[Short-term efficacy and safety of cardiac contractility modulation in patients with heart failure].

Objective: To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) in patients with heart failure. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with heart failure who underwent CCM placement at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from February to June 2022. With a follow-up of 3 months, CCM sensation, impedance, percent output, and work time were monitored, and patients were compared with pre-and 3-month postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) values, and 6-minute walk test distance and New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function classification, and the occurrence of complications was recorded. Results: CCM was successfully implanted in all 9 patients. Seven(7/9) of them were male, aged (56±14) years, 3 patients had ischaemic cardiomyopathy and 6 patients had dilated cardiomyopathy. At 3-month postoperative follow-up, threshold was stable, sense was significantly lower at follow-up than before (right ventricle: (16.3±7.0) mV vs. (8.2±1.1) mV, P<0.05; local sense: (15.7±4.9) mV vs. (6.7±2.5) mV, P<0.05), and impedance was significantly lower at follow-up than before (right ventricle (846±179) Ω vs. (470±65) Ω, P<0.05, local sense: (832±246) Ω vs. (464±63) Ω, P<0.05). The CCM output percentage was (86.9±10.7) %, the output amplitude was (6.7±0.4) V, and the daily operating time was (8.6±1.0) h. LVEF was elevated compared to preoperative ((29.4±5.2) % vs. (38.3±4.3) %, P<0.05), the 6-minute walk test was significantly longer than before ((96.8±66.7)m vs. (289.3±121.7)m, P<0.05). No significant increase in the number of NYHA Class Ⅲ-Ⅳ patients was seen (7/9 vs. 2/9, P>0.05). The patient was not re-hospitalised for worsening heart failure symptoms, had no malignant arrhythmic events and experienced significant relief of symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath. No postoperative complications related to pocket hematoma, pocket infection and rupture, electrode detachment, valve function impairment, pericardial effusion, or cardiac perforation were found. Conclusions: CCM has better short-term safety and efficacy in patients with heart failure.

[Effects of adjuvant trastuzumab on long-term survival of T1N0M0 stage human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer: a real-world study].

Objective: To investigate the prognosis impact of adjuvant trastuzumab treatment on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) positive early breast cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, HER-2-positive T1N0M0 stage breast cancer patients who underwent surgery in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2010 to December 2019 were divided into treatment group and control group according to whether they were treated with trastuzumab or not. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the confounding bias caused by differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the risk factors affecting disease-free survival (DFS). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the 3- and 5-year DFS and overall survival (OS) rates of the two groups before and after PSM. Results: There were 291 patients with HER-2 positive T1N0M0 stage breast cancer, including 21 cases in T1a (7.2%), 61 cases in T1b (21.0%), and 209 cases in T1c (71.8%). Before PSM, there were 132 cases in the treatment group and 159 cases in the control group, the 5-year DFS rate was 88.5%, and the 5-year OS rate was 91.5%. After PSM, there were 103 cases in the treatment group and 103 cases in the control group, the 5-year DFS rate was 86.0%, and the 5-year OS rate was 88.5%. Before PSM, there were significant differences in tumor size, histological grade, vascular invasion, Ki-67 index, postoperative chemotherapy or not and radiotherapy between the treatment group and the control group (P<0.05). After PSM, there were no significant difference in clinicopathological features between the treatment group and the control group (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that histological grade (HR=2.927, 95 CI: 1.476, 5.805; P=0.002), vascular invasion (HR=3.410, 95 CI: 1.170, 9.940; P=0.025), menstrual status (HR=3.692, 95 CI: 1.021, 13.344, P=0.046), and chemotherapy (HR=0.238, 95 CI: 0.079, 0.720; P=0.011) were independent factors affecting DFS. After PSM, the 5-year DFS rate of the treatment group was 89.2%, while that of the control group was 83.5%(P=0.237). The 5-year OS rate of the treatment group was 96.1%, while that of the control group was 84.7%(P=0.036). Conclusion: Postoperative targeted therapy with trastuzumab can reduce the risk of recurrence and metastasis in patients with HER-2-positive T1N0M0 stage breast cancer.

Low temperature H2S removal with 3-D structural mesoporous molecular sieves supported ZnO from gas stream.

A series of 3-dimensional (3-D) structural mesoporous silica materials, SBA-16, MCM-48 and KIT-6, was synthesized and supported with different ZnO loadings (10, 20, 30, and 40 wt%) by the incipient wetness method to evaluate the performances on H2S removal at room temperature. These materials were characterized by N2 adsorption, XRD, and TEM to investigate their textural properties. All the ZnO-loaded adsorbents exhibited the H2S removal capacity of bellow 0.1 ppmv. With the best ZnO loading percentage of 30 wt% on MCM-48 and KIT-6, 20 wt% on SBA-16 according to the results of breakthrough test, further increasing ZnO loading caused the decrease of the adsorption capacity due to the agglomeration of ZnO. Besides, the H2S adsorption capacities of the supports materials varied in the order of KIT-6>MCM-48>SBA-16, which was influenced primarily by their pore volume and pore size. With the largest pores in these 3-D arrangement materials, KIT-6 showed the best performance of supported material for ZnO, due to its retained superior physical properties as well as large pore diameter to allow faster gas-solid interaction and huge pore volume to disperse ZnO on the surface of it.

The effect of thickness on the texture and magnetic properties of single-layered FePt films by rapid thermal annealing.

The single-layered FePt films with thickness in the range of 5 to 50 nm are deposited directly on Si(100) substrate without underlayer, then post annealed at 700 degrees C by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) technique. As the film thickness of FePt is over 20 nm, the L1(0) FePt(111) preferred orientation is presented and tended to in-plane magnetic anisotropy. However, the L1(0) FePt(001) texture is obtained and exhibited perpendicular magnetic anisotropy as the film thickness is decreased to 10 nm. Its perpendicular coercivity (Hc(perpendicular)), saturation magnetization (Ms) and perpendicular squareness (S(perpendicular)) are 14.8 kOe, 795 emu/cm3 and 0.79, respectively. On the other hand, both the grain size and domain size of FePt film decrease with decreasing the film thickness of FePt. The grain size for 10-nm FePt film is as small as 9.7 nm with domain size of 123 nm, which reveal its significant potential as perpendicular magnetic recording media for ultra high-density recording.

Anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) for treating heavy oil produced water with high concentrations of salt and poor nutrient.

The start-up and operational performance (total 212 days, including the start-up of 164 days) of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), which is used to treat heavy oil produced water, was studied without the temperature control. Inoculums were mixtures of acclimated sediment taken from a heavy oil produced water treatment plant and digested sludge from a sewage wastewater treatment plant. The rod-shaped and spherical granules with colors of henna and black, in which Clostridia, Methanosarcina and Methanothrx sp. were main populations, were observed in each compartment of ABR after the reactor's successful start-up (day 164). Rhodopseudomonas with the activity of lipase and halotolerant, as a kind of photosynthetic bacteria, was also observed in the first five compartments. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the spherical granule sludge was compact and contained a large amount of organics, amorphous materials, and crystals of Fe(2)O(3), FeS, and CaCO(3), whereas the rod-shaped granule sludge was incompact without crystals of Fe(2)O(3), FeS, and CaCO(3). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the skeleton construction of this rod-shaped granule was filamentous bacteria and amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The ABR, after successful start up, can achieve high average chemical oxygen demand (COD) and oil removals of 65% and 88% for heavy oil produced water with poor nutrient (COD:TN:TP, 1200:15:1) and high salt concentration (1.15-1.46%), respectively. Furthermore, ABR kept stable during 2.5 times the COD level shock load (0.50 kg COD m-3 d-1) for four days.

Effect of amended soil and hydraulic load on enhanced biological nitrogen removal in lab-scale SWIS.

To characterize the effect of amended soil on nitrogen removal in subsurface wastewater infiltration system (SWIS), culture, grass carbon, and zeolite were mixed to produce microbial inoculums, and then the optimal microbial inoculums, nutrient substance, cinder, and original soil were mixed to produce the soils through bioaugmentation. Results indicate that the microbial inoculums (culture+50% grass carbon+50% zeolite) and the amended soil (12.5% microbial inoculums+25% nutrient substrate+12.5% cinder+50% original soil) have the optimal biogenic stimulating properties, and the adsorption capacity of the amended soil are 1.216 mg-Pg(-1) and 0.495 mg-Ng(-1). The laboratory soil column experiment indicates that the efficient mode of nitrogen removal in lab-scale SWIS is adsorption-nitrification-denitrification and the nitrification/denitrification can be enhanced by the application of the amended soil. On average, the SWIS filled with amended soil converts 85% of ammonia nitrogen (NH(4)(+)-N) to NO(x)(-)-N and removes 49.8-60.6% of total nitrogen (TN), while the system filled with original soil removes 80% of NH(4)(+)-N and 31.3-43.2% of TN at 4-8 cm day(-1). Two systems are overloads at 10 cm day(-1). It is concluded that the microbial activities and nitrogen removal efficiencies are improved in SWIS after bioaugmentation.

Genotoxicity assessment of soils from wastewater irrigation areas and bioremediation sites using the Vicia faba root tip micronucleus assay.

Genotoxicity potential of soils taken from wastewater irrigation areas and bioremediation sites was assessed using the Vicia faba root tip micronucleus assay. Twenty five soils were tested, of which 8 were uncontaminated soils and taken as the control to examine the influence of soil properties; 6 soils were obtained from paddy rice fields with a history of long-term wastewater irrigation; 6 soils were obtained from bioremediation sites to examine effects of bioremediation; and 5 PAH-contaminated soils were used to examine methodological effects between direct soil exposure and exposure to aqueous soil extracts on micronuclei (MN) frequency ( per thousand) in the V. faba root tips. Results indicate that soil properties had no significant influences on MN frequencies (p > 0.05) when soil pH varied between 3.4 to 7.6 and organic carbon between 0.4% and 18.6%. The MN frequency measured in these control soils ranged from 1.6 per thousand to 5.8 per thousand. MN frequencies in soils from wastewater irrigation areas showed 2- to 48-fold increase as compared with the control. Soils from bioremediation sites showed a mixed picture: MN frequencies in some soils decreased after bioremediation, possibly due to detoxification; whereas in other cases remediated soils induced higher MN frequencies, suggesting that genotoxic substances might be produced during bioremediation. Exposure to aqueous soil extracts gave a higher MN frequency than direct exposure in 3 soils. However, the opposite was observed in the other two soils, suggesting that both exposure routes should be tested in case of negative results from one route. Data obtained from this study indicate that the MN assay is a sensitive assay suitable for evaluating genotoxicity of soils.

Surface flow constructed wetland for heavy oil-produced water treatment.

Heavy oil-produced water from China' Liaohe Oilfield was purified in a surface flow constructed wetland (SFCW) during a 3-yr field experiment. Treatment showed high mean removal efficiencies of 80%, 93%, 88% and 86% for COD, oil, BOD and TKN, respectively for reed bed #1 and 71%, 92%, 77%, and 81% for COD, oil, BOD and TKN, respectively for reed bed #2. The results also showed that in the third year of the system's operation, the oil-produced water had mainly positive impacts on the reed's health parameters. Thus, reed can be used as a feasible wetland macrophyte for treating such wastewater, and this SFCW system can operate for a long time.

Earthworm cytochrome P450 determination and application as a biomarker for diagnosing PAH exposure.

We developed a new microsome purification method and used the Omura and Sato method to measure the total content of cytochrome (Cyt) P450 in earthworm (Eisenia fetida) microsomes. In method development, two different pretreatments, i.e. solubilization or manual separation were used to purify worm microsomes. Solubilization was more effective than manual separation and difference spectra showed a peak at 450 +/- 1 nm in microsomes received solubilization pretreatment. We conducted a 48 h contact test by exposing worms on pyrene (Py) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) spiked filter paper. A dose-response relationship was established between total P450 content and the concentration of Py or BaP ranging from 10(-6) mg mL(-1) to 10(-2) mg mL(-1). Results show that total Cyt P450 content in earthworms is a promising biomarker for diagnosing PAHs exposure at sublethal dose ranges.

Taiwan's population and family planning efforts: an historical perspective.

The unprecedented decline of Taiwan's natural population increase rate from 3% in 1963 to 1.9% in 1973, attributed primarily to an increasing use of contraception, brought universal attention to one of the first and most successful national family planning programs, at a time when successes were few. Taiwan met its goal of decreasing its natural increase rate despite its young population, increasing numbers of women of childbearing ages, a strong preference for sons and a per capita income at the outset in 1963 of less than U.S.$200. Recognition of this achievement brought thousands of professionals, particularly from developing countries, to study the program firsthand: more than 3,000 during 1970--73 alone. This was matched by an avalanche of publications about the program that appeared around the world, written by practitioners, academics and others. This article tells the story of this success.

DNA changes in barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings induced by cadmium pollution using RAPD analysis.

In recent years, several plant species have been used as bioindicators, and several tests have been developed to evaluate the toxicity of environmental contaminants on vegetal organisms. In this study, barley (Hordeum vulgare L) seedling was used as bioindicator of cadmium (Cd) pollution in the range of 30-120 mgl(-1). Inhibition of root growth and reduction of total soluble protein content in root tips of barley seedlings were observed with the increase of Cd concentrations. The changes occurring in random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of root tips following Cd treatment included variation in band intensity, loss of normal bands and appearance of new bands compared with the normal seedlings. Additionally, we found that the effect of changes was dose-dependent. These results indicated that genomic template stability (a qualitative measure reflecting changes in RAPD profiles) was significantly affected at the above Cd concentration. Thus, DNA polymorphisms detected by RAPD analysis could be used as an investigation tool for environmental toxicology and as a useful biomarker assay for the detection of genotoxic effects of Cd pollution on plants.

[Molecular coherent radiation in VUV/XUV regions and the determination of rotational temperature of molecule].

The investigation of spectroscopy of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, 100-200 nm) and extreme ultraviolet (XUV, 10-100 nm) regions has attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years because of its promising applications in such areas as spectroscopy of highly excited states of atoms and molecules, life science, plasma physics and material science. In this paper we report the study of molecular coherent spectrum in the VUV and XUV regions through nonlinear optical processes and the determination of the rotational temperature of molecules. Because molecular gases have abundant energy levels, it can provide resonant levels to enhance the generated radiation and a wide tunibility of the spectrum in VUV and XUV regions. The determination of the rotational temperature of molecules will be very useful for the study of molecular spectroscopy and the nonlinear optical process in VUV/XUV regions.

Loading of doxorubicin into liposomes by forming Mn2+-drug complexes.

A new procedure for loading doxorubicin into large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) is characterized. It is shown that doxorubicin can be loaded into LUVs composed of sphingomyelin/cholesterol (55:45 mole/mole) in response to a transmembrane MnSO4 gradient in the absence of a transmembrane pH gradient. Complex formation between doxorubicin and Mn2+ is found to be a driving force for doxorubicin uptake. Uptake levels approaching 100% can be achieved up to a drug-to-lipid molar ratio of 0.5 utilizing an encapsulated MnSO4 concentration of 0.30 M. In vitro leakage assays show excellent retention properties over a 24 h period. The possible advantages of a liposomal formulation of doxorubicin loaded in response to entrapped MnSO4 are discussed.

A highly active microsomal glutathione transferase from frog (Xenopus laevis) liver that is not activated by N-ethylmaleimide.

Microsomal glutathione transferase has hitherto only been purified from mammalian species. N-ethylmaleimide and trypsin activation (discriminating features of this enzyme) has only been observed in microsomes from mammals. In this paper we describe the first isolation and characterization of a non-mammalian microsomal glutathione transferase from frog (Xenopus laevis) liver. This protein has a molecular weight similar to that of the mammalian enzyme (approximately 17 kDa), but cannot be activated by N-ethylmaleimide or trypsin. In fact the enzyme is rapidly inactivated by this sulfhydryl reagent and protease. It thus appears that N-ethylmaleimide activation is not an obligatory property of microsomal glutathione transferase. The frog liver microsomal glutathione transferase has one of the highest specific activities towards the second substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) (200 mumol/min mg) obtained with any glutathione transferase and accounts for the high activity found in frog liver microsomes. The kcat/K(m) for glutathione and CDNB are 0.017 and 1.1 x 10(6) M-1 s-1, respectively. The enzyme also functions as a glutathione peroxidase (dilinoleoyl phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide is reduced (5.2 mumol/min mg)). It is now evident that a highly active microsomal glutathione transferase, with a molecular weight similar to that of the mammalian enzymes also exists in a non-mammal species.

Binding of glutathione and an inhibitor to microsomal glutathione transferase.

Microsomal glutathione transferase is an abundant liver protein that can be activated by thiol reagents. It is not known whether the activation is associated with changed binding properties of the enzyme. Therefore the binding of GSH and an inhibitor to rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase was studied by use of equilibrium dialysis and equilibrium partition in a two-phase system. The radioactive substrate glutathione and an inhibitor (glutathione sulphonate) give hyperbolic binding isotherms with a stoichiometry of 1 mol per mol of enzyme (i.e. 1 molecule per homotrimer). Glutathione had an equilibrium binding constant of 18 microM. Competition experiments involving glutathione sulphonate showed that it could effectively displace GSH. These and kinetic studies showed that the Kd and Ki for glutathione sulphonic acid are close to 10 microM. No change in these parameters was obtained after N-ethylmaleimide activation of the enzyme. Thus activation does not result from changes in binding affinity to GSH.

Harmful effects of MSG on function of hypothalamus-pituitary-target gland system.

It has been demonstrated that neonatal administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) results in a clearly defined lesion of the arcuate nucleus (AN) of the hypothalamus. The present study shows that fat was accumulated in the abdomen of male rats treated with MSG; weights of the body, pituitary and testis were lower; beta-EP content in hypothalamus decreased while L.EnK content increased; serum LH, FSH, TSH, GH and TS levels all decreased in varying degrees while serum PRL level significantly increased. The cAMP content lowered in pituitary, but nor in testes; clear histological changes occurred in testicular tissue; Se-GSH-Px activity in both testis and adrenal gland lowered while LPO level significantly increased. Both Se-GSH-Px activity and LPO level in liver increased. These results indicate that MSG is harmful to the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-target system of neonatal rats.

Kinetic studies on rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase: consequences of activation.

Rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase is activated by sulfhydryl reagents and proteolysis. This property varies, however, depending on the combination, concentration and reactivity of the substrates. Thus, a multi-dimensional diagram can be envisioned in which the parameters affecting enzyme activity and activation are visualized. In principle activation could stem from an alteration in enzyme mechanism, transition-state complementarity, product release rate or pH-rate behaviour. These studies appear to rule out these possibilities and an alternate hypothesis is suggested based on the following experiments: (i) alternate substrate diagnosis of the kinetic mechanism of microsomal glutathione transferase indicates a random sequential mechanism. Non-activated and activated enzyme follow the same mechanism by these criteria. (ii) The microsomal glutathione transferase stabilizes a Meisenheimer complex between 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene and glutathione. The formation constants were similar for the unactivated and activated enzyme ((15 +/- 1).10(3) and (14 +/- 1).10(3) M-1, respectively, at pH 8). Inasmuch as the Meisenheimer complex resembles the transition state there is no evidence for an increased stabilization upon activation. (iii) The catalytic rate constant kcat does not vary with the viscosity in the assay medium. Thus, product release is not rate limiting for the unactivated and activated microsomal glutathione transferase (with saturating 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and varying GSH). (iv) The pH dependence of the Kf-values for Meisenheimer complex formation exhibited pKa values close to 6 for both the activated and unactivated microsomal glutathione transferase. The pH profile of kcat (with saturating 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and variable GSH concentrations) showed apparent pKa values of 5.7 +/- 0.5 and 6.3 +/- 0.4 for the unactivated and activated enzyme, respectively, indicative of a very similar requirement for deprotonation of the enzyme-GSH-1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene complex. (v) Examination of the kinetic parameters (obtained with GSH as the variable substrate against increasingly reactive electrophilic substrates) in Hammett plots shows that the activation mechanism entails a more efficient utilization of GSH. It is suggested that a higher rate of formation of the glutathione thiolate anion occurs in the activated enzyme.

Taiwan's transition from high fertility to below-replacement levels.

This article compares the fertility experience of Taiwanese in the eight years since the total fertility rate reached 2.1 with that before fertility reached replacement levels. During the earlier period, two-thirds of the fertility decline resulted from falling marital fertility and one-third from higher age at marriage. The changing age distribution retarded this decline. Since 1983, the further decline to 1.7-1.8 has been entirely the result of the trend toward later marriage. Older age distributions now facilitate the decline. Births postponed by those marrying later make the conventional TFR misleading. Computation based on parity-progression ratios raise TFRs from 1.7 to 2.0, a number less alarming to policymakers. Contraceptive prevalence is at saturation levels in all major populations strata. The "KAP-GAP" has disappeared. What would have happened without Taiwan's effective family planning program is impossible to determine, but clearly, contraceptive services supplied by the program were the major proximate cause of Taiwan's fertility decline.

PIP: In Taiwan, even though fertility in 1991 was 1.6, indicating below replacement fertility, the crude birth rates were still higher than the crude death rates. Zero population growth will occur in 2023, when the age distribution of reproductive age women will stabilize at replacement level. The main trends in fertility and nuptiality have indicated large fertility declines among women aged 30-34 years and older since 1983. The proportion currently married at age 15-19 years and 20-24 years has declined sharply during the period 1956-91. Fertility was highest among women aged 25-29 years, and nuptiality decline in this age group has had considerable impact on fertility. Marital fertility affected 66% of fertility decline, and nuptiality affected 33% of fertility decline. Between 1983 and 1991, nuptiality decline alone accounted for the crude birth rate decline. Another feature of change has been the increase in marital fertility among women aged 15-19 years and the decrease in marital fertility among women aged 20-24 years. The mean length of a generation reached 27.2 years by 1991. The shift to later childbearing might lessen the concern about too low fertility. There has not been a shift to greater childlessness or only children. The fertility pattern has reflected a shift to a greater concentration of fertility in a short time period. The percentage decline in the total fertility rate was reflected in Taipei, all cities, and urban and rural townships by 1991. Wife's education has been strongly correlated with fertility since 1966. By 1991, all educational differences were removed. The increasing levels of education among women assured the rapid transition. If 1983 educational levels had remained constant, fertility would have only declined by 10%. The main features prior to 1991 were a changing age/sex structure due to fertility decline, a rising marriage age, period effects of marriage postponement, and a rapid rise in educational levels. Family surveys have shown fertility to have been larger than preferences in 1985 and to reflect persistent son preference; contraceptive need was fulfilled by 1991. In 1992, a new population policy was formulated to attain replacement level fertility. Regardless of the projections, the proportion of older persons will rise. Pro- and anti-natalist influences on growth exist. The small stem family has been and will likely continue to be the popular family type.