Case report: successful resection of a leiomyoma causing pseudoachalasia at the esophagogastric junction by tunnel endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Pseudoachalasia is a rare disorder whose presentation strongly resembles idiopathic achalasia. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we present a case of a 42-year-old female patient with esophageal leiomyoma who was initially diagnosed with achalasia. On endoscopical investigation, however, it became apparent that she had pseudoachalasia as consequence of a leiomyoma at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). The condition was successfully treated through submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection is a therapeutic u option for the treatment of pseudoachalasia caused by leiomyoma of EGJ.

First molecular detection of porcine circovirus type 2 in bovids in China.

For the worldwide pig industries, porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an economically important pathogen. At present, the prevalence of PCV2 is common in Chinese swine herds. However, there is little information on PCV2 prevalence in non-porcine animals in China, such as bovids. Therefore, the goal of this study is to obtain the firsthand prevalence data of PCV2 in bovids in China. Two hundred and eighty serum and muscle samples from dairy cows (n = 180), buffalo (n = 50), and yellow cattle (n = 50) were analyzed by PCR. The detection results show that PCV2 infections (16 %, 8/50) only exist in buffaloes. In addition, there are different PCV2 viral DNAs identified by differential PCR in the same buffalo sample. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis results based on partial ORF1 and ORF2 sequences suggest that PCV2 strains have genetic diversity in buffaloes and they are divided into three different genotypes (PCV2b, PCV2d, and PCV2e, respectively). Moreover, to our knowledge, the PCV2d and PCV2e genotypes have not been previously reported in bovids. Through this study, the firsthand data of PCV2 prevalence in bovids in China was documented.

High prevalence of torque teno sus virus in China and genetic diversity of the 5' non-coding region.

Members of the family Anelloviridae are emerging circular DNA viruses infecting many species of vertebrates including pigs. To date, members of two distinct genera, Iotatorquevirus, including torque teno sus virus 1a and torque teno sus virus 1b (TTSuV1a and TTSuV1b), and Kappatorquevirus, including torque teno sus virus k2a and torque teno sus virus k2b (TTSuVk2a and TTSuVk2b), have been identified in domestic pigs and wild boars. The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and genetic diversity of these viruses based on 5' non-coding genes in Chinese swine herds experiencing clinical symptoms. One hundred eighty-five clinical samples from 11 different regions, collected during 2008-2009, were analyzed using a PCR method, and the results revealed a high TTSuV-positive rate of 78.9 % (146/185) in pigs. Moreover, we detected co-infection with multiple TTSuV strains in the same pig. Nucleotide sequencing results revealed greater genetic diversity within the genus Kappatorquevirus than within the genus Iotatorquevirus. In addition, TTSuVk2b, a novel virus discovered in New Zealand in 2012, was also identified in this study. In summary, the present work helps us obtain more knowledge about the epidemiology and genetic diversity of TTSuVs.

A high level of integrin α6 expression in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells is associated with a migratory and invasive phenotype.

BACKGROUND: The integrin α6 subunit is part of the integrin α6ß1 and α6ß4 complexes, which are known to mediate the invasion of carcinoma cells. However, the precise role of integrin α6 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has not yet been addressed. METHODS: Twenty cases of ICCs and matched nontumor samples were used to analyze integrin α6 expression by immunohistochemistry. After the expression of integrin α6 was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot in ICC cells, we regulated the expression of integrin α6 in ICC cells with specific vshRNA-integrin α6, and assessed the role of integrin α6 in the proliferation and metastasis/invasion of ICC cells. Finally, the involved mechanisms and clinical significance were further investigated. RESULTS: The expression of integrin α6 in ICC tissues was much higher than that in nontumor samples, and the high level of integrin α6 was detected in ICC cells compared with normal liver cells and HepG2 cells. After the down-regulation of integrin α6 in HCCC-9810 cells, we showed that the ability of ICC cells to metastasize and invade was much decreased in vitro, and cell proliferation was inhibited significantly. Further study indicated high expression of integrin α6 enhanced the activation of ERK1/2 and AKT signals in ICC cells and the inhibition of ERK1/2 down-regulated ICC cell proliferation, while the inhibition of AKT markedly impaired ICC cell metastasis and invasion. Integrin α6 overexpression was significantly correlated with larger tumors, multiple nodular, microvascular/bile duct invasion, and lymphatic metastasis (p < 0.05). The postoperative 5-year overall survival (OS) rate in patients with integrin α6(low) was higher than that of the integrin α6(high) group. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of integrin α6 is associated with a migratory and invasive phenotype of ICC, and integrin α6 may be used as molecular target for therapy of ICC.

[Study on complex formation of quercetin reacting with Cu2+ using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy].

Using an intensified spectroscopic detector ICCD, the real-time UV-Vis absorption spectra of quercetin (Q) reacting with Cu2+ under neutral and acid conditions were acquired. The exposure time was 0. 1 ms for each spectrum, and the molar ratio of Cu2+:Q was 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0, respectively. Results indicate that the changes in absorption bands of reaction solutions with different ratio of Cu2+:Q were similar if other conditions were the same, and the greater the molar ratio, the shorter the reaction time; the reaction processes of complex formation were different under neutral and acid conditions. There was an intermediate product with the absorption peak at 428 nm that occurred during the reaction under neutral condition, but the final product was directly formed under acid condition, and the final products under both conditions had the same absorption bands centered at 296 nm; reaction processes with air and without air showed no difference. The present work first observed that there was an intermediate product formed during the complex formation of quercetin reacting with Cu2+ and the absorption band of the final complex was centered at 296 nm. Results obtained here provide useful experimental evidence for the study of complex mechanism of quercetin with Cu2+.

[Transient UV absorption spectra of artemisinin reacting with sodium hydroxide].

UV absorption spectrum of artemisinin and transient absorption spectra of various concentrations of artemisinin reacting with sodium hydroxide were measured by using an intensified spectroscopic detector ICCD. The exposure time of each spectrum was 0.1 ms. Results indicate that artemisinin has an obvious UV absorption band centered at 212.52 nm and can react with sodium hydroxide easily. All absorption spectra of different concentrations of artemisinin reacting with sodium hydroxide have the similar changes, but the moment at which the changes happened is different. After adding sodium hydroxide into artemisinin in ethanol solution, there was a new absorption band centered at 288 nm appearing firstly. As reaction went on, the intensity of another absorption band centered at 260 nm increased gradually. At the end of the reaction, a continuous absorption band from 200 to 350 nm with the peak at 245 nm formed finally. No other transient absorption spectral data are available on the reaction of artemisinin with sodium hydroxide currently. The new spectral information obtained in this experiment provides very important experimental basis for understanding the properties of artemisinin reacting with alkaline medium and is useful for correctly using of artemisinin as a potential anticancer drug.

[Time resolved UV-Vis absorption spectra of quercetin reacting with various concentrations of sodium hydroxide].

A real time investigation of chemical reaction process of quercetin with various concentrations of sodium hydroxide was performed by using an intensified spectroscopic detector ICCD. The time resolved UV-Vis absorption spectra of 5 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) quercetin respectively reacting with sodium hydroxide at concentrations of 2, 0.2, 0.1, 0.04 and 0.02 mol x L(-1) were acquired. A total of 200 spectra with the same exposure time of 0.1 ms for each spectrum but different time interval between two consecutive spectra were recorded for each reaction. The first 50 spectra have the time interval of 20 ms, the next 50 have 1 s, and the last 100 have 2 s. Results indicate that quercetin reacted with sodium hydroxide easily and there was an intermediate product formed during the reaction, with different concentrations of reactants, the changes of absorption bands were the same, but the moments at which the changes happened were different and the total reaction time was various from 1 s to 100 s. Spectra recorded showed the disappearing process of the typical bands centered at 254 and 374 nm of pure quercetin, the growing and disappearing processes of a new band centered at 427 nm of the intermediate product, and the growing process of the new band centered at 314 nm of the final product obviously. No other transient spectroscopic data are currently available on the reaction of quercrtin with sodium hydroxide, the results obtained in the present work provide useful experimental data for the study of the microscopic process of the reaction.

[Measurement and analysis of nanometer particles of silica and carbon black by diffuse reflection FTIR spectra].

By using FTIR-FTS3000 spectrometer and infrared diffuse reflection accessory, the spectra of the nanometer particles of silica, carbon black and their blends with different weight ratio were collected and characterized. It was found from the measured results that blue-shift and broadening phenomenon occurred in the nanometer particle materials in comparison with the mass ones. These phenomena could be explained by the little size effect and quantum size effect. No perfect spectrum could be collected because of the strong absorbance of the nanometer particle materials. For the blends of silica and carbon black there was a maximum absorption corresponding to the critical concentration, where the weight ratio of silica to carbon black was 100 : 20, and below this ratio the relationship between the function F(R) and the concentration obeyed Lambert-Beer's law. Above this ratio, the absorbance will not increase with increasing the proportion of the carbon black in the system.

[Time resolved UV-Vis absorption spectra in synthetic process of quercetin complex with Al3+].

With a deuterium light source was used to provide the continuous light, the time resolved UV-Vis absorption spectra in the synthetic process of quercetin complex with Al3+ were measured by using an intensified ICCD spectroscopic detector. The measuing system was controlled synchronously by using a digital delay generator DG535. A total of 50 spectra with the exposure time of 1 micros for each spectrum and the time interval of 20 ms between two successional spectra were acquired. Results showed clearly that the typical bands centered at 254 and 374 nm of quercetin disappeared at 40 ms after the reaction started; at the same time, an absorption band centered at 384 nm of a transitional product appeared, and the typical absorption band centered at 300 nm of Al3+ still existed; with the reaction progressing, the bands of the transitional product and Al3+ disappeared, and the new bands centered at 267 and 436 nm of the complex of quercetin with Al3+ appeared and became stronger gradually; at 980 ms, the typical absorption band of Al3+ disappeared completely and the two typical absorption bands of the complex increased to the strongest. The synthetic reaction of quercetin complex with Al3+ finished within one second. The process of Al3+ being scavenged is shown in the spectra obviously. The prensent results provide experimental evidence for the Al3+ scavenging ability of quercetin.

[The measurement and analysis of visible-absorption spectrum and fluorescence spectrum of lycopene].

Using ICCD spectral detection system, the absorbency of lycopene-carbon bisulfide solution with different concentration was measured, and the result shows that in a specified range the absorption rule of lycopene solution agrees with Lambert-Beer Law. Absorption spectral wavelength shifts were measured respectively when lycopene was dissolved in acetone, normal hexane, petroleum ether, benzene, ethyl acetate, and carbon bisulfide, and comparing to acetone, different red-shift appeared when lycopene was dissolved in benzene, ethyl acetate, and carbon bisulfide when water was added in lycopene-acetone solution, t he absorbency of lycopene dropped, the fine structure of absorption spectrum became indistinct, and a new absorption peak appeared in UV. The reason for these phenomena is that the solvent molecule had different effect on lycopene molecule when lycopene was dissolved in different solvent. Using fluorecence spectrophotometer, fluorescence spectra of lycopene in different concentrations were collected, and the results show that the fluorescence spectra of lycopene were mainly in 500-680 nm. When concentration was lower than 50 microg x mL(-1), the fluorescence intensity linearly increased with increasing concentration, and when concentration was higher than 60 microg x mL(-1), the fluorescence intensity dropped because of the interaction between lycopene molecules.

[Chromaticity analysis for colorants in dye-based ink-jet ink].

For ink-jet color inks used for the well-known printers, taking Canon, EPSON, HEWLETT PACKARD and LEXMARK as samples, transmittances of the ink solutions were determined, and then the chromaticity analyses were made, in order to calculate the tristimulus values and the chromatic coordinate of each color sample. Also, the gamuts, chroma values, dominant wavelengths and complementary wavelengths were obtained by using the chromatic method for the samples. In this paper, an empirical formula was suggested for the relationship between the complementary wavelengths of the three primary colors: lambda compl, M approximately equal 10/9 (lambda compl, Y) + 10 and lambda compl, M approximately equal 10/9 (lambda compl, Y) - 20. It was found that the empirical formula is well suited for matching the complementary wavelengths of the three primary colors for ink sets of the samples studied.

[UV-vis spectroscopic characterization of inclusion compounds of beta-cyclodextrin with lycopene].

Water-soluble inclusion compounds of beta-cyclodextrin with lycopene were prepared by two methods: (1) complexation in solution and (2) complexation by kneading. It was found that UV-Vis spectra of the inclusion complexes in water are different from those of lycopene in water-miscible organic solvents (tetrahydrofuran) and beta-cyclodextrin in water, which confirms the formation of the inclusion complexes. Specific interactions of lycopene and beta-cyclodextrin cause great changes in absorbance maximum (lambdamax) of lycopene. It is considered that the inclusion complexes in water are formed as supermolecular aggregates with nanometer size, after card-pack type lycopene is included by beta-cyclodextrin in molecular level.

Colorectal cancer screening in high-risk populations: a survey of cognition among medical professionals in Jiangsu, China.

To investigate the cognition of medical professionals when following screening guidelines for colorectal cancer (CRC) and barriers to CRC screening. Between February 2012 and December 2012, an anonymous survey with 19-questions based on several CRC screening guidelines was randomly administered to gastroenterologists, oncologists, general surgeons, and general practitioners in Jiangsu, a developed area in China where the incidence of CRC is relatively high. The average cognitive score was 26.4% among 924 respondents. Gastroenterologists and oncologists had higher scores compared with others (p<0.01 and p<0.01, respectively); doctor of medicine (M.D.) with or without doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) or holders with bachelor of medical science (BMS) achieved higher scores than other lower degree holders (P<0.05). More importantly, doctors who finished CRC related education in the past year achieved higher scores than the others (p<0.001). The most commonly listed barriers to referring high-risk patients for CRC screening were "anxiety about colonoscopy without anesthesia", "lack of awareness of the current guidelines" and "lack of insurance reimbursement. " Lack of cognition was detected among doctors when following CRC screening guidelines for high-risk populations. Educational programs should be recommended to improve their cognition and reduce barriers to CRC screening.

Monolayers of mixture of alkylaminomethyl rutin and lecithin at the air/water interface.

A compound of flavonol-based biosurfactant, as C(8)-substituted alkylaminomethyl rutin (DAMR) for a potential pharmaceutical or agrochemical use, was prepared experimentally. The surface behavior of DAMR and its mixture with lecithin from soybean (SL) had been studied. DAMR, regarded as a pseudo-amphoteric character, exhibits both liquid-condensed (LC) and liquid-expanded (LE) phases while SL is in the form of the LE phase only. The phase parameters of DAMR (including A(limt), pi(coll)) are observed to strongly depend on both the subphase temperature and the pH, which regulate the degree of ionization. In addition, the observed positive deviation calculated from excess Gibbs free energies of the DAMR-SL system suggests a repulsive interaction between DAMR and SL at all X(DAMR) values. Also the interaction parameter is found to increase linearly with surface pressure, regardless of composition. Notably, the relationship of logarithmic activity coefficient vs. X(DAMR)(2) reveals that the molecular interaction of DAMR-SL can be adequately simulated using a simple regular mixture model. Importantly, lower C(S)(-1) values of this mixture than those with pure DAMR and SL denote weak elasticity of mixed monolayers with values of X(DAMR) of 0.2-0.8, indicating that the direct addition of DAMR may exert a somewhat adverse influence on SL membranes.

[Preparation of clenbuterol monoclonal antibody with subtractive immunization method].

AIM: To obtain Clenbuterol monoclonal antibodies. METHODS: Clenbuterol complete antigen was prepared with diazotization method. BALB/c mice was immunized with subtractive immunization, Clenbuterol monoclonal antibody was prepared with rule hybridoma technique. RESULTS: The mice obtained tolerance to BSA by subtractive immunization. The rate of the hybridoma cell with positive reaction which had obtained was 8.2%, and the specific clenbuterol monoclonal antibody was obtained at last. CONCLUSION: Monoclonal antibodies to micromolecule contaminant be prepared by subtractive immunization, could decrease the workload in the bolting of monoclonal antibodies, and increase the chance to obtain the antibody of expected.