More accurate prediction of treatment response than mean apparent diffusion coefficient value in multiple myeloma using whole body MRI histogram analysis.

Aim: To assess baseline histogram parameters from apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images in predicting early treatment response in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. Methods: The histogram parameters of lesions in 68 NDMM patients were obtained with the Firevoxel software. The presence of deep response after two cycles of induction was recorded. Results: Some parameters were significantly different between the two groups, for example, ADC 75% in lumbar spine (p = 0.026). No significant difference in mean ADC for any anatomic site was found (all p > 0.05). The combination of ADC 75, ADC 90 and ADC 95% in lumbar spine; ADC skewness and ADC kurtosis in rib achieved a sensitivity of 100% in predicting deep response. Conclusion: Histogram analysis of ADC images can describe NDMM heterogeneity and accurately predict treatment response.

Characterization of a Glycoside Hydrolase Family 157 Endo-ß-1,3-Glucanase That Displays Antifungal Activity against Phytopathogens.

ß-1,3-Glucan-degrading enzymes are widely used in fields such as food processing, plant protection, and breweries. In this work, we identified a glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 157 endo-ß-1,3-glucanase (BsGlc157A) from Bacteroides sp. M27 and characterized its biochemical properties, structural model, and antifungal activity. Enzymological characterization indicated that BsGlc157A performs its optimal catalytic activity at pH 6.0 and 40 °C. BsGlc157A adopted the classic (ß/α)8 TIM-barrel structure. Two catalytic residues, the nucleophile (Glu215) and the proton donor (Glu123), were confirmed via structural modeling and site-directed mutagenesis. Moreover, BsGlc157A hydrolyzed curdlan into a series of oligosaccharides with polymerization degrees 2-5 and exhibited inhibitory effects on the hyphal growth of typical fruit pathogenic fungi (Monilinia fructicola, Alternaria alternata, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), thereby illustrating effective biocontrol activity. These results revealed the catalytic properties and the application potential of GH family 157 ß-1,3-glucanase, thus providing valuable biochemistry information about the group of carbohydrate-active enzymes.

Performance and mechanism of nickel hydroxide catalyzed reduction of N-nitrosodimethylamine by iron.

Since iron (Fe) was first proven to have a strong reduction ability, it has been successfully applied to remove pollutants from water. In this study, nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2), a catalyst commonly used in hydrogen evolution reactions, was added to improve the activity of Fe to remove N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The results showed that with the increasing Ni(OH)2 dosages, the reactions accelerated. The NDMA removal rates increased when the pH value was 6 or 7. Further, when the dissolved oxygen concentration was in the range of 0-12.0 mg∙L-1, it had little effect on the Fe/Ni(OH)2 system, and all the reactions obeyed pseudo-first-order kinetics. 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and dimethylamine were formed during NDMA degradation. The capture of active substances and electron spin resonance method confirmed that the main active species were active hydrogen atoms, which participated in the removal of NDMA. Ni(OH)2 acting as a catalyst was confirmed using wide-angle X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Ni2+ dissolution. Further, catalytic hydrogenation was proposed as the main removal mechanism as Ni(OH)2 promotes the corrosion of Fe and dissociation of water, thereby generating more active hydrogen atoms. In addition, Ni(OH)2 may activate both Fe and NDMA. This technique could be employed as an alternative for NDMA reduction and expand the application field of Ni(OH)2.

Clinical and imaging characteristics of hematologic disease complicated by air leak syndrome: A STROBE-compliment observational study.

There are limited systematic studies on hematologic disease complicated by air leak syndrome (ALS). Physicians in radiology departments and hematology departments have a limited awareness of ALS.The aim of this study was to explore the similarities and differences in clinical data between the clinical group and imaging group in patients with hematologic disease complicated by ALS.Clinical and CT data for 59 patients with hematologic disease complicated by ALS in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were assessed by clinical grouping and image grouping. Data were compared between groups, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant.Dyspnea occurred more often in the allo-HSCT (allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) group than that in the non-allo-HSCT group (68.8% vs 4.7%, P < .001), there were statistically significant differences in inducing factors between groups, and differences in other aspects were not statistically significant. Chest tightness and dyspnea occurred more often in the allo-HSCT with BO/BOOP (bronchiolitis Obliteran/bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia) group than those in the allo-HSCT without BO/BOOP group (80.0% vs 9.1%, P = .013), and differences in other aspects were not statistically significant. Chest pain occurred more often in the HPT (hydropneumothorax) group than that in the other 3 groups (pure pneumothorax [PT], pulmonary interstitial emphysema [PIE], complex ALS) (71.4% vs 11.1%, 0.0%, and 26.5%, P = .005); ALS thickness in the HPT group was greater than that in the other 2 groups (PIE and complex ALS) (19.7 vs 3.5 cm and 9.5 cm, P = .001); catheter drainage occurred more often in the HPT group than that in the other three groups (PT, PIE, complexALS) (64.3% vs 22.2%, 0.0%, and 2.9%, P = .001).ALS is a high risk in male patients who have a low BMI, have leukemia as a basic disease, and have basic lung diseases (eg, BO/BOOP). CT types are mainly complex ALS, HPT, and pure PT. In addition, clinical symptoms for patients in the HPT group are severe, and there is a high prevalence of catheter drainage.

Abiotic reduction of p-chloronitrobenzene by sulfate green rust: influence factors, products and mechanism.

The reduction of p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) by sulfate green rust (GRSO4 ) was systematically studied. The results revealed that GRSO4 has a good removal effect on p-CNB. The removal efficiencies of p-CNB by GRSO4 improved with the increase of the pH value. The removal efficiencies in the presence of ions were better than that of GRSO4 alone, while natural organic matter (NOM) could adsorb p-CNB, which competed with GRSO4 . The reductions of p-CNB by GRSO4 under different conditions followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics except for the reactions in the presence of NOM. p-CNB was converted into p-chloroaniline (p-CAN), which produced p-nitrosochlorobenzene and p-chlorophenylhydroxylamine as the intermediate products. The results of the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed GRSO4 was gradually transformed into goethite. Fe(ii) in the GRSO4 structure was the main electron donor involved in the reaction.

Nicotine enhances GABAergic inhibition of oxytocin mRNA-expressing neuron in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in vitro in rats.

We recently found that extracellular administration of nicotine indirectly excited hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA-expressing neurons. In this study, we studied the effect of nicotine on PVN oxytocin (OT) mRNA-expressing neuron in vitro in rats, by whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique, immunohistochemistry methods and single-cell reverse-transcription multiplex polymerase chain reaction (SC-RT-mPCR) methods Our results showed that 79.3% (73/92) of the 92 PVN putative magnocellular neurons co-expressed GAPDH mRNA and OT mRNA. Under current-clamp recording conditions, local micro application of nicotine (1-300µM) induced a decrease in spontaneous firing rate accompanied with a hyperpolarization of membrane potential in 76.7% (56/73) of PVN OT mRNA-expressing magnocellular neurons. The nicotine induced inhibition in spontaneous activity of PVN OT mRNA-expressing magnocellular neurons was dose-dependent. The half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) is 2.9µM. The nicotine induced hyperpolarization of PVN OT mRNA-expressing magnocellular neurons was sensitive to GABAA receptor antagonist, SR95531 (10µM) and tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1µM). In addition, local micro application of nicotine induced a significant increase in frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (sIPSPs), but without changes in the sEPSPs amplitude of the OT-mRNA expressing neurons. Biocytin staining confirmed that the nicotine-sensitive OT-mRNA expressing neurons were the PVN magnocellular neurons. These results demonstrated that nicotine enhances the GABAergic inhibition, resulting in a decrease in spontaneous firing rate of the PVN OT-mRNA expressing neurons. These findings suggested that nicotine modulated PVN OT secretion via enhancement of both presynaptic action potential drive and quantal GABA release.

Dose-volume histogram parameters for predicting radiation pneumonitis using receiver operating characteristic curve.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictability of dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters for radiation pneumonitis (RP) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five cases of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with three-dimensional radiotherapy and chemotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. The end point of follow-up was ≥2 grade RP defined according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0. The ROC curve was used to explore the predictive sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for potential DVH parameters associated with RP. RESULTS: Relative volumes of total lungs receiving ≥5 Gy (V(5)), ≥10 Gy (V(10)), ≥13 Gy (V(13)), ≥20 Gy (V(20)), and mean lung dose (MLD), were all correlated to the development of RP (p < 0.05), among which V 5 and V 20 were the most important factors (p = 0.045 and 0.037; OR = 3.166 and 3.030). However, collinearity was found between V(5) and V(20) (Spearman's rho 0.771, p < 0.01). The area under the ROC curve was 0.643 and 0.648 for using V(5) and V(20) as predictors. If predictive cut-off values were established as follows: V(5) = 0.8 and V(20) = 0.3, the parameters could provide predictive SEN, SPE, PPV and NPV were 0.387 and 0.581, 0.882 and 0.701, 0.444 and 0.321, and 0.855 and 0.873, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: V(5) and V(20) could act as predictors for RP; however, single DVH metrics did not appear to have high predictive power for RP.

[Application value of scrotal ultrasonography in the etiological diagnosis of azoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of scrotal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of the causes of azoospermia. METHODS: We performed scrotal ultrasonography for 96 patients with azoospermia, and analyzed the ultrasonographic images in comparison with the results of the final diagnosis. RESULTS: Based on the characteristics of the ultrasonographic images, 35 of the cases were diagnosed as obstructive azoospermia and the other 61 as non-obstructive azoospermia, with an accuracy rate of 97.0%. The causes and sites of the lesions were manifested in 44.4% of the obstructive and 46.7% of the non-obstructive cases, with accuracy rates of 100% and 75.0%, respectively. As for the rest of the cases, scrotal ultrasonography helped narrow the scope of further examinations by giving directional indications. CONCLUSION: Scrotal ultrasonography is an essential means for the diagnosis of the causes of azoospermia, or for obtaining directional indications of its causes.

[Comparison of total hip replacement and transplantation of vascularized bone graft in treating late ischemic necrosis of the femoral head].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects and indications of total hip replacement (THR) and transplantation of vascularized bone graft in treating late ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: From March 1986 to March 1993, 81 patients with late ischemic necrosis underwent treatment. Of 81 patients, 59 patients who suffered in unilateral hip were divided into 2 groups: 26 underwent total hip replacement and 33 underwent transplantation of vascularized bone graft. There was no significant difference in the Harris-scores of the two groups before operations (P>0.05). The Harris hip scores were compared between different ages (<30 years, 31-50 years, and >51 years) in two groups. RESULTS: The follow-up ranged from 10 years and 3 months to 16 years and 5 months (15 years and two months on average). The changes of Harris-scores of the two groups after operations had significant difference in initial stage (P<0. 05), but had no significant difference in the long term (P>0.05). The change of Harris-scores of patients who underwent total hip replacement had no significant difference between different ages (P>0.05), but that of patients who underwent transplantation of vascularized bone graft had significant difference between different ages (P<0.05). Both groups had satisfactory effects in treating late ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. CONCLUSION: Both methods are effective in treating late ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. Total hip replacement can be more effective in senior patients. Transplantation of vascularized bone can be more effective in young patients.