Simultaneous Determination and Exposure Assessment of Antioxidants in Food-Contact Plastic Materials by HPLC-MS/MS.

Antioxidants are widely used to prevent oxidative degradation of food-contact plastics materials. However, when plastic products come into contact with food, antioxidants may contaminate food. Herein, twenty-three kinds of possible antioxidants were monitored in 257 products of seven polymers. The migration of antioxidants into the food simulants at different temperatures and times was detected by using HPLC-MS/MS. Risk assessment was performed based on the EU, U.S. FDA methods and Monte Carlo simulation. The antioxidants migrated mainly to fatty food simulant, with the highest concentration and occurrence frequency of Irgafos 168, followed byIrganox 1010, Irganox 1076, and Antioxidant LTDP in polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene. No antioxidants were detected in polystyrene, polycarbonate, and polyvinylidene chloride. Additionally, antioxidants exhibited the highest detection rate of 0.81 in polyethylene. Risk assessment demonstrated that the antioxidants have no obvious health risk to the exposed population. However, the risk of polypropylene was relatively high compared to other polymers.

N-nitrosamines in Qingdao dried aquatic products and dietary risk assessment.

N-nitrosamines are human carcinogens commonly present in dried aquatic products. A method of gas chromatography - mass spectrometry combined with steam distillation was developed for the determination of 9 N-nitrosamines in dried aquatic products in Qingdao, China, with which 300 samples of fish, squid, shrimp and sea cucumber collected from Qingdao were analysed. A health risk assessment was conducted based on determined levels of N-nitrosamines by using estimated daily intake and slope factors. Results showed that fish products was the category with the highest content of N-nitrosamines, whereas squid and shrimp products were the categories with the highest frequency of presence of N-nitrosamines. The average estimated cancer risk of N-nitrosamines in dried aquatic products in Qingdao ranged from 3.57 × 10-8 to 3.53 × 10-5. Nitrosodimethylamine, N-Nitrosodiethylamine and N-Nitrosodibutylamine could be considered to pose a potential cancer risk to residents in Qingdao.

Diagnosis and treatment of diverticular hemorrhage in small intestine: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Small intestine diverticula are the most common cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, but prompt diagnosis remains challenging. Thus, this study aimed to identify strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of diverticular hemorrhage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who presented with gastrointestinal tract bleeding to Guangzhou First People's Hospital between 2008 and 2014 were retrospectively examined. Gastrorrhagia and colonic hemorrhage were excluded based on the gastroscopy and colonoscopy findings, and the bleeding sites were in the small intestine. Data regarding patient characteristics, methods of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis were collected. RESULTS: Eighty-five patients met the study criteria, and 45 patients were diagnosed with diverticular hemorrhage using double balloon enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy, computed tomography (CT), or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Among these patients, 10 presented with massive bleeding and hemodynamic instability. All 45 patients underwent surgery and recovered with no complications, and all patients were followed-up for over 3 years, with no cases of recurrent hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Diverticular hemorrhage is the most common cause of small intestine bleeding. Double balloon enteroscopy, capsule endoscopy, CT, and DSA are effective methods for diagnosing small intestine diverticular hemorrhage. Surgical resection of the involved region is necessary and may achieve complete cure.

Radar Composite Reflectivity Reconstruction Based on FY-4A Using Deep Learning.

Weather radars are commonly used to track the development of convective storms due to their high resolution and accuracy. However, the coverage of existing weather radar is very limited, especially in mountainous and ocean areas. Geostationary meteorological satellites can provide near global coverage and near real-time observations, which can compensate for the lack of radar observations. In this paper, a deep learning method was used to estimate the radar composite reflectivity from observations of China's new-generation geostationary meteorological satellite FY-4A and topographic data. The derived radar reflectivity products from satellite observations can be used over regions without radar coverage. In general, the deep learning model can reproduce the overall position, shape, and intensity of the radar echoes. In addition, evaluation of the reconstruction radar observations indicates that a modified model based on the attention mechanism (Attention U-Net model) has better performance than the traditional U-Net model in terms of all statistics such as the probability of detection (POD), critical success index (CSI), and root-mean-square error (RMSE), and the modified model has stronger capability on reconstructing details and strong echoes.

Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis to Identify Abnormal Methylated Differentially Expressed Genes for Predicting Prognosis of Human Colon Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the value of key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulated by differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in predicting the prognosis of human colon cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RNA sequencing data and DNA methylation data of 455 colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) cases and 41 normal controls were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed by the DAVID database. To identify the hub genes regulated by methylation, univariate Cox and multivariate Cox regression analyses were carried out. A nomogram based on the risk score was built to identify the power of the hub genes to predict prognosis in patients with colon cancer. RESULTS: A total of 133 DEGs regulated by DMRs were identified through analyzing RNA sequencing data and DNA methylation data from TCGA. GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed the genes involved in the initiation and progression of colon cancer. Univariate Cox regression analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis focused on the seven hub genes (CDH4, CR2, KRT85, LGI4, NPAS4, RUVBL1 and SP140) associated with overall survival, the expression of which negatively correlated with their methylation level. The risk score and nomogram model showed that the hub genes served as potential biomarkers for the prognosis prediction of patients with colon cancer. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the DEGs regulated by DMRs are involved in the carcinogenesis and development of colon cancer, and the aberrantly methylated DEGs associated with overall survival of patients may be potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for colon cancer.

Effect of inlet temperature on the physicochemical properties of spray-dried seed-watermelon seed protein powder.

Here, we studied the effects of inlet temperature on the physicochemical properties of the hydrolyzed protein (seed-watermelon seed hydrolyzed protein [SWSP]) powder in seed-watermelon seeds. The inlet temperature of the study was in the range of 150 to 180 °C, and the remaining experimental parameters remained constant, that is, the feed flow rate was 0.2 L/hr, the concentration of maltodextrin was 30%, and the outlet temperature was 80 °C. We studied the water activity and moisture content, bulk density, flowability (Carr index and Hausner ratio), angle of repose, solubility, color, hygroscopicity, powder morphology, particle size, crystallinity, and odor of the sample. Inlet temperature of 170 to 180 °C reduced the moisture content and increased the particle size. It was found that the value of measured water activity was less than 0.5, which helped in maintaining stability of the sample. Powders produced at the temperatures showed smoother particle surfaces, whereas higher inlet temperature showed spherical particles with some shrinkage as analyzed by scanning electron microscope. The inlet temperature affected the color of the sample, thus at high temperature, the sample had a brighter color. The sample was approximately 18% crystalline. At a preparation temperature of 160 °C, the sample showed significant antioxidant activity (P < 0.05).

Acacetin-induced cell apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells: Evidence for the role of muscarinic M3 receptor.

Aacacetin, a plant flavone has shown antitumor efficacy recently. However, its associated mechanisms are poorly known. We hypothesized that the muscarinic M3 receptor (M3 R), which is highly expressed in some cancer tissue, is related to the antitumor effect of acacetin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells. Our results showed that 12.5- to 200-µM acacetin inhibited cell viability in dose- and time-dependent manners in HNSCC cells, but a relative higher concentration was needed for oral adenoid cystic carcinoma cells. M3 R expression level was higher in HNSCC cells than that in adenoid cystic carcinoma cells. Flow cytometry and electron microscopy confirmed acacetin-induced cell apoptosis in 22B cells, a HNSCC cell line. Acacetin promoted mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase 9, 3 processing. Knocking down of M3 R expression by specific siRNA significantly prevented the acacetin-induced cell viability damage, cell apoptosis, and caspase 3 activation. Besides, M3 R was also involved in acacetin-induced elevation of reactive oxygen species and intracellular calcium ([Ca2+ ]i ). These data indicate that acacetin-induced cell apoptosis in HNSCC cells may through M3 R related calcium signaling and caspase 3 activation. Acacetin is a potent natural antitumor reagent especially for the tumor cells, which highly expressed M3 R.

Placental Growth Factor Mediates Crosstalk Between Lung Cancer Cells and Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Controlling Cancer Vascularization and Growth.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Assistance with tumor-associated vascularization is needed for the growth and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, it was shown that placental growth factor (PLGF) expressed by NSCLC cells had a critical role in promoting the metastasis of NSCLC cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. METHODS: Here, we first established a NSCLC model in mice that allows us not only to isolate tumor cells from non-tumor cells in the tumor, but also to trace tumor cells in living animals. Levels of PLGF, its unique receptor Flt-1, as well as transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1) was examined in tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) by RT-qPCR. A transwell well co-culture system and HUVEC assay were applied to study the crosstalk between NSCLC cells and TAM. RESULTS: NSCLC cells produced and secreted PLGF to signal to tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) through surface expression of Flt-1 on macrophages. In a transwell co-culture system, PLGF secreted by NSCLC cells triggered macrophage polarization to a TAM subtype that promote growth of NSCLC cells. Moreover, polarized TAM seemed to secrete TGFß1 to enhance the growth of endothelial cells in a HUVEC assay. CONCLUSION: The cross-talk between TAM and NSCLC cells via PLGF/Flt-1 and TGFß receptor signaling may promote the growth and vascularization of NSCLC.

Surgical management of primary parapharyngeal space tumors in 103 patients at a single institution.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical features, diagnosis, surgical management, and treatment of parapharyngeal space tumors in a single-center setting due to limited knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of parapharyngeal space. METHODS: Clinical records of 103 patients were included for the analysis of such clinical characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 29 different types of tumors were diagnosed after operation: 20 benign and 9 malignant. With a follow-up of 31-84 months for 90 benign cases, 84 cases had no recurrence and 6 cases were lost to follow-up. In contrast, with an 8- to 51-month follow-up for 13 malignant cases, 11 patients died and 2 were lost to follow-up. Furthermore, for postoperative complications, 3 cases had Horner syndrome, 2 had hoarseness, 2 had facial nerve dysfunction, and each for other types. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery remains the first choice for the treatment of parapharyngeal space tumors, with the transcervical approach used for most tumors. Moreover, CT or MRI may assist in making decisions about operation schemes.

MiR-31 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Lung Adenocarcinoma Mainly by Targeting HuR.

BACKGROUND: Gene expression is widely regulated by miRNAs and RNA binding proteins. In this study, we mainly focused on miR-31 and a RNA binding protein, HuR (Hu antigen R). METHODS: The levels of miR-31 and HuR in lung carcinoma cells and lung cancer tissues were explored using RT-qPCR and western blot, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the target gene of miR-31. Cell apoptosis and migration were studied using flow cytometry and the transwell invasion assay. The down-stream genes of HuR were explored with western blot assay. RESULTS: miR-31 was decreased in lung carcinoma cells and lung cancer tissues, while the protein level of HuR was increased. HuR was the target gene of miR-31. Inhibition of miR-31 and overexpression of HuR resulted in the upregulation of cyclins A2, B1, D1 and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). Furthermore, overexpression of miR-31 prompted lung cancer cell apoptosis and inhibited cell migration. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of miR-31 expression enhanced lung cancer proliferation and migration by repressing HuR expression.

Linalool inhibits cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB activation.

Linalool, a natural compound that exists in the essential oils of several aromatic plants species, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effects of linalool on cigarette smoke (CS)-induced acute lung inflammation have not been reported. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of linalool on CS-induced acute lung inflammation in mice. Linalool was given i.p. to mice 2h before CS exposure daily for five consecutive days. The numbers of macrophages and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. The production of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-8 and MCP-1 were detected by ELISA. The expression of NF-κB was detected by Western blotting. Our results showed that treatment of linalool significantly attenuated CS-induced lung inflammation, coupled with inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells and TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-8 and MCP-1 production. Meanwhile, treatment of linalool inhibited CS-induced lung MPO activity and pathological changes. Furthermore, linalool suppressed CS-induced NF-κB activation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that linalool protected against CS-induced lung inflammation through inhibiting CS-induced NF-κB activation.

[The application research of eustachian tuboplasty assisted with hypothermy plasma ablation in the threatment of adult refractory otitis media with effusion].

OBJECTIVE: Through the application of eustachian tuboplasty assisted with hypothermy plasma ablation, we evaluate its efficacy in the threatment of adult refractory otitis media with effusion. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 48 cases (61 ears) suffering from adult refractory otitis media with effusion from January 2012 to December 2013. According to the admission date, the patients were divided into the control group (17 cases, 22 ears) and the treatment group (31 cases, 39 ears). In the control group, the patients were treated with drugs and physical therapy. In the treatment group, the hypothermy plasma ablation technology was used to ablates the hypertrophic tissues around the eustachian orifice besides the pharmaedogical interventions. The recurrence rate of the two groups were analyzed and compared in 1 year after treatment. Pure tone audiometry and acoustic immittance measurement were taken for the two groups in differernt periods (one week prior to operation, one months, three months, six months and one year after operation respectively) to evaluate their hearing change and the recurrence rate (within six months after treatment and one year respectively) objectively. RESULT: In the control group, 2 cases (2 ears) were lost to follow-up, and the recurrence rate was 65% (13/20) in 1 year. In the treatment group, four case were lost to follow-up,and the recurrence rate was 14.3% (5/35) in 1 year. The difference was statistically significant (P<0. 01). There were similar hearing improvement in the two groups after treatment in 1 month, but the hearing improvement in the treatment group increased with time. There were no complications occuring during the operation and post-operation. Within a month after operation, the majority of ears(28/35) obtained significant hearing improvement with the decreasing air-bone-gap comparision with the pre-operation (P < 0.01), and the preoperative tympanogram of 16 ears with type B or C turned to type A (P < 0.01). There were no both statistical significance in the variation of air-bone-gap and tympanogram of comparison with results between three months and six months, six months and one year postoperatively (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the efficacy of eustachian tuboplasty assisted with hypothermy plasma ablation in the threatment of adult refractory otitis media with effusion caused by eustachian tube opening disorder was significant. It can reduce the recurrence rate significantly in one year and allow sustained hearing improvement within three months postoperatively.

[Objective assessment of combined soft tissue flap in defect repair of laryngeal carcinoma operation].

OBJECTIVE: To objectively evaluate the effectiveness of the ventricular fold pull-down combined with strip myofascial flap to repair laryngeal defect after early glottic carcinoma operation with glottic morphological parameters and voice parameters. METHODS: Between January 2008 and December 2012, 47 patients with early glottic carcinoma and anterior commissure involvement underwent partial laryngectomy. All patients were male, aged from 60 to 75 years (mean, 68.5 years). The disease duration was 4-11 months (mean, 7.2 months). According to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM criteria, 28 cases were classified as T1aN0M0, 14 cases as T1bN0M0, and 5 cases as T2NoMo. Laryngeal defect after resection of tumor was repaired by ventricular fold pull-down combined with strip myofascial flap. At 1 day before operation and at 1 year after operation, multilayer spiral CT was used to scan larynx, to measure and compare the anteroposterior diameter of vocal area, the distance between both sides of the vocal process, and the thickness of soft tissue of vocal area, and the effect of combined soft tissue flap was objectively assessed in laryngeal morphology reconstruction. The actual voice parameters [including Fo, Jitter, Shimmer, normalized noise energy (NNE), and maximum phonatory time (MPT)] were tested and compared, and the effect of the combined soft tissue flap on postoperative laryngeal pronunciation was evaluated. RESULTS: Postoperative pathological examination revealed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in 38 cases, and moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in 9 cases; no tumor was found in the resection margin. Healing of neck incision was obtained in all patients at 7-9 days after operation. Forty-four cases were decannulated at 9-11 days after operation and the remaining 3 cases were decannulated at 3 weeks after operation. Oral feeding usually started in all cases at 3-4 days after operation. All patients were followed up 1 year. At 1 year after operation, the anteroposterior diameter of vocal area was significantly reduced when compared with preoperative one (t = 15.161, P = 0.000); the distance between both sides of the vocal process and the thickness of soft tissue of vocal area had no significant changes (P > 0.05). Compared with preoperative ones, there were significant differences in Shimmer, NNE, and MPT (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in Fo and Jitter (P > 0.05) at 1 year after operation. CONCLUSION: Ventricular fold pull-down combined with strip myofascial flap can repair laryngeal defect effectively after partial laryngectomy and maintain the effective airway after operation. It not only has no effect on postoperative laryngeal morphology, but also can be used as new laryngeal voice vibration body.

Surgical management of cervical esophageal carcinoma with larynx preservation and reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: There is no generally accepted treatment strategy for cervical esophageal carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the operative outcomes of reconstruction after resection of cervical esophageal and hypopharynx-esophagus junction carcinoma with larynx preservation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 79 patients with carcinoma of the hypopharynx-esophagus junction and cervical esophagus. Transhiatal total esophagectomy without thoracotomy was carried out in 67 patients who underwent gastric pull-up (GP) or colon interposition (CI) techniques. Transcervical limited pharyngo-cervical esophagectomy was performed in the patients with the pectoralis major flap alone or combined with the split graft (PMF/CWSG) for reconstruction. Seventy-two patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 66.4% and 45.5%, respectively. The average time to resumption of oral feeding was 25.2 days. All patients had preserved laryngeal function. The overall incidence of complications was 29.1% (23/79), which included cervical fistula, abdominal wound dehiscence, liquefaction necrosis of abdominal fat, and pleural effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection of cervical esophageal carcinoma and laryngeal preservation is possible. Complete esophagectomy should be performed when the resection extends below the thoracic inlet. The reconstruction methods we performed were safe and effective for the immediate restoration of alimentary continuity after resection of cervical esophageal and pharyngo-cervical esophageal carcinoma; and the patients with PMF/CWSG reconstruction had a better survival than those with GP or CI reconstruction. Combined with radiotherapy, the resectability rate and survival rate of cervical esophageal carcinoma can be improved.

[Clinical analysis of 91 cases of primary parapharyngeal space tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and analyze the clinical features, diagnosis methods, surgical approaches and treatment outcomes of patients with primary parapharyngeal space tumors. METHODS: A retrospective review of 91 cases with primary parapharyngeal space tumors treated from January 1999 to December 2011 was performed. All patients underwent preoperative enhanced CT scan and postoperative histopathologic examination. Intraoperative frozen section biopsies were performed in 36 of 91 cases. The surgical approaches included trans-cervical approach in 73 cases, trans-parotid approach in 5 cases, trans-oral approach in 5 cases, and mandibulotomy in 8 cases. RESULTS: The postoperative pathological diagnoses consisted of 29 variants, including 20 for benign tumors and 9 for malignant tumors. Of the 80 cases with benign tumors, 6 cases were lost to follow-up and 74 cases were followed up for 31-84 months with no recurrence. Eleven cases with malignant tumor were followed up for 8-51 months (median 29 months), of them 7 cases died and 1 case was lost to follow-up. The post-operative complications included Horner syndrome in 3 cases, hoarseness in 2 cases, hypoglossal nerve palsy in 1 case, accessory nerve palsy in 1 case, upper airway obstruction in 1 case, and internal carotid artery cavernous sinus fistula in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: Parapharyngeal space tumors are rare, with atypical clinical manifestation, and have pathological types of diversification. CT or MRI is helpful to evaluate the tumor size, location and possible sources, and to make operation scheme. Surgery is the first choice for parapharyngeal space tumors. Trans-cervical approach can be applied to most tumors. Parapharyngeal benign tumors have good prognosis, but malignant tumors have poor prognosis.

[Objective evaluation of CO2 laser in the treatment of Tis--T glottic carcinoma after operation for voice rehabilitation].

OBJECTIVE: To objectively evaluate the voice rehabilitation status in different period after treatment of Tis--T1 glottic carcinoma by CO2 laser with voice parameters. METHOD: A retrospective review of 41 cases with Tis--T1 glottic carcinoma treated by CO2 laser was performed, 23 cases were stage Tis (Tis group) and 18 cases with stage T1N0M0 (T1 group). The range of excision of the lesion by CO2 laser was according to the different stages of the tumor, and ensured theoperation negative margin was by intraoperative frozen pathological examination. We tested and compared the actual voice (coritaine F0, Jitter, Shimmer, NNE and MPT) of 30 cases of healthy middle-aged and old male(normal group) and all the patients at one day prior to operation, three months, six months and one year after operation respectively, which was to evaluate the voice rehabilitation status in different period after operation objectively. RESULT: Postoperative pathological examination revealed, 23 cases were squamous epithelium severe atypical hyperplasia, 16 cases were well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and 2 cases were moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Palatoglossal arch mucosal tear occurred in 3 patients. Respiratory difficulties were not seen in all cases, and normal oral feeding was obtained in all cases in postoperative three days. All patients were followed up for one year. There was statistical significance in F0, Jitter, Shimmer of both Tis group and T1 group after operation in different periods(P<0.05). But there was no statistical significance in NNE and MPT between six months and one years after operation in the two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: CO2 laser surgery is an effective treatment for early glottic carcinoma. Postoperative vocal function was improved in varying degrees, and voice quality gradually improved with the rehabilitation time. Partly objective parameters reflecting the vocal function gradually stabilized after half a year after operation.