Search

Dorvilleids were collected from hydrothermal vents on the Southwest Indian Ridge by manned submersible Jiaolong. These represent a new species of Ophryotrocha that is here described as Ophryotrocha jiaolongi sp. n. This is the first dorvilleid described from vents on the Southwest Indian Ridge. It most closely resembles another vent species, Ophryotrocha akessoni Blake, 1985 from the Galapagos Rift, but can be distinguished by its antennae, palps, jaw structure. The new species has particularly distinctive mandibles, which allow it to be easily identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) are effective procedures for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). However, recent studies have reported that secondary VCFs develop in patients after PVP or PKP treatment. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and management of secondary fractures after PVP or PKP. Materials and Methods: 599 cases who had vertebral compression fracture and underwent PVP or PKP between September 2008 and June 2014 were enrolled, including 121 males and 478 females. Secondary fractures were observed in 52 cases, including 3 males and 49 females, who were treated by re-operation with PVP or PKP. Results: The ratio of secondary fracture after PVP or PKP was 8.68% in all cases. The age ranged from 59 to 92 years (74.41 ± 6.83 average). A composition of 44.44% of the secondary fracture occurred near the initial fracture vertebrae. After re-operation with PVP or PKP, visual analog scale score significantly decreased to 2.72 ± 0.88 or 2.52 ± 1.12, respectively, anterior height of vertebral bodies increased to 24.69 ± 4.59 or 24.54 ± 5.97 mm, respectively, and middle height of vertebral bodies increased to 20.90 ± 3.72 or 20.36 ± 6.33 mm, respectively. Conclusions: There is a high chance of secondary fracture near the initially operated vertebrae after PVP or PKP Re-operation with PVP or PKP achieves satisfactory outcomes in these patients such as pain relief and the recovery of the vertebrae height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale longwall mining of shallow coal seams may cause mining-induced fractures that can project completely through to the surface. This could lead to a series of mine safety and environmental issues, further deteriorating the already fragile ecological environment in the Western mining areas in China. Therefore, an accurate and effective understanding of the spatiotemporal evolution law of mining-induced fractures in overlying strata and its relationship to upper aquifers is critical. In this paper, the application of the geophysical-chemical properties of radon in mining engineering is explored as a potential solution to the shortcomings of existing surveying methods. A radioactive measurement method is proposed for the detection of the development of mining-induced fractures from overlying strata to the surface in the Baoshan Coal Mine (BCM). The on-site test indicated that the first weighting step is approximately 60 m, the average periodic weighting step is approximately 20 m, and the influence coverage of the advanced abutment pressure is approximately 30 m. The presented method could be used as an indirect technical support to increase the safety of coal mining by acting as a simple, fast, and reliable method of detecting mining-induced fractures in overlying strata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stål, which is one of the most destructive pests of rice, has been confirmed to harbor yeast-like symbiotes (YLS) in the fat body. Several morphologically different YLS have been previously isolated and cultured in vitro from BPH, but direct evidence is lacking to further clarify whether the cultured YLS were from BPH. In this study, one species of YLS was successfully cultured in vitro and simultaneously verified to exist in the fat body of BPH by sequence analysis and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cultured YLS isolate in vitro was identified as a member of the genus Candida on the basis of 18S rDNA (ribosomal DNA) and 5.8S-ITS (internal transcribed spacer) rDNA sequence and a phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences from yeast. Therefore, this yeast isolate was named as Candida-like symbiotes. Candida-like symbiotes was found to exist in fat bodies, ovaries and newly laid eggs of the BPH, but not in the heads, thoraxes and mid-guts. In addition, the number of Candida-like symbiotes in 1 × 106 of purified YLS from BPH fat bodies was speculated to be (5.32 ± 0.22) × 104 on the basis of a quantitative PCR analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new equation with high precision has been proposed to investigate the fuel consumption characteristics of hydrogen-fueled vehicles. This new equation is designed to calculate the hydrogen consumption of vehicles under high pressure condition. Based on data from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), error of hydrogen consumption calculated using the new equation is less than 0.5% when hydrogen storage pressure ranges from 0.5 to 70 MPa at 298 K. When storage pressure ranges from 0.1 to 50 MPa and temperature is 48–398 K, error is still less than 0.5%, with reference to data from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Therefore, the new equation provides a simple yet effective way of estimating the cruising range of hydrogen-fueled vehicles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bulk isotropic pyrocarbon was successfully prepared by hot-wall chemical vapor deposition. The density of the products was measured by Archimedes method in ethanol. The structural parameters of pyrocarbon were derived from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The morphology and texture of pyrocarbon was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results show that the density of pyrocarbon increases from 1.53 to 1.73 g/cm with the increase of deposition temperature. The d spacing decreases gradually from 0.3487 to 0.3449 nm as temperature rises from 950 to 1100 °C. Lc increases greatly from 6.5 to 10.5 nm, whereas La slightly rises from 4.0 to 3.6 nm. Under TEM, the fringe lattice images are composed of curved graphene layers, and the length of graphene layers is greatly improved with the increasing temperature. The selected area electron diffraction patterns of the products are complete rings, indicating their isotropic feature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To elucidate the endocrine regulation of vitellogenesis in an endoparastic wasp (Pteromalus puparum), the titers of ecdysteroid and juvenile hormone (JH) from the whole bodies are measured using the method of radioimmunoassay and GC–MS, and compared with the levels of vitellogenin (Vg) mRNA in the fat bodies, hemolymph Vg and ovarian vitellin (Vt), respectively. The results show that the ecdysteroid titer and fat body Vg mRNA level have a similar dynamics tendency, and the peak titer is at adult eclosion. The titer of JH III and ovarian Vt also have a similar dynamics tendency, and the peak titer is at 48h after eclosion. The profiles of hemolymph Vg, Vg mRNA in fat bodies and ovarian Vt, are also measured in the wasps after treated with different amounts of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20HE) or JH III in female pupa and adults. The results show that 20HE stimulates Vg synthesis in the fat bodies and its release into the hemolymph, and that JH III only accelerates Vg sequestration in the oocytes. Decapitation, which is believed to terminate synthesis of JH in insects, can not inhibit vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation in P. puparum. Furthermore, Vg gene is expressed with a lower titer of JH and depressed by a higher titer of JH III. These studies suggest that ecdysteroids play a role in Vg synthesis and believed to be the dominant hormones in regulation of vitellogenesis in P. puparum, and JHs are not the essential factors to female reproduction in this wasp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Vitellin (Vt) and vitellogenin (Vg) profiles were analyzed in Pteromalus puparum, a pupal endoparasitoid of Pieris rapae. Non-denaturing and sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) analyses indicated that both native Vt and Vg were likely 370kDa in size, consisting of two subunits of approximate 206 and 165kDa. An indirect double antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for monitoring hemolymph Vg and ovarian Vt levels was developed using a monoclonal antibody and a polyclonal antibody made specially against P. puparum Vt. The synthesis and uptake of Vg in this wasp was initiated immediately after adult eclosion. The hemolymph Vg and ovarian Vt reached their highest level of 0.58 and 4.51μg per female 24 and 48h after adult eclosion, respectively. Both Vg synthesis and uptake were in parallel with ovarian development. The Vt levels in the developing embryos decreased progressively except 12h after parasitism. Meanwhile, nine new polypeptides with sizes ranging from 59.2 to 151kDa, possibly resulting from the limited proteolysis of Vt originally accumulated in newly laid eggs, were detected de-novo during embryonic development using Western blotting with the monoclonal antibody against Vt. These studies provide the basis for future investigation into endocrinal regulations of vitellogenesis and understanding the reproductive strategy in this wasp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bamboo-shaped carbon nanofibers were obtained in pyrolytic carbon fabricated by thermal gradient chemical vapor deposition and their micro-and nanostructure were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that, bamboo-shaped nanofibers with diameters from a few tens to about 250nm were distributed homogeneously in the pyrolytic carbon. The nanofibers could be pulled out of the pyrolytic carbon when they were fractured. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study systematically investigates the overburden movement and strata behavior at a fully-mechanized top coal caving (FMTCC) face in a thick coal seam in a loess-covered gullied region by field measurement and theoretical analysis. A comparative analysis was performed to examine how the attitude of surface gullies and the structure of overburden affect face support resistance. The characteristics and evolution mechanism of strata behavior during FMTCC under gully slopes in a loess-covered gullied region were discovered through a mechanical analysis of the roof structure and a comparison to the mining of a typical shallow seam under gully slopes. The study found that as the FMTCC face advanced, the strata behavior initiated in the middle part of the face and then continued to both ends, and its intensity was higher in the middle part than in the upper and lower parts. During mining under gullies, the increases in support resistance were generally less than 5% (except for the maximum increases of 7-9%), indicating that the occurrence of gullies on the surface had little influence on the strata behavior at the FMTCC face. Due to the increased burial depth and the number of key strata, the roof at the FMTCC face under gullies formed a stable load-bearing structure called a voussoir beam, which was the key difference from the strata behavior characteristics in the shallow mine under gullies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plenty of studies have demonstrated the prognostic value of various inflammation-based indexes in cancer. This study was designed to investigate the prognostic value of the C-reactive protein/albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: A retrospective study of 423 cases with newly diagnosed esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was conducted. We analyzed the association of the CRP/Alb ratio with clinicopathologic characteristics. The prognostic value was explored by univariate and multivariate survival analysis. In addition, we compared the discriminatory ability of the CRP/Alb ratio with other inflammation-based prognostic scores by evaluating the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC), including the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Results: The optimal cut-off value was identified to be 0.095 for the CRP/Alb ratio. A higher level of the CRP/Alb ratio was associated with larger tumor size (P < 0.001), poorer differentiation (P = 0.019), deeper tumor invasion (P = 0.003), more lymph node metastasis (P = 0.015), more distant metastasis (P < 0.001) and later TNM stage (P < 0.001). The CRP/Alb ratio was identified to be the only inflammation-based prognostic score with independent association with overall survival by multivariate analysis (P = 0.031). The AUC value of the CRP/Alb ratio was higher compared with the NLR and PLR, but not mGPS at 6, 12 and 24 months of follow-up. In addition, the CRP/Alb ratio could identify a group of patients with mGPS score of 0 who had comparable overall survival with those with mGPS score of 1. Conclusions: The CRP/Alb ratio is a novel but promising inflammation-based prognostic score in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. It is a valuable coadjutant for the mGPS to further identify patients' survival differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) is a highly aggressive disease characterized by early dissemination and poor prognosis. Because of the rarity of this disease, few previous studies have investigated the biomarkers associated with its prognosis. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) is a stem cell marker and a member of the canonical Wnt-signaling cascade. However, the clinical role of Lgr5 in SCCE remains unknown. Methods: Tissue sections were obtained from 44 patients diagnosed with SCCE and expression of Lgr5 was examined by immunohistochemistry. The correlations between Lgr5 expression, and clinical parameters and prognostic significance were evaluated. Results: Lgr5 was expressed in SCCE cancer tissues. High Lgr5 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.003), late stage (p = 0.003) and unfavorable response to chemotherapy (p = 0.013) according to RECIST 1.0 criteria. Patients with higher Lgr5 expression levels had shorter overall survival times than those with lower expression levels. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that overexpression of Lgr5 was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, and response to chemotherapy. Furthermore, high levels of Lgr5 expression appeared to be associated with poorer survival in patients with SCCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated CO 2 concentrations and persistent drought are predicted to inhibit the photosynthetic performance and yield of crops. Such effects vary considerably between species groups. Modern cultivated (Triticum aestivum L., AABBDD) and wild (Triticum dicoccoides Korn L., AABB and Triticum monococcum L., AA) species of wheat were subjected to elevated CO 2 concentration (ambient concentration +200 μmol mol−1) and drought (well watered: 75–85% of the field water capacity; drought: 50–60% of the field water capacity) at open-top chamber experimental facilities. Elevated CO 2 concentration decreased the limitation of stomatal morphology traits on stomatal conductance regulation. This could compensate the disadvantage of plants who has low stomatal density and large single stomatal area as well as low leaf water use efficiency such as modern wheat Z9023 in drought acclimation in the future CO 2 rising world. Moreover, elevated CO 2 concentration largely increased the dependence of light harvesting and electron transportation performance per photosynthesis system II reaction center, maximum rubisco carboxylation rate, and maximum Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate regeneration rate on leaf nitrogen concentration across the selected wheat species and water regimes. Modern cultivated cultivars Z9023 and CH58 have higher photosynthetic performance per unit of leaf nitrogen than wild species under elevated CO 2 concentrations. The increasing CO 2 may present opportunities to breeders and possibly allow them to select for cultivars with better photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency response to future CO 2 rising climate. • Elevated [CO 2 ] (e CO 2) decreased the limitation of stomatal morphology traits on stomatal conductance of wheat. • The reasons of photosynthesis depend on nitrogen were observed under e CO 2. • Nitrogen use in photosynthesis in modern wheat was higher than that in wild wheat under e CO 2. • Selection for higher capacity of nitrogen use might be more important than selection for a higher WUE under e CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin and nedaplatin show significant antitumor activity and have been widely used for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, it is still unclear whether the efficacy and safety of nedaplatin-based regimens are comparable to those of cisplatin-based regimens in patients with metastatic/recurrent or advanced ESCC. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of these two regimens for the treatment of metastatic/recurrent and advanced ESCC. We systematically searched Pubmed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database, as well as abstracts presented at conferences (all up to January 2015), for randomized-controlled and nonrandomized clinical trials that compared cisplatin-based and nedaplatin-based regimens in patients with metastatic/recurrent or advanced ESCC. Data were extracted from the original studies by two independent reviewers. This meta-analysis was performed usingReviewManager (RevMan)Version 5.3 (Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014) software. Ten eligible trials, including 598 patients diagnosed with metastatic/recurrent or advanced ESCC, were included in our analysis. Our results demonstrated that the nedaplatin-based regimens were comparable to the cisplatin-based regimens in terms of overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio, HR: 1.22, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.86-1.74, p=0.26) and overall response rate (ORR) (risk ratio, RR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.77-1.10, p=0.37) and generated fewer grade 3 and 4 side effects including nausea (RR: 3.41, 95% CI: 1.67-6.96, p<0.001) and vomiting (RR: 3.62, 95% CI: 1.77-7.40, p<0.001) and fewer grade 1 and 2 adverse events including nausea (RR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.23-1.93, p<0.001), vomiting (RR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.76-2.30, p<0.001), peripheral neuropathy (RR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.08-2.84, p=0.02) and renal dysfunction (creatinine) (RR: 3.28, 95% CI: 1.37-7.84, p=0.008). This systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that the efficacy of nedaplatin-based regimens was comparable to that of cisplatin-based regimens for patients with metastatic/recurrent or advanced ESCC, and that nedaplatin-based regimens were associated with less toxicity and better tolerability. However, this study was a meta-analysis of previously released data; therefore, there is a potential publication bias and heterogeneity among the included trials. Future, well-designed RCTs with large cohorts are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators of tumor progression. However, the role and molecular mechanism of lncRNA XIST in gastric cancer is still unknown. Methods: Real-time PCR analysis was performed to measure the expression levels of lncRNA XIST in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines, the correlation between lncRNA XIST expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was analyzed in gastric cancer patients. The biological function of lncRNA XIST on gastric cancer cells were determined both in vitro and in vivo. The regulating relationship between lncRNA XIST and miR-101 was investigated in gastric cancer cells. Results: lncRNA XIST was significantly up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of lncRNA XIST was markedly associated with larger tumor size, lymph node invasion, distant metastasis and TNM stage in gastric cancer patients. Functionally, knockdown of lncRNA XIST exerted tumor-suppressive effects by inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between lncRNA XIST and miR-101 was found. Polycomb group protein enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a direct target of miR-101, could mediated the biological effects that lncRNA XIST exerted. Conclusions: lncRNA XIST is up-regulated and is associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes and patient survival in gastric cancer, and the newly identified lncRNA XIST/miR-101/EZH2 axis could be a potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for gastric cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with marked rates of proliferation and metabolism. The expression levels of the translocated cellular Myc (c-Myc) oncogene and Epstein-Barr virus infection have an oncogenic role in facilitating tumor progression and maintaining a malignant phenotype in BL Raji cells. The present study identified that more reactive oxygen species (ROS) were produced in Raji cells compared with other types of malignant B cells. Cells exhibiting higher ROS levels suggested facilitation of the induction of cell death by ROS-induction compounds. In the present study, apogossypolone (ApoG2) was observed to induce marked accumulation in the levels of ROS in the Raji cells, which damaged the cells and suppressed cell proliferation. Within 12 h following ApoG2 treatment, the Raji cells were prominently arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that the chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 1, checkpoint kinase 1 and c-Myc proteins were significantly downregulated at 3, 6 and 12 h, respectively, following treatment. Following treatment with ApoG2 for 48 h, ApoG2 induced significant apoptosis in the Raji cells. This findings, together with our previous studies, which demonstrated ApoG2 as a potent inhibitor of anti-apoptotic B cell lymphoma 2 proteins, indicated that the ROS stimulatory effect of ApoG2 increased the antitumor activity of ApoG2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to optimize the design and application of semi-constrained integrated artificial discs (SIADs) using a finite element (FE) analysis following implantation, wherein the zygapophysial joints of the segment were biomechanically reconstructed. An FE model of the L4-L5 segment was constructed. Variations in the stresses on the discs and zygapophysial joints were observed during 5° anteflexion, 5° extension and 5° rotation under the 400-N applied axial load. Stresses and load translation analyses of the discs and zygapophysial joints were conducted during anteflexion, extension and rotation under the 400-N applied axial load. Following implantation of the lumbar segments, the stresses on the SIAD zygapophysial joints were not significantly different from those of physiological discs during antefexion, and these were both marginally greater compared with those of non-constrained artificial discs (NADs). During extension, the increase in the stress on the SIAD zygapophysial joints was less than that on NAD zygapophysial joints. Stresses on the NAD zygapophysial joints were higher than those on SIAD and physiological discs during rotation. The stress on the SIAD zygapophysial joints was not significantly different from that on physiological discs during rotation. For SIADs and NADs, the stresses on the zygapophysial joints and the displacements of the discs were greater compared with those of the physiological discs during extension. The SIADs affected the variations in the stresses on the implanted segment more than the NADs, and the SIADs protected the zygapophysial joints of the implanted segment to a higher degree than the NADs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Paxillin (PXN) has been found to be aberrantly regulated in various malignancies and involved in tumor growth and invasion. The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of PXN in gastric cancer is still unclear. Methods The expression of PXN was determined in paired gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues by Western blotting and real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of PXN in 239 gastric cancer patients. Statistical analysis was applied to investigate the correlation between PXN expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients. Additionally, the effects of PXN on gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration were also evaluated. Results PXN was up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines as compared with adjacent normal tissues and normal gastric epithelial cell line GES-1. Overexpression of PXN was correlated with distant metastasis (P = 0.001) and advanced tumor stage (P = 0.021) in gastric cancer patients. Patients with high PXN expression tended to have poor prognosis compared with patients with low PXN expression (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PXN expression was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.020). Moreover, ectopic expression of PXN promotes cell proliferation and migration in AGS cells whereas knockdown of PXN inhibits cell proliferation and migration in SGC7901 cells. Conclusions PXN plays an important role in tumor progression and may be used as a potential prognostic indicator in gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cell division cycle 20 homolog (CDC20) is an essential cofactor of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C). CDC20 overexpression has been detected in many types of human cancers; however, its clinical role in colorectal cancer remains unknown. Methods: Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to compare CDC20 expression in adjacent non-cancerous, cancerous and liver metastatic tissues as well as in colon cancer cell lines and normal colon epithelial cell lines. Additionally, the correlation of CDC20 expression with patient clinical parameters and its diagnostic value were statistically analyzed. Results: CDC20 was overexpressed in colon cancer cell lines/primary cancer tissues compared with normal colon epithelial cell lines/adjacent noncancerous tissue samples. Interestingly, CDC20 expression was further increased in metastatic liver tissues. CDC20 protein expression was significantly correlated with clinical stage (P = 0.008), N classification (P = 0.020), M classification (P = 0.013) and pathologic differentiation (P = 0.008). Patients with higher CDC20 expression had a shorter overall survival than those with lower CDC20 expression. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that CDC20 expression was an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.001). Conclusion: CDC20 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker of human colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A phase III clinical trial has already shown the survival benefits of postoperative chemotherapy in gastric cancer. However, there are limited published data concerning the elderly. This study aims to investigate the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer after D2 gastrectomy among the elderly and identify its impact on survival. Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 360 patients who had undergone D2 gastrectomy, aged 65 years or older, with non-metastatic gastric cancer in a single institution. We analyzed the predictors and survival benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy use in the elderly. Further, we analyzed the survival benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy by dividing the patients into groups according to disease stages and chemotherapeutic regimens. Results: Among the 360 patients, only 34.7% of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Age, tumor location, lymph node involvement and tumor invasion were associated with the receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy improved the overall survival for non-metastatic elderly patients (HR 0.60, 95%CI 0.42-0.83, P = 0.003). Significant survival benefits were found with adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III patients (HR 0.67, 95%CI 0.47-0.97, P = 0.033), but not in stage I patients or in stage II patients (HR 0.52, 95%CI 0.21-1.30 P = 0.161). Compared to adjuvant chemotherapy without platinum, no significant survival benefits were observed with platinum-containing chemotherapy (HR 0.84, 95%CI 0.49-1.45, P = 0.530). Besides adjuvant chemotherapy, other independent prognostic factors of survival included tumor location, tumor size, histologic grade, depth of tumor invasion, and lymph node status. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the survival benefits of adjuvant fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy among the elderly patients with non-metastatic gastric cancer after D2 gastrectomy. However, due to the limitations of this study, further well-designed prospective studies with large populations are needed to confirm these findings and identify the patients that can tolerate and benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon/carbon (C/C) composites with multiple matrixes were fabricated by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) and an impregnation and carbonization step. To study the effects of predeposited pyrocarbon on microstructure and the mechanical properties of C/C composites, different predeposition times (3h, 5h, 7h and 9h) were tested. This caused the predeposited pyrocarbon layer to have a large effect on the mechanical properties of C/C composites. C/C composites with 3h predeposition exhibited the worst mechanical properties because the predeposited pyrocarbon layer is thin, which does not prevent deformation of the preform during impregnation with liquid pitch. For composites with a 5h predeposition time, a pyrocarbon layer with proper thickness played an important role in protecting the preform; this sample possessed better mechanical properties. However, as the predeposition time was increased to 7h and 9h, due to the increased thickness of the deposited pyrocarbon, several pores were generated in the C/C composites that decreased their density and worsened their mechanical properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The development of pancreatic cancer is a process in which genes interact with environmental factors. We performed this study to determine the effects of the ABO blood group, obesity, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome (MetS), smoking, alcohol consumption and hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection on patient survival. Methods: A total of 488 patients with pancreatic cancer were evaluated. Result: Patients who presented as chronic carriers of HBV infection were younger at disease onset (p=0.001) and more predominantly male (p=0.020) than those never exposed to HBV. Patients with MetS had later disease staging (p=0.000) and a lower degree of pathological differentiation (p=0.008) than those without MetS. In a univariate analysis, the ABO blood group, smoking and alcohol consumption were not associated with overall survival. HBsAg-positivity and elevated fasting plasma glucose were significantly associated with unfavorable survival though not in the multivariate analysis. The presence of MetS (HR: 1.541, 95% CI: 1.095-2.169, p=0.013), age ≥65, an elevated CA19-9 baseline level, TNM staging, the type of surgery, the degree of differentiation and chemotherapy were independently associated with overall survival. Conclusion: We report, for the first time, that patients with chronic HBV infection may represent a special subtype of pancreatic cancer, who have a younger age of disease onset and male dominancy. Patients with MetS had later disease staging and a poorer histological grade. Patients with MetS demonstrated significantly poorer survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, we established a hypothetical tumor-lodds-metastasis (TLM) and tumor-ratio-metastasis (TRM) staging system. Moreover, we compared them with the 7th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor-nodes-metastasis (AJCC TNM) staging system in gastric cancer patients after D2 resection. Methods: A total of 1000 gastric carcinoma patients receiving treatment in our center were selected for the analysis. Finally, 730 patients who received D2 resection were retrospectively studied. Patients were staged using the TLM, TRM and the 7th edition AJCC TNM system. Survival analysis was performed with a Cox regression model. We used two parameters to compare the TNM, TRM and TLM staging system, the -2log likelihood and the hazard ratio. Results: The cut points of lymph node ratio (LNR) were set as 0, 0-0.3, 0.3-0.6, 0.6-1.0. And for the log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS), the cut points were established as ≤-0.5, -0.5-0, 0-0.5, >0.5. There were significant differences in survival among patients in different LODDS classifications for each pN or LNR groups. When stratified by the LODDS classifications, the prognosis was highly homologous between those in the according pN or LNR classifications. Multivariate analysis showed that TLM staging system was better than the TRM or TNM system for the prognostic evaluation. Conclusions: The TLM system was superior to the TRM or TNM system for prognostic assessment of gastric adenocarcinoma patients after D2 resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon/carbon (C/C) composites with two different matrixes of pitch carbon and pyrolytic carbon were fabricated using 2-dimensional (2D) carbon felts preform. In order to study the effects of matrixes on mechanical properties, C/C composites with single matrix of pitch carbon were prepared. The mechanical properties were tested on CMT5304-30KN universal testing machine. Polarization microscope and scanning electron microscope were used to investigate the microstructures and fracture surface of C/C composites. It was resulted that the flexural strength of C/C composites with two matrixes was improved by 96% compared with that of C/C composites with single matrix. Meanwhile, better toughness was also obtained with two matrixes. For the composites, multilayer microstructures were generated after filling up of voids caused during carbonization of mesophase pitch by pyrolytic carbon. The multilayer microstructures were beneficial to the improvement of mechanical properties of C/C composites, especially the toughness. More energy could be dissipated during mechanical tests while cracks might extend along multiple paths, such as the interface between fiber and matrix or the interface between different matrixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combination therapy for arterial embolization hyperthermia (AEH) with arsenic trioxide (As2O3) nanoparticles (ATONs) is a novel treatment for solid malignancies. This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and therapeutic effect of AEH with As2O3 nanoparticles in a rabbit liver cancer model. The protocol was approved by our institutional animal use committee. Methodology/Principal Findings: In total, 60 VX2 liver-tumor-bearing rabbits were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 12/group) and received AEH with ATONs (Group 1), hepatic arterial embolization with ATONs (Group 2), lipiodol (Group 3), or saline (Group 4), on day 14 after tumor implantation. Twelve rabbits that received AEH with ATONs were prepared for temperature measurements, and were defined as Group 5. Computed tomography was used to measure the tumors' longest dimension, and evaluation was performed according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Hepatic toxicity, tumor necrosis rate, vascular endothelial growth factor level, and microvessel density were determined. Survival rates were measured using the Kaplan-Meier method. The therapeutic temperature (42.5°C) was obtained in Group 5. Hepatotoxicity reactions occurred but were transient in all groups. Tumor growth was delayed and survival was prolonged in Group 1 (treated with AEH and ATONs). Plasma and tumor vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density were significantly inhibited in Group 1, while tumor necrosis rates were markedly enhanced compared with those in the control groups. Conclusions: ATON-based AEH is a safe and effective treatment that can be targeted at liver tumors using the dual effects of hyperthermia and chemotherapy. This therapy can delay tumor growth and noticeably inhibit tumor angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) have been surveyed widely in water bodies, but few studies have determined the diversity of ARB in sediment, which is the most taxon-abundant habitat in aquatic environments. We isolated 56 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria from a single sediment sample taken from an urban river in China. All strains were confirmed for ESBL-producing capability by both the clavulanic acid combination disc method and MIC determination. Of the isolated strains, 39 were classified as Enterobacteriaceae (consisting of the genera Escherichia, Klebsiella, Serratia, and Aeromonas) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical analysis. The present study identifies, for the first time, ESBL-producing strains from the families Brucellaceae and Moraxellaceae. The blaTEM gene was the most dominant of the ESBL genes (45 strains), while the blaTEM gene was the second-most dominant (22 strains). A total of five types of blaCTX-M fragments were identified, with both known and novel sequences. A library of blaCTX-M cloned from the sediment DNA showed an even higher diversity of blaCTX-M sequences. The discovery of highly diverse ESBL-producing bacteria and ESBL genes, particularly blaCTX, in urban river sediment raises alarms for potential dissemination of ARB in communities through river environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interface structures and fracture behavior of the two-dimensional carbon/carbon composites by isothermal vapor infiltration have been investigated. The results show that the graphene layers exhibit long-range order in high/textured pyrocarbon matrix and are curved in about 5-nm interface region of the fiber/high-textured. Some globular nanoparticles are formed on the fiber surface and the high-textured layer about 10 nm exists in the interface of the fiber/low-textured. The graphene layers stacks are scrolled and folded in the medium-textured and they are waved together in the interface of the fiber/medium-textured. The pseudo-plastic fracture behavior of the two-dimensional carbon/carbon composites is resulted from the dominant high-textured matrix and a moderate interfacial bonding force. A strong adhesion of the fiber/low-textured and the thicker fiber increased by surrounding low-textured layer result in the increasing flexural strength. The single medium-textured and a very strong bonding force of the fiber/medium-textured lead to the brittle fracture behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum exposure and apoptotic cell death has been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanisms by which aluminum interacts with the nervous system are only partly understood. In this study, we used cultured cortical neurons to investigate the ability of aluminum to induce the apoptosis of neurons and to explore the role of SAPK/JNK (stress-activated protein kinase or c-jun N-terminal kinase) signal transduction pathway on the apoptosis induced by aluminum. We found that aluminum-induced degeneration of cortical neurons involved the DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis, and staining of aluminum-treated neurons with the DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst 33258 revealed the typical apoptotic condensation and fragmentation of chromatin. The rate of apoptosis increased significantly (from 4.9 to 13.1, 21.4, and 59.8%, P<0.01), which was measured by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling. Western blot analysis showed that SAPK/JNK activities of cortical neurons varies when the exposure time of AlCl3 were different. The phosphorylation levels were 4.2, 3.3, 1.9 and 1.1 times greater compared to control cultures for 6, 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively (P<0.01). Furthermore, a JNK pathway inhibitor, CEP-11004 (KT8138) inhibited the activation of SAPK/JNK to protect cortical neurons from apoptosis induced by aluminum chloride. Our study demonstrates that aluminum can induce the apoptosis of cortical neurons and SAPK/JNK signal transduction pathway may play an important role in the apoptosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]