[Analysis of 18 cases of malignant rhabdoid tumor in children].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) in children. Methods: Clinical data total of 18 children with MRT treated in the Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between June 2015 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were grouped according to age, gender, tumor type, clinical stage and other factors.Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method, survival differences among different groups were compared by Log-rank test, and prognostic factors were analyzed by Cox regression model. Results: Among the 18 patients, there were 5 males and 13 females. The age of disease onset was 30.5 (12.0, 75.0) months, the tumor diameter was (80±29) mm, and no integrase interactor 1 (INI-1) expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. There were 7 cases of malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK), 6 cases of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) and 5 cases of extrarenal extracranial rhabdoid tumor (EERT). At the time of early diagnosis, 12 patients were clinically stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, 11 patients had local or distant metastasis, and 4 patients had metastasis during treatment. Surgical excision is the preferred treatment. There were 3 cases with preoperative puncture biopsy, 13 cases with complete resection, 4 cases with partial resection, and 1 case without operation. Thirteen patients were treated with the domestic conventional chemotherapy regimen for Wilms' tumor, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, and 5 patients were treated with the international conventional chemotherapy regimen. Nine patients received radiotherapy, including 1 case of MRTK, 4 cases of ATRT and 4 cases of EERT. By the end of follow-up in January 2022, 7 patients survived and 11 patients died. The 3-year PFS and OS rates were (8±8) % and (14±12) %. Log-rank test showed that the 5-year OS of EERT group was higher than ATRT and MRTK groups (χ²=16.31, P<0.001), the tumor diameter <80 mm group was higher than that of the ≥80 mm group (χ²=4.49, P=0.034), and the radiotherapy group was higher than no radiotherapy group (χ²=3.97, P=0.046). The differences were statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the influence of tumor type, age, tumor diameter, radiotherapy and chemotherapy on OS by Cox regression model (all P>0.05). Log-rank test showed that the 3-year PFS of EERT group was higher than ATRT and MRTK groups (χ²=11.14, P=0.004),>3 years group was higher than ≤3 years group (χ²=10.10, P=0.001), the differences were statistically significant. Tumor type, clinical stage, tumor diameter, age, tumor rupture and radiotherapy were included in the Cox regression model, and the results showed that clinical stage (HR=0.49, 95%CI 0.26-0.94, P=0.031), tumor diameter (HR=8.67, 95%CI 1.84-40.89, P=0.006), age (HR=0.01, 95%CI 0.00-0.15, P=0.001) had statistical significance on PFS. Conclusions: MRT is one of the most aggressive and fatal cancers in early childhood and infancy. There is no standard treatment and the prognosis is extremely poor. Clinical stage, tumor size and age are risk factors for disease progression.

Genetic Structure Analysis of Y Chromosome STR and SNP in Population of Changshu.

ABSTRACT: Objective To provide a theoretical basis for building a Y chromosome database in specific regions by analyzing the pedigree specific core haplogroup and region specific genetic structure in Changshu. Methods One thousand seven hundred and two samples from unrelated Han male individuals in Changshu were collected. Then 27 Y-STR were genotyped through YfilerTM Plus PCR Amplification Kit, Y-SNP haplogroup of each sample was speculated using Y-Predictor software and some samples were verified by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction （ARMS-PCR）. Results A total of 1 556 haplotypes were found on the 27 Y-STR genetic markers of the 1 702 samples. The haplotype diversity （HD） value was 0.999 827. DYS385 （0.933） had the highest gene diversity （GD） value while DYS438 （0.409） had the lowest. By the Y-Predictor software, all samples were confirmed to be from 162 sub-haplogroups of C, D, N, O, Q and R. Samples were randomly selected to verify the prediction results by the software and the prediction accuracy of Y-Predictor software was as high as 95.74%. Conclusion This study found that 27 Y-STR genetic markers have relatively high polymorphisms in the Changshu population, and have good forensic individual identification and paternity testing ability.

Understanding of metal-insulator transition in VO2 based on experimental and theoretical investigations of magnetic features.

The metal-insulator transition temperature Tc in VO2 is experimentally shown to be almost the same as a magnetic transition temperature Tm characterized by an abrupt decrease in susceptibility, suggesting the evidence of the same underlying origin for both transitions. The measurement of susceptibility shows that it weakly increases on cooling for temperature range of T > Tm, sharply decreases near Tm and then unusually increases on further cooling. A theoretical approach for such unusual observations in susceptibility near Tm or below is performed by modeling electrons from each two adjacent V4+ ions distributed along V-chains as a two-electron system, which indicates that the spin exchange between electrons could cause a level splitting into a singlet (S = 0) level of lower energy and a triplet (S = 1) level of higher energy. The observed abrupt decrease in susceptibility near Tm is explained to be due to that the sample enters the singlet state in which two electrons from adjacent V4+ ions are paired into dimers in spin antiparallel. By considering paramagnetic contribution of unpaired electrons created by the thermal activation from singlet to triplet levels, an expression for susceptibility is proposed to quantitatively explain the unusual temperature-dependent susceptibility observed at low temperatures. Based on the approach to magnetic features, the observed metal-insulator transition is explained to be due to a transition from high-temperature Pauli paramagnetic metallic state of V4+ions to low-temperature dimerized state of strong electronic localization.

[Screening results and influencing factors of upper gastrointestinal carcinoma and precancerous lesions in Feicheng City].

Objective: To clarify the situation of the detection of upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions in the Feicheng city and discuss the possible influencing factors. Methods: A cluster sampling method was used to determine the participants. A unified questionnaire was used to investigate the basic information including history of alcohol intake, smoking and chinese tea, as well as other eating habits, medical history of digestive tract and cancer. Endoscopy was used to to screen the patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions. Influential factors were explored by non-conditional logistic regression model. Results: 911 of 7 291participants were positive, and the total detection rate was 12.49%. The total positive detection rate of male and female was 17.94% and 8.71%, respectively (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the sex (OR=0.527, 95%CI: 0.440-0.631), age (OR=2.037, 95%CI: 1.849-2.245), smoking (OR=1.240, 95%CI: 1.014-1.516) and alcohol consumption (OR=1.232, 95%CI: 1.012-1.500) , meat and protein intake (OR=0.794, 95%CI: 0.638-0.987) and drink tea (OR=1.233, 95%CI: 1.056-1.440) may be influencing factors of the total detection rate of upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerosis. Conclusions: In Feicheng city, intake of meat and protein is the protective factor of the upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions. Men, aged, smoking, drinking and tea will increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal cancer and precancerous lesions.

Biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside Rg3 by endophytic bacterium Burkholderia sp. GE 17-7 isolated from Panax ginseng.

AIMS: To isolate a novel endophytic bacterium from Panax ginseng that could have excellent properties in converting ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside Rg3. METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on a 16S rDNA gene sequence, the strain named GE 17-7 was identified as Burkholderia sp. This strain has shown the highest activity in converting ginsenoside Rb1 to 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3. During the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1, the final metabolite was identified by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and the transformation pathway of ginsenoside Rb1 was also identified by thin-layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography analysis in this study. CONCLUSIONS: We have successfully isolated a ß-glucosidase-producing endophytic bacterium GE 17-7 from P. ginseng. Ginsenoside Rg3 was produced by strain GE 17-7 from ginsenoside Rb1 via ginsenoside Rd. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report of the conversion of major ginsenoside Rb1 into minor ginsenoside Rg3 by fermentation with Burkholderia sp. endophytic bacteria in P. ginseng. These results suggest a new preparation method for ginsenoside Rg3 using strain GE 17-7 in the pharmaceutical industry.

Long-term follow-up of Dupuytren disease after injection of triamcinolone acetonide in Chinese patients in Taiwan.

Injection of triamcinolone acetonide is a non-operative treatment for early-stage Dupuytren disease in Caucasians, but its effectiveness in non-Caucasians is unclear. We report averaged 5-year follow-up results of 37 patients (49 affected hands) with early-stage Dupuytren disease for patients in Taiwan (non-Caucasian) who received a single dose of 5 mg triamcinolone acetonide injection into nodules monthly for 3 months. Using ultrasound, we recorded no progression of sizes of the modules following injection after 6 months. After an average 5-year follow-up, two patients with three hands (6%) experienced reactivation of the treated nodules. None required surgical intervention. Ultrasound examination showed that sizes of the treated Dupuytren nodules decreased significantly by 40% 6 months after injection and 56% at the final follow-up. We conclude that in these Chinese patients in Taiwan with early Dupuytren nodules, triamcinolone acetonide injection was effective in reducing the size of the Dupuytren nodules and maintaining long-term durable control of the nodular growth. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

[Drug resistance and influencing factors in adult AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in Dehong, Yunnan province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of drug resistance in adult AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral treatment(ART)and influencing factors in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province during 2012-2014. METHODS: For this cohort study, all the AIDS patients aged over 15 and receiving ART in Dehong were screened for HIV drug resistance in 2012, and 3 715 patients who had received ART for more than 6 months were enrolled for 12 months and 24 months follow up. RESULTS: Among the 3 715 patients, 56.6% were males, 72.6% were aged 26-45 years and 76.0% were married. The main treatment regimen was nevirapine(NVP)+ lamivudine(3TC)+ zidovudine(AZT)(38.2%). A total of 3 556 patients(95.7%)received at least one viral load testing during the two years follow-up, among them 253(7.1%)patients had VL≥1 000 copies/ml, in which 211(83.4%)received drug resistance related gene mutation testing, the results indicated that the drug resistance developed in 52 and 39 patients in 2013 and 2014(1.43 per 100 person years and 0.88 per 100 person years)respectively. The overall HIV drug incidence was 1.13 per 100 person years. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that age ≤25 years, to be infected through drug use, treatment regimen as D4T+ 3TC +NVP and baseline CD4(+) T cells ≤200 cells/µl were the risk factor of HIV drug resistance. Eleven HIV gene subtypes were detected in the 82 patients with newly developed drug resistance, CRF_BC was predominant(31.7%), followed by CRF01_AE(22.0%)and C(19.5%). Ten patients were infected with mixed subtypes of CRF_BC/B', CRF_BC/CRF_01B and CRF_BC/C. Most of the 82 patients were resistant to NRTIs and NNRTIs, the main mutation loci were M184V and K103N. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of drug resistance in adult AIDS patients receiving ART was relatively low in Dehong. However, it is necessary to conduct the health education in young people and drug users to improve the treatment compliance and strengthen the surveillance for HIV drug resistance.

Modification of granular activated carbon using low molecular weight polymer for enhanced removal of Cu(2+) from aqueous solution.

Palm shell activated carbon was modified via surface impregnation with polyethyleneimine (PEI) to enhance removal of Cu(2+) from aqueous solution in this study. The effect of PEI modification on batch adsorption of Cu(2+) as well as the equilibrium behavior of adsorption of metal ions on activated carbon were investigated. PEI modification clearly increased the Cu(2+) adsorption capacities by 68% and 75.86% for initial solution pH of 3 and 5 respectively. The adsorption data of Cu(2+) on both virgin and PEI-modified AC for both initial solution pH of 3 and 5 fitted the Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson isotherms considerably better than the Freundlich isotherm.

[Bt gene flow of transgeic cotton].

This study was carried out to determine the gene flow of transgenic cotton under Chinese ecological environment. Transgenic cotton GK-12 containing the marker gene NPTII and Bt gene was planted in the 6 x 6 m2 plot, non-transgenic cotton CCRC 12 and Xinmian 13 were planted respectively around them. At varying distances from transgenic cotton, seeds produced by the non-transgenic cotton were collected and screened for marker gene and Bt gene using kanamycine sulphate and Dot-ELISA method. PCR technique was also used in some seeds to screen Bt gene. The result indicated that gene flow was found to be high at 0-6 m, and to decrease with distances; however gene flow occurred up to distance of 36 m from the transgenic cotton plot. Bt gene flow at 3-6 m increased with increasing the diversity of transgenic cotton in the plot, but gene flow increased little at long distance. The gene flow between species was lower than between cultivars at 0-6 m, and occurred at the distance of 72 m from transgenic plot. 72 m buffer zones would serve to limit gene flow of transgenic cotton from small-scale field test. The possibility of escapes of engineered gene to wild relatives of cotton species was also discussed.

Guinea pig cytomegalovirus immediate-early transcription.

Guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) immediate-early (IE) gene expression was analyzed. GPCMV IE RNA was defined as RNA obtained from GPCMV-infected guinea pig cells treated with cycloheximide for 1 h before infection and for 4 h postinfection. Mapping studies showed that GPCMV IE genes are located at several distinct sites on the GPCMV genome. A total of 17 GPCMV IE transcripts were identified, and 9 IE transcripts coded for by three specific regions of the genome (regions I, II, and III) were characterized in detail. A series of recombinant DNA clones were generated to identify the nine IE transcripts. Three of the IE transcripts from region I and three from region III were transcribed in the same direction from overlapping sequences. The 2.0-kilobase (kb) transcript encoded by the EcoRI E DNA fragment (region II) was the most abundant IE GPCMV transcript. The cloned GPCMV DNA subfragment that was used to identify the region II EcoRI E 2.0-kb transcript did not hybridize to GPCMV early or late RNA, indicating that this transcript is expressed only under IE conditions. Expression of RNAs from the IE genes was also measured during a natural GPCMV infection in the absence of cycloheximide. During the natural infection, the transcripts previously identified under IE cycloheximide block conditions were expressed, and the region II EcoRI E 2.0-kb transcript was the most abundant transcript at 1 h postinfection. In addition, a rise and fall in RNA levels was observed during the natural infection, demonstrating the transient nature of expression of these transcripts. We conclude that GPCMV IE gene expression is complex, involving a reasonably large number of genes, and demonstrates some similarities with IE transcription by other CMVs.

An analysis of the metabolism and cell wall composition of Candida albicans during germ-tube formation.

The uptake of nutrients (glucose, glutamine, and N-acetylglucosamine), the intracellular concentrations of metabolites (glucose-6-phosphate, cyclic AMP, amino acids, trehalose, and glycogen) and cell wall composition were studied in Candida albicans. These analyses were carried out with exponential-phase, stationary-phase, and starved yeast cells, and during germ-tube formation. Germ tubes formed during a 3-h incubation of starved yeast cells (0.8 X 10(8) cells/mL) at 37 degrees C during which time the nutrients glucose plus glutamine or N-acetylglucosamine (2.5 mM of each) were completely utilized. Control incubations with these nutrients at 28 degrees C did not form germ tubes. Uptake of N-acetylglucosamine and glutamine was inhibited by cycloheximide which suggests that de novo protein synthesis was required for the induction of these uptake systems. The glucose-6-phosphate content varied from 0.4 nmol/mg dry weight for starved cells to 2-3 nmol/mg dry weight for growing yeast cells and germ tube forming cells. Trehalose content varied from 85 nmol/mg dry weight (growing yeast cells and germ tube forming cells) to 165 nmol/mg weight (stationary-phase cells). The glycogen content decreased during germ-tube formation (from 800 to 600 nmol glucose equivalent/mg dry weight) but increased (to 1000 nmol glucose equivalent/mg dry weight) in the control incubation of yeast cells. Cyclic AMP remained constant throughout germ-tube formation at 4-6 pmol/mg dry weight. The total amino acid pool was similar in exponential, starved, and germ tube forming cells but there were changes in the amounts of individual amino acids. The overall cell wall composition of yeast cells and germ tube forming cells were similar: lipid (2%, w/w); protein (3-6%), and carbohydrate (77-85%). The total carbohydrates were accounted for as the following fractions: alkali-soluble glucan (3-8%), mannan (20-23%), acid-soluble glucan (24-27%), and acid-insoluble glucan (18-26%). The relative amounts of the alkali-soluble and insoluble glucan changed during starvation of yeast cells, reinitiation of yeast-phase growth, and germ-tube formation. Analysis of the insoluble glucan fraction from cells labelled with [14C]glucose during germ-tube formation showed that the chitin content of the cell wall increased from 0.6% to 2.7% (w/w).

Germ tube induction in Candida albicans.

A reproducible and simple system for the production of germ tubes from yeast cells of Candida albicans using glucose and glutamine as substrates has been described. During germ tube formation there was a doubling of the dry weight but the number of cells remained constant. Although the DNA content did not change for the first 4 h of germ tube formation, the RNA content more than doubled. The DNA and RNA content of C. albicans blastospores are 4.5 x 10(-15) g per cell and 48 x 10(-15) g per cell respectively. Nystatin, phenethyl alcohol, 2,4-dinitrophenol, azaserine, salicylhydroxamic acid, and 5-fluorocytosine were all effective inhibitors of germ tube formation. Cysteine, potassium cyanide, and polyoxin D did not prevent germination. The incorporation of both uracil and leucine occurred rapidly during germ tube formation. The inhibitors of RNA synthesis, actinomycin D. cordycepin, and daunomycin prevented germination and inhibited uracil incorporation. The translational inhibitors, trichodermin, aurin tricarboxylic acid, puromycin, and cyloheximide were effective in inhibiting both germ tube formation and leucine incorporation.