A systematic analysis of the global and regional burden of colon and rectum cancer and the difference between early- and late-onset CRC from 1990 to 2019.

The burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) varies substantially across different geographical locations. However, there was no further quantitative analysis of regional social development and the disease burden of CRC. In addition, the incidence of early- and late-onset CRC has increased rapidly in developed and developing regions. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the trends in CRC burden across different regions, in addition to the epidemiological differences between early and late-onset CRC and their risk factors. In this study, estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was employed to quantify trends in age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), mortality rate, and disability-adjusted life-years. Restricted cubic spline models were fitted to quantitatively analyze the relationship between trends in ASIR and Human Development Index (HDI). In addition, the epidemiological characteristics of early- and late-onset CRC were investigated using analyses stratified by age groups and regions. Specifically, meat consumption and antibiotic use were included to explore the differences in the risk factors for early- and late-onset CRC. The quantitative analysis showed that the ASIR of CRC was exponentially and positively correlated with the 2019 HDI in different regions. In addition, the growing trend of ASIR in recent years varied substantially across HDI regions. Specifically, the ASIR of CRC showed a significant increase in developing countries, while it remained stable or decreased in developed countries. Moreover, a linear correlation was found between the ASIR of CRC and meat consumption in different regions, especially in developing countries. Furthermore, a similar correlation was found between the ASIR and antibiotic use in all age groups, with different correlation coefficients for early-onset and late-onset CRC. It is worth mentioning that the early onset of CRC could be attributable to the unrestrained use of antibiotics among young people in developed countries. In summary, for better prevention and control of CRC, governments should pay attention to advocate self-testing and hospital visits among all age groups, especially among young people at high risk of CRC, and strictly control meat consumption and the usage of antibiotics.

[Therapeutic effect of 125I-103Pd hybrid radioactive seeds on pulmonary carcinomas in BALB/c-nu mice].

OBJECTIVE: To prepared (125)I-(103)Pd hybrid radioactive seeds and to explore their therapeutic effect on pulmonary carcinomas. METHODS: The (125)I-(103)Pd hybrid radioactive seeds were prepared by a chemical method of step-by-step coat plating. Pulmonary adenocarcinoma of GLC-82 cells and pulmonary large cell carcinoma of H460 cells were cultured in vitro and then were exposed directly to (125)I, (103)Pd and (125)I-(103)Pd seeds for 48 hours to observe the killing effects of radiation. GLC-82 and H460 tumor models were established and 20 mice chosen randomly for each model. For each tumor model, there were 4 groups (n = 5 each). Then (125)I-(103)Pd, (125)I, (103)Pd and nonradioactive seeds were implanted into the tumors. Tumor sizes and weights of mice were measured and recorded every 5 days for a 2-month observation. RESULTS: The (125)I-(103)Pd hybrid radioactive seeds were prepared successfully. After a 48-hour radiation from radioactive seeds, the GLC-82 cells within one particulate around (125)I, (103)Pd or (125)I-(103)Pd seeds were inhibited so as to become swollen and transfiguring. The H460 cells around (125)I seeds showed no obvious abnormality while those within one particulate around (103)Pd or (125)I-(103)Pd seeds were much fewer. No mouse died during the observation period. The radioactive seeds could inhibit the tumors. The radiotherapeutic effects were similar in two tumor modes: (125)I-(103)Pd seeds > (103)Pd seeds ≈ (125)I seeds > non-radioactive seeds. H460 tumors grew much faster than GLC-82 tumors. Meanwhile the seeds with the same nuclide were much more effective for GLC-82 tumors than for H460 tumors. CONCLUSION: The (125)I-(103)Pd hybrid radioactive seeds are clinically applicable due to their effective inhibitions of tumor growth.

[Fruit-specific expression of sweet protein Brazzein in transgenic tomato plants].

The AGPL1 (ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit 1) promoter from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris S.) has proved to exhibit fruit-specific expression patterns in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.). A plant expression vector harboring sweet-taste protein, Brazzein, directed by AGPL1 promoter, was constructed and transferred into tomato plants through Agrobacterium-mediated transform methods. Histochemical staining assay, PCR screening, Southern blotting analysis and RT-PCR analysis showed that Brazzein gene was successfully integrated into the genome of transgenic tomato plants with stable expression. Sweet-taste fruits were produced under control of fruit-specific AGPL1 promoter, whereas other parameters of fruit quality were largely unchanged.

Status of anti-lung cancer drug patents applications in China from 2003 to 2012.

BACKGROUND: During the past 10 years, dramatic progress has been made in the development of effective lung cancer drugs in China. However, little is known about their patents. OBJECTIVE: To summarize and analyze lung cancer patents or potential drug candidates issued in China over the last 10 years, and thus help researchers and developers to understand the current situation and potential candidates of lung cancer drug patents in China. METHODS: Data were obtained from China Intellectual Property Right Net (CNIPR), a website maintained by the Intellectual Property Publishing House (IPPH) subordinate to the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), and analyzed by bibliometric methods. RESULTS: A total of 707 lung cancer drug patents have been granted in China over the past 10 years. These patents include synthetic compounds, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), combinations of synthetic compounds and TCM, biological products and medical apparatus. Current TCM approaches focus primarily on alteration of natural product rather than whole herb treatments, and there is an effort to modify TCM components and natural products to achieve optimal cancer targeting effects. The patents on synthetic lung cancer drug compounds in China mainly focus on well-known targets, such as EGFR, which comprises 93% of patents for validated targets. CONCLUSION: There has been a surge in lung cancer patents filed in China in recent years due to advancements in the Chinese pharmaceutical industries, improved practices that protect intellectual property rights, and a growing demand for lung cancer drugs. Therefore, there are great opportunities for obtaining lung cancer drug patents, particularly patents on active ingredients from TCM in China.

China's growing contribution to global intracranial aneurysm research (1991-2012): a bibliometric study.

BACKGROUND: We sought to analyze the growing worldwide trends of intracranial aneurysm research, investigate China's recent contribution, and compare the contributions of mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. METHODS: Global and China intracranial aneurysm-related publications were retrieved from the Web of Science database from 1991 to 2012. Excel 2007, Matlab, and Thomson Data Analyzer (TDA) software were used to analyze the search results for number of publications, cited frequency, h-index, and organization contributions. RESULTS: 16468 global papers were identified that were cited 273500 times until 2013-08-15. The United States accounted for 31.497% of the articles, 58.64% of the citations, and the highest h-index (127). Japan and Germany followed in frequency. China's articles ranked eighth (third in 2012) in total number, with most of the contributions occurring since 2002 (91.33%). China was at the early stage of the logic growth curve (exponential growth), with the citation frequency and h-index per year increasing. The quality of the publications was low. The main research centers were located in Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The main Asian funding body was the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The number of publications and frequency of citations of papers from mainland China was greater than that of Taiwan or Hong Kong. CONCLUSION: Global intracranial aneurysm research has been developing swiftly since 1991, with the United States making the largest contribution. Research in China started later, in 2002. Since then, China has increased its rate of publication, and became the third largest contributor by 2012.

[Transformation of wml1 5' promoter region into tomato plants and studies on its transcriptional regulation role].

According to its restriction sites, fragments of 1573 bp, 1197 bp, 896 bp and 795 bp were obtained from the 5' promoter region of wml1 and fused with the coding sequence of the GUS gene. Constructs containing these fragments were introduced into tomato plants via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Histochemical assay of GUS expression in transgenic tomato plants revealed that fragments of 1573 bp, 1197 bp, 896 bp were able to direct GUS expression in fruits of 15, 30, 45 days after anthesis with the expression level of GUS increasing with fruit development, but not in leaves, stems and roots. While no GUS expression was observed in tomato plants transformed by construct containing fragment of 795 bp. It was determined that the region from 857 bp to 957 bp contains the elements necessary for directing fruit-specific expression.