Analysis of the efficacy and factors influencing survival of adjuvant radiotherapy for stage II-III biliary tract carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To determine the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy for stage II-III biliary tract carcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 37 patients who underwent radical resection of biliary tract carcinomas at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University between 2016 and 2020. We analyzed survival differences between patients who did (n = 17) and did not (n = 20) receive postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy by using Kaplan-Meier analysis. The log-rank test and Cox univariate analysis were used. The Cox proportional risk regression model was used for the multifactorial analysis of factors influencing prognosis. RESULTS: The median survival time (28.9 vs. 14.5 months) and the 1-year (82.40% vs. 55.0%) and 2-year survival rates (58.8% vs. 25.0%) were significantly higher among patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy than among those who did not (χ2 = 6.381, p = 0.012). Multifactorial analysis showed that pathological tumor type (p = 0.004), disease stage (p = 0.021), and adjuvant radiotherapy (p = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors in biliary tract carcinoma. Subgroup analyses showed that compared to no radiotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy significantly improved median survival time in patients with stage III disease (21.6 vs. 12.7 months; p = 0.017), positive margins (28.9 vs. 10.5 months; p = 0.012), and T3 or T4 tumors (26.8 vs. 16.8 months; p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant radiotherapy significantly improved the survival of patients with biliary tract carcinoma, and is recommended especially for patients with stage III disease, positive surgical margins, or ≥ T3.

Luminescence Enhancement and Temperature Sensing Properties of Hybrid Bismuth Halides Achieved via Tuning Organic Cations.

Bismuth-halide-based inorganic-organic hybrid materials (Bi-IOHMs) are desirable in luminescence-related applications due to their advantages such as low toxicity and chemical stability. Herein, two Bi-IOHMs of [Bpy][BiCl4(Phen)] (1, Bpy = N-butylpyridinium, Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) and [PP14][BiCl4(Phen)]·0.25H2O (2, PP14 = N-butyl-N-methylpiperidinium), containing different ionic liquid cations and same anionic units, have been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that compounds 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic space group of P21/c and P21, respectively. They both possess zero-dimensional ionic structures and exhibit phosphorescence at room temperature upon excitation of UV light (375 nm for 1, 390 nm for 2), with microsecond lifetime (24.13 µs for 1 and 95.37 µs for 2). Hirshfeld surface analysis has been utilized to visually exhibit the different packing motifs and intermolecular interactions in 1 and 2. The variation in ionic liquids makes compound 2 have a more rigid supramolecular structure than 1, resulting in a significant enhancement in photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), that is, 0.68% for 1 and 33.24% for 2. In addition, the ratio of the emission intensities for compounds 1 and 2 shows a correlation with temperature. This work provides new insight into luminescence enhancement and temperature sensing applications involving Bi-IOHMs.

Efficient Co-Adsorption and Highly Selective Separation of Cs+ and Sr2+ with a K+ -Activated Niobium Germanate by the pH Control.

137 Cs and 90 Sr are hazardous to ecological environment and human health due to their strong radioactivity, long half-life, and high mobility. However, effective adsorption and separation of Cs+ and Sr2+ from acidic radioactive wastewater is challenging due to stability issues of material and the strong competition of protons. Herein, a K+ -activated niobium germanate (K-NGH-1) presents efficient Cs+ /Sr2+ coadsorption and highly selective Cs+ /Sr2+ separation, respectively, under different acidity conditions. In neutral solution, K-NGH-1 exhibits ultrafast adsorption kinetics and high adsorption capacity for both Cs+ and Sr2+ (qm Cs  = 182.91 mg g-1 ; qm Sr  = 41.62 mg g-1 ). In 1 M HNO3 solution, K-NGH-1 still possesses qm Cs of 91.40 mg g-1 for Cs+ but almost no adsorption for Sr2+ . Moreover, K-NGH-1 can effectively separate Cs+ from 1 M HNO3 solutions with excess competing Sr2+ and Mn + (Mn +  = Na+ , Ca2+ , Mg2+ ) ions. Thus, efficient separation of Cs+ and Sr2+ is realized under acidic conditions. Besides, K-NGH-1 shows excellent acid and radiation resistance and recyclability. All the merits above endow K-NGH-1 with the first example of niobium germanates for radionuclides remediation. This work highlights the facile pH control approach towards bifunctional ion exchangers for efficient Cs+ /Sr2+ coadsorption and selective separation.

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of loop-mediated isothermal amplification assays targeting three different Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the ability to diagnose tuberculosis directly from clinical samples rapidly. METHODS: LAMP assays were performed using previously reported primer sets to amplify three specific Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) gene targets, hspX, gyrB, and IS6110. Quantitated DNA from strain H37Rv were detected for assessment of analytical sensitivity; specificity was evaluated by testing eight species of non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium (NTM) and four unrelated bacterial species. Sputum samples from 68 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and a control group consisting of 45 lung cancer patients and 20 healthy controls were analyzed using LAMP assays, and then compared with smear, culture and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) methods. RESULTS: All three LAMP assays showed 100% specificity for MTB when tested against NTM and other bacterial species. The gyrB-LAMP assay was able to detect 60 cfu/ml of H37Rv suspension within 1 h, similar to qRT-PCR, but 10 times more sensitive than the hspX-LAMP and IS6110-LAMP assays. In clinical samples, when qRT-PCR was used as the reference method, the sensitivity of the three LAMP assays targeting hspX, gyrB, and IS6110 genes was 94.6, 98.2 and 92.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LAMP is more sensitive than smear microscopy and close to qRT-PCR in sensitivity for the detection of MTB. LAMP has comparable specificity to qRT-PCR but was more rapid and convenient.

Association of mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphisms with the development of pulmonary tuberculosis in China.

BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is an important protein in the lectin pathway of the immune system. This study explores the association between MBL polymorphism and the susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). The association between the MBL2 polymorphisms and serum MBL levels is also analyzed in the present study. METHODS: A total of 112 inpatients with pulmonary TB and 120 healthy controls were recruited to participate in this case-control study. Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) technology was used to genotype MBL gene (variants in -221Y/X and exon l codons 54 A/B). Serum MBL level was assayed by human MBL ELISA kit. Demographic data and exposure information were also obtained from the study participants. RESULTS: Genotypes YA/YA of MBL gene were more prevalent in the healthy control group than in the TB patient (P =0.038, OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.34-0.97) and genotypes XA/XA were less frequent in the healthy control group (P =0.007, OR, 6.42; 95% CI, 1.39-29.67). The resistant diplotype was more frequently found in the younger patients and retreatment cases with TB in MBL gene sites -221Y/X or codon 54 A/B. X/Y and A/B polymorphisms were strong determinants of serum MBL levels. CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms of MBL gene may be associated with susceptibility to TB and the recurrence of TB. The YA/YA may be a protected diplotype against TB.

Application of hyperbranched rolling circle amplification for direct detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical sputum specimens.

BACKGROUND: Global tuberculosis (TB) control is encumbered by the lack of a rapid and simple detection method for diagnosis, especially in low-resource areas. An isothermal amplification method, hyperbranched rolling circle amplification (HRCA), was optimized to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in clinical sputum specimens. METHODS: A clinical validation study was performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of HRCA. In order to analyze the detection limit of HRCA under optimal conditions, the method was initially used to detect purified H37Rv strain DNA and culture suspensions. Next, three strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) and eight strains of non-tuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) were analyzed in order to evaluate specificity. Sputum specimens from 136 patients with diagnosed pulmonary TB, 38 lung cancer patients, and 34 healthy donors were tested by HRCA to validate the clinical application of HRCA for the rapid detection of Mtb. RESULTS: The detection limit of HRCA for purified H37Rv DNA and culture suspensions was 740 aM and 200cfu/ml, respectively. The results of all MTC strains were positive in contrast to the NTM specimens which were all negative. The detection sensitivity for the 136 sputum specimens from TB patients was 77.2% (105/136), which was slightly lower than that of quantitative real-time PCR(79.4%, 108/136) and culture (80.9%,110/136). The sensitivity of all three methods was statistically higher than smear microscopy (44.9%, 61/136). The overall specificity of HRCA was 98.6% (71/72) which was similar to that of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and smear/culture methods (100%, 72/72). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the HRCA assay for detection of Mtb within clinical sputum specimens was demonstrated to be highly sensitive and specific. Moreover, the performance of HRCA is simple and cost-effective compared with qRT-PCR and is less time consuming than culture. Therefore, HRCA is a promising TB diagnostic tool that can be used routinely in low-resource clinical settings.

[Effects of nitrification inhibitors DCD and DMPP on cinnamon soil' s gross nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates].

By using 15N pool dilution technique in combining with in situ soil cultivation, this paper studied the effects of nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on the gross nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification rates in a saline-alkali cinnamon soil in North China. The experiment was carried out in a maize-wheat rotation field in Yuncheng City of Shanxi Province, and three treatments were installed, i.e., urea, urea + DCD, and urea + DMPP. In the first two weeks after fertilization, DCD and DMPP made the gross N mineralization rate and gross N nitrification rate decreased by 25.5% and 7.3%, and by 60.3% and 59.1%, respectively, with a significant difference in the gross N mineralization rate but less difference in the gross N nitrification rate between the effects of DCD and DMPP. However, significant difference was observed in the gross N nitrification rate between the effects of DCD and DMPP after seven weeks of fertilization. The gross N mineralization and nitrification rates and the NH4+ and NO3-consumption rates after two weeks of fertilization were 7.2-10.0, 5.5-21.5, 9.1-12.2, and 5.1-8.4 times of those before fertilization, respectively, possibly due to the stimulating effect of N fertilization. DCD and DMPP made the fertilizer urea N more maintained in NH(4+)-N form and less accumulated in NO(3-)-N form in soil. The decreases of the gross N mineralization and nitrifications rate in the test soil due to the effects of the inhibitors would benefit the reduction of N2O emission from the soil.

Bis[N'-(9H-fluoren-9-yl-idene)benzohydrazidato-κN',O]copper(II).

In the title complex, [Cu(C(20)H(13)N(2)O)(2)], the Cu(II) ion is tetra-coordinated by an N(2)O(2) set of two ligands in a distorted recta-ngular-planar geometry. The dihedral angle between the two coordinated five-membered metalla rings is 37.5 (3)°. The mol-ecular configuration is stabilized by two C-H⋯O and two C-H⋯N intra-molecular hydrogen bonds. The crystal packing is dominated by van der Waals inter-actions. Three atoms of the phenyl ring of the benzohydrazidate moiety are disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.625 (18):0.375 (18) ratio.

CREB is a positive transcriptional regulator of gamma interferon in latent but not active tuberculosis infections.

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) is a crucial cytokine for protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but the mechanism of IFN-gamma transcription is still unclear. The cyclic AMP (cAMP) responsive element binding (CREB) proteins belong to the bZip (basic leucine zipper) family of transcription factors and are essential for T-cell function and cytokine production. This study focused on the capacity of CREB proteins to regulate IFN-gamma transcription in CD3(+) T cells obtained from tuberculosis (TB) patients and persons with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in China. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and Western blotting were used to demonstrate the regulatory role of CREB. EMSA (in vitro) and ChIP (in vivo) experiments suggested CREB could bind to the IFN-gamma proximal promoter in persons with LTBI, whereas no binding was detected in TB patients. Western blotting confirmed the expression of CREB proteins, especially serine-133-phosphorylated CREB, was markedly reduced in TB patients compared with persons with LTBI. These results suggested that CREB could promote the transcription and production of IFN-gamma through binding with the IFN-gamma proximal promoter, but the regulatory role of CREB was decreased in tuberculosis patients owing to diminished expression of CREB proteins, which in turn reduced the IFN-gamma production.

µ(4)-Sulfido-bis-{(µ-2-furyl-methane-thiol-ato)bis-[tricarbonyl-iron](Fe-Fe)}.

The title compound, [Fe(4)(C(5)H(5)OS)(2)S(CO)(12)], was prepared by the direct reaction of Fe(3)(CO)(12) and 2-furyl-methane-thiol in tetra-hydro-furan. Desulfurization took place readily to form an Fe(4)S(3) cluster. The mol-ecule consists of two similar [(µ-2-C(4)H(3)O-CH(2)S)Fe(2)(CO)(6)] moieties joined to a spiro-type four-coordinate µ(4)-S atom such that this bridging sulfur is tetra-hedrally coordinated to the four Fe atoms. In each diiron subcluster core, the 2-furyl-methane-thiol-ate ligand bridges the two Fe atoms.

[Role of siRNA mediated matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene silencing in the inhibition of invasion and growth of laryngeal cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibitory effect of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gene silencing in vitro and in vivo on the invasion and growth of laryngeal cancer cells. METHODS: siRNA recombinant lentivirus targeting MMP-2 gene was transfected into Hep-2 cells, and MMP-2 protein expression was analyzed consequently by using western-blot. Invasive properties of transfectants were evaluated by Boyden assay. In addition, the lentivirus was intratumorally injected in a model of the grafted nude mouse and the morphological changes of transfectants were examined by transmission electron microscope. Finally, cell proliferation in xenografts was measured by immunolabeling of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). RESULTS: Over 90% of target cancer cells were found to be transfected by MMP-2-RNAi-Lentivirus. Western-blot analysis revealed that none of transfectants expressed MMP-2 protein whereas most untreated cancer cells exhibited positive protein expression. Significant differences were found between the treated and untreated groups regarding the number of transfectants penetrating through an artificial basement in a Boyden chamber (12 +/- 4 vs 35 +/- 6, x +/- s, t = 14.492, P < 0.01), and the average value of weight [(1.186 +/- 0.225) g vs [(2.127 +/- 0.344) g] and volume [(0.974 +/- 0.216) cm3 vs (1.618 +/- 0.272) cm3] of the grafted tumors (t was 7.094 and 5.684, P < 0.01). The overall tumor inhibitive rate was about 44.2%. Transmission electron microscope showed an obviously decreased invasive feature of transfectants. Finally, the percentages of transfectants immunolabeled for PCNA were significantly lower in the treated group (49.588 +/- 6.995) than those (71.434 +/- 7. 043) in control one (t = 9. 573, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The invasion, growth and proliferation of laryngeal cancer can be inhibited by siRNA mediated MMP-2 gene silencing. These data strongly suggest that MMP-2 gene silencing by siRNA technology could be a promising approach to cancer therapy.

[The experimental investigation of the invasion and growth of laryngeal cancer by matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene silence together].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitive role of the invasion and growth of laryngeal cancer by lentivirus mediated Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-9) gene silence. METHODS: RNA interference (RNAi) technic was used. Recombinant lentivirus of small interference RNA targeting MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene were transduced into Hep-2 cells, and Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to test MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in Hep-2 cells. The effect of the invasive capability in Hep-2 cells after MMP-2-RNAi-lentivirus and MMP-9-RNAi-lentivirus transduction was observed by Boyden assay. In vivo experiment, the nude mouse model of laryngeal squamous carcinoma was established and MMP-2-RNAi-lentivirus and MMP-9-RNAi-lentivirus were intratumoral injected. Finally, the tumor inhibitive effect was observed and the Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in xenografts were examined to evaluate proliferation change of the Hep-2 cells. RESULTS: The recombinant lentivirus can transduce the target cells efficiently. RT-PCR showed the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were negative. Boyden assay showed there were (14 +/- 4) Hep-2 cells permeate artificial basement which was less than that (32 +/- 6) in the control group. In vivo, the average tumor weight and volume in treated group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01) and the tumor inhibitive rate was 46.59%. Immunohistochemistry showed PCNA index in treated group was obviously lower than that in control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The invasion, growth and proliferation of laryngeal cancer can be inhibited by lentivirus mediated MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene silence together.

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of rare earth picrate complexes with a new biphenylamide.

The new ligand N-benzyl-2-{2'-[(benzyl-ethyl-carbamoyl)-methoxy]-biphenyl-2-yloxy}-N-ethyl-acetamide (L) and its complexes of rare earth picrates were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis spectra and conductivity measurements. The fluorescence properties of the europium complex in solid state and in CHCl(3), ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile and DMF were investigated. Under the excitation, the europium complex exhibited characteristic emissions of europium. The lowest triplet state energy level of the ligand indicates that the triplet state energy level of the ligand matches better to the resonance level of Eu(III) than Tb(III) ion.

[The identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates by DNA typing technique].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the application of IS6110-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), Spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU) in epidemiological studies of tuberculosis and to discuss the characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in different regions in China. METHODS: Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, with a total number of 158 isolates, were subjected to IS6110-RFLP, Spoligotyping and MIRU. RESULTS: The numbers of patterns produced by IS6110-RFLP, Spoligotyping, and MIRU typing were 118, 20 and 105 respectively. The discriminatory power of IS6110-RFLP was higher than that of Spoligotyping. However, when the copies of IS6110 were lower than 10, the discriminatory power of Spoligotyping improved obviously. The discriminatory power of MIRU typing was close to that of IS6110-RFLP for typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In MIRU loci, there were four loci (loci 4, 10, 26, 40) with higher diversity. Significant differences among the Mycobacterium tuberculosis between Guangdong and other regions in clustered rate and the proportion of Beijing genotype (P < 0.05) were found. The clustered rates and the proportion of Beijing genotype in Guangdong were lower than that in other regions. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that either IS6110-RFLP, Spoligotyping or MIRU technique was useful for epidemiological studies on tuberculosis in China and the strains in different regions had different characterishes in China.

Intrauterine infections and birth defects.

Intrauterine infection is an important cause of some birth defects worldwide. The most common pathogens include rubella virus, cytomegaloviurs, ureaplasma urealyticum, toxoplasma, etc. General information about these pathogens in epidemiology, consequence of birth defects, and the possible mechanisms in the progress of birth defects, and the interventions to prevent or treat these pathogens' infections are described. The infections caused by rubella virus, cytomegaloviurs, ureaplasma urealyticum, toxoplasma, etc. are common, yet they are proved to be fatal during the pregnant period, especially during the first trimester. These infections may cause sterility, abortion, stillbirth, low birth weight, and affect multiple organs that may induce loss of hearing and vision, even fetal deformity and the long-term effects. These pathogens' infections may influence the microenvironment of placenta, including levels of enzymes and cytokines, and affect chondriosome that may induce the progress of birth defect. Early diagnosis of infections during pregnancy should be strengthened. There are still many things to be settled, such as the molecular mechanisms of birth defects, the effective vaccines to certain pathogens. Birth defect researches in terms of etiology and the development of applicable and sensitive pathogen detection technology and methods are imperative.