Comparison of high-resolution synchrotron-radiation-based phase-contrast imaging and absorption-contrast imaging for evaluating microstructure of vascular networks in rat brain: from 2D to 3D views.

Conventional imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography have limited temporospatial resolutions and shortcomings like invasive angiography, potential allergy to contrast agents, and image deformation, that restrict their application in high-resolution visualization of the structure of microvessels. In this study, through comparing synchrotron radiation (SR) absorption-contrast imaging to absorption phase-contrast imaging, it was found that SR-based phase-contrast imaging could provide more detailed ultra-high-pixel images of microvascular networks than absorption phase-contrast imaging. Simultaneously, SR-based phase-contrast imaging was used to perform high-quality, multi-dimensional and multi-scale imaging of rat brain angioarchitecture. With the aid of image post-processing, high-pixel-size two-dimensional virtual slices can be obtained without sectioning. The distribution of blood supply is in accordance with the results of traditional tissue staining. Three-dimensional anatomical maps of cerebral angioarchitecture can also be acquired. Functional partitions of regions of interest are reproduced in the reconstructed rat cerebral vascular networks. Imaging analysis of the same sample can also be displayed simultaneously in two- and three-dimensional views, which provides abundant anatomical information together with parenchyma and vessels. In conclusion, SR-based phase-contrast imaging holds great promise for visualizing microstructure of microvascular networks in two- and three-dimensional perspectives during the development of neurovascular diseases.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast (PSCCB) is a rare type of breast carcinoma, the clinical behavior of which has not been accurately characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate its prevalence, characteristics, prognosis, and effective treatment modalities in patients attending our institution. The records of the Cancer Institute and Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from 1985 to 2013 were searched and 29 patients with PSCCB (0.086 % of all patients with breast cancer) identified. Their clinicopathological features, treatment methods used, and outcomes were analyzed. The median tumor size was 4.50 cm. Axillary lymph nodes metastases were present in 41.4 % of patients. The median overall survival was 39 months (range 7-144 months), with 34.5 % surviving at 5 years. The median relapse-free survival was 32 months (range 4-144 months), with 27.6 % relapse-free surviving at 5 years. According to univariate analysis, the time interval between onset of the first symptom and first presentation to a health professional (TI) (P = 0.017), use of adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.044), and T stage (P = 0.048, T1 vs. T2, T3, T4) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. PSCCB is an extremely aggressive disease associated with large tumor size, rapid progression, frequent relapse, and a high death rate. Imaging findings are nonspecific and easily misinterpreted as benign. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy may be effective. Early diagnosis and treatment of this rare entity are critical to patient prognosis.

iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of adaptive response in the regenerating limb of the Cynops orientalis newt.

The newt has the powerful capacity to regenerate lost limbs following amputation, and represents an excellent model organism to study regenerative processes. However, the molecular basis of the adaptive response in the regenerating limb of the Chinese fire-bellied newt Cynops orientalis immediately after amputation remains unclear. To better understand the adaptive response immediately after limb amputation at the protein level, we used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) coupled with LC-MS/MS methods to analyze changes in the proteome of the regenerating newt limb that occurred 2 h and 8 h after amputation. We identified 152 proteins with more than 1.5-fold change in expression compared to control. GO annotation analysis classified these proteins into several categories such as signaling, Ca(2+) binding and translocation, transcription and translation, immune response, cell death, cytoskeleton, metabolism, etc. Further ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) showed that several signaling pathways were significantly changed at 2 h and 8 h after amputation, including EIF2 signaling, acute phase response signaling, tight junction signaling and calcium signaling, suggesting these pathways may be closely related to the adaptive response immediately after limb amputation. This work provides novel insights into understanding the molecular processes related to newt limb regeneration immediately after amputation, and a basis for further study of regenerative medicine.

[Expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase and its correlation with prognosis in breast cancer patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in breast cancer and its correlation with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis. METHODS: The expression of IDO, CD31, CD105 proteins in 40 specimens of breast cancer were assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The overexpression rate of IDO in breast cancer was 67.5% (27/40), and expression of IDO was closely associated with clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis. The disease-free survival rate in patients with IDO overexpression was not significantly lower than that in patients with negative or low expression of IDO (P > 0.05). Moreover, the expression of IDO was positively correlated with CD105-labeled microvessel density (r = 0.659, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Expression of IDO is associated with clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis, and microvessel densitty. IDO expression may promote the growth and metastasis of breast cancer, probably via the increased agiogenesis. A larger sample study is needed to verify whether the prognosis of beast cancer is significantly correlated with IDO expression.

[Performance of micro-aerobic continuous treatment system for sulfate-ridden antibiotic wastewater at varied influent loadings].

Performance of a lab-scale micro-aerobic continuous treatment system for sulfate-ridden antibiotic wastewater, i.e., the treatment efficiencies, sludge SVI values and DHA activities, and the contents of yeasts and bacteria in sludge, were investigated at 14-18 degrees C when varied influent loadings COD of 2-21 kg/(m3 x d) were used. At an influent loading COD of 2 kg/(m3 x d), bacteria were preponderant in the microbial community in the sludge with a content of 96%, the sludge had MISS, DHA activity (TF/MISS x t), and SVI levels of 300 mg x L(-1), 4 300 mg/ (g x h), and 35 mL x g(-1), respectively,the system achieved a COD removal of 13%. When the influent loadings went up to 5 and 10 times higher than that at the first phase, i.e., 9 and 21 kg/(m3 x d), it was yeasts' turn to be preponderant in the sludge with contents of 67% and 71%, respectively, the MISS levels amounted to 2 300 and 1 500 mg x L(-1) respectively, the DHA activity (TF/MLSS x t) of 9 600 and 10 800 mg/(g x h), and the SVI values of 160 and 110 mL x g(-1), were achieved individually, the COD removal was greatly improved up to 40%-50%. It showed that influent loadings had remarkable influence on the treatment performance and microbial community structure of the system.

[pH regulation to continuous treatment system of high-sulfur antibiotic wastewater].

With the pH regulation to the batch-treatment system as a control, the effect of different pH levels, i.e., 7.0, 5.1, 4.1, on the treatment efficiencies and the contents of yeast and bacteria content in aerated column were investigated for the continuous micro-aerobic treatment system of the antibiotic wastewater. With the decrease in pH levels in aerated column, the COD removals reached 53%, 42% and 45%, respectively, BOD5 removals were 79%, 58% and 50%, respectively, and the DHA activities (TF/MLSS x t) of the sludge were 47,088, 10,506 and 14,390 mg/(g h), respectively, during the three experimental stages. The results on the basis of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH)-flow cytometry (FCM) showed that different pH levels didn't affect the contents of yeast and bacteria in the aerated column content at three different pH levels, and bacteria were the dominant microbes with a content of above 98% throughout the experimental periods. In addition, the variation of pH levels had the same influence on the treatment efficiencies of both continuous treatment system and batch treatment system, although different changes of microbial ecologies happened in these two systems.

[Axillary skip metastases in breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and the prognostic factors of breast cancer patients with skip metastases in the axilla. METHODS: The clinical data of 1502 breast cancer patients who underwent complete axillary lymph node dissection were retrospectively reviewed. The patterns of skip metastases, clinical features and prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1502 patients, lymph node metastases were found in 814, of whom skip metastases in 119 (14.6%, 119/814). The Clinicopathologic factors such as age, tumor size, tumor location, clinical stage, hormonal receptor status and involved interpectoral lymph nodes were not correlated with skip metastases (P > 0.05). The disease free survival rate was lower in clinical stage I and II patients with skip metastases than that in those without (P = 0.003), while no significant difference was observed in clinical stage III patients (P = 0.457). Multivariate analysis showed that the tumor size, number of metastatic lymph nodes, extracapsular invasion of the lymph nodes and skip metastases in the axilla were significantly correlated with survival rate. CONCLUSION: Skip metastasis in the axilla cannot be accurately predicted by clinicopathologic factors. Early breast cancer patients with skip metastases should be treated properly due to poor prognosis.