Seasonal Variations in Microtia of Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND: Seasonality of congenital birth defect could help to identify environmental risk factors. Data concerning the seasonality of the prevalence of microtia are little. This article aims to determine whether births of microtia follow a certain pattern. METHODS: Data were obtained from 2669 patients with microtia who were admitted to Second Ear Reconstruction Center of Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science from January 2007 to December 2013. The controls consist of all living births from the Obstetric Department of the Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital during the same time. Seasonal variations in months of births were analyzed by using χ test. RESULTS: A total of 2669 patients with microtia and 89,273 healthy living newborns were included in this study. Birth time peak of the patients occurred in autumn, especially in November, compared with the nadir in the spring, especially in April (P G 0.05). The birth time peak of male patients occurred in autumn, too, especially in October and November, While the valley occurred in spring (April, too). However, the seasonality in female patients is not so apparent with the peak occurred in the tail of summer and autumn, especially in August, November, and September orderly, while the valley occurred in March. CONCLUSIONS: There is a possible seasonality in birth months and a difference between sexes of patients with microtia in this native Chinese population. This approach could be useful to study the etiology of microtia.

The Retrograde Transposition of the Remnant Earlobe in Patients With Low-Set Microtia.

During auricle reconstruction, lobular transposition has become a routine technique applied by most of surgeons. But to some low-set remnant ears, it is difficult to manipulate the conventional lobule transposition method in clinical application. In this article, the authors introduce a method to retrogradely transpose the remnant ear with the the ratio of length:width of the lobular flap being 4-5:1. The lobule transposition could be applied during the first stage of Nagata method or the third stage using expansion method. The authors take the superior part of the remnant ear as the pedicle and make the incision at the middle and inferior parts of the remnant ear to form the lobular flap. Then the inferior lobule is rotated posteriorly and superiorly to cover the rear end of the framework and to form the inferior part of helical rim. The results of the reconstructed auricles are satisfactory with aesthetic natural earlobes and the location of the reconstructed ear is symmetric to the contralateral ear. The authors believe that to the 2% to 5% patients with low-set microtia, this is a good way to make use of remnant ear for the purpose of a real earlobe.

Advanced glycation end products activate the miRNA/RhoA/ROCK2 pathway in endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: AGEs induce endothelial cell dysfunction in HUVECs, resulting in ROS production and triggering apoptosis. This study sought to identify miRNAs involved in AGE-induced endothelial cell injury. METHODS: Microarray analysis to identify miRNAs altered with AGE stimulation was undertaken, and results were confirmed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The interaction of miRNAs with the RhoA and ROCK2 genes was confirmed using luciferase assays, and their effects on expression were determined using Western blot analysis. The effects of AGEs and miRNAs on endothelial cell permeability were assessed. RESULTS: AGEs induced ROS production and apoptosis of HUVECs (p < 0.05). AGE-induced miR-200b and miR-200c downregulation led to increased expression of their target genes, RhoA and ROCK, respectively. AGE-induced endothelial cell permeability and F-actin expression were significantly reduced with both miR-200b and miR-200c mimics (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AGE-induced stress fiber formation was reduced in cells treated with miR-200b mimics. CONCLUSION: miR-200b and miR-200c are suppressed in AGE-induced endothelial cell injury, resulting in unregulated RhoA/ROCK2 signaling. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the therapeutic value of targeting miRNAs or their target genes for treatment of vascular diseases.

Association of the hsa-mir-499 (rs3746444) polymorphisms with gastric cancer risk in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNAs (miRNA) have been shown to be related with susceptibility to several human cancers. We evaluated the associations of rs3746444 in pre-miRNA hsa-mir-499 with the risk of gastric cancer (GC) in the Chinese population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The rs3746444 (A>G) SNPs were genotyped in 201 GC and 213 non-cancer subjects in a case-control study by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant overall difference in the genotype distributions of rs3746444 (A>G) SNPs between cases and controls. In the logistic regression analyses, no significantly increased risk of GC was found to be associated with variant genotypes. CONCLUSION: The rs3746444 (A>G) SNP is not associated with susceptibility to GC in the Chinese population.

The effect of air on oxidation decomposition of uranium-containing cationic exchange resins in Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3 molten-salt system.

With the development of nuclear energy, spent cationic exchange resins after purification of radioactive wastewater must be treated. Molten-salt oxidation (MSO) can minimize the disposal content of resins and capture SO2. In this work, the decomposition of uranium-containing resins in carbonate molten salt in N2 and air atmospheres was investigated. Compared to N2 atmosphere, the content of SO2 released from the decomposition of resins was relatively low at 386-454 °C in an air atmosphere. The SEM morphology indicated that the presence of air facilitated the decomposition of the resin cross-linked structure. The decomposition efficiency of resins in an air atmosphere was 82.6% at 800 °C. The XRD analysis revealed that uranium compounds had the reaction paths of UO3 → UO2.92 → U3O8 and UO3 → K2U2O7 → K2UO4 in the carbonate melt, and sulfur elements in resins were fixed in the form of K3Na(SO4)2. The XPS result illustrated that peroxide and superoxide ions accelerated the conversion of sulfone sulfur to thiophene sulfur and further oxidized to CO2 and SO2. Besides, the ion bond formed by uranyl ions on the sulfonic acid group was decomposed at high temperature. Finally, the decomposition of uranium-containing resins in the carbonate melt in an air atmosphere was explained. This study provided more theoretical guidance and technical support for the industrial treatment of uranium-containing resins.

Effects of oxygen content on gaseous and solid products during molten salt oxidation of cation exchange resins.

Molten salt oxidation (MSO) is an advanced method for waste resins treatment; nevertheless, the research about gas product variations of resins under different stoichiometric air feed coefficient (α) is rare. The optimal working condition of hazardous waste disposal is obtained through thermodynamic equilibrium calculation, and the method to improve the treatment efficiency is found to guide the optimization of the actual experiment. In this paper, Fact Sage was used to calculate the oxidation products of cation exchange resins (CERs) at different temperatures and α, focusing on the similarities and differences through the contents of CO, CH4, CO2, and SO2 during the oxidation of CERs, the MSO of CERs, and the theoretical calculation. The results indicated that the gas products of the calculation and reality of the oxidation process of CERs are quite different, while the CO contents of CERs during MSO are close to the calculated values. The main reason for this consequence is that in the oxidation process of CERs, the S in the sulfonic acid group will form thermally stable C-S with the styrene-divinylbenzene skeleton. Moreover, the introduction of carbonate can promote the destruction of C-S and absorb SO2 as sulfate, weakening the influence of C-S on the oxidation products of CERs. The gas chromatograph results indicated that the SO2 content is reduced from 0.66% in the process of CERs oxidation to 0.28% in MSO of CERs. When 1.25 times stoichiometric air feed coefficient is fed, the sulfate content in the carbonate is the highest at 900 °C, which is 23.4%.

Ipsilateral hemifacial microsomia with dextrocardia and pulmonary hypoplasia: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is a rare congenital malformation characterized by a combination of various anomalies, including the face, ears, eyes, and vertebrae. Prenatal diagnosis for HFM is possible, and quite accurate ultrasound can detect obvious defects. The etiology is still unknown, although some hypotheses have been proposed, including gene mutation, chromosome anomaly, and environmental risk factors. However, there are few reports of pulmonary hypoplasia and dextrocardia in HFM. CASE SUMMARY: A 2-year-old boy presented to the ear reconstruction department of our hospital complaining of deviation of the face to the right side and auricular anomaly. Physical examination revealed facial asymmetry, preauricular skin tags, and concha-type microtia with stricture of the external auditory canal on the right side. Head magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral semicircular canal dysplasia and bilateral internal auditory canals stenosis. Audiometric examination showed bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss. Chest radiography and computed tomography showed dextrocardia and right pulmonary hypoplasia. CONCLUSION: This case presented a rare finding and an unusual association of 3 malformations, ipsilateral HFM, pulmonary agenesis, and dextrocardia.

Catalytic effect of cesium on the oxidation behavior of cation exchange resins in Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3 melt.

After the treatment of liquid radioactive waste, there is a certain amount of Cs in the waste resin, and these Cs-doped resins are prone to volatilize during the thermal treatment process and cause radionuclide leakage. The molten salt oxidation (MSO) can effectively prevent the volatilization of toxic metal, especially the volatilization of Cs. Under nitrogen and air conditions, it is found that the oxidation behavior between Cs-doped and clean cation exchange resins (CERs) is quite different. In the presence of oxygen and molten carbonate salt, Cs2CO3 is generated by the destruction of functional groups in Cs-doped CERs. The Cs2CO3 in Na2CO3-K2CO3-Li2CO3 reacts with oxygen to form Li2O2, which reduces the content of S in residue from 26.33 to 13.38% in air conditions at 400 °C and promotes the generation of sulfate in the molten carbonate salt. The elements Cs and S in the Cs doped CERs spontaneously form thermally stable Cs2SO4 in the molten carbonate salt.

Bupivacaine induces reactive oxygen species production via activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent pathway.

AIMS: It was our aim to investigate whether AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) mediates the considerable increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell apoptosis induced by bupivacaine in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. METHODS: The recombinant plasmids pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA AMPKα2 and pEGFP-N1-AMPKα2 were constructed and transfected into the SH-SY5Y cell line. The expression of AMPKα2 was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot after transfection. The SH-SY5Y cells transfected with recombinant plasmid were exposed to 1 mmol/l bupivacaine. Cell viability, intracellular ROS and apoptosis were determined. RESULTS: The plasmid pEGFP-N1-AMPKα2 can upregulate the expression of AMPKα2, and the pGPU6/GFP/Neo-shRNA AMPKα2 can downregulate the expression of AMPKα2 in cells. Inhibition of AMPKα2 expression attenuated ROS production and cell apoptosis, and overexpression of AMPKα2 promoted ROS production and cell apoptosis after bupivacaine treatment. CONCLUSION: AMPK probably mediated ROS production and cell apoptosis induced by bupivacaine.

[Research on theory and application of the interferogram of Voigt profile].

At normal pressure, Voigt profile (the convolution of Gaussian profile and Lorentzian profile) is the closest to actual profile, but it has no accurate expression, so in actual application many approximations are used to express Voigt profile. In the present paper, without any approximation, the authors calculate the interferogram of Voigt profile, showing that Voigt profile has no expression, but its interferogram can be calculated strictly. The transform has only one term, which is very similar to the expressions of Gaussian profile and Lorentzian profile, so any calculations of the widened profile can be finished, which doesn't have two terms as some papers predict, and difficulties will be brought. The calculation results are consistent with the experimental results. As an example in actual application, its application in atmospheric wind measurement is pointed out. This calculation has important significance in Fourier transform spectrometer of gas widened profile.

[Characteristics of atmospheric visibility change and its influence factors in Hefei City, Anhui, China.] / åˆè‚¥å¸‚å¤§æ°”èƒ½è§åº¦å˜åŒ–ç‰¹å¾åŠå ¶å½±å“å› ç´ .

Using the observation data of Hefei atmospheric visibility and meteorological elements and PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations at same period from October 2013 to June 2015, based on comprehensive analysis of the impact factors on atmospheric visibility, the relationships among the relative humidity (RH), PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and visibility were explored. The results showed that the correlation between RH and Hefei atmospheric visibility was most significant during the period of study. When RH<60%, the coefficients of correlation between PM2.5, PM10 concentrations and atmospheric visibility increased gradually with the increasing RH. When RH>60%, the coefficients of correlation between the particles concentration in atmosphere and atmospheric visibility showed a decreasing trend. When 50%≤RH<60%, the coefficients of correlation between PM2.5, PM10 concentrations and atmosphere visibility were higher. When RH was relatively higher, the atmospheric visibility was mainly affected by the relative humidity, on the contrary, the concentration of particles had a greater influence on the visibility. When RH>70%, the change amplitude of contour line of atmospheric visibility was larger, and the impacts of RH on atmospheric visibility were intensified. According to the formula fitted by the data of RH, PM2.5, PM10 concentrations and atmospheric visibility, the nonlinear fitting model was better than multivariate linear fitting model in simulating the change of atmospheric visibility.

Study on the properties of amino acid ionic liquid EMIGly.

In terms of standard addition method, the density and surface tension of an amino acid ionic liquid EMIGly(1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium aminoacetate) were measured under dry argon atmosphere in the temperature range of 288.15-343.15 K. The properties of volume and surface for pure EMIGly were discussed in terms of the interstice model and Glasser's theory. The thermal expansion coefficient alpha = 5.03 x 10(-4) K(-1) calculated using interstice model is in good agreement with alpha (experimental) = 5.20 x 10(-4) K(-1).

[Imbalance of Tc and Th in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Its Significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the imbalance of Tc1/Tc2,Th1/Th2 and Tc/Th in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and its relationship with the clinical stages of SLE. METHODS: The full blood culture and flow cytometry with fluorescence-labelled T lymphocytes were used to detect the levels of T-lymphocyte subsets and its intracellular factors IFN-γ and IL-4 in peripheral blood from SLP patients in active, inactive stages and normal healthy persons as controls, to compare the changes of Tc1,Tc2; Th1,Th2 levels and Tc/Th ratio in SLP patients in active and inactive stages, and to analyze their relationship with SLEDAI staging. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, the levels of CD4+/CD8+ in active SLE patients were significantly lower, but the levels of Tc1,Th1 in active SLE patients were higher than those in inactive SLE patients and normal controls. The ratio of Tc1/Tc2 and Th1/Th2 in the active SLE was higher than that in inactive SLE and normal controls(P<0.05), but the difference between inactive SLE patients and controls was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The Tc/Th imbalances and change of Tc and Th cells to Tc1 and Th1 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Treatment of Divided Nevus of the Penis with Circumcision and Free Inner Prepuce Grafting.

Divided nevus of the penis is exceedingly rare. Desruelles et al. reported the first divided nevus on the penis in 1998, and, since then, only 17 cases have been reported in the English language literature. This article presents the successful excision and histopathologic evaluation of the nevi. The glans was reconstructed by a full-thickness skin graft using remnant foreskin. Six months after the operation, the patient showed no deformity of the glans and no loss of sensation. The lesion on the glans can be successfully reconstructed using the remnant foreskin with satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcome. This method is desirable with minimal donor-site morbidity and inconspicuous donor-site scars.

OGG1 Involvement in High Glucose-Mediated Enhancement of Bupivacaine-Induced Oxidative DNA Damage in SH-SY5Y Cells.

Hyperglycemia can inhibit expression of the 8-oxoG-DNA glycosylase (OGG1) which is one of the key repair enzymes for DNA oxidative damage. The effect of hyperglycemia on OGG1 expression in response to local anesthetics-induced DNA damage is unknown. This study was designed to determine whether high glucose inhibits OGG1 expression and aggravates bupivacaine-induced DNA damage via reactive oxygen species (ROS). SH-SY5Y cells were cultured with or without 50 mM glucose for 8 days before they were treated with 1.5 mM bupivacaine for 24 h. OGG1 expression was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. ROS was estimated using the redox-sensitive fluorescent dye DCFH-DA. DNA damage was investigated with immunostaining for 8-oxodG and comet assays. OGG1 expression was inhibited in cells exposed to high glucose with concomitant increase in ROS production and more severe DNA damage as compared to control culture conditions, and these changes were further exacerbated by bupivacaine. Treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) prevented high glucose and bupivacaine mediated increase in ROS production and restored functional expression of OGG1, which lead to attenuated high glucose-mediated exacerbation of bupivacaine neurotoxicity. Our findings indicate that subjects with diabetes may experience more detrimental effects following bupivacaine use.

[Clinical analysis of 31 cases of traumatic interhemispheric subdural hematomas].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, pathogenesis and management of traumatic interhemispheric subdural hematomas (ISH). METHODS: Thirty-one traumatic ISH cases were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 31 patients, 29 were cured and 2 died of multi-system organ failure (MSOF) and cerebral hernia respectively. Typically, ISH manifested hemiplegia or paralysis of the counterlateral lower limb known as falx syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: CT scans showing hematocele in the interhemispheric subdural space in excess of 20 ml, or with a thickness of hematocele over 1cm, may serve as a diagnostic criteria for ISH. For the treatment of ISH, surgery and conservative management are suggested on the basis of functional disturbance or the stability of the disease.