Predictive analysis of severe hypocalcemia following total parathyroidectomy for renal secondary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and identify risk factors for severe hypocalcemia following total parathyroidectomy (TPTX) in patients with renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis who underwent TPTX from January 1, 2018, to April 30, 2023. Participants were categorized into groups based on postoperative corrected serum calcium levels: severe hypocalcemia (<1.8 mmol/L) and non-severe hypocalcemia (≥1.8 mmol/L). We conducted univariate analyses of demographic and laboratory data to identify potential risk factors, which were further analyzed using a binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: Significant associations were observed with age, dialysis duration exceeding five years, type of dialysis (peritoneal dialysis), lower preoperative corrected serum calcium, elevated preoperative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and increased preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (all p<0.05). Age, preoperative iPTH, and ALP levels were identified as independent risk factors for severe hypocalcemia post-TPTX. CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients with renal SHPT who have elevated preoperative iPTH and ALP levels are at an increased risk of experiencing severe hypocalcemia following TPTX. These findings underscore the importance of careful preoperative assessment and monitoring to mitigate the risk of this complication.

[Diagnostic value of combined application of GATA3, SOX10 and p16 in triple negative breast carcinomas].

Objective: To investigate the expression of GATA3, SOX10, and p16 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and analyze their significance and correlation with clinicopathology. Methods: The expressions of GATA3, SOX10 and p16 in 53 cases of TNBC and 50 cases of non-TNBC were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results: GATA3 and SOX10 were positive in 58.5%(31/53) and 75.5%(40/53) of TNBC, respectively. The expression of SOX10 was significantly higher than that in non-TNBC (P<0.05). SOX10 was positive in 17 of the 22 cases that lacked GATA3 expression (77.3%). The expression of p16 was significantly higher in the TNBC, and the co-expression with SOX10 was significantly increased (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC under the ROC curve of SOX10 were higher than those of GATA3. The sensitivity of SOX10 was higher than that of p16, but the specificity was lower than that of p16. The AUC of SOX10 was higher than that of p16. AUC of combined detection of GATA3 and SOX10, SOX10 and p16 were higher than that of each antibody alone (P<0.05). The expression of GATA3, SOX10, and p16 had no significant correlation with age, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis. The expression of SOX10 and p16 in grade 3 and basal-like TNBC increased significantly, and their co-expression increased. Conclusions: The expressions of SOX10 and p16 in TNBC are significantly increased. SOX10 is a reliable marker for the diagnosis of TNBC and a supplement to GATA3. Whether p16 is a marker related to the prognosis of TNBC remains to be further studied.

LncRNA BLACAT1 regulates the viability, migration and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by targeting miR-142-5p.

OBJECTIVE: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common head and neck tumors with high incidence and mortality. Long noncoding RNA bladder cancer-associated transcript 1 (lncRNA BLACAT1) was involved in several cancers development. However, the roles of BLACAT1 in OSCC have not been investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expressions of BLACAT1 and miR-142-5p in OSCC cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell migration and invasion were evaluated by transwell migration assay and transwell invasion assay, respectively. The protein levels of CyclinD1, p21, p27, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-14 were detected by Western blot analysis. The interaction of BLACAT1 and miR-142-5p was verified by luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: The expression of BLACAT1 was increased and the expression of miR-142-5p was decreased in OSCC cells. The knockdown of BLACAT1 suppressed the viability, migration and invasion of OSCC cells. miR-142-5p was identified as a target of BLACAT1 and BLACAT1 overexpression suppressed miR-142-5p expression. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-142-5p showed similar effects on OSCC cells viability, migration and invasion with BLACAT1 knockdown, and inhibition of miR-142-5p restored the effects of BLACAT1 knockdown OSCC cells viability, migration and invasion. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA BLACAT1 knockdown suppressed the viability, migration and invasion of OSCC cells by sponging miR-142-5p, indicating that BLACAT1 might be a novel target for the treatment of OSCC.

Study on the relationship between the structure and functions of anti-human cervical cancer single-chain antibody and the lengths of linkers.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to find the linker with minimal impact among chains to fight against the structure and function of cervical cancer (CC) single-chain antibody. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The original variable region of heavy chain (VH) and variable region of light chain (VL), and the single-chain antibody with linkers of different lengths (n = 1-8) were modeling by homologous modeling, while the peptide chain structure of (Gly4Ser)n was utilized by the linkers. Comparison of the similarity of original VH/VL and VHn/VLn was carried out by applying the algorithm of spatial hierarchical alignment based on the spherical coordinates. The fore and aft distance and diffusion radius of alpha (α) were also calculated. The stability of antibody with different linker length was then compared. ELISA method was adopted to evaluate the immunological activity of single-chain antibody with different linkers. MTT assay was used to analyze the inhibition effect of ScFv-n on CC cells. RESULTS: When n = 4, the structures were the most similar between ScFv and the original VH/VL. When n = 3, the influence of adding connecting peptide on the stability of single-chain antibody was the least. The result of ELISA and MTT methods indicated that when n = 3, single-chain antibody gained the highest activity. CONCLUSION: The optimum length of linker of anti-human CC single-chain antibody was n = 3 from the point of mathematical modeling and biology experiments. This study provided new ideas for the design and constructions of single-chain antibody, and theoretical basis for the treatment of CC.

Design and implementation of a 150 GHz single-channel millimeter wave interferometer on Joint TEXT tokamak.

A simple, single-channel millimeter-wave interferometer system has been designed, fabricated, and installed on the J-TEXT tokamak. For the plasma density anticipated on J-TEXT, a solid-state source operating at 150 GHz has been chosen to minimize errors due to both vibration along the beam path and refraction in the plasma. The new aspect of the interferometer design is to use a subharmonic mixer for detection with a frequency doubled 150 GHz source. It employs a single source which is bias-tuned and modulated with a sawtooth wave form up to 100 kHz in order to generate the intermediate frequency. The 12.5 GHz voltage-controlled oscillator is multiplied to 75 GHz before a final doubler raises it to 150 GHz. A portion of the 75 GHZ power is used for the local oscillator (LO) and is directly connected to the LO input of the subharmonic mixer. The phase is evaluated by a digital phase comparator using a software-based algorithm. Detection noise limits the minimum resolvable phase change with the interferometer to ±0.05 fringe, which corresponds to an averaged electron density change along the chord of ±1.1 × 10(17) m(-2). The maximum measurable electron density is expected to be ∼9 × 10(19) m(-3). A comparison of preliminary results from the millimeter wave interferometer with that from the far-infrared hydrogen cyanide laser (wavelength of 337 µm) interferometer shows good agreement during the pulse flat-top period. The millimeter wave interferometer system will be used as a part of the density feedback control system in the future.

Overexpression of Y-box binding protein-1 in cervical cancer and its association with the pathological response rate to chemoradiotherapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) in nonneoplastic cervical tissue and cervical cancer tissue and to evaluate its relationship with chemoradiosensitivity in the cases of cervical cancer. We performed immunohistochemical studies to examine YB-1 expression among 59 patients with cervical cancer, 30 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and 30 with cervicitis. The mean YB-1 histological score(HSCORE)values for cervicitis, cervical CIN, and cervical cancer tissues were 22.3, 39, and 84.4, respectively. The mean YB-1 HSCORE value was 80.0 for cervical cancer patients who showed complete pathological response to chemoradiotherapy and 144.3 for cervical cancer patients who showed partial pathological response. Our data showed that the YB-1 expression was the highest in cervical cancer tissue, followed by cervical CIN tissue, and then cervicitis tissues. High YB-1 expression resulted in a lower pathological response rate in patients of cervical cancer than low YB-1 expression did. Our results implied that YB-1 may play a role in the genesis of cervical cancer and that high YB-1 expression decreases the chemoradiosensitivity of cervical cancers.

[Hypoxia stimulates the expression of HSP70 in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells].

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is characterized by remodeling of pulmonary artery, proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC), the mechanism of which was studied by observing the effect of hypoxia on DNA synthesis, cell cycle phase and transcription of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). Our results indicate that hypoxia increases DNA synthesis, enhances the mitogenic effect of ET-1 on PASMC, stimulates quiescent PASMC entering S phase from G0/G1 phase and up-regulates the mRNA level of HSP70. Heat shock proteins are conservative and important stress proteins rendering the cells more tolerable to dangerous stresses by promoting growth and survival of the cells. All these findings suggest that heat shock proteins might also be important to the proliferation of PASMC induced by hypoxia and relevant to the study of the mechanism of hypoxic vascular remodeling.

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal for swine wastewater by ammonium crystallization and intermittent aeration process.

A process on crystallized precipitation of ammonium by adding magnesium salt and phosphate was carried out to improve C/N ratio in swine wastewater. After completion of crystallized precipitation of ammonium, an intermittent aeration process with aeration and nonaeration periods alternated at interval of 1:1 hr day-1 is used for the improved swine wastewater (T-N/BOD = 0.14: BOD = 8200 mg/liter and T-N = 1166 mg/liter). The results obtained from the experiment show that the removal ratios of T-N and NH4-N are 91% and 99%, respectively. T-P is not removed, while the removal ratio of PO4-P is 60% as 3% of CaCl2 liquid is added. The results also indicate that dilution with water is effective to improve the removal of phosphorus even if raw swine wastewater contains high concentrations of T-N, T-P, BOD, and TOC.

Chemical modification of biopolymers--mechanism of model graft copolymerization of chitosan.

Mechanism of graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers onto chitosan initiated by Ce(IV) ion, one of the important ways of chemical modification of chitosan, has been investigated by means of kinetics measurement and polymer chain structure analysis. It is found that when Ce(IV) ions reacts with adjacent hydroxylamine structure in chitosan, a chelate complex is first formed and then it disproportionates to radical for initiation of graft copolymerization. There exist two ways for such initiation depending upon the reaction temperature. For a reaction temperature lower than 40 degrees C, a -CHO group and a -C = NH group are introduced, and the aldehyde group reacts with Ce(IV) ions to form an acyl radical which initiates a graft polymer chain in this saccharide unit. For temperatures higher than 90 degrees C, the -C = NH group hydrolyzes to form an amine and an aldehyde group which also reacts with Ce(IV) ions. In this case there should be two aldehyde groups, i.e. two initiation sites, in one adjacent hydroxyl-amine structure. That means that the initial radical in the chitosan/Ce(IV) system is similar to that in the cellulose/Ce(IV) one, but the former usually gives a lower grafting reactivity than the latter due to the higher stability of the chelate.

Study on antithrombogenicity of poly[beta-(acetylsalicylyloxy)ethyl methacrylate] relative to poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate).

The antithrombogenicity of a polymer made of aspirin bound to hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), abbreviated as ASA-polymer, was compared with that of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA). Platelet from platelet rich plasma (PRP) incubated with ASA-polymer surface exhibited noticeable decreases in adhesion and aggregation as compared to platelets incubated with PHEMA. Low molecular weight components other than aspirin, which may be released from ASA-polymer during the incubation with PRP, or contact with ASA-polymer causing denaturation of platelets without morphological changes could be responsible for the decrease of adhesion and aggregation. Both PRP and PPP exposed to ASA-polymer-coated surfaces exhibited a much smaller partial thromboplastin time (PTT) than if exposed to PHEMA-coated surfaces; the PTT of ASA-polymer was similar to that of glass exposed plasma. With respect to the in vivo antithrombogenicity, the ASA-polymer surface led to thrombus formation. This may be due to the partial hydrolysis of the acetyl groups resulting in the formation of a negatively charged surface which in turn accelerates the coagulation cascade despite its inhibitory effects on platelet adhesion and aggregation. On the other hand, neointima formed around a thrombus layer on PHEMA-coated sutures after 14 days.

Structure of tetramethyl reductic acid (TMRA, 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2,3-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one), a reductate ligand involved in dioxygen activation by multinuclear iron complexes.

C9H14O3, Mr = 170.21, orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 11.651 (2), b = 12.279 (2), c = 26.257 (4) A, V = 3756 A3, Z = 16, Dx = 1.204, Dm = 1.19 (1) g cm-3, lambda(Cu K alpha) = 1.5418 A, mu = 7.01 cm-1, F(000) = 1472, T = 297 (1) K, R = 0.051 for 2152 observed reflections with F greater than 6 sigma(F). The title compound adopts a well-defined conjugated structure corresponding to one of its expected resonance forms. There are two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit owing to two different intermolecular hydrogen-bonding modes.

Studies on fertility control-the formation and antifertility effect of polyvinyl-pyrolidone-gossypol complex.

In this study, PVP-gossypol complexes with different molecular weights and compositions were synthesized. UV and NMR spectra revealed the presence of hydrogen bonds in these complexes. The dissolution rates of various PVP-gossypol complexes in water at 37 degrees C were determined. The results showed that the presence of PVP in the complex enhanced the dissolution rate of gossypol in water greatly. In addition, the in vitro spermicidal activity on human semen, antifertility effect on male rats, and the toxic reaction of male mice by taking large dosage were preliminarily studied. The experimental results indicated that the PVP-gossypol complexes not only possessed the similar antifertility effect and acute toxicity to male mice as gossypol-acetic acid, but also reduced the irreversibility of the fertility as well. Thus, certain species of PVP-gossypol complex may have potential as new and better male oral contraceptive with recoverability in fertility.

Studies on the hydrolysis of biocompatible acrylic polymers having aspirin-moieties.

Both the homogeneous and heterogeneous hydrolysis of five new acrylic polymers having aspirin-moieties, i.e. polymers of beta-(acetylsalicylyloxy)ethyl methacrylate, beta-(acetylsalicylyloxy) propyl methacrylate,beta-(acetylsalicylyloxy) ethyl acrylate, beta-hydroxy-gamma-(acetylsalicylyloxy) propyl methacrylate, beta-hydroxy-gamma-(acetylsalicylyloxy) propyl acrylate were investigated in acidic or alkaline medium at 30 degrees C or 60 degrees C, respectively. It was observed that the chief hydrolyzed product is always aspirin with minor amount of salicylic acid.