[Feasibility of radiofrequency ablation for cancer patients with atrial fibrillation].

Objective: To analyze the impact of cancer on the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) after AF radiofrequency ablation and further evaluate the feasibility of radiofrequency ablation therapy in cancer patients with AF. Methods: This study was a single-center, retrospective study. Cancer patients with AF undergoing radiofrequency ablation for the first time in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from May 30, 2008 to September 30, 2018 were included (cancer group). AF patients without cancer undergoing radiofrequency ablation for the first time during the same period served as non-cancer group. Clinical data including age, gender, past history, cancer and AF-related parameters, etc. were analyzed. Patients were followed up after radiofrequency ablation. The primary endpoints were AF recurrence or all-cause death. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to analyze the effect of cancers on the recurrence after AF ablation. The multivariate cox regression analysis was further applied to correct for other confounding factors to analyze whether the impact of cancers on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation was statistically significant. Results: A total of 90 patients were enrolled, there were 30 patients in the cancer group (mean age (64.8±6.6) years, 16 (53.3%) males) and 60 patients in the non-cancer group (mean age (63.6±6.2) years, 32 (53.3%) males). Clinical data, such as age, gender, and cancer treatment, were similar between the two groups. During an average follow-up period of (328.7±110.2) days, there were 6 AF recurrences (recurrence rate 20.0%) in the cancer group, and 17 AF recurrences (recurrence rate 28.3%) in the control group. AF recurrence rate was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). During the follow-up period, there was no all-cause death in the two groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that cancer was not related to AF recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (P = 0.383). After adjusting for other confounding factors, the multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that cancer was not an independent predictor of AF recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (HR=0.508, 95%CI: 0.192-1.342, P = 0.172). Conclusions: The combination of cancer has no impact on the recurrence of AF after radiofrequency ablation. For cancer patients with AF, radiofrequency ablation therapy can be considered as a feasible heart rhythm control treatment strategy.

Abnormal ventral attention network homogeneity in patients with right temporal lobe epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: The attention network is the structural basis of cognitive function. As one of the two known attention networks, the ventral attention network (VAN) has a significant impact on the cognitive impairment of patients with epilepsy. Nevertheless, changes in network homogeneity (NH) are rarely reported in the VAN of right temporal lobe epilepsy (rTLE) patients. Therefore, we explored the NH of the VAN in rTLE patients in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy rTLE patients and 69 healthy controls were recruited. All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which was the primary method of evaluation. The executive control reaction time (ECRT) was examined via the attentional network test. The Data Processing Assistant for Resting-State fMRI (DPARSF) was used to analyze NH. The independent component analysis (ICA) and correlation analysis were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, patients with right temporal lobe epilepsy showed a lower NH in the right superior temporal gyrus, and a longer ECRT. However, abnormal NH values had no significant association with the clinical measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with right temporal lobe epilepsy have abnormal NH values in the VAN, and the executive functions in rTLE patients are also altered. The altered NH values in VAN may help provide new insights into the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in rTLE.

[Clinical analysis of 12 cases of acute myeloid leukemia complicated with synchronous primary solid tumor].

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) complicated with simultaneous multiple primary cancer (SMPC). Methods: The data of 12 AML patients with SMPC hospitalized in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanyang Medical College, the Xinhua District Hospital of Pingdingshan City and the First People's Hospital of Pingdingshan City from March 2014 to July 2019 were analyzed retrospectively, and their clinical features, treatment and prognosis were summarized. Results: Among the 12 patients, there were 6 males and 6 females, with a median age of 58 years (39-70 years). AML classification: according to French-American-British (FAB) classification, the 12 AML patients were classified as M0 1, M1 1, M2a 5, M2b 1, M3 2, M5 2; according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) prognosis stratified, low risk group 1 case, medium risk group 4 cases, high risk group 7 cases; classification of solid tumors: 3 cases of lung cancer, 1 case of breast cancer, 2 cases of gastric cancer, 3 cases of esophageal cancer, 1 case of rectal neuroendocrine tumor, 1 case of invasive hydatidiform mole and 1 case of sigmoid colon cancer. The median time interval for the diagnosis of two primary malignant tumors was 4 (from 2.6 to 5.6) months. Results of gene mutation detection: AML prognostic gene detection results: a total of 12 kinds of gene abnormalities including ASXL1, JAK2, TET2, U2AF1, ABCB1, FLT3-ITD, RUNX1, SETBPIT, TET2 (single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP), p53, IKZF1 and IDH2 were detected, and solid tumor related genes were detected: a total of 4 kinds of gene abnormalities including Her-2, EGFR, K-RAS and MSI were detected. Survival: among the 12 patients, 1 case was lost during follow-up, 2 cases were still in treatment, 3 cases ended treatment and the condition was stable, 6 cases died. The median overall survival of 12 patients was 12.5 (from 3.8 to 48.0) months. Conclusions: It is not clear whether there is a certain correlation between the simultaneous occurrence of AML and solid tumors. Patients with AML and synchronous solid tumors are not unusual. Both tumors should be treated aggressively at the same time.

Effect of propofol on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats through JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of propofol on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats through the Janus kinase/signal transducers and the activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 48 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups, including: the sham-operation group (n=12), the model group (n=12), the propofol group (n=12) and the inhibitor group (n=12). The rats in the sham-operation group only received thoracotomy, without the modeling of the ischemia/reperfusion injury. The model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury was established in the rats of the model group, and the rats were given normal saline for intervention. The rats in the propofol group were utilized to prepare the model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and were intervened with propofol. Meanwhile, the rats in the inhibitor group received intervention with AG490 after the establishment of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury model. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). Western blotting was utilized to measure the relative protein expressions of phosphorylated JAK2 (p-JAK2) and p-STAT3. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were determined via quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). Furthermore, cell apoptosis was examined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry results showed that compared with the sham-operation group, the positive expression of Bax remarkably increased (p<0.05), while Bcl-2 notably decreased (p<0.05) in the model group, propofol group, and inhibitor group. The propofol group and inhibitor group showed a significant lower positive expression of Bax (p<0.05) and evident higher positive expression of Bcl-2 (p<0.05) when compared with the model group. However, there were no significant differences in the positive expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 between the propofol group and inhibitor group (p>0.05). According to the results of Western blotting, the relative protein expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins were remarkably elevated in the model group, propofol group and inhibitor group in comparison with those in the sham-operation group (p<0.05). Propofol group and inhibitor group exhibited remarkably lower protein expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 compared with the model group (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the protein expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 between propofol group and inhibitor group (p>0.05). The results of qPCR manifested that the mRNA expression of Bax was notably higher (p<0.05), whereas Bcl-2 was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the model group, propofol group and inhibitor group than those of the sham-operation group. Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression of Bax was evidently declined (p<0.05), while Bcl-2 was significantly elevated (p<0.05) in the propofol group and inhibitor group. Meanwhile, there were no evident differences in the mRNA expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 between the propofol group and inhibitor group (p>0.05). Subsequent TUNEL assay indicated that the model group, propofol group, and inhibitor group showed remarkably higher apoptosis rate than the sham-operation group (p<0.05). Moreover, the apoptosis rate was remarkably reduced in the propofol group and inhibitor group in comparison with the model group (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the apoptosis rate between propofol group and inhibitor group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Propofol inhibits myocardial cell apoptosis after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by repressing the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

[High-throughput texture analysis in the distinction of single metastatic brain tumors from high-grade gliomas].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of high-throughput texture analysis in the distinction of single brain metastases (SBM) from high-grade gliomas (HGG) and validate the established model. Methods: A total of 86 patients who were histologically diagnosed with SBM or HGG were retrospectively collected, including 43 patients with SBM and 43 with HGG. All of patients were performed preoperative conventional head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. A total of 236 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLALR) images containing the information of tumors were selected from the MRI images and each image was considered as an object. The training set had 200 images, including 106 from SBM group and 94 from HGG group, whereas the validation set had 36 images, including 19 from SBM group and 17 from HGG. After images preprocessing, images segmentation, features extraction, and features selection, a radiomic diagnostic model was finally established using the training set. The diagnostic performance of the diagnostic model was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Hierarchical clustering analysis was used to evaluate the quality of the extracted feature data and the classification effect of the model. The model was further validated using the independent validation set. Results: A total of 629 features were extracted and quantified from each sample, and 41 features were selected to establish feature subsets and the diagnostic model. The classification decision function of the model is f(x)=sign■ and the kernel function of the model is K(x, x(i))=exp■. In the training set, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.845, 0.849, 0.840, 0.857 and 0.832, respectively. The area under the ROC curve reached to 0.939. Similar results were obtained in the validation set. Conclusion: The high-throughput texture analysis shows high accuracy in differentiating SBM from HGG.

[One patient with chronic refractory wound caused by bamboo sticks in lower leg].

One patient with chronic refractory wound in right lower leg was admitted to our department in June 2017, which experienced repeated ulceration for 4 years. On 4 days post admission, two bamboo sticks were taken out from the deep muscle of the right lower leg. The wound was repaired by perforator flap of posterior tibial artery in the right lower leg. The donor site was covered with split-thickness skin in the upper leg of the same side. On 7 days post operation, the flap and skin graft survived. During follow-up of 12 months, the flap had good appearance. This case suggests that the first thing for the treatment of chronic refractory wound is to find out the cause of wound.

The expression of TP53 pathway-related proteins in ovarian carcinoma transplanted subcutaneously in nude mice.

OBJECTIVE: Given the important functions of TP53 pathway in various biological processes, this study aimed to investigate the expression of TP53 pathway-related proteins in ovarian carcinoma transplanted subcutaneously in nude mice with and without the presence of p53 inhibitor and to explore possible roles of p53 in the development of ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty BALB/c-nu female nude mice were randomly divided into model group, control group and p53 inhibitor group (Pftα group). There were 10 rats in each group. The nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3, and the tumor growth was observed. Morphological changes of tumor tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The mRNA and protein levels of TP53 pathway related factors-p53, p21 and mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: p53 inhibitor can increase the growth rate of subcutaneously transplanted tumor in nude mice. p53 inhibitor could decrease the expression of p53 and p21 at both mRNA and protein levels and increase the expression of MDM2 at both mRNA and protein levels in ovarian carcinoma transplanted subcutaneously in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: TP53 pathway may play pivotal roles in the development of ovarian cancer and TP53 pathway may be a new target for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

[Echocardiographic diagnosis of infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical usefulness of echocardiography in the diagnosis of infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (ITAPVC) in neonates and infants. METHODS: Retrospective analysis on 8 patients with ITAPVC was performed using echocardiography between April 2006 and December 2016. There were 4 boys and 4 girls with a mean age of 79.8 days (ranging from 15 to 195 days). A combined scanning via parasternal, subcostal and apical acoustic windows had been employed to diagnose ITAPVC and to trace the course and site of the anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, and to confirm the direction of the inter-atrial shunt and enlargement of right atrium and right ventricle. RESULTS: Of the 8 patients who received echocardiography, ITAPVC was diagnosed in 7 patients. Mis-diagnosis by echocardiography was encountered in one patient. The diagnosis by echocardiography was compatible with the operative findings in 5 patients receiving surgery and with the results of multislice computed tomography in 6 patients. The diagnostic accuracy rate of ITAPVC was 87.5%. The indirect signs obtained from echocardiogram was coexistence of a small malformed, triangle-shaped left atrium and right to left shunting at atrial level with dilatation and tortuousness of portal vein or hepatic vein and abundant blood flow in liver. The direct signs was total pulmonary veins unconnected with left atrium, whose confluence joining into vertical vein drained right-inferiorly to portal vein or hepatic vein through diaphragm. Three parallel vessels including vertical vein, abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava arranged anteriorly, left-posteriorly and right-posteriorly with the opposite flow directions of inferior vena cava and the other two were found on sub-costal view. Sites of the drainage to the infra-diaphragm veins located portal vein in 8 patients. Stenosis of site of vertical vein connecting to portal vein or hepatic veins occurred in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography has significant value in the diagnosis of pediatric ITAPVC and is capable of providing important structural and hemodynamic information for preoperative assessment of surgery. With multiple windows and multiple sections, ITAPVC could be diagnosed accurately by echocardiography. However, it is necessary to differentiate ITAPVC with intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts or hepatic arteriovenous fistula.

The study on specific umbilical blood Dc vaccine for Beige nude mice loaded human colorectal carcinoma to induce anti-tumor immunity.

OBJECTIVE: This study is to observe the immunosuppression of CD137L transfected umbilical blood Dcs (Dendritic cell) vaccine to tumor development of SCID/ Beige nude mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of umbilical blood in the childbirth pregnant women were collected by density gradient centrifugation. Umbilical cord blood dendritic cells (Dcs) were transfected by specific CD137L via LipofectamineTM method and cells were harvested. Meanwhile, the peripheral blood of volunteers was collected to isolate Dcs, the Dcs were cultured for 5 days and hatched with SW-1116 cells antigen. The mature Dcs were harvested. The male SCID/Beige nude mice were subcutaneously injected with human SW-1116 cells in axillary to build colorectal carcinoma model as blank control (Blank). The naked peripheral blood Dc vaccine group (cPBMCs), the SW-1116 antigen-specific peripheral blood Dc vaccine group (pDcs) and the CD137L specific umbilical blood Dc vaccine group (tuDcs) were injected 24 h before tumor cells injection, respectively to recur the humanized immune reconstruction. The general life, living habits changes, tumor growing time and tumor size were observed. The nude mice were sacrificed 18 days after tumor formation. The tumor size, mice weight, in vitro tumor weight, liver weight and spleen weight of mice were recorded to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of the specific immune cells. RESULTS: The nude mice in pDcs group showed better general living condition, slower tumor growth, smaller tumor volume and no ulceration, necrosis, and death in nude mice. The tumor formation time in different groups was 4.71 ± 0.18 ds (blank), 7.71 ± 0.29 ds (cPBMCs), 7.86 ± 0.26 ds (pDcs) and 8.14 ± 0.69 ds (tuDcs) respectively. There were significant differences between blank and other three groups (F = 40.96, p < 0.01). Compared to mice in blank group, the tumor volume of cPBMCs group was significantly smaller (201.43 ± 69.84 mm³ vs. 436.04 ± 54.50 mm³, p < 0.01) and the tumor weight were significantly smaller (1.25 ± 0.12 g vs. 2.83 ± 0.24 g, p < 0.01). The tumor volume of tuDcs mice was significantly smaller than that of blank (92.11 ± 11.55 mm³ vs. 436.04 ± 54.50 mm³, p < 0.01) and cPBMCs mice (92.11 ± 11.55 mm³ vs. 201.43 ± 69.84 mm³, p < 0.01). Similarly, the tumor weight of tuDcs mice was significantly smaller than that of blank (0.66 ± 0.07 g vs. 2.83 ± 0.24 g, p < 0.01) and cPBMCs mice (0.66 ± 0.07 g vs. 1.25 ± 0.12 g, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in tumor volume (92.11 ± 11.55 mm³ vs. 85.61 ± 11.59 mm³, p = 0.69) and tumor weight (0.66 ± 0.07 g vs. 0.63 ± 0.09 g, p = 0.75) between tuDcs group and pDcs group. CONCLUSIONS: The specific CD137L transfected umbilical blood Dc vaccine had significant anti-tumor effect against human colon cancer in nude mice via increasing the number of immune effector cell in tumor microenvironment.

[Intratympanic dexamethasone vesus post-auricular subperiosteal injection of methylprednisolone treatment for sudden hearing loss].

Objective:To compare the efficacy and side effect between intratympanic dexamethasone and subperiosteal injection of methylprednisolone treatment for sudden hearing loss.Method:One hundred and eight unilateral sudden hearing loss patients were enrolled in this study, randomly divided into A group, which was accepted intratympanic dexamethasone (10 mg/ml) , and B group, which was accepted post-auricular subperiosteal injection of methylprednisolone (40 mg/ml) by every 3 days intotal 5 times. After 3 months follow-up, analysis of the differences of pure tone threshold, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), blood glucose between pretreatment and postreatment was made. Side effect such as perforation of tympanic membrane, infection of post-auricular skin was also observed.Result:①Both in A and B group, there was no statistical changes in total efficiency and pure tone threshold decrease (P> 0.05), whereas the pure tone threshold statistical change was observed in the low frequency sudden deafness between A and B group (P< 0.05). ②Both in A and B group, there was no statistical changes in THI (P> 0.05), whereas the THI statistical decrease was observed in the high frequency sudden deafness between A and B group (P< 0.05). ③There was no statistical change in THI both in A and B group (P> 0.05). ④Both in A and B group, there was no statistical changes in fasting plasma glucose between pretreatment and postreatment (P> 0.05). ⑤There was no patient who had gotten tympanitis or postauricular infection, although in A group, there were 2 patients had gotten perforation of tympanic membrane, but they all healed after the follow-up.Conclusion:Both topical injection of glucocorticoid can improve pure tone threshold and reduce the score of THI and DHI for sudden hearing loss patients. Intratympanic dexamethasone can reduce more score of THI for high frequency sudden deafness patients whereas subperiosteal injection of methylprednisolone can improve pure tone threshold more for low frequency sudden deafness patients. None of the two administrations elevate blood glucose, but intratympanic dexamethasone have the risk of perforation of tympanic membrane.

[The treatment of nose-eye correlated diseases with external nasal incision combined with nasal cavity approach surgery through endoscope].

Objective:To explore the indications and characteristics for the treatment of nose-eye correlated diseases with endoscopic surgery through external nasal incision combined with nasal cavity approach.Method:The clinical data of 13 patients whom hospitalized in our department and treated by endoscopic surgery through external nasal incision combined with nasal cavity approach since October 2011, were retrospectively analyzed and the characteristics of different pathological changes, clinical manifestations, surgical approach and follow-up results were summarized.Four cases of patients underwent endoscopic surgery through nasal cavity and lacrimal caruncle conjunctival incision, 4 cases received bone fracture reduction and DCR with endoscope through double path of nasal cavity and the original trauma wound, 2 cases with endoscopic bone tumor resection through nasal cavity and external nasal incision, the rest of the 3 cases with endonasal endoscopic and peri-orbit incision surgery.Result:Two cases of tumor patients showed no recurrence followed up for 1.5 to 2 years; the diplopia disappeared in 2 cases of orbital medial wall fracture; surgeries of 4 cases of orbital wall fracture with lacrimal duct obstruction patients, 3 cases succeeded, 1 case failed and change into dacryocystorhinotomy with external nasal incision, and epiphora of all patients vanished; all of the patients of sinus osteoma, foreign bodies and abscess were cured and symptoms disappeared; the symptoms of ectopic meningioma patient gradually died down with eyebrow scars left.Conclusion:The surgery with external nasal incision combined with nasal cavity approach through endoscope to treat noseeye correlated diseases can effectively deal with relevant pathological changes, with the advantages of clear operation field and less damage, but its exact indications and surgical methods still need to be further explored.

[Endonasal endoscopic surgery in treatment of medial recus muscle entrapment: the management and effectiveness].

Objective:To explore the indications , surgery method and effect for the treatment of medial rectus muscle entrapment with endoscopic surgery.Method: Eight medial rectus muscle entrapment patients were enrolled in this study,3 cases underwent obital medial wall fracture reposition and medial rectus muscle adhesion decomposition surgery through endonasal endoscope,and 5 cases received obital medial wall fracture reposition surgery with endoscope through nasal cavity and lacrimal caruncle conjunctival incision. Result:The diplopia disappeared and eyeball abduction function recovered in 6 cases of medial rectus muscle entrapment patients within 2 months,and 1 case with each surgery had mild diplopia and eyeball incomplete abduction left.Conclusion:Adopting endonasal endoscopic surgery or dual approaches surgery with endonasal endoscopic and transcaruncular surgery were ideal methods for medial rectus muscle entrapment diseases.Surgery with endoscope has the characteristics of clear field and less damage.The surgery should be performed whithin 3 weeks, and the entrapment of medial rectus muscle can be resoved effectively.

Thermal oxidation of V2O3 nanocrystals: a template method for the fabrication of monoclinic phase VO2 nanocrystals.

We report the fabrication of VO2(M) nanocrystals by direct thermal oxidation V2O3 nanocrystals. The controlling of the thermal oxidation temperature and vacuum is essential for obtaining pure VO2(M) nanocrystals. The VO2(M) nanocrystals have nearly a spherical morphology with sizes ranging from 50 to 80 nm and well dispersed. The phase transition temperature is about 65 degrees C with relatively narrow endothermic and exothermal peaks in DSC curve. Variable temperature resistance and infrared transmission measurements demonstrate a reversible phase transition of the VO2(M) nanocrystals. Our method is facile, economical and can be easily scaled-up for mass production.

Determination of InN/Diamond Heterojunction Band Offset by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

Diamond is not only a free standing highly transparent window but also a promising carrier confinement layer for InN based devices, yet little is known of the band offsets in InN/diamond system. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to measure the energy discontinuity in the valence band offset (VBO) of InN/diamond heterostructure. The value of VBO was determined to be 0.39 ± 0.08 eV and a type-I heterojunction with a conduction band offset (CBO) of 4.42 ± 0.08 eV was obtained. The accurate determination of VBO and CBO is important for the application of III-N alloys based electronic devices.

Meta-analysis of epidemiological studies of association of P53 codon 72 polymorphism with bladder cancer.

Although there have been many studies investigating a possible association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism and risk of bladder cancer, the results have been inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis of six epidemiological studies, which included 597 bladder cancer cases and 731 controls. Patients with bladder cancer had a significantly lower frequency of Pro/Arg [odds ratio (OR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64-0.99], when compared to controls. Stratifying for race, we found that among Caucasians, patients with bladder cancer had a significantly higher frequency of Arg/Arg (OR = 1.64, 95%CI = 1.18-2.28) and a lower frequency of Pro/Arg (OR = 0.62, 95%CI = 0.44-0.86), compared to controls. Stratifying various studies by the stage of bladder cancer, we found that invasive bladder cancers had a significantly lower frequency of Arg/Arg (OR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.36-0.93) and a higher frequency of Pro/Arg (OR = 0.62, 95%CI = 0.44-0.86) than did non-invasive bladder cancers. No significant association was found between this genotype and human papilloma virus. Based on our meta-analysis, we suggest that p53 codon 72 polymorphism is associated with bladder cancer and that genotypic distribution of this polymorphism varies with the stage of bladder cancer.

Production and synthetic dyes decolourization capacity of a recombinant laccase from Pichia pastoris.

AIMS: To produce and purify a recombinant laccase from Pichia pastoris and to test its ability in decolourization of synthetic dyes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cDNA encoding for a laccase was isolated from Pycnoporus sanguineus and was expressed in P. pastoris strain SMD1168H under the control of the alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter. The laccase native signal peptide efficiently directed the secretion of the recombinant laccase in an active form. Factors influencing laccase expression, such as cultivation temperature, pH, copper concentration and methanol concentration, were investigated. The recombinant enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity, and was estimated to have a molecular mass of about 62.8 kDa. The purified enzyme showed a similar behaviour to the native laccase produced by P. sanguineus. Four different synthetic dyes including azo, anthraquinone, triphenylmethane and indigo dyes could be efficiently decolourized by the purified recombinant laccase without the addition of redox mediators. CONCLUSIONS: Heterologous production of P. sanguineus laccase in P. pastoris was successfully achieved. The purified recombinant laccase could efficiently decolourize synthetic dyes in the absence of mediators. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first report on the synthetic dye decolourization by the recombinant P. sanguineus laccase. The decolourization capacity of this recombinant enzyme suggested that it could be a useful biocatalyst for the treatment of dye-containing effluents.

Low-dose ropivacaine-sufentanil spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery: a randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that intrathecal opioids have a synergic effect with spinal local anaesthetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether low-dose ropivacaine in combination with sufentanil could produce effective spinal anaesthesia with less maternal hypotension and vomiting than ropivacaine alone. METHODS: 80 ASA I and II parturients undergoing elective caesarean delivery under combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia were randomly allocated to two groups. Group R15 received intrathecal hyperbaric ropivacaine 15 mg and group SR10 hyperbaric ropivacaine 10 mg with sufentanil 5 micrograms. Characteristics, efficacy and side effects of spinal anaesthesia in each group were measured. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the quality of intraoperative analgesia and muscle relaxation between groups. The incidence of hypotension was significantly higher (55% vs. 20%, P < 0.005) and the need for ephedrine less in group R15 than in group SR10. In group SR10, the onset of motor block was delayed (2.9 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.6 +/- 2.5 min, P < 0.005), the duration was shorter (65.9 +/- 15.1 vs. 125.4 +/- 26.4 min, P < 0.005). The duration of effective analgesia was longer (260 +/- 32.5 vs. 143 +/- 22.1 min, P < 0.005), the incidence of shivering (20% vs. 60%, P < 0.005) and vomiting (5% vs. 30%, P < 0.005) were lower in group SR10. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of hyperbaric ropivacaine 10 mg with sufentanil 5 lg produced effective spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery with significantly less hypotension, vomiting and shivering, shorter duration of motor blockade and longer lasting analgesia than hyperbaric ropivacaine 15 mg.

Operating characteristics of solid-state fermentation bioreactor with air pressure pulsation.

The development of solid state fermentation (SSF) technology is very important to the production of cellulase and ultimately to the utilization of natural cellulose. However, inadequate dissipation of heat generated by biological activities has prevented solid state fermentation from large-scale applications. The paper deals with the development of a novel SSF bioreactor with air pressure pulsation. By developing a measurement and control system under Virtual Instrument (VI) concept, performance of SSF bioreactor with pressure pulsation was studied by cultivating Trichoderma koningii in solid medium made of wheat bran and corncob. The cooling effects of pressure pulsation on solid porous beds are discussed. Experimental results show that pressure pulsation enhances medium moisture evaporation, and hence, heat dissipation. Furthermore, through changing the pressure pulsation directions, it is able to mitigate the temperature gradients in the bioreactor. To sum up, pressure pulsation can provide the microbes with a growing environment at optimal temperature and medium water content.

Genetic control of rice blast resistance in the durably resistant cultivar Gumei 2 against multiple isolates.

To further our understanding of the genetic control of blast resistance in rice cultivar Gumei 2 and, consequently, to facilitate the utilization of this durably blast-resistant cultivar, we studied 304 recombinant inbred lines of indica rice cross Zhong 156/Gumei 2 and a linkage map comprising 181 markers. An analysis of segregation for resistance against five isolates of rice blast suggested that one gene cluster and three additional major genes that are independently inherited are responsible for the complete resistance of Gumei 2. The gene cluster was located to chromosome 6 and includes two genes mapped previously, Pi25(t), against Chinese rice blast isolate 92-183 (race ZC15) and Pi26(t) against Philippine rice blast isolate Ca89 (lineage 4), and a gene for resistance against Philippine rice blast isolate 92330-5 (lineage 17). Of the two genes conferring resistance against the Philippine isolates V86013 (lineage 15) and C923-39 (lineage 46), we identified one as Pi26(t) and mapped the other onto the distal end of chromosome 2 where Pib is located. We used three components of partial blast resistance, percentage diseased leaf area (DLA), lesion number and lesion size, all measured in the greenhouse, to measure the degree of susceptibility to isolates Ca89 and C923-39 and subsequently identified nine and eight quantitative trait loci (QTLs), respectively. Epistasis was determined to play an important role in partial resistance against Ca89. Using DLA measured on lines susceptible in a blast nursery, we detected six QTLs. While different QTLs were detected for partial resistance to Ca89 and C923-39, respectively, most were involved in the partial resistance in the field. Our results suggest that the blast resistance in Gumei 2 is controlled by multiple major genes and minor genes with epistatic effects.

Characterization of Fusarium oxysporum Isolates Obtained from Cucumber in China by Pathogenicity, VCG, and RAPD.

Thirty-four isolates of Fusarium oxysporum, obtained in China from cucumber plants showing either Fusarium wilt (F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum) or root and stem rot (F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum) symptoms, were characterized by pathogenicity, vegetative compatibility, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Of these, 23 isolates were identified by pathogenicity as F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, and one as F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum, while 10 isolates were avirulent on cucumber, melon, sponge gourd, and pumpkin. The Chinese isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum were assigned to RAPD groups III and XXI and to vegetative compatibility group (VCG) 0183, four new VCGs, 0184 to 0187, and a single-member VCG included in the artificial VCG 018-. The Chinese isolate of F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum was assigned to RAPD group I and bridging VCG 0260/0261. The occurrence of F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-cucumerinum on cucumber is reported for the first time in China.