced by the miRNA mimics promoted triglyceride accumulation and significantly upregulated expression of the adipogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) genes at both the protein and mRNA levels, as demonstrated by RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses. Conversely, inhibition of bta-miR-1271 expression produced the opposite effect. Our results show that bta-miR-1271 regulates differentiation of Yanbian yellow cattle preadipocytes by inhibiting ATF3 expression, which highlights the importance of microRNA-mediated regulation of adipogenesis. miR-1271 and its target gene(s) may provide a new research direction for investigating biological agents affecting intramuscular fat deposition in cattle.

[Characteristics on molecular epidemiology of Brucella melitensis in Jiangxi province].

Objective: To understand the molecular characteristics and correlation among isolated strains of Brucella melitensis (BM) so as to improve the strategies on prevention and control of the disease in Jiangxi province. Methods: A total of 25 strains of BM isolated from human in 17 counties of Jiangxi province were analyzed by multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) method. Results: A total of 25 strains of BM were classified into 24 independent genotypes with similarities between 67.00% and 100.00% and Simpson index between 0.000 and 0.773. There were 3 genotypes in MLVA8, including 60.00% (15/25) as 42 genotype, 32.00% (8/25) as 43 genotype, and 8.00% (2/25) as 63 genotype, respectively. There were 7 genotypes in MLVA11 identified, with 116 genotype and 125 genotype the main genotypes, accounting for 56.00% (14/25) of all the identified strains. Conclusions: Genes from all the 25 strains of BM that isolated from human being were with high genetic diversities, and various, genotypes. However, no obvious epidemiological correlation was noticed among these strains, indicating the complexity of the source of infection on Brucella in Jiangxi province.

Comparison of MAP method with classical methods for bandpass correction of white LED spectra.

The bandwidth of a spectrometer is an important error-influencing factor in spectral measurement. To obtain accurate results, bandpass correction is an indispensable step in spectral data processing. To deal with such a problem, several methods have been proposed, including the differential operator method using a local polynomial approximation and the Richardson-Lucy method combined with a regularization. Here we employ a method based on the maximum a posteriori estimation. The efficiency of the method is verified through a large number of experiments on the spectra of white light-emitting diodes. By comparing the error of the reference spectrum, it was found that this method can effectively correct spectra, thus providing more accurate information for further analysis.

[Effects of calcineurin gene silencing on the remodeling of transient outward potassium current ionic channel in hypertrophic ventricular myocytes from neonatal rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of calcineurin gene silencing on the remodeling of transient outward potassium current (Ito) ionic channel and action potential duration (APD) in phenylephrine (PE)-induced hypertrophic ventricular myocytes from neonatal rats. Methods: The ventricular myocytes of 1-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated and cultured for 48 h. RNA interference mediated by adenovirus carrying short hairpin RNA was used to knock down the gene which encodes the beta subtype of calcineurin A subunit (CnAß) and the cells were divided into 4 groups as Ad-null group, Ad-null+ PE group, Ad-CnAßshRNA1(A1) group and A1+ PE group, and then cultured for 48 h. The gene expression of Kv4.2 was assayed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The protein expressions of CnAß and Kv4.2 were assayed by Western blot test. Whole cell patch clamp technique was used to record Ito and action potential. Results: Treatment of the neonatal rat ventricular myocytes with PE induced the cell hypertrophy, up-regulated the protein expression of CnAß, attenuated the gene and protein expressions of Kv4.2 and the Ito current density, and prolonged APD. Silencing of CnAß in the neonatal rat ventricular myocytes using Ad-CnAßshRNA1 inhibited the aforementioned ability of PE significantly. Conclusion: CnAß gene silencing inhibits the remodeling of transient outward potassium current ionic channel and change of APD in PE-induced hypertrophic ventricular myocytes from neonatal rats.

Public health investigation and response to a hepatitis A outbreak from imported scallops consumed raw-Hawaii, 2016.

During the summer of 2016, the Hawaii Department of Health responded to the second-largest domestic foodborne hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak in the post-vaccine era. The epidemiological investigation included case finding and investigation, sequencing of RNA positive clinical specimens, product trace-back and virologic testing and sequencing of HAV RNA from the product. Additionally, an online survey open to all Hawaii residents was conducted to estimate baseline commercial food consumption. We identified 292 confirmed HAV cases, of whom 11 (4%) were possible secondary cases. Seventy-four (25%) were hospitalised and there were two deaths. Among all cases, 94% reported eating at Oahu or Kauai Island branches of Restaurant Chain A, with 86% of those cases reporting raw scallop consumption. In contrast, a food consumption survey conducted during the outbreak indicated 25% of Oahu residents patronised Restaurant Chain A in the 7 weeks before the survey. Product trace-back revealed a single distributor that supplied scallops imported from the Philippines to Restaurant Chain A. Recovery, amplification and sequence comparison of HAV recovered from scallops revealed viral sequences matching those from case-patients. Removal of product from implicated restaurants and vaccination of those potentially exposed led to the cessation of the outbreak. This outbreak further highlights the need for improved imported food safety.

[Analysis of eight-year follow-up data of plateau workers by color doppler echocardiography].

Objective: To analyze the heart rate changes and risk factors, as a result of high altitude. Methods: Retrospective analysis of echocardiographic data of plateau workers at a railway maintenance company from 2006 to 2013. The survival curve method was used to analyze the abnormal rate of the heart. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: In the first occurrence of cardiac abnormalities, the main types of abnormalities were right atrium enlargement (53.47%) , right ventricle enlargement (17.36%) , and tricuspid regurgitation (16.67%) . Cox regression analysis showed that workplace altitude and first physical examination age are two influencing factors of cardiac abnormalities, and their relative risk was 1.661 and 1.039. At high altitudes (3 600~4 000 m) , nearly 40% of workers heart has not changed. But this adaptation does not observed in the ultra-high altitudes (≥4 000 m) . Conclusion: There are individual differences in human adaptability to high altitude. We should take more stringent measures of health care for older people and those who work at more than 4000m. And we should abide by the rotation system for railways that are suitable for the plateau.

[The effect of human islet amyloid polypeptide on autophagy in murine INS-1 cells and potential mechanisms].

Objective: The aims of the study were to investigate the effects of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) on autophagy in INS-1 cells and its underlying mechanism, and to explore the role of autophagy in hIAPP-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. Methods: INS-1 cells were treated with hIAPP (10 µmol/L) for 24 h in the presence or absence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), compound C, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ß-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) and 3-methyladenine (3-MA), respectively. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the number of autophagosome in cells. Cell viability was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) test. 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay was used to measure the relative levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Western blot was used to detect expression of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and autophagic markers p62 and microtubule associated protein 1 light chain3 (LC3). Results: Treatment of INS-1 cells with hIAPP resulted in a significant increase in the number of autophagosomes and the expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ (both P<0.05). Meanwhile, treatment of INS-1 cells with hIAPP enhanced the level of ROS to 1.76 times of control cells (P<0.01). Co-treatment with NAC, an antioxidant, inhibited hIAPP-induced ROS generation, and the expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p-AMPK in the INS-1 cells (all P<0.05). Pretreatment of INS-1 cells with AMPK inhibitor compound C suppressed hIAPP and AICAR, an activator of AMPK, induced expression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and p-AMPK (all P<0.05). Autophagic inhibitor 3-MA and compound C aggravated the hIAPP-induced cell death and ROS generation in INS-1 cells (All P<0.05). The cytotoxic effects of hIAPP were significantly attenuated by co-treatment with AICAR (P<0.05). Conclusion: Autophagy may act as an adaptive mechanism to alleviate hIAPP-induced oxidative damage and toxicity in INS-1 cells.

Bandwidth correction in the spectral measurement of light-emitting diodes.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are widely employed in industrial applications and scientific research. However, spectral distortions will occur due to the broadening effects of the spectrometer when an LED spectrum is obtained with a spectrometer. In this paper, a novel approach is put forward to correct bandwidth for an LED spectrum based on a Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and He-Zheng model. We compare estimation errors of different LED spectra by using the proposed method along with the Richardson-Lucy method and differential operator approach. The experimental results show that the effect of the proposed approach is better than that of the other two methods.

Dual-grating dielectric accelerators driven by a pulse-front-tilted laser.

This paper investigates numerically dual-grating dielectric laser-driven accelerators driven by a pulse-front-tilted (PFT) laser, which extends the interaction length and boosts the electrons' energy gain. The optical system necessary to generate PFT laser beams with an ultrashort pulse duration of 100 fs is also studied in detail. Through two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we show that such a PFT laser effectively increases the energy gain by (91±25) % compared to that of a normally incident laser with a waist radius of 50 µm for a 100-period dual-grating structure.

The effect of nerve mobilization exercise in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints. The neurogenic inflammatory mechanism plays an important role in the inflammatory process of RA, and pathological changes in neural tissues in RA have also been noted. We aim to investigate treatment of the nervous system to relieve joint pain and inflammation in RA. Nerve mobilization, a nervous system-specific therapeutic exercise, was applied on RA patients to determine the effect of nerve mobilization on joint inflammation. Twelve RA patients were recruited from the community and were randomised into an experimental and a control group. In the experimental group, the subjects were taught a set of nerve mobilization exercises while the subjects in the control group were taught a set of gentle joint mobilization exercises. Both groups were instructed to practice the exercises daily. After a 4-week period, their RA pain scale (RAPS) and pain scores were examined, as well as the C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Subjects in the experimental group showed improvements in RAPS and pain scores after 4 weeks of nerve mobilization exercises, while CRP and ESR values remained unaffected. These preliminary data showed that nerve mobilization exercises might be beneficial in controlling joint pain in RA patients.

A positive crosstalk between CXCR4 and CXCR2 promotes gastric cancer metastasis.

The molecular mechanism underlying gastric cancer (GC) invasion and metastasis is still poorly understood. In this study, we tried to investigate the roles of CXCR4 and CXCR2 signalings in gastric cancer metastasis. A highly invasive gastric cancer cell model was established. Chemokines receptors were profiled to search for the accountable ones. Then the underlying molecular mechanism was investigated using both in vitro and in vivo techniques, and the clinical relevance of CXCR4 and CXCR2 expression was studied in gastric cancer samples. CXCR4 and CXCR2 were highly expressed in a high invasive gastric cancer cell model and in gastric cancer tissues. Overexpression of CXCR4 and CXCR2 was associated with more advanced tumor stage and poorer survival for GC patients. CXCR4 and CXCR2 expression strongly correlated with each other in the way that CXCR2 expression changed accordingly with the activity of CXCR4 signaling and CXCR4 expression also changed in agreement with CXCR2 activity. Further studies demonstrated CXCR4 and CXCR2 can both activated NF-κB and STAT3 signaling, while NF-κBp65 can then transcriptionally activate CXCR4 and STAT3 can activate CXCR2 expression. This crosstalk between CXCR4 and CXCR2 contributed to EMT, migration and invasion of gastric cancer. Finally, Co-inhibition of CXCR4 and CXCR2 is more effective in reducing gastric cancer metastasis. Our results demonstrated that CXCR4 and CXCR2 cross-activate each other to promote the metastasis of gastric cancer.