[Research progress in the diagnosis and management of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia].

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is one of the oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) with the highest malignant potential. PVL tends to be easily misdiagnosed owing to the resemblance in clinical manifestations between PVL and other diseases such as oral leukoplakia or oral lichen planus. PVL is considered as a special type of oral leukoplakia by some scholars, which is characterized by its tendency of recurrence and metastasis, along with its high risk of malignant transformation. So far, the accurate clinic diagnosis and management of PVL are still intractable due to the lack of definite histopathological definition, unified diagnostic criteria and effective treatment modalities. This review aims to provide the clinical practitioners with a series of advices on the clinical diagnosis and management of PVL by systematically reviewing the diagnostic logistics, therapeutic strategies, malignant transformation detection based on tremendous relevant data and evidence-based medicine.

Observation of topological superconductivity in a stoichiometric transition metal dichalcogenide 2M-WS2.

Topological superconductors (TSCs) are unconventional superconductors with bulk superconducting gap and in-gap Majorana states on the boundary that may be used as topological qubits for quantum computation. Despite their importance in both fundamental research and applications, natural TSCs are very rare. Here, combining state of the art synchrotron and laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we investigated a stoichiometric transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), 2M-WS2 with a superconducting transition temperature of 8.8 K (the highest among all TMDs in the natural form up to date) and observed distinctive topological surface states (TSSs). Furthermore, in the superconducting state, we found that the TSSs acquired a nodeless superconducting gap with similar magnitude as that of the bulk states. These discoveries not only evidence 2M-WS2 as an intrinsic TSC without the need of sensitive composition tuning or sophisticated heterostructures fabrication, but also provide an ideal platform for device applications thanks to its van der Waals layered structure.

[Clinical study on the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on lymph node ratio, prognosis, and survival analysis of stage â ¢A-N2 non-small cell lung cancer].

Objective: To investigate the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) on the lymph node ratio (LNR) of patients with stage ⅢA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and analyze the relationship between LNR and prognosis. Methods: The data of 128 patients with stage ⅢA-N2 NSCLC admitted to the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method. The patients in the observation group (64 cases) were treated with NCT and surgery, and the patients in the control group (64 cases) were treated with surgery. Lymph node metastasis and survival were observed in the two groups. Subgroups were divided according to LNR and N2 lymph node status, and survival analysis was performed for each subgroup. Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted for the observation group. Results: The number of metastatic lymph nodes, the proportion of patients with positive lymph nodes, and the rate of lymph node metastasis in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,3.8±2.1 vs 4.9±2.4,92.2% vs 100%,19.1% vs 22.4% respectively (all P<0.05). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in the observation group were better than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Both the observation and control subgroups with low LNR had better PFS and OS than the subgroups with high LNR (both P<0.05). Patients in the observation group with non-multi-site N2 lymph node metastasis had better PFS and OS (both P<0.05). Univariate analysis of observation group showed that patients with low LNR had better 2-year PFS and OS(both P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the higher the LNR, the greater the risk of death (HR=2.178,95%CI: 1.025-4.626,P=0.043) and progression (HR=2.130,95%CI: 1.123-4.038,P=0.021). Conclusion: NTC could improve the prognosis and reduce LNR of patients with stage ⅢA-N2 NSCLC, and LNR was expected to be a prognostic indicator.

[Clinical study of cell sheets containing allogeneic keratinocytes and fibroblasts for the treatment of partial-thickness burn wounds].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cell sheets containing allogeneic keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the treatment of partial-thickness burn wounds. Methods: The cell sheets containing allogeneic keratinocytes and fibroblasts were constructed using polyurethane biofilm as carrier. Then gross observation and histological observation were conducted. From April 2016 to December 2017, Changhai Hospital of Naval Medical University recruited patients with acute partial-thickness burn wounds that met the inclusion criteria for this prospective and positively self-controlled clinical trial. Recruitment of 40 acute partial-thickness burn wounds were planned with each selected single wound being not smaller than 10 cm×10 cm and not more than 5% total body surface area (TBSA). Each wound was equally divided into two areas, which were recruited into cell sheet group and conventional treatment group according to the random number table. The wounds in cell sheet group were covered by cell sheet and then sterile gauze as secondary dressings. Depending on the wound healing and exudation, the sterile gauze was replaced every 1 to 3 day (s) after the treatment was started, and the cell sheet was replaced every 7 days (namely dressing changing). The wounds in conventional treatment group were covered by sulfadiazine silver cream gauze and then dressed with sterile gauze, with the dressings changed every 2 to 3 days depending on wound exudation. On treatment day 5, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing rates in the two groups were calculated. The complete wound healing time, the total number of dressing changes, and the status of wound infection during treatment were recorded. The Visual Analogue Scale was used to score the pain at the first dressing change. Scar formation of patients was followed up for 6 to 12 months after injury. Safety indicators including vital signs, laboratory examination indexes, and adverse reactions during treatment were observed. Data were statistically analysed with Wilcoxon rank sum test and Bonferroni correction. Results: (1) Each prepared cell sheet had a diameter of about 8 cm and was about 49 cm(2) in size, containing 2 or 3 layers of keratinocytes and fibroblasts. (2) A total of 43 patients were enrolled, of whom 3 patients dropped out of the study. Of the 40 patients who completed the treatment, there were 22 males and 18 females who were aged 1 to 57 year (s), with total burn area of 2% to 26% TBSA. (3) On treatment day 5, 7, 10, and 14, the wound healing rates in cell sheet group were significantly higher than those in conventional treatment group (Z=4.205, 4.258, 3.495, 2.521, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The complete wound healing time in cell sheet group was 7 (6, 8) days, which was significantly shorter than 11 (7, 14) days in conventional treatment group (Z=4.219, P<0.01). The total number of wound dressing changes in cell sheet group was 1 (1, 2) times, which was significantly less than 6 (4, 7) times in conventional treatment group (Z=5.464, P<0.01). (4) The wounds in cell sheet group in 31 patients healed before the first dressing change. The pain score of wounds in the first dressing change in cell sheet group of 9 patients was 1 (0, 1) point, while the pain score of wounds in the first dressing change in conventional treatment group of 40 patients was 2 (1, 3) points. There was no obvious infection in the wounds in both groups of 40 patients before the wound healing. Nine patients completed the follow-up after the trial. In 6 patients, no scar formation was observed in cell sheet group or conventional treatment group. The color of wounds in cell sheet group was consistent with normal skin, and there was only a small amount of pigment deposition in the wounds of conventional treatment group. Three patients developed pigment deposition only in the wounds of cell sheet group but obvious scars in conventional treatment group. (5) The abnormal fluctuations of vital signs including body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and laboratory examination indexes of all patients during treatment were alleviated through the process of burn wound healing. No obvious adverse reactions or abnormalities related to the treatment were observed. Conclusions: The cell sheet containing allogeneic keratinocytes and fibroblasts can reduce the number of dressing changes, accelerate wound epithelialization, shorten wound healing time, reduce pain during dressing change in the treatment of partial-thickness burn wounds, and it may reduce scar hyperplasia after wound healing because of accelerating wound epithelization. Its clinical application is simple, safe, and effective.

Magnetic Weyl semimetal phase in a Kagomé crystal.

Weyl semimetals are crystalline solids that host emergent relativistic Weyl fermions and have characteristic surface Fermi-arcs in their electronic structure. Weyl semimetals with broken time reversal symmetry are difficult to identify unambiguously. In this work, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we visualized the electronic structure of the ferromagnetic crystal Co3Sn2S2 and discovered its characteristic surface Fermi-arcs and linear bulk band dispersions across the Weyl points. These results establish Co3Sn2S2 as a magnetic Weyl semimetal that may serve as a platform for realizing phenomena such as chiral magnetic effects, unusually large anomalous Hall effect and quantum anomalous Hall effect.

High-glucose promotes proliferation of human bladder cancer T24 cells by activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Bladder cancer is the most prevalent genitourinary malignant disorder worldwide. We aimed to observe effects of high-glucose on bladder cancer proliferation and explore the associated mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human bladder cancer cell line, T24, was divided into Blank, Control (Ctrl), 10 mmol/l, 20 mmol/l and 30 mmol/l group. T24 cell proliferation was evaluated by using multiple table tournament (MTT) assay and colony formation analysis, respectively. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was employed to examine mRNA expression of Wnt-5a and ß-catenin. Meanwhile, Western blot assay was used to evaluate expression of Wnt-5a and ß-catenin protein. The linear regression analysis was utilized to analyze correlation between Wnt-5a/ß-catenin expression and T24 cell proliferation. RESULTS: High-glucose significantly enhanced proliferation of T24 cells compared to that of Blank and Ctrl group (p < 0.05). High-glucose significantly promoted colony formation of T24 cells compared to that of Blank and Ctrl group (p < 0.05). High-glucose significantly up-regulated Wnt-5a mRNA and protein expression compared to that of Blank and Ctrl group (p < 0.01). High-glucose significantly increased ß-catenin mRNA and protein expression compared to that of Blank and Ctrl group (p < 0.01). Effects of high-glucose on T24 cell proliferation were increased following with the enhanced glucose concentration. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway molecules were correlated with colony formation of T24 cells (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High-glucose promoted the proliferation of T24 cells by activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. This study would provide the novel targets for bladder cancer therapy.

Association of three common single nucleotide polymorphisms of SLC7A7 with the development of glioma in a Chinese population.

Gliomas are brain tumors that can be seriously damaging to human health. The SLC7 family is involved in amino acid or peptide transportation. The relationship between SLC7A7 polymorphisms and the development of glioma has been reported previously by a few studies. Therefore, we performed a hospital based case-control study to investigate the association of three common SNPs (rs12888930, rs12436190, and rs2065134) of SLC7A7 with the development of glioma in a Chinese population. From January 2014 to December 2015, 122 patients with glioma and 252 individuals (controls) were recruited from the department of neurosurgery of Tangshan People's Hospital affiliated to North China University of Science and Technology. SLC7A7 rs12888930, rs12436190, and rs2065134 genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a significantly higher risk of glioma was harbored by the GG and AG + GG genotypes than by the AA genotype; OR (95%CI) was 2.24 (1.18-4.22) and 1.59 (1.01-2.60), respectively. However, no significant relationship was observed between SLC7A7 rs12888930 and rs2065134 and the risk of glioma. In conclusion, this study reports a significant association between SLC7A7 rs12436190 and the risk of glioma in a Chinese population.

Synergism between RIZ1 gene therapy and paclitaxel in SiHa cervical cancer cells.

RIZ1 is a tumor suppressor gene. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of RIZ1 gene therapy on the growth of SiHa cervical cancer cells and its synergism with paclitaxel. The expression levels of RIZ1 were examined by real-time PCR and western blotting before and after transfection of RIZ1. The effects of paclitaxel or pcDNA3.1(+)-RIZ1 alone or in combination, on the proliferation of SiHa cells were evaluated by MTT method. The inhibitory effect on the proliferation of SiHa cells was more significant in the pcDNA3.1(+)-RIZ1 combined with paclitaxel group than in the pcDNA3.1(+)-RIZ1 or paclitaxel groups (P<0.05). The expression level of RIZ1 in SiHa cells increased after treatment with paclitaxel, which indicated a synergism between them. RIZ1 gene therapy combined with paclitaxel showed stronger cell inhibition than paclitaxel alone, which indicated a synergism between them.

[Incidence and influencing factors of term small for gestational age infants in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and influencing factors of term small for gestational age infants (SGA ) in China. METHODS: This study is a multicenter study. Data were collected from Chinese Neonatal Network with term infants, born from May 1st 2010 to February 28th 2014, from 83 nationwide hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 170 565 neonates were recorded from 83 nationwide hospitals; 144 659 cases were term newborn, and 3 543 neonates were found to be term SGA. The incidence of term SGA was 2.45%. In term SGA, the girl's incidence (2.88%, 1 985/69 003) was higher than boy (2.05%, 1 531/74 707), P<0.001. Furthermore, the incidence of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and artificial fertilization of term SGA was 9.12% (66/724), which was higher than the natural conception (2.42%, 3 465/143 283), P<0.001. The incidence of term SGA in multiple births (30.37%, 741/2 440) was higher than that of single birth (1.97%, 2 787/141 366), P<0.001. The incidence of SGA with maternal age <18 years old was 4.86% (27/556) and was 3.20% (307/9 592) with maternal age > 35 years old, meanwhile both were higher than that with maternal age as 18-35 years old (2.39%, 3 197/133 662). The incidence of SGA with maternal occupation as farmers was 4.67% (854/18 284), which was significantly higher than other professions. The incidence of SGA with maternal education as illiterate and elementary education was 8.65% (187/2 162), 5.17% (397/7 678), respectively, both were significantly higher than those with mother graduated from university (1.72%, 853/49 692). Moreover, the geographical distribution of the main residence of the term SGA mothers showed Northeast Area (1.54%, 30/1 946)and East Area (2.21%, 1 267/57 334) had lower incidence of term SGA than those of Central South Area (2.71%, 493/18 223) and Southwest Area (3.67%, 876/23 852). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of term SGA was 2.45% in this study, which was influenced significantly by gender, IVF, multiple births, maternal factors (age, maternal occupation, level of education) and geographical distribution. This multicenter study with large data, to a certain extent, reflected status of the incidence and influencing factors of term SGA in China, which will help prevent and treat term SGA.

Identifying differentially expressed genes and pathways in two types of non-small cell lung cancer: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Non-small cell lung carcinoma, NSCLC, accounts for 80-85% of lung cancers. NSCLC can be mainly divided into two types: adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The purpose of our study was to identify and differentiate the pathogenesis of ADC and SCC at the molecular level. The gene expression profiles of ADC and SCC were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus under accession No. GSE10245. Accordingly, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by the limma package in R language. In addition, DEGs were functionally analyzed by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment. A total of 4124 DEGs were identified, including CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, and SKP2. The DEGs were mainly involved in 16 pathways related to cell proliferation, cell signal transduction and metabolism. We conclude that the molecular mechanisms of ADC and SCC are considerably different, and that they are involved in immune response, cell signal transduction, metabolism, cell division, and cell proliferation. Therefore, the two diseases should be treated differently. This study offers new insight into the diagnosis and therapy of these two types of lung cancer.

Characterization of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus ORF17.

The expression of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) ORF17 was examined. The respective transcript of 492 nts could be detected by RT-PCR at 3-72 hrs p.i., while the corresponding protein could be assessed by Western blot analysis at 6-72 hrs p.i. Its size was determined at about 19 K in agreement with the predicted value of 18.5 K, suggesting that no major posttranslational modification of primary gene product. The ORF17 protein was primarily located in the cytoplasm. All these results together with earlier data on early AcMNPV promoter motifs suggest that ORF17 as an early gene encoding a protein located in the cytoplasm of infected cells.

Galanin inhibits leptin expression and secretion in rat adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

In addition to serving as a fat depot, adipose tissue is also considered as an important endocrine organ that synthesizes and secretes a number of factors. Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that plays a vital role in energy balance. Expression of leptin is regulated by dietary status and hormones. In the present study, we report that galanin, an orexigenic peptide, inhibits leptin expression and secretion in rat adipose tissue and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Treatment with galanin (25 micro g/animal) induced approximately 46% down-regulation of leptin secretion at 15 min, followed by 40, 37 and 47% decreases in leptin secretion at 1, 2 and 4 h respectively. Although Northern blot analysis of adipose tissue from the same animals showed that leptin mRNA expression in adipose tissue was unaffected by galanin treatment for 2 h, galanin treatment for 4 h led to decline of leptin mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, treating the rats with galanin had no effect on leptin mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. The inhibitory action of the galanin on leptin mRNA and protein levels was also observed in vitro. When incubated with 10 nM galanin for 48 h, leptin mRNA expression and protein secretion also decreased in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. On the other hand, galanin was found not only to express in rat adipose tissue, but also to increase about 8-fold after fasting. Based on these data, we speculate that increased galanin expression in rat adipose tissue after fasting may be involved in reducing leptin expression and secretion in fasting rats.

[Higher lint percent and drought tolerant cotton line selected by radiation breeding].

The Gossypium hirsutum cv. Liaomian No. 9 were mutagenized by 60Co gamma ray, from which the mutant line Zhonghuzhi PI 935 (be called "PI 935" for short) was bred by family selection method. The PI 935 not only has some good traits (growing period, drought tolerance, lint color and fiber quality) similar to the original cultivar, but also has higher lint outturn and lint yield than that of the Liaomian No. 9. The PI 935 has been identified and regional tested in nine places times for four years in the southern Xinjiang Weiwuer autonomous region. It was shown that the PI 935 had the higher lint outtrn for the average 47.3% was ten-point percentage more than that of the check cultivars (Junmian No. 1 or Xinluzhong No. 5), the similar lint yield by and large and the growing period by five days later than that of the checks. The PI 935 was collected in the National Bank of Crop Germplasm (unified No. ZM 114274 and named "Zhonghuzhi PI 935").

Analysis and compensation of the measurement error in a lock-in amplifier used for wavelength shift measurements in optical sensing application.

The phase measurement error in an interferometric wavelength shift measurement scheme, such as that used in association with in-fiber Bragg grating sensors, has been investigated experimentally with appropriate underpinning analytical theory. It has been shown that when a lock-in amplifier is used to detect the phase shift generated by the Bragg wavelength shift, a pseudoperiodical measurement error can be introduced owing to the difference between the amplitude of the optical path difference ramp and the value of the Bragg wavelength. If the initial ramp deviation equals 20 nm, the measurement error may be as large as +/-2.5% of the total measurement range. With a double-phase lock-in amplifier approach to measure the ac strain, the measurement error can be decreased to 0.4% of the total measurement range. With the real-time measured period that corresponds to the Bragg wavelength with the distorted carrier signal of the interferometer as the reference period of a digital lock-in amplifier, the effect of the initial ramp deviation can be principally avoided, and the measurement error can be kept to an acceptably low level, about 0.1% of the total measurement range.

Phase II study of hepatic arterial floxuridine, leucovorin, and dexamethasone for unresectable liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the toxicity, response rate, and survival of a regimen of hepatic arterial floxuridine (FUDR) with leucovorin (LV) and dexamethasone (Dec) for the treatment of unresectable hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients with hepatic metastases (33 previously untreated with chemotherapy) were treated with FUDR (0.30 mg/kg/d) and LV (15 mg/m2/d) and Dec (20 mg total dose) as a 14-day hepatic arterial infusion via an implantable pump alternating with 2 weeks of saline. RESULTS: The complete response (CR) plus partial response (PR) rate was 78% in previously untreated patients, with a median survival duration of 24.8 months; 1- and 2-year survival rates were 91% and 57%, respectively. In the previously treated group, the response rate was 52%, with a median survival duration of 13.5 months. Only 3% of patients (two of 62) developed biliary sclerosis; this was significantly lower than the 21% biliary sclerosis rate observed in our previous trial of hepatic arterial FUDR and LV without Dec (P = .002). CONCLUSION: The addition of Dec to hepatic arterial FUDR and LV reduces biliary toxicity while maintaining an excellent response rate and survival. We recommend that this treatment be studied further.

Rhodotorula septicemia: report of a case.

With the increased use of central venous catheters in cancer patients, there has been an increase in the recovery of environmental and skin organisms from blood cultures. A red yeast, Rhodotorula, an infrequent cause of infection in humans, was isolated from a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia undergoing bone marrow transplant while he received parenteral nutritional fluids by an indwelling catheter. The patient was clinically ill, as manifested by fever and chills. The patient was treated with amphotericin B and the catheter was removed. He survived the fungemic episode with no recurrence of fungal infection.