[Effects of Different Modified Materials on Soil Fungal Community Structure in Saline-Alkali Soil].

Studying the effects of different modified materials on the physicochemical properties and fungal community structure of saline-alkali soil can provide theoretical basis for reasonable improvement of saline-alkali soil. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to explore the effects of five treatments, namely, control (CK), desulfurization gypsum (T1), soil ameliorant (T2), organic fertilizer (T3), and desulfurization gypsum compounds soil ameliorant and organic fertilizer (T4), on soil physicochemical properties and fungal community diversity, composition, and structure of saline-alkali soil in Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia. The results showed that compared with those in CK, the contents of available phosphorus, available potassium, organic matter, and alkali hydrolysis nitrogen were significantly increased in modified material treatments, and the T4 treatment significantly decreased soil pH. Modified treatments increased the Simpson and Shannon indexes of fungi but decreased the Chao1 index. The dominant fungi were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota, and the dominant genera were Mortierella, Conocybe, Botryotrichum, Fusarium, and Pseudogymnoascus. The application of modified materials increased the relative abundance of Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Fusarium, and Pseudogymnoascus, while decreasing the relative abundance of Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Mortierella. LEfSe analysis showed that modified treatments altered the fungal community biomarkers. Correlation analysis showed that pH and available potassium were the main environmental factors affecting fungal community structure. The results can provide scientific basis for improving saline-alkali soil and increasing soil nutrients in Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia.

Towards a more practical analysis of Newton's rings using deep learning.

As a typical form of optical fringes with a quadratic phase, Newton's ring patterns play an important role in spherical measurements and optical interferometry. A variety of methods have been used to analyze Newton's ring patterns. However, it is still rather challenging to fulfill the analysis. We present a deep-learning-based method to estimate the parameters of Newton's ring patterns and fulfill the analysis accordingly. The experimental results indicate the excellent accuracy, noise robustness, and demodulation efficiency of our method. It provides another applicable approach to analyzing Newton's ring patterns and brings insights into fringe analysis and interferometry-based measurements.

Concise fractional Fourier transform based on a non-uniform order searching method for estimating physical parameters from Newton's rings.

Newton's ring pattern is very common in interferometry. By analyzing it, the physical parameters can be estimated, such as the curvature radius and the rings' center. However, parameter estimation from large images using fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) consumes considerable time. A concise FRFT based on a non-uniform order searching method is proposed to reduce the computational time without decreasing the accuracy. Experimental results show that the time of the proposed method is about 2.7 s, which is about 1/600 of that of the traditional FRFT-based method and 1/5 of that of the Fast FRFT-based method when processing 960×960 pixel images.

Convolutional neural network for estimating physical parameters from Newton's rings.

By analyzing Newton's rings, often encountered in interferometry, the parameters of spherical surfaces such as the rings' center and the curvature radius can be estimated. First, the classical convolutional neural networks, visual geometry group (VGG) network and U-Net, are applied to parameter estimation of Newton's rings. After these models are trained, the rings' center and curvature radius can be obtained simultaneously. Compared with previous analysis methods of Newton's rings, it is shown that the proposed method has higher precision, better immunity to noise, and lower time consumption. For a Newton's rings pattern of ${{640}} \times {{480}}$ pixels comprising ${-}{{5}}\;{\rm{dB}}$ Gaussian noise or 60% salt-and-pepper noise, the parameters can be estimated by the VGG model in 0.01 s, the error of the rings' center is less than one pixel, and the error of curvature radius is lower than 0.5%.

Fast FRFT-based method for estimating physical parameters from Newton's rings.

By analyzing Newton's rings, often encountered in interferometry, using fractional Fourier transform (FRFT), we can estimate the physical parameters, such as the curvature radius of the spherical surface and the rings' center. However, parameter estimation from large images using FRFT consumes considerable time. We introduce an improved method that resamples the image before applying FRFT. Because Newton's rings are sparse in the FRFT domain, this method reduces the computational time without decreasing the accuracy. Experimental results show that compared to traditional FRFT-based algorithms, this method can estimate parameters in about 1.3 s when processing 1920×1080 pixel images.

Impact of background and modulation on parameter estimation using fractional Fourier transform and its solutions.

Analysis of closed-fringe patterns with quadratic phase that are often encountered plays an important role in optical interferometry. But because the frequency spectra of the two exponential signals that compose closed-fringe patterns overlap in the Fourier domain while one is clearly distinct from the other in the fractional Fourier domain, fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) is a useful method for analyzing the images to provide parameter estimation. However, when the fringe pattern has varying background and/or modulation due to non-uniform illumination, parameter estimation accuracy based on FRFT is affected, which lacks theoretical justification. Thus, the impact of varying background and/or modulation on the FRFT is studied with theoretic analysis and presented in this paper. Key factors that contribute to the optimal results are discussed when employing three kinds of fringe normalization methods to eliminate the impact. Here, the fringe pattern is first processed by the normalization technique. Then the cosine-only term is used to estimate parameter by use of the FRFT-based method. Physical quantities are then obtained by parameter estimation. In comparison with our previous method based on FRFT, more accurate results are achieved. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed approach are demonstrated using simulation and experimental results.

Relationship between cerebellar structure and emotional memory in depression.

BACKGROUND: A few studies have been conducted on the relationship between cerebellar volume and emotional memory or clinical severity in major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, we aimed to compare the volume and density of the cerebellar gray matter (GM) in patients with MDD and in healthy controls (HCs) and explore the association between these cerebellar parameters and measurements of emotional memory and clinical severity. METHOD: Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and Individual Brain Atlases using Statistical Parametric Mapping (IBASPM) were used to assess GM density and volume in the cerebellum, respectively, in patients with MDD and the HCs. Indicators of emotional memory performance were measured, including the hit rate (HR), rate of false alarm (FA), precision (Pr = HR - FA) and emotional memory enhancement [∆Pr = Pr(emotion) - Pr(neutral)] values. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were used to measure the severity of depression. RESULTS: In the patients with MDD, the GM density was decreased in three cerebellar cortical regions and increased in three cerebellar cortical regions (p < .005). The GM volumes in eight cerebellar cortical regions were significantly smaller in the patients with MDD than in the HC subjects (p < .05). In the patients with MDD, the GM volume was correlated with the ∆Pr (p < .05) in two cerebellar cortical regions. The BDI scores were significantly correlated with the relative GM densities (p < .05) in 5 cerebellar cortical regions, and the GM volumes in 13 cerebellar cortical regions were correlated with the BDI scores in patients with MDD. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional memory and the severity of depressive symptoms are associated with structural changes in both the posterior and anterior GM regions in the cerebellum in patients with MDD. These findings could be useful for improving our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying emotional memory and explaining the abnormalities of the neural correlates that are associated with MDD.

[Abnormal increase in CD8(low) T lymphocyte in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes in CD8(low) T lymphocyte subsets in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning. METHODS: Flow cytometric analysis was used to count the numbers of CD8+ cells. 23 patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning and 20 controls were examined. RESULTS: Compared with control group (8.21% ± 3.02%), the CD8(low) T lymphocyte (12.98% ± 5.62%) were significantly increased in patients with occupational chronic lead poisoning. CONCLUSION: Although the ratio of CD+ T lymphocyte is normal, the CD8 level is significantly decreased. The increase of CD8(low) T lymphocyte may be an important phenomenon of immuno-injury induced by lead. CD8(low) T lymphocyte could be an new direction for research of lead immuno-toxicity.

[Anti-tumor effects induced by fusion of interleukin-18 gene transfected NCI-H460 lung cancer cell line with dendritic cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-tumor effects induced by fusion of interleukin (IL)-18 gene transfected lung cancer cell line NCI-H460 cells with dendritic cells (DC). METHODS: (1) DC were induced from human monocytes and fused with IL-18 transfected NCI-H460 cells. Fusion was selected using MACS microbeads. (2) Four groups (group GT, group PT, group NT and group BC) were set up. T cells activated by IL-18 gene transfected fusion or pcDNA3. 1 + vector transfected fusion and non-transfected fusion were taken as effetor cells. No effector cells was in group BC. Lactic dehydrogenase ( LDH) method was used to evaluate the antitumor effect in vitro. (3) Tumor-bearing nude mice were inoculated with effector cells mentioned above. The tumor size and weight in the 4 groups were compared. RESULTS: The killing rate in vitro of 3 groups were 53. 14% ,30. 10% and 31.49% , respectively. The tumor size and weight in the 3 groups were lower than group BC, among which group GT was the lowest. CONCLUSION: Fusion of IL-18 gene transfected NCI-H460 lung cancer cells with dendritic cells can effectively induce anti-tumor immunity in the host.

Different criteria for radioactive sentinel lymph nodes has different impact on sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study set out to determine the impact of different criteria for radioactive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), and the optimal criteria for radioactive SLNs. METHODS: Eighty-four breast cancer patients with cT1-2N0M0 were studied prospectively. Filtered technetium 99 m sulfur colloid was injected in peritumor parenchyma. Three different definitions of SLNs were adopted in each patient: (1) the lymph node with the highest radioactivity. (2) Any lymph node with an in vivo hot spot-to-background activity ratio of at least 3:1 or an ex vivo SLN-to-non-SLN ratio of at least 10:1. (3) All radioactive hot nodes. RESULTS: With three different definitions, the success rate of sentinel node biopsy were all 96.4%, the sensitivity was 78.9%, 92.1%, 97.4% respectively; false negative rate 21.1%, 7.9%, 2.6% respectively; predicting accuracy 90.1%, 96.3%, 98.8% respectively (P < 0.05). The first, the first two, the first three, and the first four highest radioactive sentinel nodes identified 81.1%, 89.2%, 94.6%, 100% of the positive-SLN patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The different criteria for radioactive SLNs had different impact on the accuracy, sensitivity, and false negative rate, but not on the success rate, during sentinel node biopsy using radioactive sulfur colloid in breast cancer patients. The first four highest radioactive sentinel nodes could accurately predict the status of axillary metastases. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;95:635-639. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

[An experimental study on the antitumor effects induced by fusions of dendritic cells with NCI-H460 lung cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the antitumor effects induced by fusions of dendritic cells (DC) and NCI-H460 cells and compared with antigen pulsed DC. METHODS: (1) DC were induced from human monocytes and were fused with NCI-H460 cells. Three experimental groups were set up, including group fusions cell (FC), group pulsed cell (PC) and group T cell (TC), for which T cells activated by fusions, antigen pulsed DC, and non-activated T cells were used as the effector cells respectively. The killing activity of effector cells to NCI-H460 cells were evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase method. (2) NCI-H460 cells were injected subcutaneously to BALB/c nude mice. Then 18 cancer-bearing mice were divided randomly into 3 groups, group FC, group PC and group TC. Effector cells mentioned above were inoculated subcutaneously. The tumor size and tumor weight were assessed and compared. RESULTS: The killing rates to NCI-H460 cells of group FC, group PC and group TC were 43.54%, 26.57% and 3.25% respectively. Comparison of the killing activity of these 3 groups showed group FC > group PC > group TC (F = 5.47, P < 0.05). The tumor size of group FC was significantly smaller than that of group PC and group TC. The tumor weights of group FC, group PC and group TC were (1,129 +/- 123) mg, (1,709 +/- 160) mg and (3,344 +/- 288) mg respectively (F = 37.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Fusions of DC and NCI-H460 cells could induce powerful antitumor immunity, which was more effective than antigen pulsed DC.

[Impact of radiofrequency on splenocyte immunity of mice bearing H22 liver cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Radiofrequency (RF) can destroy local tumor tissue with less damage to the intervening tissue. The effect of RF on immune function of tumor-bearing body needs to be further investigated. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of RF on splenocyte immunity of mice bearing H22 liver cancer through detecting splenocyte proliferation, cytotoxicity, and expression pattern of cytokines T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2. METHODS: A total of 24 BALB/c mice were randomized into 4 groups: RF, surgical resection, tumor-bearing control, and normal control groups. The proliferation of splenocytes was detected by MTT assay, and the cytotoxicity of splenocytes was assayed by double-color flow cytometry (FCM). The concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-10 in splenocyte culture supernatants were detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), and mRNA levels of the cytokines in splenocytes were assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The proliferation of splenocytes and mortality of H22 cells were significantly higher in RF group than in surgical resection group, normal control group, and tumor-bearing group (P<0.05). The concentration and mRNA level of IL-2 and IFN-gamma were significantly higher in RF group than in surgical resection group, normal control group, and tumor-bearing group (P<0.05); the concentration and mRNA level of IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly lower in RF group than in surgical resection group, normal control group, and tumor-bearing group (P<0.05). No significant difference were found between surgical resection group and normal control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RF can efficiently stimulate splenocyte activation and proliferation in H22-bearing mice, and enhance splenocyte cytotoxicity to tumor cells. RF could facilitate the secretion and gene transcription of Th1 type cytokines in H22 cells.

Tumor metastasis and the reciprocal regulation of heparanase gene expression by nuclear factor kappa B in human gastric carcinoma tissue.

AIM: To investigate whether NF-kappaB is activated in human gastric carcinoma tissues and, if so, to study whether there is any correlation between NF-kappaB activity and heparanase expression in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: NF-kappaB activation was assayed by immunohistochemical staining in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 45 gastric carcinoma patients. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) method was used for nuclear protein from these fresh tissue specimens. Heparanase gene expression was quantified using quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: The nuclear translocation of RelA (marker of NF-kappaB activation) was significantly higher in tumor cells compared to adjacent and normal epithelial cells ((41.3+/-3.52)% vs (0.38+/-0.22) %, t = 10.993, P = 0.000<0.05; (41.3+/-3.52)% vs (0+/-0.31)%, t = 11.484, P = 0.000<0.05). NF-kappaB activation was correlated with tumor invasion-related clinicopathological features such as lymphatic invasion, pathological stage, and depth of invasion (Z = 2.148, P = 0.032<0.05; chi(2) = 8.758, P = 0.033<0.05; chi(2) = 18.531, P = 0.006<0.05). NF-kappaB activation was significantly correlated with expression of heparanase gene (r = 0.194, P = 0.046<0.05). CONCLUSION: NF-kappaB RelA (p65) activation was related with increased heparanase gene expression and correlated with poor clinicopathological characteristics in gastric cancers. This suggests NF-kappaB as a major controller of the metastatic phenotype through its reciprocal regulation of some metastasis-related genes.

Expression of ST13 in colorectal cancer and adjacent normal tissues.

AIM: To investigate the in situ expression of suppression of tumorigenecity 13 (ST13) mRNA in both colorectal cancer and adjacent normal tissues. METHODS: Colorectal cancer cell lines SW1116, SW620 and CoLo205 were enrolled to confirm the feasibility of the in situ hybridization procedure. Seven colorectal cancer and adjacent normal tissues were included for RNA-RNA in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The expression of ST13 in the seven normal colon tissues was positive and the positive signals appeared in mucosal cells. Only three of the seven colorectal cancer tissues had positive hybridization signals that appeared in adenocarcinoma cells. CONCLUSION: The expression of ST13 decreases in colorectal cancer tissue compared with that in adjacent normal tissue. ST13 is mostly expressed in colorectal epithelia and adenocarcinoma cells.

[Expression of sialylated carbohydrate antigens and nm23-H1 gene in prognosis of breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the significance of expression of sialylated carbohydrate antigens and nm23-H1 gene in metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer. METHODS: Tissue specimens from 102 cases of primary breast cancer were stained with antibodies against sialyl Lewis A (SleA) and salyl Lewis X (SleX), and nm23-H1 proteins by immunohistochemical methods. RESULT: Of the 102 cases, the positive cases of SleA and SleX were 24.5% (25/102) and 59.89% (61/102),respectively; the reduced expression of nm23-H1 was showed in 37.3% (38/102) of the cases. The positive expression of SleX and the reduced expression of nm23-H1 gene were significantly associated with lymph node involvement. Among the 100 patients who underwent curative surgery, the disease-free survival rate was significantly correlated with nm23-H1 and SleX expression, respectively,but not with SleA expression. In multivariate analysis using Cox regression model, combination assay of nm23 H1 and SleX expression emerged as independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that nm23-H1 gene and SleX may be involved in the metastatic process in human breast cancer, and immunohistochemical detection of SleX and nm23-H1 may be used as a biologic marker of prognosis.

Expression and significance of angiopoietin-2 in gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the expression and pathological factors of Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in primary gastric cancers and adjacent normal tissues. METHODS: The expression of Angiopoietin-2 and VEGF were studied in 72 primary gastric cancers and adjacent normal tissues from the same patients by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Ang-2 was mainly expression in tumor cells. There were significantly difference between expression of Ang-2 in primary gastric cancer and in adjacent normal tissue samples (P=0.003). It was statistically correlation between Ang-2 and VEGF expression in tumors (P=0.0055). With regard to Ang-2 expression in tumors, there were significant difference between early stage and advanced stage (P=0.017), and significant difference between positive vascular involvement and negative vascular involvement (P=0.032). However, there was no significant difference between moderate-poor differential type and high differential type (P=0.908), between positive lymph node metastasis and negative lymph node metastasis (P=0.752), between positive serosal invasion and negative serosal invasion (P=0.764). The cases with expression of Ang-2 were increasing with advanced stage and vascular involvement. CONCLUSION: The results manifested that Angiopoietin-2, coordinated with VEGF, play role in regulating tumor angiogenesis of gastric cancer.

Expression and significance of VEGF-C and FLT-4 in gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the expression of pathological factors of VEGF-C and its receptor FLT-4 in primary gastric cancer and adjacent normal tissues. METHODS: The expression of VEGF-C and FLT-4 was studied in 80 primary gastric cancers and adjacent normal tissues from the same patients by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immumohistochemistry. RESULTS: Both primary gastric cancer and adjacent normal tissue could express VEGF-C and FLT-4, and FLT-4 expression was also detected in endothelial cells of stromal blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. There was a significant difference in expression of VEGF-C between primary tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples (P=0.01), and a statistical correlation between VEGF-C and FLT-4 expression in tumors (P=0.00886). With regard to VEGF-C expression, there was a significant difference between moderate-poor differential type and high differential type (P=0.032), and a significant difference between positive and negative lymph node metastases (P=0.024). However, there was no significant difference between positive and negative serosal invasions (P=0.219). CONCLUSION: VEGF-C and its receptor FLT-4 play a role in the development of gastric cancer, and the tumors with expression of VEGF-C and FLT-4 are more likely to have lymph node metastasis.

[Construction of human MAGE-3 DNA vaccine and its immune effects observed in vivo].

To investigate the antitumor immune responses induced by MAGE-3 DNA vaccine, the recombinant mammalian expression plasmid pcDNA3.1/MAGE-3 was constructed by ligating MAGE-3 gene, which was amplified by RT-PCR, and the pcD-NA3.1 + vector. The recombinant plasmids were transfected into B16 cells by liposome, the expression of MAGE-3 was checked by RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Then, 100 ug recombinant plasmids were injected intramuscularly per C57BL/6 mouse on 0, 10 and 20 days, with pcDNA3.1 + plasmid and PBS as controls. Splenocytes CTLs, the level of antibodies against MAGE-3 the changes of the T lymphocyte subsets and the levels of cytokines were checked after 3 times immunization. As a result, the mice immunized with pcDNA3.1/MAGE-3 plasmid can produce MAGE-3 specific immune response. The CTLs kill activities against B16/MAGE-3 cells was 51.08 +/- 7.41%, and had significant difference (P < 0.01) compared with that of pcDNA3.1 + group (8.44 +/- 1.89%) and PBS group (5.76 +/- 1.75%). The titre of antibody against MAGE-3 was 1:15, while controls were negtive. The number of CD4 + CD8 + and the levels of IFN-gamma IL-2 increased significantly after immunization with pcDNA3.1/MAGE-3 plasmid as compared with those of control groups (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the pcDNA3.1-MAGE-3 DNA vaccine are able to induce both cellular and humoral immune responses in vivo.

Prospective study of scoring system in selective intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

AIM: To evaluate of scoring system in predicting choledocholithiasis in selective intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: The scoring system of predicting choledocholithiasis was developed during the retrospective study in 264 cases, and was tested in 184 to evaluate its predictive value in choledocholithiasis. RESULTS: The scoring system was developed in a retrospective study of 264 cases, the statistical analyses showed the predictive factors included sex, transaminase levels, alkaline phosphatase level, bilirubin level, and common bile duct diameter on ultrasonography. The scoring system was used in 184 cases prospectively, of which, 3 of 162 (1.9 %) cases scoring <3 had choledocholithiasis, 17 of 22 (77.3 %) cases scores >=3 had choledocholithiasis. A case of scores >=3 or more prospectively should be considered highly intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: The scoring system can predict choledocholithiasis and is helpful in selection patients for intraoperative cholangiography.

[Construction of MAGE-3 prokaryotic expression plasmid and its expression in Escherichia coli].

To express the GST-MAGE-3 protein in E. coli, and investigate the antitumor immune responses induced by Dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with GST-MAGE-3 protein, the recombinant expression plasmid pGEX-MAGE-3 was constructed by ligating MAGE-3 gene, which was amplified by RT-PCR and confirmed by sequencing, and the pGEX-4T-2 vector. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into BL-21 E. coli. The expression of GST-MAGE-3 was induced with IPTG. The GST-MAGE-3 protein expressed as high as 32% of the total cellular protein. After purification with Glutathione Sepharose 4B, the purity of the protein was more than 90%, and 3mg GST-MAGE-3 was obtained from 100 mL BL-21 lysate. Dendritic cells from gastric carcinoma patients were pulsed with GST-MAGE-3 protein, and these DCs were used to stimulate the autologous T. lymphocytes. After 7 days, the T. lymphocytes cocultured with DCs pulsed with GST-MAGE-3 antigen exhibited specific cytotoxicity against MAGE-3 positive SGC-7901 cells. It is concluded that the GST-MAGE-3 protein are able to present antigen to T. lymphocytes, activate antigen-specific CTLs and induce special antitumor immune responses in vitro. Our results lay the groundwork for further research of the MAGE-3 vaccine.