[Outcomes and the role of adjuvant therapy of limited stage small cell lung cancer undergoing surgical treatment].

Objective: To investigate the outcomes of limited stage small cell lung cancer (L-SCLC) undergoing surgical therapy and to explore the value of adjuvant therapy for those patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was initialed for the L-SCLC patients who underwent the surgical treatment in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2012 to December 2018. The median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression was used to explore the prognostic factors. Results: A total of 44 patients were included in our study. The median DFS was 25 months, 1- and 2-year DFS rate were 70.2% and 51.9%, respectively. The median OS was 41 months, 1- and 2- year OS rate were 88.4% and 69.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed male (RR=6.56, P=0.03), T3-4 (RR=6.23, P=0.01), pathological lymph node metastasis (RR=6.52, P=0.03) and adjuvant radiotherapy (RR=0.13, P=0.002) were associated with disease relapse significantly. Moreover, pathological lymph node metastasis (RR=3.62, P=0.01) coupled with sufficient adjuvant chemotherapy (≥4 cycles) (RR=0.12, P=0.01) were independent prognostic factors of OS. Conclusions: Surgical therapy may be an alternative primary treatment for L-SCLC. Additional adjuvant radiotherapy can reduce the risk of recurrence. Giving sufficient course of adjuvant chemotherapy can improve OS.

[The situation of social support and its relationship with antenatal depression among 1 075 Zhejiang primiparas in their third trimesters].

Objective: To investigate the situation of social support (SS), and explore its relationship with antenatal depression (AD) among Zhejiang primiparas in their third trimesters. Methods: From March to August 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted and the questionnaire was used at the outpatient consulting room of one maternity hospital in Hangzhou. Inclusion criteria includes the primiparas over 18 years old, gestation from 30 to 36 weeks, been able to understand and complete the questionnaires independently, no family history and history of mental disorders and no use of psychotropic drugs, without serious illness and so on. Exclusion criteria was that the primiparas were unable to complete all the contents of the questionnaire and of poor compliance. 1 150 questionnaires were actually given out, and 1 075 questionnaires were valid, so the valid rate was 93.48%. AD was evaluated by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and SS was evaluated by the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). SS between the non-AD group and the AD group was compared. The correlation between SS and AD was analyzed. Binary logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between SS and AD. The level of SS was divided by average scores, groups lower than the average score was defined as the low-score group, groups higher than the average score was defined as the high-score group. Results: The prevalence of AD (score≥9) was 27.3% (293/1 075) among Zhejiang primiparas in their third trimesters. The scores of family support, friend support and other support, and the total score of SS among the non-AD group were 24.80±2.83, 23.40±3.00, 21.91±3.54 and 70.11±7.92, respectively, which were higher than those in the AD group (22.71±3.88, 21.45±3.59, 19.95±3.97, 64.10±10.01), (t values were 8.43, 8.29, 7.83 and 9.25, respectively, P<0.001 for all). The scores of family support, friend support and other support, and the total score of SS were negatively correlated with AD (rs values were-0.26,-0.25,-0.22 and-0.28, respectively, P<0.001 for all). Compared with low-score group, the scores of family support, friend support and other support, and the total score of SS among the high-score group had a lower risk of antenata depression among primiparas in their third trimesters, OR(95%CI) values were 0.56 (0.41-0.77), 0.66(0.47-0.92), 0.57(0.41-0.79) and 0.36(0.27-0.48), respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of AD among Zhejiang primiparas was relatively high, and AD was negatively associated with SS level. We suggest adding SS in community pregnancy health management service in the future.

[The surgical treatment of ovarian cancer metastasis between liver and diaphragm: a report of 83 cases].

Objective: To explore the safety and feasibility of associating diaphragm resection and liver-diaphragmatic metastasis lesions resection for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Methods: Retrospectively analysis 83 cases(98 times) of advanced ovarian cancer with liver-diaphragmatic metastasis between January 2012 and December 2016 at Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital.The patients were aged from 19 to 75 years.Surgical procedure included metastatic lesions resection(43 times) and stripping(55 times). Operation status, post-operative complications, pathology results and follow-up of the patients were analyzed. Results: Fifteen patients received twice surgical treatment and 68 patients received one time surgical treatment. Postoperative hemorrhage in chest and between liver and diaphragm was not occurred in all cases.Dyspnea and low oxygen saturation were occurred in two cases of stripping patients and 1 case of metastatic lesions resection patients.Results of CT examination indicated that there was medium to large amount of ascites in right chests.The symptoms were relieved after placing thoracic closed drainage.Other patients were recovered smoothly.All patients were diagnosed as ovarian cancer by pathological examination. Conclusion: Associating diaphragm resection is safe and feasible for liver-diaphragmatic metastasis lesions from ovarian cancer.

Palliative surgical intervention in metastatic colorectal carcinoma: a prospective analysis of quality of life.

AIM: Quality of life (QOL) was assessed after palliative surgery for incurable metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). METHOD: Newly diagnosed patients with incurable metastatic CRC who were offered elective palliative surgical intervention were included. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaire was used for the assessment of QOL at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after surgery. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the mean change in the QOL score from baseline. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients formed the study group. Sixteen underwent resection of the primary tumour and eight had a proximal diversion or bypass. The Global Health (GH) score and Social Functioning (SF) score improved at 3 and 6 months after intervention respectively (GH +11, P = 0.021; SF +15, P = 0.005). Mean anxiety scores were markedly improved from the baseline of 51 to 71 (P = 0.004, 3 months) and 76 (P = 0.002, 6 months). Weight concerns also improved significantly when compared with baseline (3 months, +20, P < 0.001; 6 months, +14, P = 0.012). Symptoms of diarrhoea (3 months, --17, P = 0.007; 6 months,--16, P = 0.008) and nausea (--8, P = 0.032) improved. CONCLUSION: In patients with incurable metastatic CRC, surgery improved QOL.

CircRNA_002178 promotes the proliferation and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells by activating the Akt/mTOR pathway.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the biological effects of circRNA_002178 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissues and to analyze its potential mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CircRNA_002178 expression in 50 pairs of OSCC tissues and adjacent ones was studied by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis, and the correlations of circRNA_002178 with clinicopathological indicators, as wells as prognosis of OSCC patients were analyzed. qPCR was used to verify circRNA_002178 expression in OSCC cell lines. Subsequently, circRNA_002178 knockdown models were constructed using lentivirus in OSCC cell lines, and the impacts of circRNA_002178 on the function of OSCC cells were assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) test, plate cloning experiment, transwell assay and nude mouse tumor formation experiments. Finally, rescue experiments in vitro were used to explore the potential mechanism of circRNA_002178 activating Akt/mTOR pathway. RESULTS: Our data showed that circRNA_002178 expression in OSCC tissue specimens was remarkably higher than that in adjacent ones. In comparison to patients in low circRNA_002178 expression group, patients in high expression group showed higher incidences of advanced pathological stage and distant metastasis, and a lower overall survival rate. Cell functional experiments revealed that knockdown of circRNA_002178 markedly attenuated the proliferation and migration ability of OSCC cells compared to the sh-NC group, and the consistent results were observed in the nude mouse experiment. In addition, Western blot suggested that the expression of key proteins in Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was remarkably reduced after downregulation of circRNA_002178 in OSCC cells. Meanwhile, Akt activator SC79 reversed the inhibitory effect of circRNA_002178 on the metastasis and proliferation of OSCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: CircRNA_002178, over-expressed in OSCC tissues and cell lines, may promote the malignant progression of OSCC through activating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Effects of precursor solution composition on the performance and I-V hysteresis of perovskite solar cells based on CH3NH3PbI3-xClx.

Precursor solution of CH3NH3PbI3-xClx for perovskite solar cells was conventionally prepared by mixing PbCl2 and CH3NH3I with a mole ratio of 1:3 (PbCl2:CH3NH3I). While in the present study, CH3NH3PbI3-xClx-based solar cells were fabricated using the precursor solutions containing PbCl2 and CH3NH3I with the mole ratios of 1:3, 1.05:3, 1.1:3, and 1.15:3, respectively. The results display that the solar cells with the mole ratio of 1.1:3 present higher power conversion efficiency and less I-V hysteresis than those with the mole ratio of 1:3. Based on some investigations, it is concluded that the higher efficiency could be due to the smooth and pinhole free film formation, high optical absorption, suitable energy band gap, and the large electron transfer efficiency, and the less I-V hysteresis may be attributed to the small low frequency capacitance of the device.

Ablation of Tacr2 in mice leads to gastric emptying disturbance.

BACKGROUND: Tacr2 is one of the G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs) that mediate the biological actions of tachykinins. It is abundantly expressed in the gastrointestinal (GI) system and is thought to play an important role in GI motility, secretion, and visceral sensitivity. Previously, the physiological and pathophysiological functions of Tacr2 were mainly studied using Tacr2 selective agonists or antagonists. Here, we seek to investigate the effect of Tacr2 disruption in mice to provide further insights. METHODS: The Tacr2 knockout mice were generated by homologous recombination and the phenotypic changes of the Tacr2-null mice were analyzed and compared with their wild type (wt) littermates. KEY RESULTS: Increased food retention was detected in Tacr2-/- mice. The stomach of Tacr2-/- mice had thinner muscularis externa and less neurons in the myenteric plexus. The stomach and small intestine exhibited longer duration of electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced inhibition in the gastric fundus and decreased frequency of migrating motor complex (MMC), respectively. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were significantly up-regulated due to Tarc2 deficiency, contributing to enhanced nitric oxide (NO) signaling in the stomach of Tacr2-/- mice. Intraperitoneal application of 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) to Tacr2-/- mice effectively relieved the gastric emptying disturbance. Moreover, Creb and NF-κB signalings were involved in the regulation of these physiological changes initiated by Tacr2 deficiency. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Tacr2 negatively regulated the expression of nNOS and VIP both in vivo and in vitro. Its ablation in mice elevated the expression of nNOS and VIP, enhanced NO signaling and changed the Creb and NF-κB signalings, finally leading to the gastric emptying disturbance of Tacr2-/- mice.

Lattice dynamics of carbon chain inside a carbon nanotube.

Based on the density functional theory, we obtain the optimum geometry of carbon chain inside a carbon nanotube. The phonon spectrum and specific heat of such a chain and nanotube hybrid system are calculated in terms of lattice dynamics theory. Some new phonon branches that have been obtained come from the coupling vibrations of the nanotube and the chain. The bending and stretching modes of the chain appear at about 520 cm(-1)and 1935 cm(-1) at Gamma point, respectively. It is found that the softening of G modes results mainly from the chain induced variations in the bond length on nanotube, independent of van der Waals interaction, while the stiffening of radial breathing mode is developed by the competition between the two factors. In the low-frequency region, the vibrational density of states are very different from that of the bare nanotube. Its specific heat implies the underlying quantized phonon structures and much large thermal conductivity in the hybrid system. In addition, the chain-length dependent vibration modes are calculated, from which it is expected that a finite chain of about 14 carbon atoms in the nanotube may produce the experimental Raman peak at about 1850 cm(-1).

The clinical value of serum CEA, CA19-9, and CA242 in the diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

AIM: Serum tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and CA242 were investigated to evaluate the values of single and combined test in the diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Pre-operative serum CEA, CA19-9 and CA242 were measured in 105 pancreatic cancers, 70 non-pancreatic malignancies and 30 benign pancreatic diseases. RESULTS: The sensitivity of CA19-9 alone was the highest in pancreatic cancer patients (80%), but the specificity was significantly lower than that of CEA and CA242 (P<0.01). The combination of CEA and CA242 could increase the specificity to 92%. In serum CA242 positive patients, the survival time was remarkably shorter than that of patients with negative result (P<0.01). The survival time in patients with more than two markers positive expression of CEA, CA19-9 and CA242 was obviously shorter than that of only one or no marker positive expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic rate of CA19-9 in pancreatic cancer is better than that of CEA and CA242. Combined detection of CEA and CA242 can improve the diagnostic specificity obviously. High levels of serum markers are associated with advanced stage of the disease. Patients with two or three markers positive expression of CEA, CA19-9, and CA242 simultaneously had a shorter survival time.

Effect of smoking on semen quality of infertile men in Shandong, China.

AIM: To study the effect of smoking on the semen quality in infertile men in Shandong Province, China. METHODS: Adult non-drinker males attending the infertility clinic, including 110 non-smokers and 191 smokers, were recruited for the study. Sixty-one fertile, non-smoker and non-drinker males, who had one or more children, served as the controls. The smokers were divided into subgroups according to the amount and duration of smoking. Semen parameters (semen volume and sperm density, viability, motility, and morphology) were examined and seminal plasma contents of Zn , Cu and superoxide dismutase (SOD) determined. RESULTS: The semen volume and acidity, and the sperm density, viability and forward progression, as well as the seminal plasma contents of Zn, Cu and SOD were much lower in the medium, heavy and long-term smokers than in the non-smokers (P < 0.01). The sperm density, viability and forward progression, and the seminal plasma Zn, Cu and SOD levels were negatively correlated with the amount and duration of cigarette smoking (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Medium, heavy and long-term smoking adversely affected the semen quality in a population of men visiting the infertility clinic in Shandong, China.

Regulatory framework for the thermal treatment of various waste streams.

Since 1990, regulations and standards have changed considerably. This article is an update of the regulatory requirements for the thermal treatment of various waste streams. The waste categories covered, along with the laws they are governed under, include: Hazardous waste under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and under the Clean Air Act; municipal solid waste under Subtitle D of the RCRA; medical waste under Subtitle J of the RCRA; Superfund waste under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA); toxic waste under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); and sludge waste under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

[Measurement of plasma fibronectin concentrations in normal pregnancy and pregnancy induced hypertension and its clinical significance].

Plasma fibronectin (Fn) concentrations were measured in 472 cases of normal pregnancy and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), and 50 cases of normal individuals using radioimmune turbidity method. The results showed that the mean value of Fn in 390 cases of normal pregnancy with various weeks of gestation was 445 +/- 159 mg/L significantly higher than the average of 299 +/- 76 mg/L in 50 cases of normal individuals and 250 +/- 89 mg/L in 22 cases of normal women. As pregnancy progressed, the plasma Fn value increased slightly. The 82 cases of PIH had an average plasma Fn level of 783 +/- 168 mg/L, which was significantly higher than that in normal pregnancy. If plasma Fn concentrition of 600 mg/L was used as cut-off point for the diagnosis of PIH, the sensitivity reached to 83%. Plasma Fn level increased as the disease of PIH progressed. Therefore, plasma Fn concentrition could be used as a reliable indicator to the severity of PIH.

[Significance of hepatitis B virus PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, large protein, PreS2-Ab detection and the prediction of HBV DNA replication.].

BACKGROUND: To explore the significance of hepatitis B virus PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, large protein (LP) detection and the prediction of viral replication. METHODS: PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, LP and HBV markers were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 201 cases of infected serum. Serum HBV DNA level was quantitatively detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: There were significant differences in positive rate between the PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, LP, and HBsAg; the positive rate of PreS2-Ag and LP were higher than that of the HBeAg. No significant differences were found in the positive rates between LP and the levels of HBV DNA and there was a positive correlation between quantitations of HBV DNA and HBV-LP. CONCLUSION: Serum PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag and LP were laboratory markers that can accurately reflect HBV DNA reproduction, and were helpful complementarity to traditional HBV M. There is a close correlation between the number of copies of HBV DNA and the levels of HBV-LP.

Benzocyclobutene-o-xylylene valence tautomerization: Oxygen and sulfur analogs.

Gas phase pyrolysis of o-hydroxybenzyl alcohol at 750 degrees C gave o-quinonemethide, which, on isolation, formed a mixture of the corresponding dimer and trimer. However, pyrolysis of o-hydroxy-[1-(4-pentenyl)]benzyl alcohol permitted intramolecular trapping of the intermediate o-quinonemethide, giving 3,4-trimethylene-3,4-dihydrobenzochroman. In contrast, gas phase pyrolysis of o-mercaptobenzyl alcohol readily gave benzo[b]thiete in good yield. The pyrolysis makes this interesting highly strained molecule readily available for study and synthetic application. Preliminary results showed that benzo[b]thiete readily undergoes thermal dimerization, ring-opening reactions with nucleophiles, and a variety of Diels-Alder reactions.

Stability of gastrin in the gastrointestinal lumen of suckling, weanling and adult pigs.

It has been reported in the literature that a large quantity of gastrin is released into the gastric lumen in various species. This study was aimed to examine the stability of gastrin in the gastrointestinal (GI) lumen of pigs. Iodine-labelled little (G17) and big gastrin (G34) were incubated in vitro with the GI luminal fluids of suckling, weanling and adult pigs at 37 degrees C for 20 min, and the degradation of the peptide was measured by monitoring the generation of trichloroacetic acid soluble radioactivity. The degradation rate of G17 in the gastric fluids of all animals was less than 10%, while the degradation of G34 was less than 15% in the gastric fluids of suckling and adult pigs and about 25% in the gastric fluids of weanling pigs. The degradation rates of G17 and G34 in the small intestinal fluids of suckling pigs were between 18 and 30%, and were significantly lower than the corresponding rates in the intestinal fluids of weanling and adult pigs, the latter were between 35 and 67%. Addition of defatted porcine colostrum or its components, the casein or acid-soluble fraction, inhibited gastrin degradation in the intestinal fluids with the casein fraction having highest inhibition potency. These results indicate that gastrin is stable in the GI lumen of the suckling pigs and porcine colostrum protects gastrin from luminal hydrolysis in the small intestine, suggesting a potential physiological role of luminally released gastrin in suckling animals.

A density-functional study of Al-doped Ti clusters: TinAl (n = 1-13).

Equilibrium geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of TinAl (n = 1-13) clusters have been studied by using density-functional theory with local spin density approximation and generalized gradient approximation. The ground-state structures of TinAl clusters have been obtained. The resulting geometries show that the aluminum atom remains on the surface of clusters for n < 9, but is slowly getting trapped beyond n = 9, meanwhile, the Al atom exhibits a valent transition from monovalent to trivalent. The geometric effects and electronic effects clearly demonstrate the Ti4Al cluster to be endowed with special stability. The studies on the bonds indicate the change from ionic to metalliclike.