Effect of Biofilm Forming on the Migration of Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate from PVC Plastics.

Plastic additives, represented by plasticizers, are important components of plastic pollution. Biofilms inevitably form on plastic surfaces when plastic enters the aqueous environment. However, little is known about the effect of biofilms on plastic surfaces on the release of additives therein. In this study, PVC plastics with different levels of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) content were investigated to study the effect of biofilm growth on DEHP release. The presence of biofilms promoted the migration of DEHP from PVC plastics to the external environment. Relative to biofilm-free controls, although the presence of surface biofilm resulted in 0.8 to 11.6 times lower DEHP concentrations in water, the concentrations of the degradation product, monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) in water, were 2.3 to 57.3 times higher. When the total release amounts of DEHP in the biofilm and in the water were combined, they were increased by 0.6-73 times after biofilm growth. However, most of the released DEHP was adsorbed in the biofilms and was subsequently degraded. The results of this study suggest that the biofilm as a new interface between plastics and the surrounding environment can affect the transport and transformation of plastic additives in the environment through barrier, adsorption, and degradation. Future research endeavors should aim to explore the transport dynamics and fate of plastic additives under various biofilm compositions as well as evaluate the ecological risks associated with their enrichment by biofilms.

AutoBar: Automatic Barrier Coverage Formation for Danger Keep Out Applications in Smart City.

Barrier coverage is a fundamental application in wireless sensor networks, which are widely used for smart cities. In applications, the sensors form a barrier for the intruders and protect an area through intrusion detection. In this paper, we study a new branch of barrier coverage, namely warning barrier coverage (WBC). Different from the classic barrier coverage, WBC has the inverse protect direction, which moves the sensors surrounding a dangerous region and protects any unexpected visitors by warning them away from the dangers. WBC holds a promising prospect in many danger keep out applications for smart cities. For example, a WBC can enclose the debris area in the sea and alarm any approaching ships in order to avoid their damaging propellers. One special feature of WBC is that the target region is usually dangerous and its boundary is previously unknown. Hence, the scattered mobile nodes need to detect the boundary and form the barrier coverage themselves. It is challenging to form these distributed sensor nodes into a barrier because a node can sense only the local information and there is no global information of the unknown region or other nodes. To this end, in response to the newly proposed issue of the formation of barrier cover, we propose a novel solution AutoBar for mobile sensor nodes to automatically form a WBC for smart cities. Notably, this is the first work to trigger the coverage problem of the alarm barrier, wherein the regional information is not pre-known. To pursue the high coverage quality, we theoretically derive the optimal distribution pattern of sensor nodes using convex theory. Based on the analysis, we design a fully distributed algorithm that enables nodes to collaboratively move toward the optimal distribution pattern. In addition, AutoBar is able to reorganize the barrier even if any node is broken. To validate the feasibility of AutoBar, we develop the prototype of the specialized mobile node, which consists of two kinds of sensors: one for boundary detection and another for visitor detection. Based on the prototype, we conduct extensive real trace-driven simulations in various smart city scenarios. Performance results demonstrate that AutoBar outperforms the existing barrier coverage strategies in terms of coverage quality, formation duration, and communication overhead.

[Clinical outcome of internal fixation of middle third clavicle fractures using locking compression plate: comparison between conventional open plating and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis].

Objective: To compare the outcomes of conventional open plating and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) for treatment of displaced middle third clavicle fractures. Methods: A retrospective cohort study. From January 2016 to December 2020, a total of 42 patients with middle third clavicle fractures treated with locking compression plates in the Department of Orthopedics, Nanping First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University were analyzed retrospectively, including 27 males and 15 females with a mean age of (36.5±8.7) years (19-61 years). According to the different treatment methods, the patients were divided into 2 groups: the traditional incision group (n=20) were treated with conventional open plating and the MIPO group (n=22) were treated with the MIPO technique. The supraclavicular nerve was preserved in those patients. The two groups were compared in terms of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, fracture healing time, and the ratio and length difference with the uninjured clavicle. The shoulder joint function was evaluated with Constant score and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score (DASH) at the last follow-up. The incidence of numbness around the incision was evaluated at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year after operation, and the complications of the two groups were compared. Results: The patients were followed-up for an average of 16.5 months (ranged from 13 to 35 months). The operating time [(68.4±12.7) min vs (55.3±10.2) min], intraoperative blood loss[(72.5±16.9) ml vs (52.8±13.5) ml], as well as incision length [(8.7±2.3) cm vs (4.5±1.2) cm] were all significantly greater in traditional incision group than those in MIPO group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the time of fracture healing, the length of contrast with the contralateral clavicle, and the constant score and DASH score of shoulder joint function at the last follow-up (all P>0.05). The incidence of numbness around the incision after operation at 6 weeks [60.0%(12/20) vs 27.3%(6/22)] and 12 weeks [45.0%(9/20) vs 13.6%(3/22)] were obviously higher in traditional incision group than those in MIPO group (both P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups at 1 year after operation [15.0%(3/20) vs 4.5%(1/22), P=0.531]. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications incidence between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: It is showed that both conventional open plating and MIPO are effective and safe treatment methods for displaced middle third clavicle fractures with locking compression plates. MIPO can reduce operating time, intraoperative blood loss and the incidence of early postoperative numbness around the incision.

[Identification of potential influencing factors associated with elimination of migraine headache in patients with PFO after percutaneous closure].

Objective: To recognize the potential factors that contribute to the eradication of migraine headache in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) at one year after percutaneous closure. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted, which enrolled patients diagnosed with migraines and PFO at the Department of Structural Heart Disease, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between May 2016 and May 2018. The patients were segregated into two groups based on their response to treatment, and one group showed elimination of migraines while another did not. Elimination of migraines was defined as a Migraine Disability Assessment Score (MIDAS) score of 0 at one year postoperatively. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression model was utilized to identify the predictive variables for migraine elimination post-PFO closure. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the independent predictive factors. Results: The study enrolled a total of 247 patients, with an average age of (37.5±13.6) years, comprising 81 male individuals (32.8%). One year after closure, 148 patients (59.9%) reported eradication of their migraines. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that migraine with or without aura (OR=0.003 9, 95%CI 0.000 2-0.058 7, P=0.000 18), a history of antiplatelet medication use (OR=0.088 2, 95%CI 0.013 7-0.319 3, P=0.001 48) and resting right-to-left shunt (RLS) (OR=6.883 6, 95%CI 3.769 2-13.548 0, P<0.001) were identified as independent predictive factors for elimination of migraine. Conclusion: Migraine with or without aura, a history of antiplatelet medication use, and resting RLS are the independent prognostic factors associated with elimination of migraine. These results provide important clues for clinicians to choose the optimal treatment plan for PFO patients. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Transferability and reproducibility of the EpiSkin™ Micronucleus Assay.

A novel in vitro 3D micronucleus assay was developed in China using the EpiSkin™ 3D human skin model. This EpiSkin™ Micronucleus Assay showed good predictivity and reproducibility during internal validation and is expected to contribute to in vitro genotoxicity testing as a follow-up for positive results from 2D micronucleus assay. Having developed the assay in one laboratory, further work focused on the transferability and inter-laboratory reproducibility in two additional Chinese authority laboratories (Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Zhejiang Institute for Food and Drug Control). Formal training was provided for both laboratories, which resulted in good transferability based on the results of two positive compounds, such as mitomycin C and vinblastine. Independent experiments were then performed, and inter-laboratory reproducibility was checked using 2-acetylaminofluorene, 5-fluorouracil, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and d-limonene. The dose-responses of the positive control chemical, mitomycin C, were similar to those of the developing laboratory, and all test chemicals were correctly classified by all laboratories. Overall, there was a good transferability as well as intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility of the EpiSkin™ Micronucleus Assay. This study further confirmed the assay's robustness and provided confidence to enter following validation stages for scientific acceptance.

Association of urinary arsenic with insulin resistance: Cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2016.

BACKGROUND: Long-term arsenic exposure is associated with diabetes in adults, the mechanism of which involves insulin resistance. The relationship between arsenic and insulin resistance in adults is unclear. We analyzed the relationship between urinary arsenic and insulin resistance in US adults. RESULTS: We identified 815 adults aged 20-79 years who participated in the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Urinary arsenic, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and other key covariates were obtained from the NHANES data. The association between urinary arsenic and insulin resistance was evaluated by analyzing the urinary arsenic level and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance. The median total urinary arsenic level was 6.82 µg/L. After adjusting for possible confounding factors (gender, age, and body mass index), the 80th and 20th percentile odds ratio (OR) was 1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07, 1.87); the OR of the 70th and 30th percentiles was 1.41 (95% CI 1.08, 1.84). CONCLUSIONS: In most subgroups, after similar adjustment, the relationship between urine total arsenic and insulin resistance remained. Total arsenic exposure in urine may be associated with insulin resistance. Evidence from larger and more adequately powered cohort studies is needed to confirm our results.

Novel small molecule IL-6 inhibitor suppresses autoreactive Th17 development and promotes Treg development.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the leading cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in the United States in young adults, but current treatments are only partially effective, making it necessary to develop new, innovative therapeutic strategies. Myelin-specific interleukin (IL)-17-producing T helper type 17 (Th17) cells are a major subset of CD4 T effector cells (Teff ) that play a critical role in mediating the development and progression of MS and its mouse model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), while regulatory T cells (Treg ) CD4 T cells are beneficial for suppressing disease. The IL-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3) signaling pathway is a key regulator of Th17 and Treg cells by promoting Th17 development and suppressing Treg development. Here we show that three novel small molecule IL-6 inhibitors, madindoline-5 (MDL-5), MDL-16 and MDL-101, significantly suppress IL-17 production in myelin-specific CD4 T cells in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. MDL-101 showed superior potency in suppressing IL-17 production compared to MDL-5 and MDL-16. Treatment of myelin-specific CD4 T cells with MDL-101 in vitro reduced their encephalitogenic potential following their subsequent adoptive transfer. Furthermore, MDL-101 significantly suppressed proliferation and IL-17 production of anti-CD3-activated effector/memory CD45RO+ CD4+ human CD4 T cells and promoted human Treg development. Together, these data demonstrate that these novel small molecule IL-6 inhibitors have the potential to shift the Teff  : Treg balance, which may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for ameliorating disease progression in MS.

Genome-wide analysis of GRAS transcription factor gene family in Gossypium hirsutum L.

BACKGROUND: Cotton is a major fiber and oil crop worldwide. Cotton production, however, is often threatened by abiotic environmental stresses. GRAS family proteins are among the most abundant transcription factors in plants and play important roles in regulating root and shoot development, which can improve plant resistance to abiotic stresses. However, few studies on the GRAS family have been conducted in cotton. Recently, the G. hirsutum genome sequences have been released, which provide us an opportunity to analyze the GRAS family in G. hirsutum. RESULTS: In total, 150 GRAS proteins from G. hirsutum were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these GRAS protins could be classified into 14 subfamilies including SCR, DLT, OS19, LAS, SCL4/7, OS4, OS43, DELLA, PAT1, SHR, HAM, SCL3, LISCL and G_GRAS. The gene structure and motif distribution analysis of the GRAS members in G. hirsutum revealed that many genes of the SHR subfamily have more than one intron, which maybe a kind of form in the evolution of plant by obtaining or losing introns. Chromosomal location and duplication analysis revealed that segment and tandem duplication maybe the reasons of the expension of the GRAS family in cotton. Gene expression analysis confirmed the expression level of GRAS members were up-regulated under different abiotic stresses, suggesting that their possible roles in response to stresses. What's more, higher expression level in root, stem, leaf and pistil also indicated these genes may have effect on the development and breeding of cotton. CONCLUSIONS: This study firstly shows the comprehensive analysis of GRAS members in G. hirsutum. Our results provide important information about GRAS family and a framework for stress-resistant breeding in G. hirsutum.

Norovirus outbreaks in Fengtai District, Beijing, China, 2014.

Norovirus (NoV) is the most common cause of non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks worldwide. Eight NoV outbreaks in the Fengtai District of Beijing City, China, were identified in 2014. Samples were collected from the eight outbreaks, and 73 out of 119 samples from cases and 10 out of 59 samples from the close contacts were positive for NoVs. The genotypes were determined by sequencing analysis. Six different GII genotypes, including GII.2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, and 17 were found, and GII.4 was not the local major epidemic genotype in the present study. Enhanced strain surveillance is necessary for future NoV epidemics.

[Homologous simple sequence repeats (SSRs) analysis in tetraploid (AD1) and diploid (A2, D5) genomes of Gossypium].

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs)are a class of repetitive DNA sequences, which are commonly used for genome analysis. Comparison of the homologous SSRs among different genomes is helpful to understand the evolutionary process in relative species. In this study, SSR scanning was performed to investigate their distribution and length variation among the genomes of G. raimondii (D5), G. arboretum (A2) and G. hirsutum (AD1). The results demonstrated that the distribution of SSRs in A genome was very similar with that in D genome, while the length variation of homologous SSRs between A and AD genome was more conserved than that between D and AD genome. Compared with SSRs in AD genome, the number of SSRs with longer motif length in A genome was about five times of those with shorter motif length, while it was about three times in D genome. This implied that the length variation rates of homologous SSRs between diploid cotton and tetraploid cotton were different during the parallel evolution due to the subgenome fusion, and the motif length of most SSRs in tetraoploid genome tended to become shorter than homologous SSRs in diploid genome during the process of evolution. This study comprehensively compared the SSRs in three cotton genomes and revealed the significant difference among them, providing a foundation for further evolutionary study of Gossypium genome.

Burden of decompensated cirrhosis and ascites on hospital services in a tertiary care facility: time for change?

BACKGROUND: Ascites, the most frequent complication of cirrhosis, is associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life. Recurrent hospital admissions are common and often unplanned, resulting in increased use of hospital services. AIMS: To examine use of hospital services by patients with cirrhosis and ascites requiring paracentesis, and to investigate factors associated with early unplanned readmission. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical chart and clinical databases was performed for patients who underwent paracentesis between October 2011 and October 2012. Clinical parameters at index admission were compared between patients with and without early unplanned hospital readmissions. RESULTS: The 41 patients requiring paracentesis had 127 hospital admissions, 1164 occupied bed days and 733 medical imaging services. Most admissions (80.3%) were for management of ascites, of which 41.2% were unplanned. Of those eligible, 69.7% were readmitted and 42.4% had an early unplanned readmission. Twelve patients died and nine developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Of those eligible for readmission, more patients died (P = 0.008) and/or developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (P = 0.027) if they had an early unplanned readmission during the study period. Markers of liver disease, as well as haemoglobin (P = 0.029), haematocrit (P = 0.024) and previous heavy alcohol use (P = 0.021) at index admission, were associated with early unplanned readmission. CONCLUSION: Patients with cirrhosis and ascites comprise a small population who account for substantial use of hospital services. Markers of disease severity may identify patients at increased risk of early readmission. Alternative models of care should be considered to reduce unplanned hospital admissions, healthcare costs and pressure on emergency services.

Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer in a single high-volume center.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is now considered the standard of care by many centers in the treatment of both squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a neoadjuvant CRT protocol, as regards pathological complete response (pCR) rate and long-term survival. METHODS: From 2003 to 2011, at Upper G.I. Surgery Division of Verona University, 155 consecutive patients with locally advanced esophageal cancers (90 SCC, 65 adenocarcinoma) were treated with a single protocol of neoadjuvant CRT (docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil with 50.4 Gy of concurrent radiotherapy). Response to CRT was evaluated through percentage of pathological complete response (pCR or ypT0N0), overall (OS) and disease-related survival (DRS), and pattern of relapse. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-one patients (84.5 %) underwent surgery. Radical resection (R0) was achieved in 123 patients (79.3 %), and pCR in 65 (41.9 %). Postoperative mortality was 0.7 % (one case). Five-year OS and DRS were respectively 43 and 49 % in the entire cohort, 52 and 59 % in R0 cases, and 72 and 81 % in pCR cases. Survival did not significantly differ between SCC and adenocarcinoma, except for pCR cases. Forty-nine patients suffered from relapse, which was mainly systemic in adenocarcinoma. Only three out of 26 pCR patients with previous adenocarcinoma developed relapse, always systemic. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that patients treated with the present protocol achieve good survival and high pCR rate. Further research is necessary to evaluate whether surgery on demand is feasible in selected patients, such as pCR patients with adenocarcinoma.

Phthalates in plastic stationery in China and their exposure risks to school-aged children.

Phthalates have been strictly banned in children's products in many countries. However, as a product with a high frequency of daily contact with children, stationery is not strictly regulated for phthalates in many countries and the occurrences and risks of phthalates in stationery are rarely reported. In this study, the contents of sixteen types of common phthalates in stationery were determined and the exposure risk of these phthalates to children was also estimated. The total contents of phthalates in all stationery ranged from 5.56 to 3.46 × 105 µg/g, with a median value of 1.48 × 104 µg/g. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) desk mats (DMs) contained the highest contents of phthalates among all types of stationery. Percutaneous absorption and hand-to-mouth ingestion levels of phthalates for school-age children from the DMs were 2.03 × 10-5 - 10.14 µg/kg-Bw/day and 2.14 × 10-5 - 10.67 µg/kg-Bw/day, respectively. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) had the highest proportion, detection rate, and exposure level among all measured phthalates. Our study revealed that phthalates in PVC stationery, especially classroom DMs, at both contents and exposure risks, were higher than those in many other children's plastic products. It was necessary to strengthen the management of plastic stationery from the perspective of materials and phthalates addition.

Clinical application of laparoscopic continuous interposition jejunostomy with double-tract anastomosis and esophagogastric anastomosis: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the early clinical outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted proximal gastrectomy with continuous interposition of jejunal cis-peristaltic dual-channel anastomosis and esophagogastric anastomosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 130 patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted radical resection of proximal gastric cancer in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College between June 2018 and October 2022 was conducted. Continuous interposition jejunal double-channel anastomosis (double-tract anastomosis) was used in 71 patients and esophagogastric anastomosis (esophagogastrostomy) in 59 patients. The basic clinical data, preoperative and postoperative clinical test indexes, postoperative complications and improvement of symptoms compared to preoperative ones, basic nutritional status and Visick classification of esophageal reflux symptoms at 6 months after surgery were compared between the two groups. Postoperative contrast images of patients in the continuous interposition jejunal double-tract group were collected and analyzed for the ratio of contrast agent remaining in the stomach to that remaining in the small intestinal channel. RESULTS: A total of 130 cases meeting the criteria were included in this study, including 71 cases involving the double-tract (DT) anastomosis method and 59 cases involving the esophagogastrostomy (EG) anastomosis method. There was no significant difference in preoperative information and perioperative safety between the two groups. Visick score of the DT group was significantly better than that of the EG group. CONCLUSIONS: Double-tract jejunal anastomosis can effectively improve esophageal reflux symptoms after proximal gastrectomy. At the same time, its anastomotic method also improves the nutritional status in the short term compared to the esophagogastric anastomosis and is a more ideal procedure for reconstructing the digestive tract after proximal gastrectomy.

Is secretoneurin a new hormone?

Numerous small potentially bioactive peptides are derived from the selective processing of the ~600 amino acid secretogranin II (SgII) precursor, but only the 31-42 amino acid segment termed secretoneurin (SN) is well-conserved from sharks to mammals. Both SNa and SNb paralogs have been identified in some teleosts, likely arising as a result of the specific genome duplication event in this lineage. Only one copy of the putative lamprey SgII (188 amino acids) could be identified which gives rise to a divergent agnathan SN that contains the signature YTPQ-X-LA-X(7)-EL sequence typical of the central core of all known SN peptides. In rodent models, SN has regulatory effects on neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter release, and possesses therapeutic potential for the induction of angiogenesis. The wide distribution of SN in neuroendocrine neurons and pituitary cells suggests important endocrine roles. The clearest example of the endocrine action of SN is the stimulatory effects on pituitary luteinizing hormone release from goldfish pituitary and mouse LßT2 gonadotroph cells, indicative of an important role in reproduction. Several lines of evidence suggest that the SN receptor is most likely a G-protein coupled protein. Microarray analysis of SN effects on dispersed goldfish pituitary cells in vitro reveals novel SN actions that include effects on genes involved in notch signaling and the guanylate cyclase pathway. Intracerebroventricular injection of SN increases feeding and locomotory behaviors in goldfish. Given that SgII appeared early in vertebrate evolution, SN is an old peptide with emerging implications as a new multifunctional hormone.

[Current status and progression of minimally invasive surgery after neoadjuvant therapy for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction].

The number of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) has been increasing year by year. The key technical points such as surgical approach, lymph node dissection and GI tract reconstruction have gradually reached their maturity. With the emergence of proofs of evidence-based neoadjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for advanced AEG is also gradually accepted by most surgeons and oncologists. European scholars have previously started researches on MIS after neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer and AEG. Domestic scholars also raise practical suggestions on the application of neoadjuvant therapy for AEG via the cooperation between gastrointestinal and thoracic surgeons, demonstrating the trend in standardization and individualization. But there is still no consent to the indication of MIS after neoadjuvant therapy. Furthermore, there is also a lack of the standardization of technical points for MIS, GI tract reconstruction, short- and long-term outcomes. Such associated problems have been the hot controversy and exploration in recent years. This article describes current progress of neoadjuvant therapy for AEG, current status of MIS after the neoadjuvant therapy in Europe, America, East Asia, including China, and related researches plus future prospects, hoping for better clinical outcomes.

Urban natural wetland as a sink for microplastics: A case from Lalu Wetland in Tibet, China.

Microplastics have been reported in a wide range of aquatic habitats. The wetlands are considered to be important roles in microplastic migration in water bodies. Nevertheless, knowledge about the occurrence and fate of microplastics in urban natural wetland is still limited for us to better understand how they become a sink of microplastics. In this study, the distribution and characteristics of microplastics in surface water, surface sediments, and sediment cores of the Lalu Wetland watershed, China's highest urban wetland, were investigated in August 2020 and January 2021. The abundances of microplastics in the surface water were 0.06-3.05 MPs/L. Microplastic abundance in the surface sediment and sediment core was 0.01-1.10 MPs/g and 0-16.23 MPs/g, respectively. The abundance of microplastics in the water was significantly lower in the wetland than that in the channel in the watershed. Comparing the wetland inlet and outlet water, the microplastic interception rates were 53% in January and 95% in August. The characteristics and seasonal variation of microplastics in the Lalu Wetland implied that urban natural wetlands were good at intercepting microplastics, and vegetation growth might play an important role on the interception of microplastics by the wetland. The increasing of microplastics from bottom to top in the sediment cores of Lalu Wetland also indicated that the ecological risks of microplastics accumulation in sediments of urban natural wetland required further attention.

[Comparison between transoral radiofrequency coblation surgery and open partial laryngectomy for the treatment of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of radiofrequency coblation assisted transoral surgery for the treatment of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma by comparing with concurrent patients treated with conventional transcervical approach. To clarify the advantages of different surgical methods and to summarize the experience of supraglottic carcinoma radiofrequency ablation. Methods: Forty-six patients with supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma treated in department of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery, Peking University First Hospital from March 2014 to January 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them(43 males, 3 females, aged from 45 to 79 years old), 23 patients were treated with radiofrequency coblation and 23 patients with partial laryngectomy with conventional transcervical approach. The operation time, intra-operative blood loss volume, recovery time, inpatient total medical cost and follow-up information of the two groups were analyzed. SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, TNM staging,tumor staging and postoperative radiotherapy between the two groups (all P>0.05).The operation time, intra-operative blood loss volume, recovery time, inpatient total medical cost of the RFC-TOS group were110.0(60.0,150.0)min,5.0(5.0,30.0)ml,3.0(2.0,5.0)days,6.0(4.0,14.0)days and 26 100.7(16 145.5,47 044.4)yuan. The data of conventional transcervical approach group were 205.0(156.5,272.3)min, 150.0(50,200) ml, 18.0(16.3,22.8)days and 56520.1(440 992.5,67 109.9)yuan, (Z=-4.03, -4.94, -4.97, -4.98 and -4.13;all P<0.001).The 5-year local control rate, disease-specific survival rate and overall survival rate of the two groups were 86.96%,95.65%,91.30% and 86.96%,91.30%,73.90% renspectively, which had no significant difference between the two groups(all P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared with conventional transcervical surgeries, RFC-TOS could be a reliable new surgical option for organ-function preservation strategy in the treatment of supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma.The RFC is a suitable new technique and deserving more multi-center clinical trials for its clinical promotion.

Secretoneurin stimulates the production and release of luteinizing hormone in mouse L{beta}T2 gonadotropin cells.

Secretoneurin (SN) is a functional secretogranin II (SgII)-derived peptide that stimulates luteinizing hormone (LH) production and its release in the goldfish. However, the effects of SN on the pituitary of mammalian species and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To study SN in mammals, we adopted the mouse LßT2 gonadotropin cell line that has characteristics consistent with normal pituitary gonadotrophs. Using radioimmunoassay and real-time RT-PCR, we demonstrated that static treatment with SN induced a significant increment of LH release and production in LßT2 cells in vitro. We found that GnRH increased cellular SgII mRNA level and total SN-immunoreactive protein release into the culture medium. We also report that SN activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) in either 10-min acute stimulation or 3-h chronic treatment. The SN-induced ERK activation was significantly blocked by pharmacological inhibition of MAPK kinase (MEK) with PD-98059 and protein kinase C (PKC) with bisindolylmaleimide. SN also increased the total cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels similarly to GnRH. However, SN did not activate the GnRH receptor. These data indicate that SN activates the protein kinase A (PKA) and cAMP-induced ERK signaling pathways in the LH-secreting mouse LßT2 pituitary cell line.

A signature of 14 immune-related gene pairs predicts overall survival in gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Increasing evidence demonstrates that immune signature plays an important role in the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC). We aimed to develop and validate a robust immune-related gene pair (IRGP) signature for predicting the prognosis of GC patients. METHODS: RNA-Seq data and corresponding clinical information of GC cohort were downloaded from the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas Program) data portal. GSE84437 and GSE15459 microarray datasets were included as independent external cohorts. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was used to build the best prognostic signature. All patients were classified into the high immune-risk and low immune-risk groups via the optimal cut-off of the signature scores determined by time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The prognostic role of the signature was measured by a log-rank test and a Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: 14 immune gene pairs consisting of 25 unique genes were identified to construct the immune prognostic signature. High immune-risk groups showed poor prognosis in the TCGA datasets and GSE84437 datasets as well as in the GSE15459 datasets (all P < 0.001). The 14-IRGP signature was an independent prognostic factor of GC after adjusting for other clinical factors (P < 0.05). Functional analysis revealed that DNA integrity checkpoint, DNA replication, T-cell receptor signaling pathway, and B-cell receptor signaling pathway were enriched in the low immune-risk groups. B cells naive and Monocytes were significantly higher in the high-risk group, and B-cell memory and T-cell CD4 memory activated were significantly higher in the low-risk group. The prognostic signature based on IRGP reflected infiltration by several types of immune cells. CONCLUSION: The novel proposed clinical-immune signature is a promising biomarker for prediction overall survival in patients with GC and providing new insights into the treatment strategies.