[A comparative study of rigid gas permeable corneal contact lenses versus frame glasses for refractive correction of postoperative aphakic eyes after congenital cataract surgery in infants and children].

Objective: The aim of this paper is to compare the refractive correction effects of rigid gas permeable contact lenses (RGPCL) and spectacle correction in children with aphakia after congenital cataract surgery. Methods: This was a prospective non-randomized controlled trial. Children with aphakic eyes after congenital cataract surgery, who underwent vision correction in the Strabismus and Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic of Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from April 2012 to November 2019, were continuously collected. Those who voluntarily chose to wear RGPCL for refractive correction were included in the experimental group. Patients with monocular disease were in trial group 1, and patients with binocular disease were in trial group 2. Patients who chose to wear frame glasses for refractive correction were included in the control group. Patients with monocular disease were in control group 1, and patients with binocular disease were in control group 2. Regional origin, medical history, and family information were collected at the first diagnosis. During the follow-up, adverse reactions occurring during the process of wearing glasses were recorded. The Teller acuity card was used for visual examination to obtain the best-corrected visual acuity and convert it into the logarithm of the minimum resolution angle. The degree of nystagmus was determined according to the amplitude and frequency of nystagmus. Treatment cost, treatment compliance, and the reasons for adopting or not adopting RGPCL were analyzed through a questionnaire completed by the parents of children with RGPCL. Results: A total of 203 children (344 eyes) who underwent congenital cataract surgery were included, including 124 males (210 eyes) and 79 females (134 eyes). The age range was 3 to 36 months. There were 28 cases in the experimental group, including 19 cases in trial group 1 and 9 cases in trial group 2. There were 175 cases in the control group, including 43 cases in control group 1 and 132 cases in control group 2. Except for 6 months of age, the visual acuity of the experimental group was better than that of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The visual acuity of children in trial group 1 was better than that of children in control group 1 at the same age. Among them, at 12 months of age [1.54 (1.27, 1.97), 1.84 (0.97, 2.12)], 18 months of age [1.27 (0.97, 1.84), 1.84 (0.97, 2.12)], 24 months of age [1.54 (1.27, 1.84), 1.84 (0.97, 2.12)], and 30 months old [0.97 (0.66, 1.27), 1.54 (0.66, 2.12)], the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The visual acuity of children in trial group 2 was better than that in control group 2 at the same age. Among them, at 18 months old [1.27 (0.97, 1.54), 1.27 (0.66, 2.12)], 24 months old [0.97 (0.66, 1.27), 1.27 (0.66, 2.12)], and 30 months old [1.27 (0.66, 2.12)], the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The remission rate of nystagmus in the experimental group was 8/9 (8 cases), the remission rate of nystagmus in the control group was 34.40% (32 cases), and the exacerbation rate was 29.03% (27 cases). The average annual cost of the experimental group was 25 125 yuan, and that of the control group was 2 511 yuan. Conclusions: RGPCL is a well-tolerated, safe, and effective treatment for infants and young children. The visual acuity and degree of nystagmus were significantly improved in children who wore RGPCL for aphakia refractive correction after congenital cataract surgery compared with spectacle correction.

Clinical effect of open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate through the triceps approach in the treatment of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus.

OBJECTIVE: The stability of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the displaced humeral shaft is poor, and surgery is currently the main treatment. The posterolateral approach to the upper arm has many advantages but it is not widely used in clinical applications. The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical effect of open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate through the triceps approach in the treatment of fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 26 patients with fractures of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus who were admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to December 2021. According to the AO ASIF classification, 12 patients had type A, 8 patients had type B, and 6 patients had type C fractures. The posterior transtriceps approach was used for open reduction and internal fixation with a steel plate to evaluate its clinical efficacy. RESULTS: All patients were followed completely, and the follow-up time was 6.0-18.0 months. Fracture nonunion occurred in 1 patient after the operation, and the other 25 patients healed well; 2 patients showed symptoms of radial nerve injury and numbness in the tiger's mouth area, which improved after 2 weeks. The average healing time of the fracture was 12.3 weeks. There were no infections or complications such as plate fractures. Elbow joint function according to Mayo scoring standards was as follows: 19 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, 2 cases were fair, and 2 cases were poor. The excellent and good rate was 84.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Open reduction through the triceps approach and internal fixation with a steel plate for the treatment of the middle and lower 1/3 of the humerus can directly expose and protect the radial nerve and its branches and reduce radial nerve damage, and plate fixation on the tension side is biomechanical and worthy of clinical application.

The invasion status of lymphovascular space and lymph nodes in cervical cancer assessed by mono-exponential and bi-exponential DWI-related parameters.

AIM: To investigate whether mono-exponential and bi-exponential diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-related parameters of the primary tumour can evaluate the status of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with cervical carcinoma preoperatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients with cervical carcinoma were enrolled, who underwent preoperative multi b-value DWI and radical hysterectomy. They were classified into LVSI(+) versus LVSI(-) and LNM(+) versus LNM(-) according to postoperative pathology. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure molecular diffusion (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D∗), and perfusion fraction (f) were calculated from the whole tumour (_whole) and tumour margin (_margin). All parameters were compared between LVSI(+) and LVSI(-) and between LNM(+) and LNM(-). Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these parameters. RESULTS: f_margin and D∗_whole showed significant differences in differentiating LVSI(+) from LVSI(-) tumours (p=0.002, 0.008, respectively), while LNM(+) tumours presented with significantly higher ADC_margin than that of LNM(-) tumours (p=0.009). The other parameters were not independent related factors with the status of LVSI or LNM according to logistic regression analysis (p>0.05). The area under the ROC curve of f_margin combined with D∗_whole in discriminating LVSI(+) from LVSI(-) was 0.826 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.691-0.961), while ADC_margin in differentiating LNM(+) from LNM(-) was 0.788 (95% CI: 0.648-0.928). CONCLUSIONS: The parameters generated from mono-exponential and bi-exponential DWI of the primary cervical carcinoma could help discriminate its status regarding LVSI (f_margin and D∗_whole) and LNM (ADC_margin).

Circ_001680 aggravates the malignant process of gastric carcinoma by targeting MAP2.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the expression pattern and clinical significance of circ_001680 in gastric carcinoma (GC) process. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Circ_001680 levels in 40 pairs of GC and paracancerous ones were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between circ_001680 and GC clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. AGS and SGC-7901 cells were used for constructing circ_001680 knockdown models by shRNA transfection. Proliferative and metastatic abilities in GC cells with circ_001680 knockdown were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay, respectively. Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to clarify the interaction between circ_001680 and MAP2. Their co-regulation on GC process was detected through rescue experiments. RESULTS: Circ_001680 was highly expressed in GC tissues and cell lines. High level of circ_001680 predicted high incidences of lymphatic and distant metastasis, and poor prognosis in GC patients. Knockdown of circ_001680 suppressed proliferative and metastatic abilities in AGS and SGC-7901 cells. MAP2 was the target gene binding circ_001680, which was lowly expressed in GC. In addition, MAP2 was negatively correlated to circ_001680. Knockdown of MAP2 could abolish the suppressed proliferative and metastatic abilities in GC cells with circ_001680 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Circ_001680 is highly expressed in GC tissues and closely related to metastasis and prognosis in GC patients, which promotes the proliferative and metastatic abilities in GC cells by negatively interacting with MAP2.

Perimenarchal air pollution exposure and menstrual disorders.

STUDY QUESTION: What is the association between perimenarchal exposure to total suspended particulate (TSP) in air, menstrual irregularity phenotypes and time to menstrual cycle regularity? SUMMARY ANSWER: Exposures to TSP during high school are associated with slightly increased odds of menstrual irregularity and longer time to regularity in high school and early adulthood. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: The menstrual cycle is responsive to hormonal regulation. Particulate matter air pollution has demonstrated hormonal activity. However, it is not known if air pollution is associated with menstrual cycle regularity. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Cross sectional study of 34 832 of the original 116 430 women (29.91%) enrolled in 1989 from the Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII). The follow-up rate for this analytic sample was 97.76% at the 1991 survey. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Annual averages of TSP were available for each year of high school attendance. We created three case definitions including high school menstrual irregularity and androgen excess. The time to menstrual cycle regularity was reported by participants as <1 year, 1-2 years, 3-4 years, 5 years or longer, or never on the baseline questionnaire. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for 45 µg/m3 increases in TSP exposure, adjusted for risk factors for menstrual irregularity. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: In multivariable adjusted models, we observed that for every 45 µg/m3 increase in average high school TSP there was an increased odds (95%CI) of 1.08 (1.03-1.14), 1.08 (1.02-1.15) and 1.10 (0.98-1.25) for moderate, persistent, and persistent with androgen excess irregularity phenotypes, respectively. TSP was also associated with a longer time to cycle regularity, with stronger results among women with older ages at menarche and those living in the Northeast or the West. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The outcomes of menstrual regularity and time to cycle regularity were retrospectively assessed outcomes and may be susceptible to recall bias. There is also the potential for selection bias, as women had to live until 2011 to provide addresses. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Temporal exposure to air pollution in the adolescent and early adulthood window may be especially important, given its association with phenotypes of menstrual irregularity. The data from this study agrees with existing literature regarding air pollution and reproductive tract diseases. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): Shruthi Mahalingaiah: Reproductive Scientist Development Program HD000849, and a research grant from the Boston University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stacey Missmer: R01HD57210 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Environmental Health Sciences Translational Pilot Project Program, R01CA50385 from the National Cancer Institute, Jaime Hart and Francine Laden: 5R01ES017017 from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, Jaime Hart: P30 ES00002 from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institute of Health, The Nurses' Health Study II is supported by infrastructure grant UM1CA176726 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Correlation between dual-energy spectral CT imaging parameters and pathological grades of non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM: To investigate the correlation between pathological grades of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and quantitative parameters generated in dual-energy spectral computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients with NSCLCs who underwent preoperative dual-energy spectral CT imaging and surgical resection were evaluated retrospectively. These patients were divided into a low-grade group and a high-grade group based on their histopathological differentiation. In the arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP), iodine concentration (IC) in cancers was measured in iodine-based material decomposition images, and normalised to the IC in the aorta to calculate the normalised iodine concentration (NIC), the spectral CT curve was generated from the monochromatic images to calculate the slope of the spectral curve (λHU). Differences in quantitative parameters (NIC and λHU) were compared using the two-sample t-test. The correlations between spectral CT parameters and tumour grades were evaluated using the Spearman rank correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to calculate their diagnostic efficacies. RESULTS: The NIC and λHU in the low-grade NSCLC group were significantly higher than those in the high-grade NSCLC group both in AP and VP (all p<0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between spectral CT parameters and pathological grades by the Spearman rank correlation (all p<0.001). ROC analysis indicated that λHU in VP provided the best diagnostic performance in distinguishing high-grade cancers from low-grade cancers (area under the ROC curve [AUC], 0.914; sensitivity, 85.7%; specificity, 84.4%). CONCLUSION: The quantitative parameters in dual-energy spectral CT imaging provide useful information to differentiate the pathological grades of NSCLCs.

Oscillatory EEG activity induced by conditioning stimuli during fear conditioning reflects Salience and Valence of these stimuli more than Expectancy.

Imaging studies have described hemodynamic activity during fear conditioning protocols with stimulus trains in which a visual conditioned stimulus (CS+) is paired with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (US, painful laser pulse) while another visual stimulus is unpaired (CS-). We now test the hypothesis that CS Event Related Spectral Perturbations (ERSPs) are related to ratings of CS Expectancy (likelihood of pairing with the US), Valence (unpleasantness) and Salience (ability to capture attention). ERSP windows in EEG were defined by both time after the CS and frequency, and showed increased oscillatory power (Event Related Synchronization, ERS) in the Delta/Theta Windows (0-8Hz) and the Gamma Window (30-55Hz). Decreased oscillatory power (Event Related Desynchronization - ERD) was found in Alpha (8-14Hz) and Beta Windows (14-30Hz). The Delta/Theta ERS showed a differential effect of CS+ versus CS- at Prefrontal, Frontal and Midline Channels, while Alpha and Beta ERD were greater at Parietal and Occipital Channels early in the stimulus train. The Gamma ERS Window increased from habituation to acquisition over a broad area from frontal and occipital electrodes. The CS Valence and Salience were greater for CS+ than CS-, and were correlated with each other and with the ERD at overlapping channels, particularly in the Alpha Window. Expectancy and CS Skin Conductance Response were greater for CS+ than CS- and were correlated with ERSP at fewer channels than Valence or Salience. These results suggest that Alpha ERSP activity during fear conditioning reflects Valence and Salience of the CSs more than conditioning per se.

[Association between body weight change during early and middle adulthood and the risk of type 2 diabetes in middle aged and elderly population].

Objective: To examine the association between weight changes during early and middle adulthood and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle aged and elderly population. Methods: Based on the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS), 28 736 residents aged ≥50 years were included in Guangzhou. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between body weight changes during early or middle adulthood and age when the heaviest weight reaching the threshold on the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle age or elderly population. Adjustments on age, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, education level, occupation, district of residence and body mass index etc., were made. Results: The mean age was 64.3 (standard deviation=6.7) years in men and 61.0 (standard deviation=7.0) years in women, with the prevalence rates of diabetes as 13.1% and 13.7% in men and women, respectively. Compared to those with stable body weight, the risk of diabetes increased with weight gain during early and middle adulthood in both men and women (both P values for trend<0.01). Participants who gained more than 20 kg during early and middle adulthood were associated with the highest risk of diabetes in men (OR=2.83, 95%CI:1.99-4.02) and women (OR=3.13, 95%CI: 2.47-3.96). Compared to those who reached the highest weight at age 20, those who reaching the highest weight at 40 to 49 years were associated with the highest risk of diabetes, with OR being 5.32 (95%CI: 1.92-14.8) in men and 3.41 (95%CI: 2.49-4.67) in women, respectively. Weight loss in adulthood was associated with self-reported but not newly diagnosed diabetic cases in both middle and older aged men and women. Conclusion: Weight gain during early and middle adulthood may increase the risk of diabetes in middle and older aged population. The detrimental effect of obesity on diabetes might become significantly visible in the next decades.

[Correlation between body fat percentage and general obesity indexes in middle aged and old people in Guangzhou].

Objective: To examine the correlation between body fat percentage (BFP) and general obesity indexes, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) and calculate the corresponding BFP cutoff values in the middle aged and old people in Guangzhou. The corresponding cut-point of optimal body fat percentage for Guangzhou older population. Methods: Based on the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS), 3 490 relatively healthy Guangzhou residents aged ≥50 years were selected and were randomly divided into 2 groups. The equations between BFP and BMI, WC, WHR were set up with Curve fitting analysis in one group. The multiple regression analysis was undertaken to establish predictive equations between BFP and BMI, WC, WHR with stepwise model for adding gender, age, physical activity, drinking and smoking. Then, the optimal cut-points of BFP corresponding to BMI, WC and WHR to reflect the degree of obesity were calculated. The equations were then validated with another group. Results: BFP increased with the increase of WHR, WC and BMI. BMI was a better predictor of body fat percentage than WC and WHR. The final regression equation was BFP=(-23.47 -8.87×sex) +2.94× (BMI) - 0.024 × (BMI)2,the coefficient of determination was 0.805. Based on the equation, the BFP corresponding to overweight/obesity (24 kg/m2≤BMI<28 kg/m2) were 24.3% ≤BFP<31.1% in men and 33.2%≤BFP<40.0% in women, respectively. BMI had a better consistency with BFP in identify obesity compared with WC and WHR, obtained the area of ROC 0.909 in men and 0.919 in women respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 70.3% and 85.5% in men; and 75.2% and 93.0% in women respectively. Conclusion: BFP has a better correlation with BMI. The study results indicated that BFP for middle aged and old males and females in Guangzhou corresponding to overweight/obesity (BMI≥24 kg/m2) were <24.0% and <33.0% respectively.

Determining the efficacy of the chronic disease self-management programme and readability of 'living a healthy life with chronic conditions' in a New Zealand setting.

BACKGROUND: Self-management programmes are an increasingly popular way of treating chronic diseases. AIMS: This study aims to determine the efficacy of the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme (CDSMP) in a New Zealand context by assessing course outcomes and readability of the accompanying reference guide Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, 4th Edition. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional pre-post study conducted in Auckland between August 2009 and September 2015, using CDSMP participants' baseline and follow-up Health Education Intervention Questionnaire (heiQTM ) data. Readability of the guide was assessed using the Gunning Fog Index, Coleman Liau, Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch Kincaid Grade Level and Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook scores. RESULTS: Significant evidence of improvement (P ≤ 0.001) was observed in seven of the eight domains measured by the heiQTM (Deakin University, Centre for Population Health Research, Melbourne, Vic., Australia). The greatest improvements were seen in skill and technique acquisition (mean change score 0.25, P ≤ 0.001) and self-monitoring and insight (0.18, P ≤ 0.001). There was little evidence of improvement in health service navigation (0.04, P = 0.17). Readability analyses indicate that a person needs to be reading at a minimum of U.S. 8th grade level in order to understand the text, and possibly up to 11th grade. CONCLUSIONS: The CDSMP is effective for improving patient self-efficacy in the New Zealand setting. However, adaptation of the programme to support better health service navigation is warranted. The readability of the reference guide is not suitable for this setting and requires further improvement.

[Effectiveness of bupropion and counseling for smoking cessation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of bupropion for smoking cessation among Chinese smokers at a smoking cessation clinic. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in a hospital located in Beijing during 2008 and from 28 to 31 October 2014. A total of 287 smokers (265 men and 22 women) were assessed using data from structured questionnaires at baseline and were followed up at 1 and 6 months. Trained physician counselors provided free brief education and individual counseling sessions for all participants at the first visit. A total 131 participants were prescribed bupropion in addition to counseling. The counseling plus bupropion group was compared with the group who underwent counseling without bupropion. Outcomes were self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates at 1- and 6-month follow-up and continuous abstinence rates at 6-month follow-up. Smoking reduction rates at 1 and 6 months were also measured. RESULTS: By intention-to-treat analysis, the 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate of the bupropion group at 1 and 6 months was higher than for the counseling-only group: at 1-month follow-up, 26.0% (34/131) vs. 15.4% (24/156), with OR (95% CI) 1.93(1.07-3.46); these rates at 6-month follow-up were 27.8% (35/131) vs. 15.4% (24/156), with OR (95% CI) 2.01(1.12-3.59). The 1-month continuous abstinence rate at 6 months was higher in the bupropion group: 26.0% (34/131) vs. 14.7% (23/156), with OR (95%CI) 2.03(1.12-3.66). Participants in the bupropion group also had a higher smoking reduction rate at 1 month than those in the counseling-only group: 55.0% (72/131) vs. 38.5% (60/156), with OR (95%CI) 1.95 (1.22-3.13). CONCLUSION: Prescription of bupropion at this smoking cessation clinic was effective in doubling the quitting rates and smoking reduction rates among Chinese smokers.

Effects of selenium on biological and physiological properties of the duckweed Landoltia punctata.

Duckweed can be used for bioremediation of selenium (Se) polluted water because of its capability of absorbing minerals from growing media. However, the presence of Se in the media may affect the growth of the duckweed. Landoltia punctata 7449 has been studied for its changes in chemical and biological properties with the presence of Se in the media. The duckweed was cultivated over a 12-day period at different initial concentrations of selenite (Na2 SeO3 ) from 0 to 80 µmol·l(-1) . The growth rate, the organic and total Se contents, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the photosynthetic pigment contents, the chlorophyll a fluorescence OJIP transient, and the ultrastructure of the duckweed were monitored during the experiment. The results have shown that Se at low concentrations of ≤20 µmol·l(-1) promoted the growth of the L. punctata and inhibited lipid peroxidation. Substantial increases in duckweed growth rate and organic Se content in the duckweed were observed at low Se concentrations. The anti-oxidative effect occurred likely with the increases in guaiacol peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities as well as the amount of photosynthetic pigments. However, negative impact to the duckweed was observed when the L. punctata was exposed to high Se concentrations (≥40 µmol·l(-1) ), in which the duckweed growth was inhibited by the selenium. The results indicate that L. punctata 7449 can be used for bioremediation of selenium (Se) polluted water when the Se concentration is ≤20 µmol·l(-1) .

Inter-comparison of dynamic models for radionuclide transfer to marine biota in a Fukushima accident scenario.

We report an inter-comparison of eight models designed to predict the radiological exposure of radionuclides in marine biota. The models were required to simulate dynamically the uptake and turnover of radionuclides by marine organisms. Model predictions of radionuclide uptake and turnover using kinetic calculations based on biological half-life (TB1/2) and/or more complex metabolic modelling approaches were used to predict activity concentrations and, consequently, dose rates of (90)Sr, (131)I and (137)Cs to fish, crustaceans, macroalgae and molluscs under circumstances where the water concentrations are changing with time. For comparison, the ERICA Tool, a model commonly used in environmental assessment, and which uses equilibrium concentration ratios, was also used. As input to the models we used hydrodynamic forecasts of water and sediment activity concentrations using a simulated scenario reflecting the Fukushima accident releases. Although model variability is important, the intercomparison gives logical results, in that the dynamic models predict consistently a pattern of delayed rise of activity concentration in biota and slow decline instead of the instantaneous equilibrium with the activity concentration in seawater predicted by the ERICA Tool. The differences between ERICA and the dynamic models increase the shorter the TB1/2 becomes; however, there is significant variability between models, underpinned by parameter and methodological differences between them. The need to validate the dynamic models used in this intercomparison has been highlighted, particularly in regards to optimisation of the model biokinetic parameters.

Survey of duckweed diversity in Lake Chao and total fatty acid, triacylglycerol, profiles of representative strains.

Lemnaceae (duckweeds) are widely distributed aquatic flowering plants. Their high growth rate, starch content and suitability for bioremediation make them potential feedstock for biofuels. However, few natural duckweed resources have been investigated in China, and there is no information about total fatty acid (TFA) and triacylglycerol (TAG) composition of duckweeds from China. Here, the genetic diversity of a natural duckweed population collected from Lake Chao, China, was investigated using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The 54 strains were categorised into four species in four genera, representing 12 distinct sequence types. Strains representing Lemna aequinoctialis and Spirodela polyrhiza were predominant. Interestingly, a surprisingly high degree of genetic diversification within L. aequinoctialis was observed. The four duckweed species revealed a uniform fatty acid composition, with three fatty acids, palmitic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid, accounting for more than 80% of the TFA. The TFA in biomass varied among species, ranging from 1.05% (of dry weight, DW) for L. punctata and S. polyrhiza to 1.62% for Wolffia globosa. The four duckweed species contained similar TAG contents, 0.02% mg · DW(-1). The fatty acid profiles of TAG were different from those of TFA, and also varied among the four species. The survey investigated the genetic diversity of duckweeds from Lake Chao, and provides an initial insight into TFA and TAG of four duckweed species, indicating that intraspecific and interspecific variations exist in the content and composition of both TFA and TAG in comparison with other studies.

Growing duckweed for biofuel production: a review.

Duckweed can be utilised to produce ethanol, butanol and biogas, which are promising alternative energy sources to minimise dependence on limited crude oil and natural gas. The advantages of this aquatic plant include high rate of nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) uptake, high biomass yield and great potential as an alternative feedstock for the production of fuel ethanol, butanol and biogas. The objective of this article is to review the published research on growing duckweed for the production of the biofuels, especially starch enrichment in duckweed plants. There are mainly two processes affecting the accumulation of starch in duckweed biomass: photosynthesis for starch generation and metabolism-related starch consumption. The cost of stimulating photosynthesis is relatively high based on current technologies. Considerable research efforts have been made to inhibit starch degradation. Future research need in this area includes duckweed selection, optimisation of duckweed biomass production, enhancement of starch accumulation in duckweeds and use of duckweeds for production of various biofuels.

MTA1 promotes cell proliferation via DNA damage repair in epithelial ovarian cancer.

We examined whether metastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) promotes cell proliferation via DNA damage repair in ovarian cancer. MTA1 was successfully down-regulated using small interfering RNA in the epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3. Cell growth was evaluated through MTT and colony formation assays. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis was used to evaluate the distribution of cells in the cell cycle, and cytotoxicity assays were performed to study cell sensitivity to cisplatin. A neutral comet assay was used to measure levels of ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage in SKOV-3 cells, and Western blot analyses were carried out to examine the expression of key proteins involved in DNA damage repair pathways. MTA1 knockdown markedly inhibited cell growth and led to S phase cell cycle arrest. In addition, MTA1 depletion conferred sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin. Moreover, MTA1 depletion increased the level of ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage and caused irreparable damage, which was illustrated by a remarkable increase and persistent existence of a comet tail as well as protein expression levels of γH2AX, pRPA, and pChk1, all of which play critical roles in DNA repair. Thus, MTA1 promotes the proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer cells by enhancing DNA repair.

Disappearance of Ising nature in Ca3ZnMnO6 studied by high-field ESR.

High-field electron spin resonance measurements of an antiferromagnet Ca3ZnMnO6 isostructure, with the Ising-chain multiferroic Ca3CoMnO6, have been carried out. Two distinct resonance modes were observed below TN = 25 K, which is well explained by conventional antiferromagnetic resonance theory with easy-plane anisotropy. The zero-field spin gap is derived to be about 166 GHz, originating from the easy-plane anisotropy and exchange interaction. Our result suggests that the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction, which may induce spin canting, is absent. Disappearance of Ising anisotropy in Ca3ZnMnO6 suggests that the Co(4+) ion, as well as the Co-Mn superexchange, plays an important role for the Ising nature in Ca3CoMnO6.

Effects of the new wildlife transfer factors on RESRAD-BIOTA's screening Biota Concentration Guides and previous model comparison studies.

The RESRAD-BIOTA Level 1 default Biota Concentration Guides (BCGs) are generic screening environmental medium concentrations based on reasonably conservative concentration ratios (CRs). These CRs had been identified from available literature for a variety of biota organisms. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Report Series (TRS) handbook on radionuclide transfer to wildlife was recently published with data that can be compared with the RESRAD-BIOTA values. In addition, previous IAEA Environmental Modeling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS) II Biota Working Group model comparison results are examined by comparing them with those obtained using the new TRS CR values for wildlife. Since the CR affects only internal doses, the effect on the overall dose depends on the relative contribution from internal and external exposure pathways.