Comprehensive Characterization of Organic Light-Emitting Materials in Breast Milk by Target and Suspect Screening.

Organic light-emitting materials (OLEMs) are emerging contaminants in the environment and have been detected in various environment samples. However, limited information is available regarding their contamination within the human body. Here, we developed a novel QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method coupled with triple quadrupole/high-resolution mass spectrometry to determine OLEMs in breast milk samples, employing both target and suspect screening strategies. Our analysis uncovered the presence of seven out of the 39 targeted OLEMs in breast milk samples, comprising five liquid crystal monomers and two OLEMs commonly used in organic light-emitting diode displays. The cumulative concentrations of the seven OLEMs in each breast milk sample ranged from ND to 1.67 × 103 ng/g lipid weight, with a mean and median concentration of 78.76 and 0.71 ng/g lipid weight, respectively, which were higher compared to that of typical organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. We calculated the estimated daily intake (EDI) rates of OLEMs for infants aged 0-12 months, and the mean EDI rates during lactation were estimated to range from 30.37 to 54.89 ng/kg bw/day. Employing a suspect screening approach, we additionally identified 66 potential OLEMs, and two of them, cholesteryl hydrogen phthalate and cholesteryl benzoate, were further confirmed using pure reference standards. These two substances belong to cholesteric liquid crystal materials and raise concerns about potential endocrine-disrupting effects, as indicated by in silico predictive models. Overall, our present study established a robust method for the identification of OLEMs in breast milk samples, shedding light on their presence in the human body. These findings indicate human exposure to OLEMs that should be further investigated, including their health risks.

Risk-adapted stereotactic body radiotherapy for patients with cervical spinal metastases.

Owing to the complex anatomical structure and biomechanics, the current standard palliative treatments for cervical spinal metastases are associated with a high risk of recurrence and complications. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) can provide radical dose to tumors while protecting normal organs to the maximum extent. However, the efficacy and safety of SBRT for cervical spinal metastases is not well characterized. Data from 71 patients with cervical spine metastases who were treated with SBRT using CyberKnife between 2006 and 2021 were obtained from our prospectively maintained database. Primary endpoint was pain response at 12 weeks following SBRT completion; secondary endpoints included local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and adverse events. Standard-risk patients were planned to receive 30 Gy (range 21-36) with median fractions of 3 (range 1-3) and high-risk patients 35 Gy (range 24-50) with median fractions of 5 (range 4-5) according to the spinal cord and esophagus dose constraints. The median follow-up time was 17.07 months (range 3.1-118.9). After 12 weeks of SBRT completion, 54 (98.2%) of 55 patients with baseline pain achieved pain response and 46 (83.6%) achieved complete pain response. LC rates were 93.1% and 90% at 1 year and 2 year, respectively. The 1-year and 2-year OS rates were 66.2% and 37.4%, respectively. Eight patients experienced grades 1-4 adverse events (six vertebral compression fracture [VCF], five of them had VCF before SBRT; and two hemiparesis). No grade 5 adverse events were observed. Therefore, risk-adapted SBRT for cervical spine metastases achieved high pain control and LC rates with acceptable adverse events.

The potentially therapeutic targets of pediatric anaplastic ependymoma by transcriptome profiling.

Ependymoma (EPN) is a type of tumor that occurs in the central nervous system of children and adults. EPN produces resistance to chemotherapy, and there are no targeted drugs available as a proper cure. Therefore, the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies to elucidate pathogenic mechanisms is of prime importance to identify potential tumor target genes helpful for developing effective therapeutic approaches against EPN. With this objective, we used RNA-seq analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways in 4 pairs of EPN tissues and adjacent tissues. In total, we found 5,445 differentially expressed genes. The synaptic vesicle cycle and extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interaction pathways were highly enriched in the ependymoma group. Nine differentially expressed genes (SNAP25, GRM4, CELSR1, LAMA1, WNT5A, ROR2, CCND1, EPHB2, FOXJ1) were randomly verified by RT-qPCR, supporting the authenticity of our sequencing results. This study provides global gene information and some new potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and therapeutic targets of ependymoma.

Risk-adapted stereotactic body radiation therapy for central and ultra-central early-stage inoperable non-small cell lung cancer.

To determine the therapeutic efficacy and safety of risk-adapted stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) schedules for patients with early-stage central and ultra-central inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. From 2006 to 2015, 80 inoperable T1-2N0M0 NSCLC patients were treated with two median dose levels: 60 Gy in six fractions (range, 48-60 Gy in 4-8 fractions) prescribed to the 74% isodose line (range, 58%-79%) for central lesions (ie within 2 cm of, but not abutting, the proximal bronchial tree; n = 43), and 56 Gy in seven fractions (range, 48-60 Gy in 5-10 fractions) prescribed to the 74% isodose line (range, 60%-80%) for ultra-central lesions (ie abutting the proximal bronchial tree; n = 37) on consecutive days. Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), tumor local control rate (LC), and toxicity. Median OS and PFS were 64.47 and 32.10 months (respectively) for ultra-central patients, and not reached for central patients. Median time to local failure, regional failure, and any distant failures for central versus ultra-central lesions were: 27.37 versus 26.07 months, 20.90 versus 12.53 months, and 20.85 versus 15.53 months, respectively, all P < .05. Multivariate analyses showed that tumor categorization (ultra-central) and planning target volume ≥52.76 mL were poor prognostic factors of OS, PFS, and LC, respectively (all P < .05). There was one grade 5 toxicity; all other toxicities were grade 1-2. Our results showed that ultra-central tumors have a poor OS, PFS, and LC compared with central patients because of the use of risk-adapted SBRT schedules that allow for equal and favorable toxicity profiles.

Multiparametric MRI-Based Radiomics Signature with Machine Learning for Preoperative Prediction of Prognosis Stratification in Pediatric Medulloblastoma.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Despite advances in risk-stratified treatment strategies for children with medulloblastoma (MB), the prognosis for MB with short-term recurrence is extremely poor, and there is still a lack of evaluation of short-term recurrence risk or short-term survival. This study aimed to construct and validate a radiomics model for predicting the outcome of MB based on preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance images (MRIs) and to provide an objective for clinical decision-making. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical and imaging data of 64 patients with MB admitted to Shenzhen Children's Hospital from December 2012 to December 2021 and confirmed by pathology were retrospectively collected. According to the 18-month progression-free survival, the cases were classified into a good prognosis group and a poor prognosis group, and all cases were divided into training group (70%) and validation group (30%) randomly. Radiomics features were extracted from MRI of each child. The consistency test, t-test, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used for feature selection. The support vector machine (SVM) and receiver operator characteristic were used to evaluate the distinguishing ability of the selected features to the prognostic groups. RAD score was calculated based on the selected features. The clinical characteristics and RAD score were included in the multivariate logistic regression, and prediction models were constructed by screening out independent influences. The radiomics nomogram was constructed, and its clinical significance was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 1930 radiomic features were extracted from the images of each patient, and 11 features were included in the construction of radiomics score after selected. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the SVM model in the training and validation groups were 0.946 and 0.797, respectively. The radiomics nomogram was constructed based on the training cohort, and the AUC values in the training group and the validation group were 0.926 and 0.835, respectively. The results of clinical decision curve analysis showed that a good net benefit could be obtained from the nomogram. CONCLUSION: The radiomics nomogram established based on MRI can be used as a noninvasive predictive tool to evaluate the prognosis of children with MB, which is expected to help neurosurgeons better conduct preoperative planning and patient follow-up management.

The Phenotypic Variation in Moso Bamboo and the Selection of Key Traits.

This research aimed to explore the diverse phenotypic characteristics of moso bamboo in China and pinpoint essential characteristics of moso bamboo. In this study, 63 grids were selected using the grid method to investigate 28 phenotypic traits of moso bamboo across the entire distribution area of China. The results suggest that the phenotypic traits of moso bamboo exhibit rich diversity, with coefficients of variation ranging from 5.87% to 36.57%. The phenotypic traits of moso bamboo showed varying degrees of correlation. A principal component analysis was used to identify seven main phenotypic trait indicators: diameter at breast height (DBH), leaf area (LA), leaf weight (LW), branch-to-leaf ratio (BLr), leaf moisture content (Lmc), wall-to-cavity ratio (WCr), and node length at breast height (LN), which accounted for 81.64% of the total information. A random forest model was used, which gave good results to validate the results. The average combined phenotypic trait value (D-value) of most germplasm was 0.563. The highest D-value was found in Wuyi 1 moso in Fujian (0.803), while the lowest D-value was observed in Pingle 2 moso in Guangxi (0.317). The clustering analysis of phenotypic traits classified China's moso bamboo germplasm into four groups. Group I had the highest D-value and is an important candidate germplasm for excellent germplasm screening.

Association of Glymphatic and White Matter Impairment With the Postoperative Outcome of Pediatric Hydrocephalus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Assessment of postoperative outcomes on pediatric hydrocephalus is critical for adjusting treatment strategies. The aim of this work was to investigate the ability of MRI metrics to predict postoperative outcomes. METHODS: A total of 55 children with hydrocephalus who underwent MRI and ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery were prospectively enrolled. MRI was also performed at 6 months postoperatively in 33 of the 55 children. A total of 92 controls matched for age and sex were enrolled and divided into preoperative and postoperative control groups. We calculated the diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index, Evans index, and diffusion tensor imaging metrics. The ability of various metrics to predict postoperative outcomes was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: The DTI-ALPS index was significantly lower in patients with hydrocephalus than in controls. The abnormal DTI-ALPS index trended toward the normal range after surgery. Patients with lower preoperative DTI-ALPS index, lower fractional anisotropy (FA), and higher radial diffusivity in association fibers had less favorable short-term outcomes. Patients with worse long-term outcomes had lower postoperative DTI-ALPS index, higher postoperative Evans index, and lower FA and higher radial diffusivity in association fibers. Predictive performance was better when the DTI-ALPS index and FA in association fibers were used in combination than when either of these metrics was used alone. CONCLUSION: The DTI-ALPS index and FA in association fibers provided complementary information for prognostic assessment after the ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery on pediatric hydrocephalus. A combination of DTI-ALPS index and FA would improve our ability to predict postoperative outcomes in these patients.

ΔRDW Could Predict Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction After Sacubitril/Valsartan Treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) changes and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) occurrences during sacubitril/valsartan treatment in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients with HFrEF hospitalized from April 2018 to February 2021. The patients were divided into two groups according to the inclusion of sacubitril/valsartan in the personal drug treatment regimen, the traditional and the sacubitril/valsartan group. RDW values before and after sacubitril/valsartan treatment were recorded respectively as RDW1 and RDW2. ΔRDW was defined as the difference between RDW2 and RDW1. The patients in the sacubitril/valsartan group were divided into two subgroups according to ΔRDW >0 or ≤0. MACEs, such as readmission for HF, acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and malignant arrhythmia and death, were recorded during the 1-year follow-up period in each group. Results: MACE development was lower in patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan than those treated with conventional therapy (log-rank, P<0.001). The incidence of cardiac events during the follow-up period was greater in the group with ΔRDW >0 than in the group with ΔRDW ≤0 (Breslow, P<0.001). Increased RDW was associated with a higher likelihood of developing MACE than decreased RDW (odds ratio [OR] =2.055, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.301-3.246), and the risk of developing MACE increased by 22.1% for each unit increase in RDW (OR=1.221, 95% CI:1.074-1.389). Conclusion: Sacubitril/valsartan treatment is effective in reducing the risk of MACEs in HFrEF. Additionally, RDW changes are predictors of MACEs after sacubitril/valsartan treatment.

Safety and Efficacy of Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Ultra-Central Lung Cancer.

Background: Ultra-central lung cancer (UCLC) is difficult to achieve surgical treatment. Over the past few years, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) obviously improved the clinical efficacy and survival of UCLC patients. However, the adapted scheme of radiation therapy is still controversial. For this, a single arm retrospective analysis was performed on UCLC patients treated with SBRT. Material and Methods: We retrospectively studied primary UCLC patients who were treated with SBRT of 56 Gy/6-8f between 2010 and 2018. UCLC was defined as planning target volume (PTV) touching or overlapping the proximal bronchial tree, trachea, esophagus, heart, pulmonary vein, or pulmonary artery within 2 cm around the bronchial tree in all directions. Results: A total of 58 patients whose median age was 68 years (range, 46-85) were included in our study, 79.3% of whom did not undergo any previous therapy. The median dose of the PTV was 77.8 Gy (range, 43.3-91.8), and the median PTV of tumors was 6.2 cm3 (range, 12.9-265.0). With a median follow-up of 57 months (range, 6-90 months), the median cumulative overall survival (OS) rate was 58 months (range, 2-105). In addition, the 1-year, 2-year and 5-year OS rates were 94.7%, 75.0% and 45.0%, respectively. In our univariable analysis (p=0.020) and multivariate analysis (p=0.004), the OS rate was associated with the PTV. The 5-year OS rates for PTV <53.0 cm3 and PTV ≥53.0 cm3 were 61.6% and 37.4%, respectively. Regarding toxicity after SBRT, there were two cases (3.5%) with grade ≥3 adverse events, of which 1 case died of sudden severe unexplained hemoptysis. Conclusions: Patients with UCLC can benefit from SBRT at a dose of 56 Gy/6-8f. On the other hand, smaller PTV was associated with superior outcomes, and the cure difference needs to be validated by prospective comparative trials.

ΔRDW: A Novel Indicator with Predictive Value for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Diseases.

Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a powerful predictor of poor prognosis in a variety of diseases, but a single measurement of RDW cannot reflect the dynamic change of diseases. ΔRDW, as a risk stratification tool, can be used to record changes in RDW before and after treatment; also, it allows investigators to name the unit change of RDW in the studied population. So far, there have been few relevant studies on the predictive value of ΔRDW for different diseases; this article aims to review the studies and summaries of the current understandings on the correlation between ΔRDW and disease outcomes.

Analyzing the delays of target lane vehicles caused by vehicle lane-changing operation.

Vehicle lane-changing on urban roads is the most common traffic behavior, in which the driver changes the direction or increases the speed of the vehicle by changing its trajectory. However, in high-density traffic flow, when a vehicle changes lanes, a series of vehicles following the target vehicle in the target lane will be delayed. In this study, DJI Phantom 4 drones were used to vertically record the traffic on a road section. Tracker software was then used to extract vehicle information from the video taken by the drones, including the vehicle operating speeds, etc. SPSS 22 and Origin analysis software were then employed to analyze the correlations between different vehicle operating parameters. It was found that the operating speed of the first vehicle following the target vehicle in the target lane is related to the speeds and positions of both the target vehicle and the vehicle preceding it. Under the condition of high-density traffic flow, when the target vehicle is inserted into the target lane, the speed of the vehicles following the target vehicle in the target lane will change. To model this process, the corresponding Sine and DoseResp models were constructed. By calculating the delays of vehicles following the target vehicle in the target lane, it was concluded that the overall delay of the fleet is 3.9-9.5 s.

Treatment barriers and clinical outcome of children with medulloblastoma in China: a report from the Chinese Children's Cancer Group (CCCG).

BACKGROUND: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant central nervous system tumor of childhood. Management requires interdisciplinary care and is associated with unique challenges in developing regions. Here, we report the characteristics, clinical outcome and treatment barriers for Chinese children with MB based on a multi-institutional cohort from the Chinese Children's Cancer Group (CCCG). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study among 12 Chinese pediatric oncology units from the CCCG Brain Tumor Workgroup on patients aged <18 years diagnosed with MB from 2016 to 2019. RESULTS: 221 patients (male:female = 138:83) were included, 175 (79%) were ≥3 years of age, and 46 (21%) <3 years. 177 patients (80%) were completely staged, among which 50 (28%) had metastasis and 70 (40%) were considered to have high-risk (HR) disease. Gross/near-total resection was achieved in 203 patients (92%). In patients where molecular grouping could be assigned, 19 (16%), 35 (29%), and 65 (54%), respectively had WNT-activated, SHH-activated, and Group 3/4 MB. The median duration between resection and initiation of adjuvant therapy was 36 days. Respective 2-year PFS and OS rates were 76.0 ± 3.0% and 88.0 ± 2.3%. PFS was significantly associated with age, metastatic status and clinical risk grouping. Chemotherapy use during CSI or alkylator choice were not significant predictors for patient outcome. CONCLUSIONS: We reported the clinical profiles and outcome from the largest cohort of Chinese children with MB after multi-modal therapy. Strengths and limitations on the local provision of neuro-oncology service are identified.

Total hip arthroplasty for active tuberculosis of the hip.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been used as a successful form of treatment in patients with long-standing tuberculosis, but it is unclear whether THA should be performed in patients with current infection. We performed THA in six patients with advanced active tuberculosis of the hip from 2002 to 2006. Tuberculosis was confirmed in all cases by histological examination. All patients were treated with antituberculous medications for at least two weeks followed by thorough debridement and THA. Antituberculous medications were administered postoperatively for at least 12 months. The duration of postoperative follow-up was an average of 49 months. No reactivation of the infection was detected in our series. Using the Harris hip score system, five of the patients were classified as excellent and one as good. THA in advanced active tuberculosis of the hip is a safe procedure providing symptomatic relief and functional improvement. Thorough debridement of infected tissues and postoperative antituberculous therapy are the keys to lowering the potential risk of reactivation of tuberculosis.

[An initial report of cyberknife radiosurgery for primary hepatic carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and toxicity of cyberknife radiosurgery for primary hepatic carcinoma. METHODS: From September 2006 to March 2008, 17 patients with clinical stage I-III primary hepatic carcinoma were treated with cyberknife at Tianjin Cancer Hospital. 12 patients received previous treatment of surgery, or interventional therapy or radiofrequency therapy before the cyberknife radiosurgery. Totally 23 lesions in the liver were treatment. The median planning target volume (PTV) was 75 ml (13 - 351 ml). Fiducials were placed in or adjacent to the tumor one week before the CT scan simulation. The median total prescription dose was 45 Gy (range: 39 - 52 Gy) at 3-8 fractions and the median prescription isodose lines was of 78.0% (range: 75.0% - 81.0%. RESULTS: The follow-up time was 3-30 months (median: 14 months). All patients finished the treatment and slightly fatigue was the most common complain. There were 12 patients alive and 5 patients died. All the lesions in liver treated by the cyberknife radiosurgery achieved local control. CONCLUSION: The cyberknife radiosurgery for primary hepatic carcinoma showed a high rate of local control and minimal toxicity. Long time follow-up is necessary to evaluate the survival data and late toxicity.

Genetic Transformation of Cotton with the Harpin-Encoding Gene hpaXoo of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and Evaluation of Resistance Against Verticillium Wilt.

The soilborne fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae Kleb causes Verticillium wilt in a wide range of crops including cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). To date, most upland cotton varieties are susceptible to V. dahliae, and the breeding for cotton varieties with the resistance to Verticillium wilt has not been successful. Hpa1Xoo is a harpin protein from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae which induces the hypersensitive cell death in plants. When hpa1Xoo was transformed into the susceptible cotton line Z35 through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, the transgenic cotton line (T-34) with an improved resistance to Verticillium dahliae was obtained. Here, we describe the related research approach, such as Western blot, Southern blot, immuno-gold labeling, evaluation of resistance to Verticillium dahliae, and how to detect the micro-hypersensitive response and oxidative burst elicited by harpinXoo in plant tissue.

A Second Course of Stereotactic Image-Guided Robotic Radiosurgery for Patients with Cerebral Metastasis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to study the outcome of brain metastases in a cohort of patients undergoing a second course of stereotactic image-guided robotic radiosurgery and to identify predictors corelated with survival. METHODS: A total of 63 patients with primary malignancies underwent a second course of CyberKnife radiosurgery for intracranial progression, including recurrence and new metastases after initial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Overall survival (OS) and control rate were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze predictive factors for survival. RESULTS: With a median follow-up duration of 12 months after second SRS, the median OS of the second course of radiosurgery was 18 months. On multivariate analysis, the sum of total planned target volume (hazard ratio, 2.112; 95% confidence interval, 1.069-4.173) and minimum dose (hazard ratio, 1.990, 95% confidence interval, 1.017-3.892) were significantly associated with OS. Median intracranial progression-free survival was 23 months. The 6-month and 12-month local control rates of the targets were 97.0% and 94.4%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that only tumor number significantly influenced intracranial progression-free survival (P = 0.012). Nine patients (14.2%) developed brain necrosis. Median time to brain necrosis in regions in which brain necrosis occurred after a single course of SRS was not reached, compared with 16 months for those treated with repeat SRS (P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: A second course of CyberKnife radiosurgery seems to be an effective salvage option for brain progression after initial SRS. The total planned target volume shows prediction for OS. Tumor volume of initial SRS may influence selection of the potential population that may benefit from salvage radiosurgery.

Cystic brain metastases had slower speed of tumor shrinkage but similar prognosis compared with solid tumors that underwent radiosurgery treatment.

PURPOSE: Traditionally, radiosurgery was considered less effective for patients with cystic brain metastases. However, comparisons of prognosis between cystic and solid brain metastases in cancer patients have been seldom reported. We aimed to compare the survival between cystic and solid brain metastases and assess risk factors for overall survival after brain metastases (BMOS) in patients who underwent radiosurgery treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to compare survival time and evaluate risk factors for BMOS. RESULTS: A total of 356 patients (including 498 brain metastases) were analyzed in our study, including 67 patients (67/356, 18.8%) with 75 cystic brain metastases. There is no statistical significance in BMOS between patients with cystic (17 months, range: 3-64 months) and solid (17.5 months, range: 1-65 months) brain metastases (P=0.148). However, the volume of cystic brain metastases decreased more slowly than solid brain metastases (P<0.05). The results indicated that high recursive partitioning analysis classification (P=0.006), large volume of brain metastases (P=0.006), and different primary lesion (especially gastrointestinal tract tumor) (P=0.001) were associated with poor prognosis in patients with brain metastases. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in prognosis and local control between patients with cystic and solid brain metastases who underwent radiosurgery. However, the rate and speed of tumor shrinkage were lower in cystic brain metastases after radiotherapy. Patients with larger brain metastases had shorter survival time, regardless of cystic or solid brain metastases.

Serum bone turnover markers in patients with primary bone tumors.

OBJECTIVES: It was the aim of this study to investigate parameters of bone turnover such as serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and N-terminal midfragment of osteocalcin (N-MID), as well as serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) in patients with primary bone tumors and to investigate their validity in differentiating malignant from benign bone tumors. METHODS: A total of 219 patients with primary bone tumors entered the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their age, including a teenage (10-19 years old) and an adult group (> or =20 years old). In each group, the patients were divided into several subgroups (osteosarcoma, benign bone tumors or tumor-like lesions, giant cell tumor, and other primary malignant bone tumors). An age- and gender-matched control population was also studied in each group. Blood samples were taken for measurement of serum BALP, N-MID and CTX. RESULTS: The serum BALP levels in patients with osteosarcoma were significantly higher than those of patients in the other subgroups and the controls, both in the teenage (p = 0.01) and the adult group (p = 0.000). The serum N-MID and CTX levels did not significantly differ among patients of different subgroups and the controls, both in the teenage (p = 0.773 and p = 0.747, respectively) and the adult group (p = 0.163 and p = 0.074, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A high serum BALP level is valuable for the diagnosis of adult osteosarcoma, but its use in the development of a differential diagnosis in the teenage patients is not advised because serum BALP levels are also affected by age, pubertal stage and growth velocity. Both serum N-MID and serum CTX are hardly useful in the differential diagnosis of primary bone tumors.

[Microscopical identification of Scolopa chinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the microscopical features of Scolopa chinensis. METHODS: By microscope, the tissue characteristics and the powder characteristics were studied. RESULTS: The results are accurate and practical. CONCLUSION: These Characteristics can provide evidences for the identifcation of Scolopa chinensis.