[Analysis of the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy in gallbladder cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experiences in gallbladder cancer treatment, evaluate the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy, and investigate the method of improving the survival of gallbladder cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven gallbladder cancer patients, treated in our center by radical resection (84 cases) and combined with postoperative radiotherapy (43 cases), between June 2003 to December 2009 were included in this study. Their clinical data and follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed. According to AJCC staging criteria, the survival time and 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of the surgery group and the postoperative radiotherapy group at the different pathological stages and resection margin status were compared. RESULTS: The median survival time of postoperative radiotherapy patients in stage III was 16.9 months, and the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 55.7%, 23.5% and 18.2%, respectively, significantly higher than that of the simple operation group ( median survival time 14.3 months, and 1-year, 3-year, 5-year survival rates 42.7%, 22.6% and 16.7%, respectively) (P<0.05). The median survival time of postoperative radiotherapy patients in stage IV, the median survival time was 9.7 months in the postoperative radiotherapy group and 6.3 months in the simple surgery group, and the 1-year survival rates were 14.2% and 9.8%, the 3-year survival rates were 7.2% and 3.9%, the 5-year survival rates were 7.2% and 1.9%, respectively, all showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Among the stage III and IVpatients, all the 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of the postoperative radiotherapy group were higher than that of the simple R0 and R1 surgical resection group (all P<0.05), but with a non-significant difference between the stageIandIIpatients (P>0.05). The main side effects in postoperative radiotherapy patients including nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, all were successfully alleviated by symptomatic and supportive therapy, and the radiotherapy was successfully completed. CONCLUSIONS: With regard to the gallbladder cancer patients in stage III and IV, the survival rate can be obviously increased by postoperative radiotherapy. However, for patients in stageIand II, whether postoperative radiotherapy significantly improves the survival or not, needs to be further validated in larger scale studies.

[Effects of planting methods on the utilization of temperature and sunshine resources and yield of rice under cabbage/rape-paddy cropping system.] / 青菜/æ²¹èœèŒ¬å£ä¸‹æ°´ç¨»æ ½æ¤æ–¹å¼å¯¹æ¸©å ‰èµ„æºåˆ©ç”¨å’Œäº§é‡çš„å½±å“.

Light simplified cultivation and high quality rice are the main directions of rice production in China. Meteorological factors are the most important environmental factors affecting rice growth and yield. Few studies examined the relationship between rice yield and microclimate under different light simplified cultivation modes. To explore the relationship between rice yield and climatic factors (temperature, sunshine and water) at different growth stages of hybrid rice under different forecrops in southwest China, we carried out a split-plot design experiment in 2019 and 2020, with two forecrops of green cabbage and rape as the main plot, and three planting methods, direct-seeding, blanket-transplanting, and artificial transplanting as the subplots, taking Yixiangyou 2115 as the experimental variety. Results showed that compared with rape-paddy cropping system, cabbage-paddy cropping system significantly improved the accumulated temperature and precipitation production efficiency and consequently improved the effective panicles, setting rate, and 1000-grain weight. The yield was increased by 12.7% and 8.3% under cabbage-paddy and rape-paddy cropping system, respectively. Compared with manual transplanting, mechanical transplanting improved effective panicles, production efficiency of radiation, accumulated temperature and precipitation, and the radiation use efficiency of grain during the whole growth period. The mean yield was increased by 4.6% in 2019 and 2020. However, the above parameters of direct-seeding significantly decreased, but the yield decreased by 8.7%. Compared with 2019, mechanical transplanting and artificial transplanting were sown one month earlier in 2020 under the same stubble, which shortened growth period, reduced air temperature, and increased precipitation after flowering, leading to a significant decrease in effective accumulated temperature and light radiation; production efficiency of accumulated temperature, light energy, and precipitation; and utilization efficiency of light energy of grain, spikelets per panicle, setting rate, and 1000-grain weight. However, the yield was significantly reduced. Partial least squares regression analysis was used to establish the production forecast equation of standardized regression coefficients of meteorological factors. There was a positive correlation between rice yield and effective accumulated temperature and total radiation during the growth stage or the whole growth period. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between rice yield and precipitation during the whole growth period. In conclusion, mechanical transplanting under cabbage-paddy cropping system was a rice planting method that optimised the seasonal sunshine and temperature resources in southwest China. The method facilitated the full utilization of temperature and sunshine resources, resulting in high yield. However, it was not advisable to sow or transplant too early.

Association of FAS and FAS ligand polymorphisms with the susceptibility and severity of lumbar disc degeneration in Chinese Han population.

CONTEXT: Apoptosis is involved in the mechanism of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD). OBJECTIVE: We aim to determine whether the polymorphisms of FAS and FASL are associated with the presence and severity of LDD. METHODS: A total of 348 patients with LDD and 215 healthy controls were genotyped. RESULTS: Patients with LDD showed higher frequency of-1377GA and AA, as well as-844CT and TT genotypes than normal controls. These genotypes were found to be associated with the risk of higher grades of LDD. CONCLUSION: The polymorphisms of FAS and FASL may be associated with the presence and severity of LDD.

[Relationship of population quality and nitrogen fertilizer utilization characteristics of direct seeding rice under water-nitrogen interaction]. / æ°´æ°®äº’ä½œä¸‹ç›´æ’­ç¨»ç¾¤ä½“è´¨é‡ä¸Žæ°®ç´ åˆ©ç”¨ç‰¹å¾çš„å ³ç³».

Understanding population quality and nitrogen utilization characteristics of direct seeding rice under water-nitrogen interaction could provide theoretical and practical basis for high yield and ample production of direct seeding rice. Hybrid rice F You 498 was used as the material. Three irrigation methods were set in this study: flooding irrigation (W1), dry-wet alternate irrigation (W2) and drying irrigation (W3), with different ratio of base fertilizer: tiller fertilizer: panicle fertilizer at 5:3:2 (N1), 3:3:4 (N2), 3:1:6 (N3), respectively. No nitrogen application (N0) was set as the control. We investigated the effects of water-nitrogen interaction on population quality and nitrogen utilization characteristics of direct seeding rice, with the aim to clarify the relationship between population quality construction, nitrogen utilization characteristics and yield of direct seeding rice. The results showed that irrigation and N rate significantly interacted to affect dry matter accumulation, rice harvest index, heading high-efficiency leaf (the upper three leaves) dry weight, light transmittance rate at maturity stage, total nitrogen accumulation (TNA), apparent nitrogen use efficiency (ANE), nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP), nitrogen physiology efficiency, and rice yield. Taking population quality, yield and N fertilizer utilization characteristics into consideration, suitable panicle N-fertilizer under each irrigation mode was 20%-40% (N1-N2). Panicle N-fertilizer reached 60% (N3) and W3 treatment would significantly reduce population quality, yield, nitrogen agronomy efficiency (NAE), NPFP of direct seeding rice. Yield and nitrogen utilization characteristics of direct seeding rice were significantly correlated with effective panicles, dry matter accumulation at maturity stage, other leaf (except the upper three leaves) dry weight reduction, total leaf dry weight reduction, and middle part and basel part light-receiving rate under water-nitrogen interaction. The dry-wet alternative (W2) treatment could increase the rate of production til-lers, dry matter accumulation, rice harvest index, TNA, NAE and rice yield. W2 combined with N2 could improve population quality of direct seeding rice and realized the coordination and unification of high yield and efficient utilization of nitrogen, which is the best combination in this experiment.

Effects of simulated weightlessness on bone metabolism in rats at different ages.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of simulated weightlessness on age-related bone metabolism and on the mechanical parameters of the weight-bearing bones of rats at different ages. METHODS: Two-month-old and 6-month-old rats (8 in each group) were both subjected to tail suspension test for up to 4 weeks, with 2 groups of rats of corresponding ages (n=8) serving as control. The bone metabolism markers, biomechanical parameters of the femurs, along with the growth and mineral contents of the tibia, were respectively measured and compared with those of the controls. RESULTS: The bone formation markers, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels, dropped drastically in both groups of rats undergoing tail suspension test (P<0.01), which also induced significant hypocalcaemia (P<0.01). Bone material loss of the tibia occurred in both groups of rats receiving the test (P<0.01) whose effect on the volume and mass of fresh tibia was age-related (P<0.05), but the degree of mineral loss was not consistent with calcium loss in rats at different ages. Except for elastic deformation (P>0.05), both structural and biomechanical properties altered significantly after tail suspension test (P<0.01), and the changes of maximum deformation and maximum load were related to the age of the rats (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The result is an age-related difference in the response of bone metabolism to simulated weightlessness.

Changes of serum MDA and SOD levels in ischemia-reperfusion injuries of the limbs in rats preconditioned with heat stress.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of pretreatment with heat stress on ischemia-reperfusion injuries of the limbs in rats. METHODS: Rat models of ischemia-reperfusion injury were established with or without prior heat stress treatment, in which serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured by means of thiobarbituric acid and nitroblue tetrazolium respectively. RESULTS: Comparison between ischemia-reperfusion group and the control group revealed significantly elevated MDA levels (P<0.01) and depressed SOD activities (P<0.01) in the condition of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Pretreatment with heat stress, however, significantly lowered the elevated MDA levels (P<0.01) and enhanced SOD activities (P<0.01) during ischemia-reperfusion injury. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with heat stress can enhance the activity of SOD to remove free oxygen radicals in the cells.

[Retrograde intramedullary locked nail and bolt for comminuted fracture in the femur condyles].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of locked supracondylar intramedullary nail and bolt for treating comminuted fracture in the distal end of the femur. METHODS: Forty-two patients (including 31 male and 11 female patients) with supracondylar and intercondylar fractures, classified into type C1 in 20 cases and type C2 in 22 cases according to AO classification, were treated with retrograde intramedullary nail and bolt. RESULTS: The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 18 months and the average time of bone healing was 4.6 months. Assessed by functional scoring, the results were excellent in 31 patients, good in 10, and acceptable in 1, with the rate of excellent result as high as 97.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde intramedullary nail and bolt can be ideal for treating supracondylar and intercondylar fractures. The bolt can effectively control the dissociation of the intercondylar fractures and good functional recovery of the knee joint can be achieved through early functional training.

[Effects of different sowing dates and low-light stress at heading stage on the physiological characteristics and grain yield of hybrid rice].

Hybrid rice Chuanxiang 9838 with medium shade-endurance was taken as the test material to investigate the effects of different sowing dates and low-light stress at heading stage on the flag leaf photosynthetic rate (P(n)), osmotic regulators, antioxidant enzyme activities and the grain yield of hybrid rice. Sowing date and low-light stress at heading stage had significant effects on the flag leaf P(n) and antioxidant enzyme activities and plant dry matter accumulation at heading stage and the grain yield. With the delay of sowing date, the whole period of rice growth and development shortened notably, and the grain yield decreased to different degrees. Compared with the control, shortterm slight low-light stress (20% shading) at heading stage could relieve the harms from high temperature and strong light, and further, relieve the decrease of flag leaf P(n) and plant dry matter accumulation at heading stage, adjust the flag leaf antioxidant enzyme activities, and moderately improve the seed setting rate. However, short-term medium low-light stress (40% shading) and serious low-light stress (60% shading) were not beneficial to the rice growth. Correlation analysis indicated that the flag leaf P(n), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were more sensitive to the sowing date and low-light stress at heading stage, and there existed a highly significant positive correlation between the flag leaf P(n) at initial heading stage (1-5 d) and the plant dry matter accumulation at late heading stage and grain yield.

Association of four ERCC1 and ERCC2 SNPs with survival of bone tumour patients.

AIM: SNPs of ERCC1 and ERCC2 genes have been found to be associated with response to platinum therapy in different clinical settings. In the current study, we investigated the relationship of SNPs in ERCC1 and ERCC2 to cisplatin response and survival in osteosarcoma patients. METHODS: 267 consecutive patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma between January 2003 to January 2005 were followed up until the end of January 2010. ERCC1 Asn118Asn, ERCC1 Gln504Lys, ERCC2 Asp312Asn and ERCC2 Lys751Gln polymorphisms were detected based upon the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. RESULTS: For ERCC1 Asn118Asn, the variant genotype T/T was strongly significantly associated with a higher event free survival when compared with the wild-type C/C, with an adjusted OR (95% CI) of 0.39 (0.14-0.95). ERCC2 751 A/A genotype showed increased event free survival of osteosarcoma (HR=0.44; 95%CI=0.10-0.87). However, we did not find significant association of ERCC1 Gln504Lys and ERCC2 Asp312Asn polymorphisms with prognosis of osteosarcoma. CONCLUSION: We first report associations of four SNPs, ERCC1 Asn118Asn, ERCC1 Gln504Lys, ERCC2 Asp312Asn and ERCC2 Lys751Gln, with risk of death from osteosarcoma in a Chinese population, indicating ERCC1 118T/T and ERCC2 A/A may be used as surrogate markers for clinical outcome of osteosarcoma treatment with cisplatin.

Health-related quality of life after treatment for malignant bone tumors: a follow-up study in China.

AIM: We conducted the present study to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among bone cancer patients after surgical treatment in one large teaching hospitals in China, and assess the risk factors for improving the physical or mental HRQoL. METHODS: 344 eligible adult patients who were admitted to the hospital with malignant bone tumors during the period of Jun. 2008 to Dec. 2011, and a reference group with 361 health cases was recruited in the same hospital during the same period. All 344 patients were followed up for one year. The HRQoL before treatment and after one year was evaluated with the Medical Outcome Short Form 36 (SF-36). RESULTS: All 8 domains of HRQoL had the lowest scores greatly improved over the first year after discharge. However, the patients still had significantly lower scores in every domain than the reference group one year after discharge. Age and type of surgery were associated with HRQoL in the mental domain. CONCLUSION: The HRQoL of patients with malignant bone tumors greatly improved one year after the treatment. This study also highlighted the utility of HRQoL assessment for prognostic evaluation of patients after surgical treatment for bone cancer.

Predictive potential of glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms for prognosis of osteosarcoma patients on chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms for the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 159 patients were included in our study between January 2005 and December 2007., with follow-up until January 2012. Genotyping was based upon the duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with the PCR-CTPP method. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, 15.4% of the patients presented with metastasis, while 22.3% developed metastasis during follow-up. At the time of final analysis on January 2012, the median follow-up was 45.5 months. Patients with null GSTM1 and GSTT1 had a higher event free survival rate than non-null genotype, but no significant association was found between the two genotypes and prognosis of osteosarcoma. Individuals with GSTP1 Val/Val genotype tended to live shorter than with the IIe/IIe genotype, and we found a significantly higher risk of death from osteosarcoma (adjusted HR=2.35, 95% CI=1.13-4.85). CONCLUSION: The GSTP1 gene polymorphism may have an important role in the prognosis of osteosarcoma patients with chemotherapy. Further analyses with larger samples and more genes encoding metabolizing and DNA repair enzymes are warranted.