[Application of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating the efficacy of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for esophageal cancer].

This study was a prospective single arm trial conducted in Zhejiang Jinhua Guangfu hospital from February 2018 to June 2020. A total of 39 patients (32 males and 7 females) with esophageal cancer, aged from 44 to 82 (69±9) years were enrolled. Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging(MR-DWI) was implemented to evaluate the changes of apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) value before and after chemoradiotherapy. The results showed that the ADC value after chemoradiotherapy was higher than that before treatment[(2.03±0.42)×10⁻³ mm 2/s vs (1.60±0.28)×10⁻³ mm2/s], and there was a positive correlation between the increase of ADC value and the prognosis of patients.

[Effects of duodenal ligation on gastroesophageal reflux and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of duodenal ligation on gastroesophageal reflux and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Methods: Wistar rats were randomized into the control (Ctrl) group, bleomycin (BLM) group, duodenal ligation (GER) group and duodenal ligation plus bleomycin treatment (BLM+GER) group. At day 0 (d0), duodenum ligation was performed in the GER and the BLM+GER group through an open-abdomen surgery at 1.0 cm below the pylorus by about 30% of the circumference. Meanwhile, sham operation was performed in the Ctrl and the BLM group with similar procedures to the above without ligation of the duodenum. At day 14, bleomycin solution (5 mg/kg, for the BLM and BLM+GER groups) or saline (for the Ctrl and GER groups) was intratracheally instilled. Rats were sacrificed at d28 or at d42. HE, Masson's trichrome or TUNEL staining was performed on lung sections of the groups. The levels of hyrdoxyproline (HYP) or malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured respectively by alkaline hydrolysis or thiobarbituric acid colorimetry. The levels of pepsin and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were assessed by ELISA. Western blot or RT-PCR was used to quantify relative lung expression of proteins or mRNA, respectively. Results: Lungs of the GER group rats were presented with mild inflammatory cell infiltration. Alveolitis and lung fibrosis was prominent in the BLM group but even more severe in the BLM+GER group. Of the Ctrl, GER, BLM and BLM+GER group, the average numbers of apoptotic cells per each magnified field (×200) on d28 lung sections was (5.6±3.0), (6.4±5.3), (15.4±5.3) and (18.4±9.1), respectively (P=0.008); the proportion (%) of blue-stained area under Masson's trichrome at d42 was (21.5±2.8), (23.4±2.5), (34.0±5.8) and (41.3±2.9) (P<0.05); the HYP contents (mg/L) at d42 of each group was (0.77±0.01), (1.26±0.01), (2.02±0.01) and (2.39±0.01) (P<0.01); the BALF levels of MDA (µmol/L) at d42 were (0.51±0.09), (0.87±0.12), (1.40±0.31) and (1.71±0.12) (P<0.001), and differences of these three indices at d42 reached statistical significance when comparing the Ctrl or GER group with the BLM or BLM+GER group (all P<0.05). The levels of pepsin, pH, interleukin (IL)-1ß, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and HYP at d28 and d42 were statistically different between the GER group and the Ctrl group (all P<0.05). As compared with the BLM group, the values of TGF-ß1, HYP, p-Smad3, vimentin, p-ERK1/2 and cleaved caspase-3 at d28 and d42 were different in the BLM+GER group (all P<0.05). At both d28 and d42, the BALF levels of pepsin and pH were statistically different between the BLM and the Ctrl group, or between the BLM+GER group and the GER group (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Gastroesophageal reflux is induced through duodenal ligation, which activates proinflammatory and profibrotic signals in the lungs and significantly aggravates bleomycin-induced lung injury and fibrosis. In addition, pulmonary fibrosis may induce or worsen the extent of reflux.

Differences in bleeding phenotype and provider interventions in postmenarchal adolescents when compared to adult women with bleeding disorders and heavy menstrual bleeding.

INTRODUCTION: Due to lack of patient/health care provider awareness causing delayed diagnosis, the bleeding phenotype and provider interventions in adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and bleeding disorders (BD) may be different when compared to adults. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare/characterize bleeding phenotype and provider interventions in postmenarchal adolescents < 18 years and premenopausal adults ≥ 18 years with HMB and BD. METHODS: Patient demographics, BD, and provider interventions/therapy details for HMB were compared between both age groups enrolled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Female Universal Data Collection (UDC) surveillance project in United States hemophilia treatment centres. Cross-sectional descriptive analyses including frequency distributions, summary statistics, bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 269 females (79 adolescents; median age 16 years, interquartile range (IQR) = 2; 190 adults; median age 27 years, IQR = 13) evaluated, BD distribution was similar in both groups. Compared to adolescents, adults more often had family history of bleeding (Adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 2.6, 1.3-5.6), delay in diagnosis (AOR = 2.5, 1.2-4.9), bleeding with dental procedures (AOR = 2.0, 1.0-4.0), gastrointestinal bleeding (AOR = 4.6, 1.0-21.9), anaemia (AOR = 2.7, 1.4-5.2), utilized desmopressin less often (AOR = 0.4, 0.2-0.8) and underwent gynaecologic procedure/surgery more frequently (AOR = 5.9, 1.3-27.3). CONCLUSION: Bleeding phenotypes of adolescents and adults with HMB and BD were different with more frequent bleeding complications, anaemia, gynaecologic procedures/surgeries, less desmopressin use and more delay in diagnosing BD in adults. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether improved patient/provider awareness and education will translate to early diagnosis and timely management of BD/HMB in adolescents that may prevent/reduce future haematologic/gynaecologic complications.

[Primary tracheal malignant glomus tumor with lung metastasis diagnosed by pathological analysis: a case report and literature review].

Objective: To study the clinical manifestations, pathological features, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of primary tracheobronchial or pulmonary malignant glomus tumor (MGT). Methods: A case of primary tracheal MGT with lung metastasis diagnosed by pathological analysis admitted to Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in May. 2015 was analyzed, and the related literatures were reviewed. We searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane, Wanfang and Chinese National Knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), using the keyword "tracheal or bronchial or pulmonary malignant glomus tumor" from Jan. 1975 to Dec. 2016. Results: A 47 year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital because of cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath for 3 days. The chest CT showed a soft tissue mass with a diameter of 2.5 cm in the lower tracheal segment, and the lumen was narrowed. Meanwhile, multiple nodular opacities were shown in both lungs. The admission diagnosis was thyroid cancer with multiple metastases of lung. Electronic bronchoscopic airway tumor ablation and cryotherapy were performed, and then the biopsy of the tumor was conducted and the pathological study confirmed the diagnosis of primary tracheal MGT. After 1 month, the tracheal tumor recurred. Then, electronic bronchoscopic airway tumor ablation and cryotherapy were performed again. The patient declined further therapy such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy and died one month later. A total of 14 literatures including 15 cases were retrieved from databases. In addition of this case, a total of 16 cases were analyzed, including 9 males, 7 females. Age of onset ranged from 9 to 74 years, and the average age was 49 years. These patients' chest CT showed airway mass or lung space occupying lesions, and the clinical manifestations were nonspecific. Conclusions: Primary MGT in trachea, bronchus or lung is a rare disease, which is easy to be misdiagnosed or to miss diagnosis. The final diagnosis depends on pathological morphology, and the main treatment is lobectomy or tracheal segment resection surgery. Due to its high invasiveness, local recurrence and metastasis may occur easily. The primary MGT in trachea, bronchus or lung is of poor prognosis.

Prophylaxis use among males with haemophilia B in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Prophylaxis is considered the optimal treatment for persons with moderate to severe haemophilia (factor activity between 1-5% of normal and <1% of normal respectively) in countries where safe factor concentrates are available and economically feasible. Historically, prophylactic treatment has not been well studied in the haemophilia B (HB) population due to difficulties in obtaining a sufficiently large sample. AIM: This study examines the prevalence of prophylaxis use among a robust sample of persons with HB in the United States and its association with specific demographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: Using data collected between 1998 and 2011 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Universal Data Collection project, we analysed data on 2428 males with moderate to severe HB aged 2-79 years who were seen at 135 federally funded haemophilia treatment centres. RESULTS: Prevalence of prophylactic treatment in our sample was 35% among children and youth (ages 2-19) and 14% among adults (age 20 and older). Increased HB prophylaxis use was significantly associated with younger age (<40 years), Hispanic ethnicity, severe disease and self-infusion, while decreased use was associated with above-normal body mass index (BMI) in adults. Health care coverage was vital, although type of coverage did not appear to influence access. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis confirms previous reports of lower prevalence of prophylaxis use among individuals with HB compared to those with haemophilia A and adds to the body of knowledge regarding treatment patterns among a historically understudied population.

[The clinical features of patients with allergic rhinitis of Nantong city in China].

Objective:To comprehensively analyze the clinical features of patients with AR by a retrospective study. Method:A total number of 8 102 patients diagnosed with AR were enrolled in Nantong area, and detailed clinical data were documented in all cases. Skin prick tests with standardized aeroallergens were conducted in these patients; The samples were divided into two groups(children and adults group) and the clinical features between two groups were analysed. Result:Children in schoolage were the majority of AR patients in children group. There were 4 581 cases(56.54%) with ocular symptoms, 3 977 cases(49.09%)with lower respiratory tract symptoms. Nasal congestion (97.37%) was the most common symptoms in patients with AR,while eye itching(32.68%) was the most common ocular symptoms in patients with AR, followed by the dacryorrhea(23.57%);and cough(44.72%) was the most common lower respiratory tract symptoms. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and dermatophagoides farinae had the highest positivity among all allergens, and the shrimp was the main food allergen. Conclusion:We analyzed the clinical features of patients with AR, that would provide a more scientific basis for prevention,clinical diagnosis, treatment and epidemiological studies for AR.

[Textual research on the fire needle and the fire needle therapy].

There are different names of the fire needle therapy in the Huang di nei jing (Inner Canon of Huangdi) such as Zu-zhen (), Cui-zhen (,), Fan-zhen (), Huo-cui (), Cui (,,), Cuici ,), Fan zhen jie ci (). It is claimed that the lance needle, the round sharp needle and the long needle recorded in this Classic are puncturing tools for the fire needle therapy. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing expanded the indications for the fire needle therapy and Huo-zhen () firstly appeared in the Jin kui yu han jing(Classic of the Jade Box and Golden Chamber). The application of the fire needle therapy had been further expanded to a lot of internal and external disorders form the Wei-Jin-Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There are more detailed records on the manipulation and the tools of the fire needle therapy during this period. In the 1970s, Huo zhen liao fa () was proposed and still in use today. However the Bai-zhen (plain needle) in ancient literature is equal to the filiform needle and should not be regarded as the former name of the fire needle.

Analysis of DNA equilibrium configuration under interfacial traction.

Kirchhoff thin elastic rod models are important in the study of the mechanism determining the configurations of flexible structures not only at the macroscopic but also at the microscopic scale. In this study, the energy balance method has been well applied to analyze the configuration of a DNA elastic rod in the presence of interfacial traction. An approximate solution for the shape equations has been obtained, and the relationship between the interfacial factor and the configuration of the DNA segment is derived. The results may provide an explanation for the onset of the formation of kinks in DNA when immersed in a solution.

Association of overweight and obesity with the use of self and home-based infusion therapy among haemophilic men.

An elevated body mass index (BMI) may make venipuncture more difficult, potentially impacting the use of home infusion (HI) and self-infusion (SI). We sought to determine whether above-normal BMI is associated with decreased use of HI treatment and SI of clotting factor concentrate among haemophilic persons. We analysed data from 10,814 male patients with haemophilia A and B (45% with severe disease) aged 6-79 years enrolled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Universal Data Collection surveillance project between 1998 and 2008. Associations between the use of HI and SI and BMI were evaluated using logistic regression. Fifty per cent of haemophilic men were overweight or obese, similar to rates reported among the general US population by the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [Flegal, KM et al., JAMA 2010;303:235-241;]. Twenty per cent of children and 22% of teens were obese, as were 28% of adults [Ogden, CL et al., JAMA 2010;303:235, 242]. Overall, 70% of the study sample used HI; 44% of those who used HI also used SI. Overweight and obese men were each less likely to use HI than those of normal weight [odds ratio (OR) 0.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.0 and OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.6-0.8 respectively]. Obese teens and adult men were also less likely to practice SI than teens and adults of normal weight (OR 0.8; 95% CI 0.7-0.9 for each). We conclude that overweight and obese haemophilic men are less likely to use HI and obese men are less likely to use SI than their normal-weight counterparts.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera fusca on Herba eupatorii in China.

Herba eupatorii, one of the most important Chinese medicinal herbs, belongs to the Asteraceae family. In June 2012, a previously unknown disease, tentatively identified as powdery mildew, was observed on H. eupatorii growing in Shangqiu, in eastern Henan Province, China. Symptoms began as white mycelium partially covering upper leaf surfaces; as the disease progressed, it spread to cover entire leaf surfaces. The infected leaves became yellow and necrotic at advanced stages of infection. Specimens consisting of infected leaves were maintained at the Plant-Microbe Interaction Laboratory at Shangqiu Normal University. Microscopic observations of the morphology of the fungus revealed oval primary conidia measuring 18 to 27 × 15 to 22 µm. A long unbranched germ tube that germinated laterally from the ends of conidia was observed in some samples. Conidiophores were cylindrical, simple unbranched, and composed of a basal cell with a swollen base and three to six barrel-shaped conidia formed in chains, measuring 112 to 180 × 9 to 12 µm. Mycelial appressoria were nipple-shaped. Chasmothecia were not observed in the collected samples. To verify the identity of the fungus, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA was amplified with ITS1 and ITS4 primers (3) and sequenced. The sequences were deposited as GenBank Accession No. JX546297. Comparison with sequences in the GenBank database revealed that the ITS sequence was 100% homologous with the sequence of Podosphaera fusca on Calendula officinalis (AB525914) (2) and Syneilesis palmata (AB040349) (1). The ITS sequence analysis verified that the causal agent was P. fusca, which is reported to be a cosmopolitan powdery mildew fungus, parasitic on numerous plant species in the Asteraceae family. Koch's postulates were completed by inoculating healthy H. eupatorii plants with a conidial suspension (prepared in distilled water) of 105 conidia/ml collected from infected plants. Five plants were sprayed until the suspension ran off the leaves, while five additional plants were sprayed with distilled water as a control. Plants were maintained in a climate cell under the following conditions: day, 24°C, 16 h; night, 20°C, 8 h; 85% humidity. After 10 days, inoculated plants developed symptoms similar to those observed in the field, whereas control plants remained healthy. Further examination showed that the inoculated plants were infected by P. fusca. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. fusca affecting H. eupatorii in China. Because there are no fungicides labeled for use on this plant, the appearance of powdery mildew caused by P. fusca could result in substantial production loss of H. eupatorii. References: (1) T. Hirata et al. Can. J. Bot. 78:1521, 2000. (2) S. Takamatsu et al. Persoonia 24:38, 2010. (3) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.

Tooth wear and dental pathology of the Bronze-Iron Age people in Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implications for their diet and lifestyle.

Tooth wear and dental pathology related to diet and lifestyle were investigated in the human dental remains unearthed from three archaeological sites of Bronze Age and Iron Age in Xinjiang of northwest China, and in comparative samples from two Neolithic sites in Henan and Shanxi in central China along the Yellow River. Our results indicate that the average tooth wear on most tooth types in the three Xinjiang sites was close to those of the Neolithic samples from central China. The variation within the Xinjiang samples was also explored. Some special wear patterns such as severe wear on the first molar and relatively heavy wear of anterior teeth were observed on the specimens from the Xinjiang sites. Obvious differences in caries and antemortem tooth loss were found between Xinjiang and comparative samples with higher frequencies of caries observed in samples from central China and higher antemortem tooth loss in samples from the Xinjiang sites. Strongly developed exostoses (tori) were also identified on mandibles and maxillae of the specimens from Xinjiang. The authors believe that the differences in tooth wear and dental pathology between Xinjiang and central China were caused by differences in diet and lifestyle. Food of a harder texture was consumed by the people who lived in Xinjiang than by the people in Henan and Shanxi of central China. The higher occurrence of heavily worn anterior teeth and some other special wear patterns, antemortem tooth loss and presence of exostoses on jaw bones in Xinjiang suggest that the people in Xinjiang lived in a relatively harsh environment, frequently gnawing hard objects, or using teeth as some kind of tools. All these activities put masticatory organs under a heavy load. The differences in caries frequencies between the frontier and central areas of China indicate that food richer in carbohydrates was consumed by the people in the central areas. It is proposed that about 3000-2000 years BP in many areas of frontier Xinjiang, people mainly relied on the type of hunter-gatherer economy with agriculture playing a smaller role in their lifestyle.

Evidence of ancient DNA reveals the first European lineage in Iron Age Central China.

Various studies on ancient DNA have attempted to reconstruct population movement in Asia, with much interest focused on determining the arrival of European lineages in ancient East Asia. Here, we discuss our analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of human remains excavated from the Yu Hong tomb in Taiyuan, China, dated 1400 years ago. The burial style of this tomb is characteristic of Central Asia at that time. Our analysis shows that Yu Hong belonged to the haplogroup U5, one of the oldest western Eurasian-specific haplogroups, while his wife can be classified as haplogroup G, the type prevalent in East Asia. Our findings show that this man with European lineage arrived in Taiyuan approximately 1400 years ago, and most probably married a local woman. Haplogroup U5 was the first west Eurasian-specific lineage to be found in the central part of ancient China, and Taiyuan may be the easternmost location of the discovered remains of European lineage in ancient China.

Transmission of Babesia sp to sheep with field-collected Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis.

Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks collected in the Gannan Tibet Autonomous Region were infested onto a sheep from a Babesia-free area. A strain of small Babesia (1.8-2.1 microm in length) was isolated from the sheep. Most of the Babesia in erythrocytes were round, oval, single pyriform, double pyriform, budding or elongated in form. Measurements were made of 100 single sides of the double-pyriform Babesia and compared with those for B. motasi and B. ovis from Holland, using Student's t-test. The Gannan small Babesia was similar to the B. ovis from Holland, but differed significantly from the Dutch B. motasi.

A field test on the treatment of ovine theileriosis with an injection of Kangjiaoming.

A compound effective for the treatment of ovine theileriosis was selected and a slow-release preparation (named Kangjiaoming) was prepared. A total of 1,172 sheep and goats in Zhangjiachuan, Lintan and Yuzhong Counties, Gansu Province, where small ruminants are seriously affected by theileriosis, were injected with this preparation at a dosage of 5 mg/kg body weight. The infection rate of the control group in each of the above-mentioned counties was 98.5%, 85% and 80%, respectively. None of the treated animals became sick due to theileriosis. This drug proved to be useful for the treatment of carrier cases, although its effect was apparently slower than in acute theileriosis. The effect of the preparation on some weak animals was not satisfactory.

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of Theileria sp. infection in sheep.

A rapid, sensitive and specific diagnostic method, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was developed for the diagnosis of Theileria sp. infection in sheep; and optimal conditions were established, such as antigen concentration, serum dilution, coating time, Tween-20 concentration and conjugate. The results were analyzed by measuring the coefficient of variation (CV). Three sera titers (high, middle, low) were analyzed over the measurement range, resulting in a CV of around 10%, whereas a 30% variation is the maximum acceptable. The cut-off value was determined by the mean of a negative control plus three standard deviations. Cross-reaction was found only with Babesia ovis. However, this result may be questionable, because it cannot be excluded that these sheep were already infected with both Theileria sp. and B. ovis. The ELISA described in the present study proved to be a useful tool for studying the epidemiology of Theileria sp.

Possible high absorptance and low emittance selective surface for high temperature solar thermal collectors.

Optical reflectivity measurements show that the reflectivity of Ge is dramatically reduced in the wavelength 0.3-1.4-microm range after high dose oxygen ion implantation. To explain such greatly reduced reflectivity, a model has been developed for the reflectivity of high dose oxygen implanted germanium. Our experimentally measured and calculated reflectivities show that, for a layered structure consisting of a Ge and GeO(2) mixture on Ge on GeO(2) on a Cu substrate, a low reflectivity of 0-10% in the solar spectrum is obtained, together with a high reflectivity approximately 100% in the 1.7-25-microm wavelength range. This is close to that of an ideal selective surface for solar energy thermal collectors operating at high temperatures from 300 to 500 degrees C.

Paragonimiasis: treatment with praziquantel in 40 human cases and in 1 cat.

40 patients infected with P. westermani were divided into 3 groups and treated with praziquantel (2-cyclohexylcarbonyl-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a]++ +isoquinolin- 4-one) by 3 different dosages. Parasitological cure was achieved in 27/40 patients, i.e. 67.5%. Details are given in this short communication.