[Accuracy and clinical efficacy of robot-assisted transiliac-transsacral screw placement for posterior pelvic ring fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To explore accuracy and clinical effect of robot-assisted implantation of sacroiliac penetrating screw in orthopedic surgery for posterior pelvic ring fracture. METHODS: The clinical data of 24 patients with posterior pelvic ring fracture treated with robot-assisted sacroiliac penetration screws from August 2022 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including 10 males and 14 females; aged from 21 to 73 years old with an average of (49.29±14.48) years old;according to Tile pelvic fractures, 13 patients were type B and 11 were type C. The effect of screw placement was evaluated according to Gras criteria based on postoperative CT scan results. At the final follow-up, fracture healing was evaluated according to Matta score, and functional recovery was evaluated by Majeed score. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 3 to 13 months with an average of (6.00±3.28) months. Totally 36 sacroiliac penetrating screws, 18 S1 penetrating screws, 18 S2 penetrating screws were inserted, a total of 29 were excellent and 7 good according to Gras standard. Screw adjustment times was 0.00 (0.00, 0.75) times. At the final follow-up, Matta score was excellent in 18 patients, 5 good and 1 moderate, and the maximum displacement distance was 2.55 (0.00, 5.65) mm. Majeed score was 84.37±8.38, 15 patients were excellent, 7 good and 2 moderate. CONCLUSION: Robot could accurately and safely assist in the placement of sacroiliac joint screws for the treatment of posterior pelvic ring fractures, and promote postoperative functional recovery of patients.

Association between tea consumption and semen quality among 1385 healthy Chinese men.

Information on the association between tea drinking and semen quality is limited. Little is reported on whether tea drinking is benefit to sperm quality. This cross-sectional and longitudinal study was conducted between April 2017 and July 2018. Participants were healthy men who were screened as potential sperm donors recruited at the Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank of China. A structured questionnaires containing sociodemographic information, daily habits, sperm collection-related information was completed for each participant at interview. Repeated semen samples were taken to examine the sperm parameters, including sperm volume, sperm concentration, sperm count, progressive motility, and total motility. A total of 1385 men with 6466 sperm samples were included in this study. Two groups were compared: tea drinking men (389, 28.1%) and non-tea drinking men (996, 71.9%). Compared with subjects who never drink tea, the analyses showed that sperm concentration and total sperm count were higher in tea-consuming subjects. A 10-year period or more duration of tea drinking significantly increased semen concentrations by 16.27% (P < 0.05). Sperm concentration was increased in subjects with a frequency of tea drinking of 3 days or more per week (P < 0.05) or, among men who were occasional alcohol drinkers, when tea concentration was weak (P < 0.05). No evidence of trend effects (P for trend > 0.05) or interaction effects (P for interaction > 0.05) between tea consumption and sperm quality, respectively. Our findings provide evidence that tea drinking may improve male reproductive health. Long-term, frequent, weak tea drinking tends to increase sperm quality among men with low BMI or health-related behaviors like smoking or alcohol intake.

LiXO2(X = Co, Rh, Ir) and solar light photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen generation.

Alkali metal transition oxide LiCoO2 has been successfully commercialized as a lithium-ion battery material, and some attention is paid to its homologous derivatives LiRhO2 and LiIrO2. However, the photocatalytic properties have not been explored yet for these compounds. Using the first-principles calculations, we carry out investigations on the electronic properties, light absorption, and mobility to understand the feasibility of LiXO2(X = Co, Rh, Ir) for solar light photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water-splitting. The results show that the band edges of LiCoO2 and LiRhO2 meet the redox potential requirements of the water-splitting hydrogen evolution reaction. In addition, the enhanced absorptions of LiXO2(X = Co, Rh, Ir) in the visible light range imply that they could well respond to solar light, while the significant difference in the mobilities of electrons or holes can strengthen spatial charge separation of the photoexcited electron-hole pairs. The solar-energy-to-hydrogen conversion efficiencies of LiCoO2 and LiRhO2 can reach 11.2% and 15.5%, respectively. The results support LiCoO2 and LiRhO2 as promising candidates for visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production from water-splitting.

[4-nonylphenol combined with bisphenol A induces testicular autophagy and spermatogenic impairment by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR pathway in F1 male offspring rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the impacts of exposure of F0 generation rats to 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and bisphenal A (BPA) on the autophagy of testicular cells and key gene expressions of the Akt/mTOR pathway in the F1 generation offspring rats. METHODS: Using a 2×2 factorial design, F0 female and male rats were randomly assigned to receive intragastrically sigma vegetable oil (the control), BPA at 0.5 mg/kg, 4-NP at 5 mg/kg, and BPA+4-NP both at 0.5 mg/kg, respectively, qd alt for 30 days. Then the rats in each group were mated at a ratio of 1∶3. After pregnancy, the female rats continued the above intragastrical administration till delivery. The F1 generation male offspring rats were killed at 60 postnatal days, and their testes harvested for sperm count, observation of the morphological and autophagic changes of the testis, and determination of the relative mRNA expression levels of Akt, mTOR, 4EBP1 and p70S6K and protein expression levels of LC3-I and LC3-II. RESULTS: The sperm count of the F1 generation male offspring rats was markedly decreased in the BPA and BPA+4-NP groups compared with that in the control (P < 0.05) but no significant interactive effect was observed between BPA and 4-NP (P > 0.05). The ratio of LC3-II / LC3-I was remarkably increased in the 4-NP, BPA and BPA+4-NP groups in comparison with that in the control (P < 0.05), and a significant interactive effect was shown between BPA and 4-NP (P < 0.05). The cells in the seminiferous tubules of the rats in the 4-NP, BPA and BPA+4-NP groups were loosely arranged, with a decreased count of sperm and increased number of autophagic vacuoles. Significant down-regulation was observed in the relative mRNA expression of p70S6K in the 4-NP group, as well as in that of mTOR in the BPA group and Akt in the BPA+4-NP group (all P < 0.05). A remarkably up-regulated expression of 4EBP1 mRNA was found in all the three intervention groups (P < 0.05), with a significant interactive effect between BPA and 4-NP on the expressions of Akt and 4EBP1 mRNA (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to low-concentration BPA and 4-NP impairs the testicular function of the F1 generation male offspring rats, which is closely related to the autophagy of testicular cells and changes of the Akt/mTOR pathway.

PCR-RFLP assay confirms the existence of different mitochondrial lineages of Taenia hydatigena including a possible geographically restricted group.

Taenia hydatigena is a widespread tapeworm of canids (primarily dogs) that causes cysticercosis in ruminants (domestic and wild) and manifests as depression and weakness secondary to various hepatic damages and sometimes mortality in young animals, although, commonly encountered cases are asymptomatic. In most taeniids, genetic polymorphism has been found to impact host preferences, distribution, disease epidemiology and management. Recently, we identified two main mitochondrial lineages of T. hydatigena in China, and here, we examined the mitochondrial nad4-nad5 genes of T. hydatigena from China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sudan to assess the intraspecies variation of isolates from these countries and also the distribution of the distinct mitochondrial groups. In addition to China, haplogroup B variant was found in Pakistan, while haplogroup A demonstrated a widespread distribution. We then designed a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay using XmiI (AccI) and RsaI (AfaI) restriction enzymes to differentiate members of both haplogroups. This result provides more molecular evidence supporting the existence of distinct mitochondrial variants of T. hydatigena. The epidemiological significance of these different mitochondrial groups remains to be explored further. The current PCR-RFLP assay offers a useful molecular approach for investigating the genetic population structure of T. hydatigena in enzootic regions and in identifying/discriminating the different mitochondrial groups (haplogroups A and B).

Total flavonoids of Oxytropis falcata Bunge have a positive effect on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial lung disease with unknown etiology. Oxytropis falcata Bunge (O. falcata) is a 1-35 cm high perennial clustered herb, also known as edaxia, has viscosity and a special smell, and is mainly distributed in the western areas of China. The root of O. falcata has a diameter of 6 mm, is straight and deep, dark red and its stems are shortened, woody and multibranched. O. falcata has heat-clearing, detoxification, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hemostatic and antitumor activities. Furthermore, O. falcata has excellent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and it is one of the three major anti-inflammatory drugs in Tibetan medicine, known as "the king of herbs". Total flavonoids of Oxytropis falcata Bunge (FOFB) were previously extracted, and their pharmacological activities are consistent with those of the whole herb. In this study, FOFB was extracted from O. falcata by ethanol extraction, and the mechanism of FOFB on IPF was verified by in vivo and in vitro experiments. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we aimed to observe the effects of FOFB on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In in vivo experiments, an IPF rat model was established by bleomycin induction. The rats were treated with FOFB (100, 200, 400 mg kg-1·d-1) for 4 weeks. Masson staining and the expression of TGF-ß, p-Smad2, p-Smad3 and Smad7 in the lung tissue of rats were detected. In in vitro experiments, we perfused normal rats with FOFB (100, 200, 400 mg kg-1·d-1) and obtained the corresponding drug-containing serum. The HFL-1 cell model induced by TGF-ß1 was used to detect the corresponding indices through intervention with drug-containing serum. The best intervention time for drug-containing serum was detected by the CCK-8 method. Changes in apoptosis, cytoskeleton and rough endoplasmic reticulum structure were detected. Finally, the expression of TGF-ß, p-Smad2, p-Smad3 and Smad7 in cells was examined. RESULTS: In vivo, Masson staining indicated that the degree of pulmonary fibrosis increased significantly, the expression of TGF-ß, p-smad2 and p-Smad3 increased significantly, and the expression of Smad7 decreased in the model group. We found that the degree of pulmonary fibrosis gradually decreased and that the inhibition of the TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway became more obvious with increasing FOFB dose. FOFB (400 mg kg-1·d-1) significantly improved the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in rats. In in vitro experiments, the CCK-8 results showed that 120 h was the best intervention time for drug-containing serum. In the model group, there was no obvious apoptosis or changes in microfilaments and microtubules, the number of rough endoplasmic reticulum increased, and the expression of TGF-ß, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 increased significantly, while the expression of Smad7 decreased significantly. We found that with the increase in drug-containing serum concentration, the apoptosis, cytoskeleton and degree of destruction of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the HFL-1 cell model also increased, and the inhibition of the TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway became more pronounced; the effect of the drug-containing serum administered with FOFB (400 mg kg-1·d-1) was the most significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that FOFB can improve the occurrence and development of IPF. The effect of FOFB on IPF may be mediated by inhibition of the TGF-ß1/Smad signaling pathway.

Salt-Inducible Kinase 3 Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Arterial Restenosis by Regulating AKT and PKA-CREB Signaling.

Objective: Arterial restenosis is the pathological narrowing of arteries after endovascular procedures, and it is an adverse event that causes patients to experience recurrent occlusive symptoms. Following angioplasty, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) change their phenotype, migrate, and proliferate, resulting in neointima formation, a hallmark of arterial restenosis. SIKs (salt-inducible kinases) are a subfamily of the AMP-activated protein kinase family that play a critical role in metabolic diseases including hepatic lipogenesis and glucose metabolism. Their role in vascular pathological remodeling, however, has not been explored. In this study, we aimed to understand the role and regulation of SIK3 in vascular SMC migration, proliferation, and neointima formation. Approach and Results: We observed that SIK3 expression was low in contractile aortic SMCs but high in proliferating SMCs. It was also highly induced by growth medium in vitro and in neointimal lesions in vivo. Inactivation of SIKs significantly attenuated vascular SMC proliferation and up-regulated p21CIP1 and p27KIP1. SIK inhibition also suppressed SMC migration and modulated actin polymerization. Importantly, we found that inhibition of SIKs reduced neointima formation and vascular inflammation in a femoral artery wire injury model. In mechanistic studies, we demonstrated that inactivation of SIKs mainly suppressed SMC proliferation by down-regulating AKT (protein kinase B) and PKA (protein kinase A)-CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) signaling. CRTC3 (CREB-regulated transcriptional coactivator 3) signaling likely contributed to SIK inactivation-mediated antiproliferative effects. Conclusions: These findings suggest that SIK3 may play a critical role in regulating SMC proliferation, migration, and arterial restenosis. This study provides insights into SIK inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy for treating restenosis in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Pooled analysis of Xpert Bladder Cancer based on the 5 mRNAs for rapid diagnosis of bladder carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Xpert Bladder Cancer is a detection method developed in recent years, designed with the functions of integrating sample automatically, nucleic acid amplification, and target sequence detection. It is a urine assay targeting five mRNAs (CRH, IGF2, UPK1B, ANXA10, and ABL1). The purpose of this article is to review the accuracy of Xpert Bladder Cancer in the follow-up diagnosis of bladder cancer and evaluate the role of Xpert Bladder Cancer in detecting the recurrence of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the round. METHODS: In the database of Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, the articles published up to October 13, 2020, were searched and screened based on the exclusion and inclusion criteria, and data were extracted from the included studies. The sensitivity, specificity, negative likelihood ratio, positive likelihood ratio summary of receiver operating characteristic curves, and diagnostic odds ratio were combined by the Meta-DiSc 1.4 software. The Stata 12.0 software was used to obtain the assessment of publication bias. RESULTS: A total of 8 articles involving eight fourfold tables were finally identified. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of Xpert Bladder Cancer in the diagnosis of bladder cancer were 0.71 and 0.81, respectively. The positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 3.74 and 0.34, respectively. The area under the curve was 0.8407. The diagnostic odds ratio was 11.99. Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test manifested no publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, Xpert Bladder Cancer presents high accuracy and specificity in monitoring bladder cancer compared with cystoscopy. More researches are still required to further confirm this conclusion.

A new molecular nomenclature for Taenia hydatigena: mitochondrial DNA sequences reveal sufficient diversity suggesting the assignment of major haplotype divisions.

Cysticercosis caused by the metacestode larval stage of Taenia hydatigena formerly referred to as Cysticercus tenuicollis is a disease of veterinary importance that constitutes a significant threat to livestock production worldwide, especially in endemic regions due to condemnation of visceral organs and mortality rate of infected young animals. While the genetic diversity among parasites is found to be potentially useful in many areas of research including molecular diagnostics, epidemiology and control, that of T. hydatigena across the globe remains poorly understood. In this study, analysis of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of adult worms and larval stages of T. hydatigena isolated from dogs, sheep and a wild boar in China showed that the population structure consists of two major haplogroups with very high nucleotide substitutions involving synonymous and non-synonymous changes. Compared with other cestodes such as Echinococcus spp., the genetic variation observed between the haplogroups is sufficient for the assignment of major haplotype or genotype division as both groups showed a total of 166 point-mutation differences between the 12 mitochondrial protein-coding gene sequences. Preliminary analysis of a nuclear protein-coding gene (pepck) did not reveal any peculiar changes between both groups which suggests that these variants may only differ in their mitochondrial makeup.

Combined effect of M/A constituent and grain boundary on the impact toughness of CGHAZ and ICCGHAZ of E550 grade offshore engineering steel.

The present paper investigated the relationship between low temperature impact toughness and microstructure of bainite in coarse-grained heat affected zone (CGHAZ) and intercritically rehazed CGHAZ (ICCGHAZ) of an offshore engineering steel from both the microstructure morphological and crystallographic aspects. In this work, six groups of samples simulated CGHAZ and ICCGHAZ were designated at three different cooling rates. The Charpy test results showed that the toughness in CGHAZ decreases dramatically with decrease of cooling rate, which was attributed to the microstructural evolution from lath bainite to granular bainite, accompanying with the size increase of Bain zone and the change of M/A morphology from film to block. The increase in hardenability by cooling rate promotes more crystallographic variants from different Bain groups. Meanwhile, the combination with controlled inter-spacing of block boundaries by self-accommodation below the critical Griffith crack length, micro-crack can be arrested by these high angle grain boundaries thereby suppressed brittle fracture initiation and increased fracture properties. However, the variation in toughness of ICCGHAZ is not a concern, since obtaining excellent toughness is scarcely accessible even if the matrix microstructure is analogous to CGHAZ. It was due to the formation of coarse M/A constituents (~2 µm) necklacing at the prior austenite grain boundary. The visualized crystallography suggested that the impact toughness was partially correlated to the configuration manner and the size of Bain zones as well via promoting highly misoriented angle (>45°) boundaries, which in turn effectively deflected or arrested the brittle crack propagation.

Medial artery calcification increases neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury.

Arterial calcification predicts accelerated restenosis after angioplasty and stenting. We studied the effects of calcification on neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury in the rat carotid. Arterial calcification was induced by subcutaneous injection of vitamin D3 or by adventitial application of calcium chloride. After balloon catheter injury, neointimal hyperplasia was significantly increased in rats with medial calcification compared with controls. Neointimal cell proliferation in calcified arteries as assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining was also higher. In calcified arteries, bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)levels were increased at the time of injury suggesting a possible explanation for the altered responses. In vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) grown under calcifying conditions , stimulation with BMP-2 significantly increased cell proliferation, however, this did not occur in those grown under non-calcifying conditions. These data suggest that neointimal hyperplasia is accelerated in calcified arteries and that this may be due in part to increased BMP-2 expression in medial SMCs. Treatments aimed at inhibiting restenosis in calcified arteries may differ from those that work in uncalcified vessels.

Dorsomorphin homologue 1, a highly selective small-molecule bone morphogenetic protein inhibitor, suppresses medial artery calcification.

BACKGROUND: Medial artery calcification develops in diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and as part of the aging process. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in vascular patients. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have previously been implicated in the initiation and progression of vascular calcification. We thus evaluated whether dorsomorphin homologue 1 (DMH1), a highly selective BMP inhibitor, could attenuate vascular calcification in vitro and in an organ culture model of medial calcification. METHODS: Confluent human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were cultured in calcification medium containing 3.0 mM inorganic phosphate (Pi) for 7 days with or without DMH1. Medial calcification was assessed using an aortic organ culture model. Calcification was visualized by alizarin red S staining, and calcium concentration was assessed by an o-cresolphthalein complexone calcium assay. Osteogenic cell and vascular SMC markers were determined by Western blot, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: DMH1 reduced Pi-induced calcium deposition in human SMCs. It also antagonized human recombinant BMP2-induced calcium accumulation. Western blot further revealed that DMH1 was able to block Pi-mediated upregulation of the osteoblast markers osterix and alkaline phosphatase and downregulation of the SMC markers smooth muscle myosin heavy chain and SM22α as well as p-Smad1/5/8, suggesting that DMH1 may regulate SMC osteogenic differentiation through the BMP/Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway. Finally, using an ex vivo aortic ring organ culture model, we observed that DMH1 reduces Pi-induced aortic medial calcification. CONCLUSIONS: The selective BMP inhibitor DMH1 can inhibit calcium accumulation in vascular SMCs and arterial segments exposed to elevated phosphate levels. Such small molecules may have clinical utility in reducing medial artery calcification in our population of vascular patients.

Adenovirus-mediated CCL20/IL-15 gene transfer enhances antitumor immunity in mice.

The CCL20 chemokine has potent antitumor activities through chemoattracting immature dentritic cells. But the maturation status of tumoral dentritic cells is important limiting factors in DC-based immunity. The endogenous availability of IL-15 was effective in inducing the dentritic cells maturation and IL-15 also shows tumor-specific antitumor activities. We constructed a CCL20/IL-15 bicistronic adenovirus (Ad-CCL20-IL-15) and confirmed its combined antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo. Intratumoral injection of Ad-CCL20-IL-15 into both CT-26 and B16F10 cells resulted in marked reduction of tumor growth in our model. Splenocytes treated by Ad-CCL20-IL-15 developed tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells and IFN-γ secretion could protect mice from rechallenging. This study suggests that CCL20/IL-15 can induce a strong antitumor immune response in tumor tissues and it is a suitable candidate for cancer immunotherapy.

Expression of huCdc7 in colorectal cancer.

AIM: To detect the expression of huCdc7 in colorectal cancer. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expression of huCdc7 in 39 colorectal cancer tissue specimens and matched tumor-adjacent normal colorectal tissue specimens was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. RESULTS: The relative expression level of huCdc7 mRNA in colorectal cancer was significantly higher than that in tumor-adjacent normal colorectal tissues (0.03675 ± 1.00 vs 0.01199 ± 0.44, P < 0.05). huCdc7-positive cells displayed brown granules in the nucleus. Tumor tissues contained many huCdc7-positive cells, whereas normal colorectal tissues contained very few positive cells. CONCLUSION: huCdc7 may play an important role in the development and progression of colorectal cancer.

Staphylococcus aureus infection of intestinal epithelial cells induces human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell migration.

There is a growing interest in umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cellular therapy in regenerative medicine. To aid in tissue repair, MSCs are recruited to sites of inflammation induced by a bacterial infection. The primary objective of this study was to explore the mechanisms of MSC recruitment to intestinal epithelial cells infected with Staphylococcus aureus. First, we isolated and characterized the UCB-derived MSCs used in our experiments. Next, we determined the ability of S. aureus infected intestinal epithelial cells to induce migration of UCB-derived MSCs. Expression analysis of cytokines secreted by infected epithelial cells indicated that MSC migration occurred predominately via a nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent signaling pathway. Altogether, our data provide the first evidence for a role of S. aureus infection in MSC migration and reveal the function of UCB-derived MSCs in intestinal pathophysiology.

Anticancer effects of 5-fluorouracil combined with warming and relieving cold phlegm formula on human breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anticancer effects of warming and relieving cold phlegm formula (, WRCP), a Chinese medical mixture composed of the aqueous extracts of Aconitum carmichaeli, Rhizoma bolbostemmatis, Phytolacca acinosa, Panax notoginseng, and Gekko swinhonis Guenther, combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on human breast cancer in vivo. METHODS: Seventy-two Nu/Nu mice inoculated with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were randomized into the control group, 5-FU group, high-dose WRCP (hWRCP) group, medium-dose WRCP (mWRCP) group, low-dose WRCP (lWRCP) group, or combination of mWRCP and 5-FU group in a 1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio. Drug administration was commenced on the day following tumor implantation. The control group was injected daily with normal saline (N.S.) intraperitoneally; the 5-FU group was injected with 5-FU at 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally every third day for a total of 7 treatments; the hWRCP group, mWRCP group and lWRCP group received daily doses of 5, 1, and 0.2 g/kg of WRCP, respectively, by gastric perfusion; and the combination group was treated with 5-FU plus mWRCP on the same schedules as above. All treatments lasted for 22 days. Tumor volume, tumor weight, inhibition rate of tumor weight, necrosis rate of tumor, organ index, and change in body weight of nude mice were measured. RESULTS: The combination group and the hWRCP group had significantly smaller tumor volumes (580±339 mm(3) and 587±249 mm(3) versus 1055±234 mm(3), respectively), lower tumor weights (0.42±0.29 g and 0.52±0.29 g versus 0.80±0.15 g, respectively), and higher tumor necrosis rates (22.7% and 25.6% versus 9.4%, respectively) as compared with the control group (all <0.05). Similar changes were found in the 5-FU, mWRCP, and lWRCP groups when compared with the control group but were not statistically significant, except for the tumor weight for the 5-FU group. The combination group and the hWRCP group had significantly smaller tumor volumes compared with the 5-FU group (778±202 mm(3), both <0.05). The combination group had the highest tumor inhibition rate (47.7%), followed by the hWRCP group (35.2%) and 5-FU group (28.3%). The 5-FU group had a lower body weight increase (1.37±2.06 g versus 5.60±0.72 g, <0.05) and a lower spleen index (4.064±1.774 mg/10 g versus 5.294±1.796 mg/10 g) as compared with the control group, whereas the combination group reversed the changes in the 5-FU group with the body weight increase of 3.52±1.80 g (P <0.05) and spleen index of 7.036±1.599 mg/10 g (P <0.05). The spleen indices in the hWRCP, mWRCP, and IWRCP group were all significantly higher than that in the 5-FU group (P <0.01 or P<0.05). No significant differences in body weight change were observed in WRCP groups compared with the control group P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The treatment combination of WRCP and 5-FU was more effective in the inhibition of tumor growth than either agent alone and may have potentially additional benefit in improving the general condition and immunity of the mice with human breast cancer cell implants.

Serological diagnostic factors for liver metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.

AIM: To investigate the serological diagnostic factors for liver metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: One hundred and six adult in-patients with colorectal cancer were studied and divided into patients with liver metastasis (n = 56) and patients without liver metastasis (n = 50). Serum levels of tumor and biochemical markers for liver were measured at the time of diagnosis. RESULTS: The mean survival time was 55.9 mo, 36.8 mo and 68.3 mo for the overall patients, patients with liver metastasis and patients without liver metastasis, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was significantly correlated with the survival time of colorectal cancer patients. The levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), LDH and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were significantly higher in patients with liver metastasis than in those without liver metastasis. Patients with lymph node metastasis had a higher risk of liver metastasis than those without lymph node metastasis. The cut points of LDH, GGT and CEA for screening liver metastasis were 180 U/L, 30 U/L and 5.0 microg/L, respectively. The sensitivity was 64.3%, 69.6% and 70.4%, and the specificity was 64.0%, 60.0% and 52.4%, respectively. The sensitivity of parallel test was 85.2% for LDH and CEA, and 92.6% for GGT and CEA, respectively. The specificity of serial test was 85.7% for LDH (or GGT) and CEA. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of liver metastasis is of great significance. The sensitivity and specificity of combined tumor and biochemical markers are rather good in screening colorectal liver metastasis.

Formation of c-axis oriented ZnO optical waveguides by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering.

ZnO/Mg0.16Zn0.84O (ZnO/MgZnO) films are fabricated on x-cut and z-cut LiNbO3 (LN) substrates by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. High transparencies are confirmed by a spectrophotometer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra show that all the films are c-axis oriented. The waveguiding properties, as well as the refractive indices and thickness of the films are demonstrated and determined by prism coupling. Both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes are measured at lambda=0.633 mum and 1.539 mum, respectively. The waveguide loss is measured at lambda=0.633 mum with a fiber probe technique. The experimental results show that high optical quality ZnO films can be obtained with MgZnO buffer layers.