[Cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical smoking cessation intervention in China primary cancer prevention].

Objectives: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of typical pharmaceutical smoking cessation intervention strategies in China in the context of primary cancer prevention. Methods: Markov cohort simulation models were established to simulate the burden of 12 smoking caused cancer, including lung cancer, oral cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia. Taking incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) as the main indicator, the model sets one year as the cycling period for 50 periods and simulates the cohort of 10 000 thirty-five-year-old current smokers with various smoking cessation strategies. To ensure the robustness of conclusion, univariate sensitivity analysis, probability sensitivity analysis, and age-group sensitivity analysis were conducted. Results: The results showed that varenicline intervention was the most cost-effective intervention. Compared to the next most effective option, incremental cost of each additional quality-adjusted life year is 11 140.28 yuan, which is below the threshold of willingness to pay (1 year GDP per capita). The value of ICER increased as the increasing age group of adopting intervention, but neither exceeded the threshold of willingness to pay. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that the value of discount rate, the hazard ratio and cost of intervention strategy had a greater impact on the result of ICER. Conclusion: In China, the use of varenicline to quit smoking is highly cost effective in the context of cancer primary prevention, especially for younger smokers.

[The relation between residual ß-cell function and autoimmune status in long-term type 1 diabetes patients].

Objective: We aimed to investigate the autoimmune status of long-term type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients with residual ß-cell function. Methods: The residual ß-cell function of long-term (disease duration≥10 years) autoimmune T1DM patients from the T1DM Integrated Management Clinic of the Second Xiangya Hospital was assessed by serum C-peptide levels. Patients with fasting or 2-hour postprandial C-peptide levels over the lower sensitivity limit of detection (16.7 pmol/L) were grouped as C-peptide-positive, and others were grouped as C-peptide-negative. We screened and enrolled all the C-peptide-positive patients (n=19). C-peptide-negative patients with matched sex, age, duration, BMI (n=19) and healthy controls (n=19) were recruited at the same time. The frequencies of CD4+T cell (Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg) and B cell (MZB/FoB/B10) subsets, the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 on T and B lymphocytes, and the levels of T1DM related cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-1RA, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-23 and IP-10 were tested. We compared these parameters in patients with different levels of ß-cell function. Results: In healthy controls, C-peptide-negative and C-peptide-positive patients, the frequencies M (Q1, Q3) of Th1 cells were 9.93% (7.45%, 15.20%), 14.90% (11.70%, 18.00%) and 10.20% (6.93%, 15.80%) (P=0.015), and the frequencies M (Q1, Q3) of Treg cells were 3.52% (2.92%, 5.68%),2.88% (1.64%, 3.22%) and 3.12% (2.81%, 4.81%) (P=0.005), and the frequencies M(Q1,Q3) of PD-1+B cells were 4.69% (2.64%, 6.37%), 2.11% (1.45%, 3.63%) and 4.20% (2.53%, 6.01%) (P=0.003), respectively. The levels of IL-6 M(Q1,Q3)were 26.43(18.06, 33.35) ng/L, 42.97 (25.52, 66.30) ng/L, and 22.07 (14.85, 34.45) ng/L (P=0.006), and the levels of IP-10 M(Q1,Q3) were 107.39 (76.19, 126.07) ng/L, 188.82 (131.27, 348.18) ng/L and 128.26 (114.31, 136.50) ng/L (P<0.001) in healthy controls, C-peptide-negative and C-peptide-positive patients, respectively. Compared with C-peptide-positive patients, the frequency of Th1 cells and the levels of IL-6 and IP-10 cytokines were higher, while the frequencies of Treg cells and PD-1+B cells were lower in C-peptide-negative patients (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Long-term T1DM patients with residual ß-cell function had lower frequency of Th1 cells, lower levels of IL-6, IP-10 cytokines, and higher frequencies of Treg and PD-1+B cells, which indicated a pronounced autoimmune tolerance.

[Application of TELSA structured education program in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of TELSA structured education program in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in China. Methods: From January 2019 to January 2020, 64 adult T1DM patients who met the standard of entry and had the intention to participate in TELSA structured education program were selected from the outpatient of type 1 diabetes comprehensive management in the Second Xiangya Hospital as intervention group. A total of 64 patients matched by age and sex were enrolled as the control group. During the program, the intervention group lost 3 cases and the control group lost 4 cases. Finally, there were 61 effective samples in the intervention group and 60 effective samples in the control group. The patients in the control group were given face-to-face education by a T1DM educator for about 2 hours. The patients in the intervention group were intervened according to TELSA structured education program. The level of glycosylated hemoglobin, the frequency of hypoglycemia, self-management ability and quality of life were evaluated before intervention, 6 months after intervention and 12 months after intervention. Results: The ages of the intervention group and the control group were 30.0(22.0,43.5) and 29.5(22.3,42.5) (P>0.05), and the proportions of males were 47.54%(29 cases) and 45.00%(27 cases), respectively (P>0.05). There were interaction effects (P<0.05) on the level of glycosylated hemoglobin, self-management ability and quality of life in the two groups. At 6 and 12 months after intervention of TELSA structured education program, the level of glycosylated hemoglobin in the intervention group decreased from the baseline level (7.87±1.45)% to (7.23±1.06)% and (7.28±0.93)%, respectively, which was significantly lower than that in the control group at 6 months (7.72±1.20)% and at 12 months(7.76±1.24)% (all P<0.05). After TELSA structured education intervention, the scores of self-management scale for adult type 1 diabetes mellitus (SMOD-CA) in the intervention group showed an upward trend (P<0.001), and the scores of diabetes-specific quality of life scale (A-DQOL) showed a downward trend (P<0.001). In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in the trend of scores in the control group (P=0.853 and 0.227). The comparison between groups at different time points showed that at 6 and 12 months after the intervention, the SMOD-CA scores of the patients in the intervention group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.001), and the A-DQOL scores were lower than those in the control group (P<0.001). Conclusions: The TELSA structured education program can effectively ameliorate glycemic control, with the improvement of self-management ability and quality of life in adult T1DM patients.

[Effect of axillary lymph node status on prognosis of different types of invasive breast cancer].

Objective: To investigate the effect of axillary lymph node status on the prognosis of different types of invasive breast cancer. Methods: Patients with invasive breast cancer of different molecular subtypes diagnosed in the breast cancer prevention and treatment center of Beijing Cancer Hospital from January 2000 to July 2011 were collected as a historical cohort, and the influence of lymph node status on the prognosis of different types of breast cancer was analyzed. Results: A total of 4 269 female breast cancer patients with molecular subtypes [aged (50.8±11.2) years] information and 3 824 female breast cancer patients with complete axillary lymph node status information [aged (50.5±10.9) years] were included in the study, including 3 135 cases with both molecular subtypes and lymph node status information. The 10-year event free survival (EFS) rates of hormone receptor (HR)+/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2)-, HR-/HER2-and HER2+were 82.2%, 79.0% and 76.8%, respectively; the 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 88.1%, 83.1% and 84.4%, respectively, and the differences of 3 molecular subtypes in EFS and OS were statistically significant (both P<0.001). The 10-year EFS rate of lymph node positive and negative patients was 68.8% and 88.2%, respectively; the 10-year OS rate was 76.7% and 92.5%, respectively, and the differences of lymph node status in EFS and OS were statistically significant (both P<0.001). In lymph node negative subgroup, 3 subtypes showed similar EFS and OS rate (both P>0.05); In lymph node positive subgroup, 3 subtypes showed significantly different EFS and OS (both P<0.05). No modification effect was detected of lymph node status on the correlation of molecular subtypes and EFS, DDFS and OS(all Pinteractive>0.1). Conclusions: Different molecular subtypes of breast cancer have different prognosis. Compared with molecular subtype, lymph node status may be a more important prognostic factor.

[Long-term recurrence rate and survival in different aged patients with breast cancer undergoing breast conserving therapy].

Objective: To examine the difference of long-term recurrence rate and survivals between the young patients and the old patients undergoing breast conserving therapy (BCT). Methods: Women with primary invasive breast cancer receiving BCT between December 1999 and December 2014 were selected retrospectively from the database of Breast Cancer Center, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute. The median age of all patients was 47 years (range: 21 to 91 years). The cases were categorized according to age at diagnosis into two subgroups: the ≤40 years group and the>40 years group. A total of 2 778 patients were included: 677 patients in the ≤40 years group and 2 101 patients in the >40 years group. Clinicopathological characteristics between two groups were compared. The recurrence rate and survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The differences of outcomes were compared in different aged groups using the Log-rank test. Factors affecting local recurrence, distant disease-free survival (DDFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Proportions of T1 (301/677 vs. 1 160/2 101, χ²=37.660, P<0.01), involved lymph node (314/677 vs. 713/2 101, χ²=34.966, P<0.01) hormone receptor-negative (490/677 vs. 1 581/2 101, χ²=6.981, P=0.030) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (413/677 vs. 1 010/2 101, χ²=34.272,P<0.01)in the ≤40 years group were higher than that in the>40 years group. Median follow-up duration was 102 months. No significant difference in 10-year local recurrence was found between the two groups (2.5% vs. 1.6%, P=0.147). Ten-year DDFS rate in the ≤40 years group and in the>40 years group was 90.6% and 95.3%, respectively (P<0.01). Ten-year DFS rate in the ≤40 years group and in the>40 years group was 86.5% and 91.1%, respectively (P=0.001). Ten-year BCSS rate in the ≤40 years group and in the >40 years group was 91.0% and 93.7%, respectively (P=0.105). Age was not the prognosis factor of local recurrence. Lymph node status (positive vs. negative: HR=2.73, 95%CI: 1.94 to 3.84, P<0.01), age (≤40 years vs.>40 years: HR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.24 to 2.42, P=0.001) and T stage (>2 cm vs. ≤2 cm: HR=1.61, 95%CI: 1.14 to 2.28, P=0.001) were the prognosis factors of DDFS, and also for DFS. Hormone receptor status (positive vs. negative: HR=0.54, 95%CI: 0.39 to 0.74, P<0.01), lymph node status (positive vs. negative: HR=2.94, 95%CI: 2.12 to 4.07, P<0.01) and T stage (>2 cm vs. ≤2 cm: HR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.05 to 2.01, P=0.025) were the prognosis factors of BCSS. Conclusions: The risk of local recurrence was similar between ≤40 years patient and >40 years patients receiving breast conserving therapy. Worse survivals in the ≤40 years group were found comparing to those in the >40 years group.

[Safety and short-term efficacy analysis of breast-conserving surgery combined with intraoperative radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer].

Objective: To analyze the safety and short-term efficacy of breast-conserving surgery combined with intraoperative radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. Methods: A total of 101 consecutive patients who received breast-conserving surgery plus intraoperative radiotherapy were recruited to summarize the recent follow-up results and clinicopathological data. Univariate analysis and Logistic regression model were used to evaluate the factors affecting the postoperative adverse reactions and cosmetic effects. Results: Among 101 patients, 4 patients had recurrence or metastasis. The 3-years disease free survival rate was 94.9%, and the 3-years cumulative recurrence rate was 5.1%. Univariate analysis showed that the menstrual status and postoperative whole breast radiotherapy were associated with the postoperative adverse reactions (P<0.05). The T stage and applicator diameter were associated with the cosmetic effect (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that the diameter of the applicator (OR=3.701, P=0.026) and postoperative whole breast radiotherapy (OR=5.962, P=0.005) were independent factors for the postoperative adverse reactions, and the diameter of the applicator (OR=2.522, P=0.037) was an independent factor for the cosmetic effect. Conclusion: Breast-conserving surgery combined with intraoperative radiotherapy shows safety and good short-term efficacy in low-risk early-stage breast cancer.

[Comparison study on sensitivity of five ophthalmic antibiotics to common drug-resistant Staphylococci on ocular surface].

Objective: To investigate the in vitro antibacterial sensitivity of levofloxacin, tobramycin, cefazolin sodium, clindamycin and fusidic acid to 67 strains of Staphylococci in ocular surface infection. The purpose of this study is to provide reference for clinical selection of drugs. Methods: Experimental study. Sixth-seven strains of drug-resistant Staphylococci isolated from the Department of Microbiology, Henan Provincial Ophthalmic Hospital during January 2018 and May 2019 were collected. There were 67 strains of Staphylococci including 28 strains of drug-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidi, 17 strains of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 15 strains of drug-resistant Staphylococcus intermedius and a few other kinds of drug-resistant Staphylococci. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC) of levofloxacin, tobramycin, cefazolin sodium, clindamycin and fusidic acid in 67 strains of drug-resistant Staphylococci were determined by microliquid-based method. The sensitivity was determined according to the American CLSI-M100 standard. The statistical analysis of the data was carried out by using two-dimensional test and Fisher accurate test. Results: Fourteen strains of fusidic acid were sensitive to 17 strains of MRS-Meca-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, the difference between fusidic and levofloxacin is statistically significant; 14 strains of cefazolin sodium and 11 strains of fusidic acid were sensitive to 14 strains of ß-Lac enzyme-producing Staphylococcus aureus, and there were significant differences between the two drugs and levofloxacin; 6 strains of cefazolin sodium and 5 strains of fusidic acid were sensitive to 10 strains of MRS-Meca-resistant Staphylococcus intermedius, as compared to levofloxacin, there were significant differences between cefazolin sodium and levofloxacin (P=0.011,0.033). Cefazolin sodium was sensitive to 5 strains of MRS-Meca-positive other drug-resistant Staphylococci, which was significantly different from levofloxacin (P=0.048); 54 and 48 strains of cefazolin sodium and fusidic acid were sensitive to 67 strains of drug-resistant Staphylococci, and the sensitive rates were 80.1% and 71.6%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of levofloxacin, tobramycin and clindamycin. There were significant statistical differences between drug sensitivity (χ²=18.377,9.940；P=0.000,0.003). Conclusions: The sensitivity of cefazolin sodium and fusidic acid to 67 strains of drug-resistant Staphylococci is better than that of levofloxacin, tobramycin and clindamycin, these findings may provide guidance for the clinical treatment of drug-resistant Staphylococci in ocular infection. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 621-625).

[Impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on the prognosis of hormone receptor negative breast cancer with residual lymph node disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy].

Objective: To explore the influence of adjuvant chemotherapy on the prognosis of hormone receptor negative breast cancer with residual lymph node disease(RLND)after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 110 hormone receptor negative breast cancer patients treated with 4-8 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were respectively analysed between 2002 and 2012. Residual lymph node disease was comfirmed by subsequent radical mastectomy. Then all these patients were classified into two groups: patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy(group A) and patients untreated with adjuvant chemotherapy(group B). Results: All patients were female, the median age was 54.5 years old(IQR: 47-59 years). The median follow-up time was 61 months(IQR: 51-88 months). There were 82 patients (74.5%) in group A, and 28 patients (25.5%) in group B. The five-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 76.2% in group A and 57.6% in group B. The distant disease-free survival (DDFS) rate was 78.9% in group A and 60.4% in group B. Overall survival (OS) rate was 81.0% in group A and 60.0% in group B. Multivariate analysis showed that there were significant differences for DDFS rate (group A vs group B, P=0.033; hazard ratio [HR], 5.256; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.14-24.17) and OS rates (group A vs group B, P=0.011; HR, 7.478; 95%CI, 1.58-35.30) between two groups. Conclusion: The patients who have hormone receptor negative breast cancer with RLND after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, may benefit from postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

[Breast-conserving surgery with immediate partial breast reconstruction using pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap: a clinical analysis of 33 patients].

Objective: To explore the application value of pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap in immediate partial breast reconstruction for breast cancer. Methods: This study is a prospective case series studies. Totally 128 cases of primary breast cancer patients who prepared to receive the breast-conserving surgery combine with immediate partial breast reconstruction of pedicled thoracodorsalartery perforator flap were enrolled in Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment Center of Peking University Cancer Hospital from June 2013 to March 2016. Finally, the operations had been completed successfully in 33 eligible cases. All patients were female with a median age of 40 years (ranging from 22 to 52 years). The perforator vessel location, the donor area design, the post-operative complications, the influence of radiation and chemotherapy had been evaluated. Results: The average diameter of thoracic dorsal artery perforators measured by Doppler ultrasound before the operation was (1.5±0.4) mm (ranging from 0.6 to 2.7 mm). The average size of flaps was 15 cm×6 cm. The average time of operations was (271±72) minutes (ranging from 120 to 245 minutes). Drainage tube removed on (4.7±2.1) days after operation (ranging from 3 to 12 days). All patients received follow-up, and there was no local recurrence and distant metastasis during a median follow-up of 17(12) months (M(Q(R))) (ranging from 5 to 38 months). All TDAP flaps were survival, the wound complication rates was 6% (2/33). Conclusions: The breast reconstruction of pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap is a good choice of repairing local breast defect of breast conserving surgery.Its advantages are no-influence of latissimus dorsi function and little complications in donor area.

[Relationship of clinicopathological features and chemotherapeutic outcomes in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative familial breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of clinicopathological features and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative familial breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 6 200 women with breast cancer were treated at our hospital from October 2003 to December 2012. All subjects underwent genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations were excluded. This cohort of 5 842 patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative breast cancer was classified as two groups: familial breast cancer patients (n=480) and sporadic breast cancer patients (n=5 362). The clinicalpathological data and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of the 480 patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative familial breast cancer and the 5 362 patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative sporadic breast cancer were compared retrospectively. Then the influencing factors of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative breast cancer patients, 4.4% of the patients were diagnosed before 30 years of age in the familial breast cancer group, significantly higher than that of 2.6% in the sporadic breast cancer group(P=0.020). 5.0% of the patients in the familial breast cancer group had bilateral breast cancer, significantly higher than that of 2.7% in the sporadic breast cancer group (P=0.004). Compared with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative sporadic breast cancer patients, the relative risk of early-onset breast cancer (≤ 30 years) and bilateral breast cancer were 1.73 and 1.91, respectively, significantly higher than that in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative familial breast cancer cases (P=0.020 and P=0.004). 2 964 patients in this cohort of 5 842 case sreceived neoadjuvant chemotherapy.The pathologic complete response (pCR) rate was significantly higher in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative familial breast cancer group than in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative sporadic breast cancer group (21.7% vs. 14.0%, P=0.001). Independent factors associated with pCR in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative breast cancer patients were tumor size less than 2 cm (P=0.012), histologic grade Ⅲ (P<0.001), triple-negative breast cancers (P<0.001), and BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative familial breast cancer(P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative sporadic breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative familial breast cancer is more likely diagnosed before the age of 30 years and has a higher risk to develop bilateral breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative familial breast cancers are more likely to respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy than BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative sporadic breast cancer.

[Impact of the response of primary tumor to preoperative chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy on survival of HER2-positive breast cancer patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of anti-HER2 therapy and response of primary tumor on distant disease free survival (DDFS) of the patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. METHODS: The clinical data of the patients with HER2-positive breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Patients treated with preoperative anti-HER2 therapy and chemotherapy had a significant improved pathological complete response (pCR) rate (48.4%) compared with those treated with preoperative chemotherapy (17.2%) (P=0.000). The median follow-up period was 62(6-160) months. The 5-year DDFS in patients with anti-HER2 therapy and patients without anti-HER2 therapy was 93.5% and 83.3% respectively (P=0.006). The 5-year DDFS in patients achieving a pCR and patients not achieving a pCR was 94.7% and 82.6% respectively(P=0.001). Among patients achieving a pCR, anti-HER2 therapy did not improve DDFS significantly (P=0.960). Benefits of anti-HER2 therapy in DDFS among patients without a pCR achieved statistical significance (P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of neoadjuvant anti-HER2 therapy and chemotherapy resulted in a higher pCR rate in HER2-overexpressing primary breast cancer. Patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy who achieved a pCR have excellent outcome regardless of whether they received anti-HER2 therapy.

[Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in PAI-1 with breast cancer susceptibility and prognosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(PAI-1) on breast cancer susceptibility and patients' prognosis among a Chinese Han women population. METHODS: Six tag SNP (tSNP) of PAI-1 were selected according to HapMap CHB population, and TaqMan realtime PCR method was used to genotype the 6 tSNP in 1 160 breast cancer cases and 1 318 age-matched controls among Chinese Han women. Haplotypes and diplotypes were inferred according to genotyping data and linkage disequilibrium. Finally, the associations of tSNP, haplotypes and dipltypes with breast cancer susceptibility and patients' prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Regarding to breast cancer susceptibility, for rs6090 (G>A), AA genotype carriers had 3.79 times higher risk of developing breast cancer (OR=4.79, 95%CI=1.01-22.64, P=0.048 0) than GG or GA genotype carriers. For rs2227672 (G>T), TT genotype carriers had 1.52 times higher breast cancer risk than GG or GT genotype carriers (OR=2.52, 95%CI=1.26-5.01, P=0.008 6). Regarding to breast cancer prognosis, women who carried rs2227692 (C>T) CT genotype had 46% lower risk of developing recurrence, metastasis or death than CC genotype carriers (HR=0.54, 95%CI=0.30-0.97, P=0.040 4). Using stratified association analysis, among BMI<23 patients, those women who carried AA genotype of rs2227631 (G>A) had 3.99 times higher risk of developing the events (recurrence, metastasis or death) than GG or GA genotype carriers (HR=4.99, 95%CI=1.66-15.02, P=0.004 2). Among HER2 positive patients, those women who carried AA genotype of rs2227667 (G>A) had 2.98 times higher risk of developing the events (recurrence, metastasis or death) than GG or GA genotype carriers (HR=3.98, 95%CI=1.47-10.80, P=0.006 7). Among patients with tumors>2 cm, those women who carried rs2227692 (C>T) CT or TT genotype had 51% lower risk of developing the events (recurrence, metastasis or death) than CC genotype carriers (HR=0.49, 95%CI=0.27-0.88, P=0.017 0). CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that single nucleotide polymorphisms in PAI-1 may affect breast cancer susceptibility and survival in Chinese Han women. The study may contribute to individualized evaluation of breast cancer risk and patients' prognosis if these data are validated in some other Chinese Han populations.

Genetic analyses of Chinese isolates of Toxoplasma gondii reveal a new genotype with high virulence to murine hosts.

A great deal of evidence demonstrates that a strongly clonal population structure of Toxoplasma gondii strains exists in humans and animals in North America and Europe, while the strains from South America are genetically separate and more diverse. Potential differences in virulence between different strains mean that an understanding of strain diversity is important to human and animal health. However, to date, only one predominant genotype, ToxoDB#9 (Chinese I), and a few other genotypes, including ToxoDB#205, have been identified in China. By using DNA sequence-based phylogenetic analyses, we have re-evaluated the population structure of T. gondii strains collected from China and compared them with other global strains. Based on phylogenetic analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms, multilocus sequence typing and intron sequences from T. gondii, we propose that the Chinese isolates described as Chinese I are divided into two groups called Chinese I and Chinese III. Our results demonstrate that significant differences were found in mouse mortality caused by some Chinese strains, and also the archetypal I, II, III strains in mice. Furthermore, a comparison of cyst loading in the brains of infected rats showed some Chinese strains to be capable of a high degree of cyst formation. Furthermore we show that genotyping using neutral genetic markers may not be a useful predictor of pathogenic phenotypes.

Epitaxial thin films of pyrochlore iridate Bi2+xIr2-yO7-δ: structure, defects and transport properties.

While pyrochlore iridate thin films are theoretically predicted to possess a variety of emergent topological properties, experimental verification of these predictions can be obstructed by the challenge in thin film growth. Here we report on the pulsed laser deposition and characterization of thin films of a representative pyrochlore compound Bi2Ir2O7. The films were epitaxially grown on yttria-stabilized zirconia substrates and have lattice constants that are a few percent larger than that of the bulk single crystals. The film composition shows a strong dependence on the oxygen partial pressure. Density-functional-theory calculations indicate the existence of BiIr antisite defects, qualitatively consistent with the high Bi: Ir ratio found in the films. Both Ir and Bi have oxidation states that are lower than their nominal values, suggesting the existence of oxygen deficiency. The iridate thin films show a variety of intriguing transport characteristics, including multiple charge carriers, logarithmic dependence of resistance on temperature, antilocalization corrections to conductance due to spin-orbit interactions, and linear positive magnetoresistance.

Monitoring fermentation media by ion-chromatography with a double chamber bulk acoustic wave detector.

A reliable ion-chromatographic (IC) method with a novel double chamber bulk acoustic wave (DCBAW) detector was developed for monitoring five important inorganic cations (Na(+), K(+), NH(4)(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+)) in biological culture media. A Shimpack IC-C1 analytical column with 5 mM hydrochloric acid and 2 mM acetonitrile as mobile phase was used. All investigated inorganic cations could be detected and qualified in the range of 0.1-100 mg/l. Results showed that the consumption velocities of Mg(2+) and K(+) are related to the growth of the cells and decrease fastest during the first 2-5 h. Mg became a growth limiting factor at concentration below 0.1 mg/l. The concentrations of the other cations stayed nearly constant during the whole fermentation process. The simple sample preparation, short analytical time and accurate results made it a useful tool for the on-line monitoring, controlling and optimization of the fermentation process.

Overexpression of cyclin E isoforms correlates with poor prognosis in rectal cancer.

AIMS: To investigate the expression of cyclin E isoforms in rectal cancer and its relations to clinicopathological factors and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cyclin E expression was assessed by Western blot in 360 resected rectal cancer patients of stage I to III. Multivariate analysis was applied to indicate the independent prognostic markers in this cohort. RESULTS: Nineteen percent, 24% or 29% patients exhibited elevated levels of full-length (FL) cyclin E, low-molecular-weight (LMW) cyclin E or total cyclin E in their tumors respectively. Significant correlation was observed between cyclin E expression with blood vessel invasion, deeply invasive tumors, histology grade and lymph node metastasis. Moreover, patients with high levels of LMW-cyclin E or total cyclin E had a poorer 5-year overall survival than did patients with low levels of LMW-cyclin E or total cyclin E. In multivariate analysis, both the LMW-cyclin E and total cyclin E, but not FL-cyclin E, remained independent prognostic indicators in both patients with stage I to III and in those with early stage. Patients with elevated LMW- or total cyclin E levels had a hazard ratio for death from rectal cancer of 6.302 (95% CI, 1.903-17.81, p = 0.001) or 4.332 (95% CI, 1.298-16.362, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Overexpression of the LMW-cyclin E or total cyclin E is a strong predictor for poorer survival in patients with rectal cancer. Therefore, evaluating cyclin E expression may provide useful prognostic information for resectable rectal cancer patients.

Self-assembled growth and blue emission of a SiO(x)-capped (x = 0.5-0.8) silicon nanowire array.

A uniquely structured SiO(x)-capped (x = 0.5-0.8) Si nanowire array with strong blue emission, like a nanobeacon array, was fabricated using electroless metal (silver) deposition on a water plasma-treated Si wafer. Formation of the nanoscale light source array can be understood on the basis of a self-assembled localized microscopic electrochemical cell model and a diffusion-limited aggregation process. Photoluminescence spectral analysis reveals that the intensity of the broad blue-emitting luminescent band centred at around 435 nm strongly depends upon the irradiation of H(2)O(+), HO(+), and O(+) ions, which are present in the water plasma. We attribute the blue PL band to the optical transition of the self-trapped excitons at the surfaces of SiO(x) nanocaps.