[The expression of programmed death receptor 1 in non-small cell lung cancer and its clinicopathological features and prognosis showed a connection with epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations].

Objective: To investigate the relationships between the expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study also attempted to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis in NSCLC patients. Methods: The expression of PD-1 protein in 88 cases of NSCLC tumor tissues and adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mutations of EGFR in NSCLC were detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Amplification Refractory Mutation System(PCR-ARMS) method. The expression of PD-1 and patients' clinical characteristics and prognosis were analyzed. Results: PD-1 was positive in 63.6%(56/88) NSCLC tumor tissues, which was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues (21.6%, 19/88) (P<0.05). EGFR gene mutations were found in 43 cases (48.9%), in which 30 cases (69.8%)were PD-1 positive expression. 45 cases had the wild types of EGFR gene, in which 26 cases (57.8%) were PD-1 positive. There were 24 cases of 19Del EGFR mutations, including 20 cases (83.3%) of PD-1 positive expression. 19 patients had 21L858 EGFR mutations, including 10 cases (52.6%) of PD-1 positive expression. The expression of PD-1 in NSCLC was related to patients' smoking status, lymph node metastasis and EGFR gene mutations (P<0.05). The median progression-free survival time of patients with PD-1 positive and negative expression was 7.03 and 18.66 months, respectively (P=0.007). In patients with wild-type EGFR gene, the median progression-free survival time of PD-1 positive and negative expression was 25.21 and 38.24 months, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P=0.024). The median progression-free survival time in 43 cases of EGFR mutant patients with PD-1 positive and negative expression was 21.23 and 31.44 months. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.128). Conclusions: PD-1 expresses in both EGFR mutant and wild-type NSCLC, and its expression levelis different with various EGFR mutations. The expression of PD-1 in NSCLC is related to the prognosis of patients, and the prognosis of patients with positive PD-1 expression was poor.

Investigation of solid/solid interface waves with laser ultrasonics.

A new method for detection of the soild/soild interface wave with laser ultrasonics is introduced in this paper. Based on the interaction between the acoustic wave and the probe laser beam of an interferometer in a transparent solid, the Stoneley waves propagated along the quartz/steel interface are detected successfully. The dispersion properties of Leaky Rayleigh wave are studied when the boundary conditions are described by interface spring mode. The Leaky Rayleigh wave at Plexiglas/aluminum interface is also detected and the experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical results. It shows that the interface wave should be a powerful technique for evaluation of the interface properties.

Laser ultrasonic characterization of adhesive bonds between epoxy coating and aluminum substrate.

Nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation through transparent epoxy bonded to aluminum substrate excites wide-band ultrasonic waves at the bonded interface. The normal displacements on the rear surface of aluminum produced by the direct and multi-reflected longitudinal waves in the coating layer are detected by a laser interferometer. The amplitude of the reflected signal depends on the properties of the coating/substrate interface, which is described by terms of the interfacial stiffness using a spring boundary model. The waveforms at the epicenter versus interfacial stiffness are simulated and found to be in good agreement with experimental results. The relation between the interfacial stiffness and the amplitude ratio of the reflected and direct waves is thus established. An image of amplitude ratio of a specimen (null 10 mm) is obtained from the epicenter waveforms recorded by a laser ultrasonic scanning system, which shows the distribution of bond quality on the bonding interface.

Modeling laser-generated guided waves in bonded plates by the finite element method.

The purpose of this research is to develop an effective model of the transient laser-generated guided waves in bonded plates by the finite element (FE) method. The FE parameters, such as the mesh density and the time step size, which are related to wave propagation, are optimized in order to set up a standard, and the correlation between these parameters is discussed. The waveforms in bonded plates with different bonded interface modeled by the spring model are obtained and then compared. The results show that the transient responses are sensitive to the stiffness coefficients characterizing the cohesive quality. Finally, these FE results are compared with analytical and experimental results. All these comparisons confirm the accuracy of the FE method for modeling laser-generated guided waves in bonded plates.

Once-a-month treatment with a combination of mifepristone and the prostaglandin analogue misoprostol.

In this two centre study, the efficacy of 200 mg mifepristone orally followed 48 h later by 0.4 mg misoprostol orally for menstrual regulation was investigated. The dose of mifepristone was taken the day before the expected day of menstruation. Each volunteer was planned to participate for up to 6 months. A plasma beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was measured on the day of mifepristone intake. The study was disrupted prematurely due to low efficacy. In 125 treatment cycles the overall pregnancy rate was 17.6% (22 pregnancies) and the rate of continuing pregnancies (failure) was 4.0%. Eight women discontinued the study due to bleeding irregularities which were seen in 15 cycles (12%). These effects on bleeding pattern made the timing of treatment day difficult. Late luteal phase treatment with a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is not adequately effective for menstrual regulation.

PIP: A 2-center study was undertaken to examine the efficacy, safety and acceptability of a once-a-month administration of a combination of 200 mg mifepristone and 0.4 mg misoprostol for menstrual regulation in the late luteal phase. About 24 women from Shanghai and 8 from Stockholm were administered 200 mg mifepristone taken orally before or on the day of menstruation, followed by 0.4 mg misoprostol taken orally after 48 hours. Urine samples were collected during 3 days before to 4 days after ovulation for an analysis of luteinizing hormone. In addition, a plasma beta human chorionic gonadotrophin was measured immediately before intake of mifepristone. Volunteers were to participate for 6 months, but the study was disrupted prematurely due to low efficacy. In 125 treatment cycles, the total pregnancy rate was 17.6% (22 pregnancies) and the failure pregnancy rate was 4.0%. Discontinuation of the study among 8 women was due to bleeding disturbances seen in 15 cycles (12%). In conclusion, late luteal phase treatment with a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol was not effective enough to be used for menstrual regulation.

[The clinical use of MOM nutrient powder in pregnant women].

Fifty women with normal pregnancy were given MOM nutrient powder (30 g/day) from 16 weeks of gestation to the beginning of labor and another 40 cases of normal pregnancy were given iron, folic acid, calcium, vitA+D at the same time were observed and compared for the nutritional status at 16, 28, 37 weeks of gestation, the serum total protein, albumin, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride serum iron calcium, folic acid vitA and blood glutathione reductase activation coefficient (GRAC), Hb, hematocrit were measured in the two groups. The results showed that all the above mentioned measurements were in normal range, and there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups. The maternal body weight at various stages of gestation; maternal weight gain; neonatal birth weight, and the production of breast milk showed also no significant difference between the 2 groups. We conclude that the action supplementation of various nutrients by drug can be replaced by food MOM nutrient powder for the pregnant women.