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Objective·To explore the value of miR-499 expression levels in the serum of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in predicting the severity of coronary artery disease.Methods·Seventy-four patients with ACS admitted to Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were included and divided into a mild group of 30 cases, a moderate group of 21 cases, and a severe group of 23 cases according to the Gensini score. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology was used to detect the expression level of serum miR-499, while troponin (cTnI), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), myoglobin (Mb), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and other laboratory indicators were measured. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the expression level of miR-499 and Gensini score, as well as the number of vessel branches in coronary artery disease. The evaluation value of miR-499 in assessing the severity of coronary artery disease was analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results·The expression level of miR-499 increased with the severity of coronary artery disease (P=0.000). The expression level of miR-499 was positively correlated with Gensini score and cTnI (r=0.331, r=0.143, P0.05), while Gensini score was not correlated with cTnI and LVEF (P>0.05). ROC analysis showed that the AUC of miR-499 for assessing the severity of coronary artery disease was 0.802 (95% CI 0.698‒0.906), with sensitivity of 65.2% and specificity of 80.4%. The expression level of miR-499 increased with the increase of the number of coronary artery lesions, and was positively correlated with the number of coronary artery lesions (r=0.368, P

Painful neuropathy is present in 13% to 35% of diabetic patients, and the reasons for the differential clinical manifestations of painful and painless diabetic neuropathy (DNP) in diabetic patients are unclear. This review focuses on the latest clinical advances. It is observed that gender, diabetes type, glycosylated hemoglobin, and blood lipid levels have certain predictive effects on painful DNP. Clinical attention should be paid to pain and paresthesia caused by small fiber neuropathy. Existing diagnostic Methods have limited differential effect, and active drug treatment is required after the diagnosis of painful DNP is confirmed. Further research on the pathogenesis of painful DNP is required in order to find new therapeutic target.

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, but the mechanism remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that inflammation may play a critical role in the development and progression of diabetic neuropathy. In the chronic low-grade inflammatory state of diabetes, the inflammatory signaling pathways in neurons and their surrounding cells are activated and interact with the released inflammatory factors to promote the occurrence of diabetic neuropathy. Advances in the understanding of inflammatory mechanism will facilitate the discovery of the potential therapeutic targets for the development of diabetic neuropathy.

WCP/steel surface composites were endowed with gradient structure and prepared by powder metallurgy. The mechanical properties, thermal fatigue properties and microstructure of the composites with different W content in the transition layers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, metallographic microscope, compression and thermal shock tests, and the influence of W addition on the composites performances was examined. The results show that the composition and structure between the composite layer and the substrate layer are varied by adding tungsten powder in the transition layer, the conflicts in stress, strain, and thermal expansion between the composite layer and the substrate layer are decreased. With the mass fraction of tungsten powder increasing, the W can diffuse both into the substrate layer and the composite layer, which leads to a new phase appearing in the transition layer. The bond between the substrate layer and the composite layer is reinforced. When the W content in the transition layer reaches 30% in mass fraction, the compressive strength reaches 553MPa, and thermal fatigue resistance of WCP/steel surface composite is improved.

By adding TiO2 powder into the preform, Al2O3 particles reinforced 1065 steel matrix composites were prepared by squeeze casting. The influence of TiO2 on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites was investigated. The results indicate that TiO2 and Al2TiO5 were produced at the interface between matrix and Al2O3 particles. Hardness and three point bending strength reach 39.0HRC and 743.94MPa respectively, which was 10.0% and 26.4% higher than those of the composites without TiO2 powder. Fracture morphologies show that there is no crack at the interface and Al2O3 particles are transcrystalline rupture. The interface bonding is improved by TiO2 powder for the Al2O3 particles reinforced composites, and the mechanical properties of the composites increase.

Chrysocolla and dioptase were considered to be formed from hydrothermal solutions by fluid-rock interaction, but this view was not verified by REE geochemistry. In this study, the REEs contents in these two minerals were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results show that chrysocolla has total REEs of 81 mg/kg, whereas dioptase has total REEs of 0.65 mg/kg. There is obvious fractionation of LREEs from HREEs for chrysocolla and dioptase with LREEs/HREEs ratios of 3.01 and 6.05, and (La/Yb)N ratios of 3.08 and 7.91, respectively. The chondrite-normalized REEs patterns of two minerals show weak Eu anomalies with δEu of 0.565 and 0.702, respectively, with LREEs enrichment and flat HREEs, indicating their similar source. Obvious Ce anomaly (δCe=0.219) of chrysocolla and no Ce anomaly (δCe=0.949) of dioptase are possibly due to their different crystal structures. Chrysocolla and dioptase inherit the REEs characteristics of the source rocks. These two minerals were formed by fluid-rock interaction under the same oxidized condition.

Tungsten and molybdenum ores have abundant paragenesis or associated elements. Detection of these elements is beneficial to the comprehensive utilization of mineral resources. At present, the contents of these elements are detected respectively by the national standard method of tungsten ore and molybdenum ore, which has a low efficiency. A method for the determination of trace elements in tungsten ore and molybdenum ore by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) is proposed. Tungsten ore and molybdenum ore samples were dissolved by HCl-HNO3-HF-HClO4 at normal pressure and extracted by hydrochloric acid (7% of HCl). The 10 trace elements of Bi, Co, Cu, Li, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V and Zn were simultaneously measured by ICP-AES. Analytical wavelength and spectral level of elements were selected. The background interferences were eliminated with an off-peak background correction method，and the spectral overlapping interferences between elements were eliminated using an interference elements correction coefficients method．The detection limits were 1.43-18.8 μg/g and the recovery rates were 90%-110%. This method has been applied to the determination of tungsten ore and molybdenum ore national certified reference materials, and the results were in good agreement with the certified values with RSD (n=10) 1ess than 8%. The method avoided the influence of adding a large amount of alkali metal elements and probably foreign matter with alkali fusion, without precipitation processing of tungstic acid and molybdic acid. It can be used to rapidly determine paragenesis or associated elements in tungsten ore and molybdenum ore.

Ti54.7Ni30.7Cu12.3Co2.3 shape memory alloy was rolled to predetermined thickness by two-roll hot -cold rolling mill, and conducted insulation treatment at 200 °C, above the end temperature of martensite inversion, for 2 h. The recovery rates of samples were tested. The results indicate that the shape memory alloy showed the maximum recovery rate of 88.89% at the recovery temperature of 200 °C for 2 h when the pre-deformation a-mount was set as 4%. The recovery effect of the alloy fell off at this recovery temperature for 2 h when the pre-deformation amount was above 4%, which denoted that the shape memory alloy possessed maximum pre-deformation of roughly 4 % at the recovery temperature of 200 °C for 2 h, and the alloy could not recover completely at this temperature for 2 h when pre-deformation was beyond limit. The shape memory alloy demonstrated maximum breaking strength (2 475 MPa), higher yield strength (1 586 MPa) and plastic strain rate (13.5%) with insulation heat treatment at the temperature of 465 °C for 30 min, which manifested the alloy presented optimal room temperature compression performance, and maximum promotion of microhardness with insulation heat treatment at the temperature of 465 °C for 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated atmospheric CO2 has imperceptible impacts on carbon cycle in aquatic ecosystems. However, it remains a question how this process will impact nitrogen cycle that is naturally coupled with carbon cycle. The nitrification and denitrification are two critical processes in the nitrogen cycle. It is reasonable to expect that elevated atmospheric CO2 will influence both processes. We reviewed the previous literatures concerning the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the physico-chemical properties, nitrification, denitrification and nitrogen transformation in water bodies. The published results revealed that the elevated CO2 would reduce the water pH, increase CO2 and HCO3- concentrations, but with different effects on the nitrification and denitrification between eutrophic and oligotrophic water. Elevated atmospheric CO2 could inhibit nitrification and denitrification in oligotrophic water, thereby reduce N2O flux from water. The nitrification process in the eutrophic water bodies was also inhibited, but its denitrification might be promoted by the elevated CO2. In the eutrophic water bodies, there could be an increase of N2O flux when pH was maintained in the range of 7-9. These might eventually result in the accumulation of NH4- and reduction of NO3 in water, producing an impact on the microbial diversity. Based on these reviews, we proposed some research gaps related to the relevant research fields as well as some scientific questions that is worth to be further explored. This review would be helpful to better understanding on how the greenhouse effect caused by the elevated atmospheric CO2 would affect nitrogen cycle in aquatic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the robustness of the video watermarking algorithm, we propose an improved video zero-watermarking algorithm in pseudo 3-D discrete cosine transform (3D-DCT) domain. In this scheme, we first select key frames through the inter-frame Euclidean distance algorithm, and then apply the three frames difference algorithm to extract the moving object of the key frame. Afterwards the moving object of the key frame is segmented as blocks, and the pseudo 3D-DCT is performed on the blocks. After the sequences of video eigenvalues are constructed by AC coefficients, we embed watermark signals into the sequences of eigenvalues to structure zero-watermark. Finally, the zero-water - mark is registered in a database. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is invisible and robust against most attacks, including noise filtering attacks, frame cropping, rotation, scaling and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new robust neural network based variable stricture controller for attitude rotation maneuver is developed for an orbiting flexible spacecraft, taking the actuator saturation into account. For purpose of the controller design, the actuator saturation is assumed to be unknown and treated as the system input disturbance. Based on the reduced-order model of flexible spacecraft, this robust controller, which only uses the output information, is capable to reject the disturbance, deal with uncertainty and ensure trajectories of the system globally uniformly ultimately bounded. With the universal approximating property and learning capability of neural network (NN) , the adaptive NN-based saturation compensator is also designed and inserted into a feedforward to compensate the saturation nonlinearity. Systematic design procedure is developed for synthesis of attitude control strategy of the NN variable structure. Both analytical and numerical results are presented to show the theoretical and practical merit of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) serum on expression of myogenic differentiation antigen (Myod) and autophagy-related protein Beclin 1 in cultured muscle satellite cells of rats under starvation conditions., Methods: The primary multifidus muscle satellite cells of one male SD rat were isolated and cultured to obtain the 3 rd generation of cells. The EA serum was got from the rat received EA stimulation of bilateral "Weizhong" (BL40, 2 Hz/10 Hz, 1 mA, duration of 20 min, once daily for 7 days). The cell suspension (2×10 4 /well) of the 3 rd generation of cultured cells was transferred to each well of a 96-well plate in medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Twelve duplicate wells were set up for the blank control serum (without FBS), 10% FBS, 10% EA serum, 20% EA serum and 30% EA serum groups and incubated for 12 h and 24 h, respectively. Each well was supplemented with 10 µL CCK-8 reagent to be incubated for 1 h again for observing the state of cell proliferation. After culturing the primary muscle satellite cells in serum-free medium for 12 h, the cells were randomly divided into serum-free group, 10% fetal bovine serum group and optimal concentration electroacupuncture serum group, and serum of corresponding concentration was added respectively. The expression levels of Beclin 1 and cell-proliferation-related protein Myod were detected by Western blot., Results: CCK-8 assay displayed that the proliferation levels were significantly higher at 12 h and 24 h after serum intervention in the 10% FBS, 10% EA serum, 20% EA serum and 30% EA serum groups than that in the blank control serum group ( P <0.01), and at 24 h in the 3 EA serum groups than in the 10% FBS group ( P <0.01), but without significant difference among the three EA serum groups ( P >0.05). As a result, 10% EA serum was selected as the optimal concentration for Western blot tests. No significant difference was found in the expression levels of Myod and Beclin 1 proteins among the serum-free, 10% FBS and 10% EA serum groups before intervention ( P >0.05), and there was a marked up-regulation of Myod expression and an obvious down-regulation of Beclin 1 expression at 12 h in both the 10% EA serum and 10% FBS groups in comparison with their own pre-intervention ( P <0.05). There were a marked up-re-gulation of Myod expression at both 12 h and 24 h and Beclin 1 expression at 24 h in both the 10% EA serum group and 10% FBS group than that in the serum-free group ( P <0.05), and an obvious down-regulation of Beclin 1 expression at 12 h in both 10% FBS and 10% EA serum groups than that in the serum-free group ( P <0.05, P <0.01). After 24 h's serum intervention, there was an increase of Myod expression and a reduction of Beclin 1 expression in both 10% FBS and 10% EA serum groups compared with those after the 12 h intervention ( P <0.05). No significant differences were found between the 10% FBS and 10% EA serum groups in the expression levels of Myod and Beclin 1 proteins ( P >0.05)., Conclusion: EA serum can promote proliferation of cultured muscle satellite cells under starvation conditions, which is related to its functions in regulating expression of Beclin 1 and cell-proliferation-related protein Myod.

Objective: To study the accuracy of 3D printing implant-guided anterior tooth implantation under flap or flapless surgery., Methods: Twenty-one cases (32 teeth) with missing teeth were divided into two groups: tooth implantation on the maxillary models under flap surgery (FP group) and tooth implantation on the maxillary models under flapless surgery (FPS group). A dental implant guide was designed and used in the two groups. The actual position of the dental implants in the two groups was compared with the preplanned deviation values of implant top, bottom, vertical distance, and angle deviation. SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis., Results: The deviation values of implant top, bottom, vertical distance, and angle were significantly lower in the FP group than in the FPS group (P<0.05)., Conclusions: High accuracy of tooth implantation can be realized by using the 3D printing implant guide. The different surgical methods influence the precision of tooth implantation. Clinicians can choose the surgery reasonably depending on the actual situation.

Land carrying capacity is one of the important research fields for land management and sustainable use. Urban-rural construction land is an essential component of land use type, the rationality of whose structure and layout is crucial to the sustainable use of land. Here, we executed the evaluation of the suitability of urban-rural construction land development, accounted the bearable critical threshold of urban-rural construction land, calculated the bearable abundance of urban-rural construction land, and compared with the current urban-rural construction land, analyzed the matching of the space layout, and then obtained the remaining development intensity of each county (city or district) of the Poyang Lake urban agglomeration. The results showed that the most suitable, more suitable, less suitable and unsuitable area about the evaluation results of urban-rural construction land development suitability were 3130.62, 2477.29, 867.03 and 29509.14 km 2 , respectively. The bearable critical threshold of urban-rural construction land (developable strength) was 16.6%, and the value of each county (city, district) was 7.7%-100%. The abundance of urban-rural construction land in each county (city, district) was mainly 0.15-1.30. The remaining development intensity was 12.3%, and the spatial matching degree was 0.76. The remaining develo-pment intensity of each county (city, district) was 4.9%-53.5%, and the spatial matching degree of each county (city, district) was 0.11- 1.00, with a wide range. Our results would help to clarify the relationship between the current development status and the rational development status, which could provide a basis for the refined management of urban-rural construction land and the regulatory policies' formulation of spatial pattern optimization.

Our study reports a case of acarodermatitis caused by Haemolaelaps casalis . By morphological observations, the mites seized were identified as Haemolaelaps casalis (deutonymph) which could attack humans resulting in acarodermatitis characterized with the symptoms of papules and blisters in different degrees. The patient was treated with 15% calamine lotion and anti-inflammatory and antipruritic drugs. Meanwhile, the mites were eliminated in the bedroom. After the treatment for one week, the patient was cured. Haemolaelaps casalis , which had been found in the indoor mattress, could attack humans and cause acarodermatitis. We should strengthen the work of anti-mite in domestic environment.

Objective: To explore the effect of hematopoietic cytokines IL-11 on invasion and metastasis abilities of anaplastic thyroid cacinoma(ATC) cells. Methods: Real-time PCR was performed for examining the IL-11 mRNA expression in thyroid carcinoma cell lines, and IL-11 protein expression in the supernament of thyroid carcinoma cell lines was detected by ELISA. Molecular cloning was employed to construct IL-11 stable knockdown cell line; MTT assay was used to analyze the effect of IL-11 on the proliferation of ATC cells; Transwell and wound healing assays were employed to analyze the abilities of migration and invasion in ATC cells. Western blotting was used to detect the relative pathway proteins. SPSS statistical package 19.0 was used to analyze the date, and Student's t test was used for multiple comparisons. Results: The protein level of IL-11 were significantly lower in knock-down cell lines than that in negative control cell lines(21.55±1.69, 16.18±0.85, 26.37±2.00 vs 54.54±3.99, all P <0.05). Colony formation assays reveal that colony number between knock-down cells and negative control cells has no significance( P >0.05). Meanwhile, MTT assays show that there is no significance between knock-down cell lines and negative control cell line( P >0.05). However, Transwell invasion and migration assays show that number of migrated cells is increased when ATC cells were treated with rhIL-11(0-100 ng/ml)at increasing concentrations. Conclusion: IL-11 improves the migratory and invasive abilities of ATC cells via inducing EMT of ATC cells, and it can be used as a potential target for ATC molecular targeted therapy.

The soil carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio of soils is a sensitive indicator of soil quality and an indicator for assessing the carbon and nitrogen nutrition balance of soils. Its variation is significant in reflecting the carbon and nitrogen cycling of soils. An accurate knowledge of how the C/N ratio varies spatially and temporally and the driving factors at county scale is of great significance to the extrapolation of balanced fertilization based on soil C/N ratio regulation as well as to the protection of the ecological environment. This study was based on 200 points of surface soil samples (0-20 cm) collected during the second National Soil Survey in 1982 and 423 points of surface soil samples (0-20 cm) collected during the soil test-based formulated fertilization project in 2012 in Yugan County. Combined with the soil parent material, soil type, farmland-use type, terrain factors, pH, straw incorporation pattern, and nitrogen fertilizer rate over the past 30 years, spatial and temporal variability characteristics of the soil C/N ratio were analyzed by using ordinary kriging methods, and the effects of the influencing factors were quantified by regression analysis. The results indicated that the mean value of the C/N ratio was 10.05 and 11.18 in 1982 and 2012, respectively. The coefficient of variation was 19.40% and 25.04%, respectively, which suggested the soil C/N ratio had moderate variability in the study area. The ratios of nugget to sill were 15.91% and 71.25% in 1982 and 2012, respectively. This means that the leading factor from the structural factors (parent material and soil type) into the stochastic factors (nitrogen fertilizer rate and straw incorporation pattern). In the past 30 years, most of the regional soil C/N ratio increased significantly especially the eastern region. The spatial variability of soil C/N in 1982 was mainly affected by soil parent material, soil type, terrain factor, and pH, with the degree of influence of each variable at 17.3%, 14.2%, 7.4%, and 2.3%. In 2012, the spatial variability was mainly affected by soil parent material, soil type, farmland-use type, terrain factor, straw incorporation pattern, and nitrogen fertilizer rate, with the degree of influence of each variable of 8.7%, 23.5% 28.2%, 12.2%, 12.6%, and 42.3%, respectively. To maintain the steady growth of the soil C/N ratio, it is suggested that the return of carbon be incorporated with the input of nitrogen, such as incorporating crop residues into the soil and inputting more organic fertilizers into the soil in future farming practices.

Objective: To investigate the nutritional status of children on maintenance hemodialysis due to stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the clinical significance of nutritional assessment indices., Methods: A total of 21 children on maintenance hemodialysis due to stage 5 CKD were grouped according to body mass index. The nutritional status was assessed based on anthropometric parameters, biochemical parameters, inflammatory factors, residual renal function, indices of dialysis adequacy, and resting energy expenditure. Related indices were compared between the children with malnutrition and those with normal nutritional status., Results: Of the 21 children, 10 had malnutrition and 11 had normal nutritional status. There were significant differences between the two groups in anthropometric parameters, levels of leptin, insulin-like growth factor-1, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and mean 24-hour residual urine volume (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in albumin, prealbumin, CONCLUSIONS: urea clearance index (Kt/V), and measured resting energy expenditure., Conclusions: Anthropometric parameters, biochemical parameters, residual renal function, and inflammatory factors have an important value in evaluating the nutritional status of children with stage 5 CKD on maintenance hemodialysis. Further studies are needed to investigate the value of the measurement of resting energy expenditure in the evaluation and monitoring of nutritional status in children with stage 5 CKD on maintenance hemodialysis.

In order to set up a technical standard for planting Amomum villosum in wood forest in the future, we analyzed the relationship between the ecological factors and the yield of A. villosum planted in five Dimocarpus imocarpus longan wood forests and five miscellaneous wood forests in Yangchun city, to find out the dominant factors that affect the yield of A. villosum. The results showed that agricultural measures of fertilization, artificial irrigation and removing the old plants were positively correlated with the yield of A. villosum, the pesticide spraying and soil pH value were negatively correlated with the yield of A. villosum. But the effects of ecological factors on the yield were not significantly. High yield regions are generally located in the ravine, two sides of mountain stream and other places where water is more adequate. The slope of cultivated field with high yield is generally less than 30°, lighting and ventilation are more appropriate; soil type is generally sandy or loam, shade density is generally about 50%, and pollinators are many in quantity and variety. And we found that there was a large difference in mineral nutrient contents of soils among ten plantations. Results indicate that the yield of A. villosum is determined by the combination of each ecological factor. Suitable light intensity, moisture, ventilation and reasonable fertilization are conductive to increase the yield of A. villosum, but the use of pesticides and soil alkalization hinder the increase of A. villosum production. Too high shade density and the abuse of pesticides may be the main reason for limiting the yield of A. villosum planted in D. longan wood forests. This study has obtained key techniques of the ecological stereoscopic cultivation mode of A. villosum-D. longan, which lays a theoretical foundation for the guidance of farmers in planting A. villosum in the D. Longan forest in the future., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

DREAM (downstream regulatory element antagonist modulator), Calsenilin and KChIP3 (potassium channel interacting protein 3) belong to the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) superfamily, which transduces the intracellular calcium signaling into a variety of activities. They are encoded by the same gene locus, but have distinct subcellular locations. DREAM was first found to interact with DRE (downstream regulatory element) site in the vicinity of the promoter of prodynorphin gene to suppress gene transcription. Calcium can disassemble this interaction by binding reversibly to DREAM protein on its four EF-hand motifs. Apart from having calcium dependent DRE site binding, DREAM can also interact with other transcription factors, such as cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB), CREB-binding protein (CBP) and cAMP responsive element modulator (CREM), by this concerted actions, DREAM extends the gene pool under its control. DREAM is predominantly expressed in central nervous system with its highest level in cerebellum, and accumulating evidence demonstrated that DREAM might play important roles in pain sensitivity. Novel findings have shown that DREAM is also involved in learning and memory processes, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. This mini-review provides a brief introduction of its discovery history and protein structure properties, focusing on the mechanism of DREAM nuclear translocation and gene transcription regulation functions.

Spatial variability of soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N) at the provincial scale was analyzed using ordinary kriging methods. The effects of the factors influencing C/N were quantified by regression analysis based on 16,582 points of surface soil samples (0-20 cm) collected during the project of soil-test-based formulated fertilization in Jiangxi Province in 2012. The results showed that soil C/N ranged from 2.98 to 52.67, with an average of 11.72. The coefficient of variation was 25.17%, suggesting moderate variability. The nugget-to-sill ratio was 88.44%, meaning that the stochastic factors played a more important role in the spatial variability of soil C/N between the structural and stochastic factors. The spatial distribution of soil C/N was relatively smooth and the high-value areas were mainly distributed in Pengze County-Jiujiang City, Shangli County-Pingxiang City, and Lean County-Fuzhou City. The terrain factors, farmland-use type, parent material, soil type, and the level of nitrogen fertilizer had significant impacts on the spatial variability of soil C/N ( P <0.05), but the degree of influence was different for each factor. Soil C/N indicated a significant positive Pearson's correlation with elevation and the slope of slope ( P <0.05). The terrain factors explained 0.3% of the spatial variability of soil C/N and the farmland-use could explain 1.4%. The explanatory power of soil groups, subgroups, and soil family were 2.7%, 3.6%, and 5.5% respectively. The level of nitrogen fertilizer could explain 33.4% of the spatial variability of soil C/N, which showed that the amount of nitrogen fertilizer was the main factor that controls the spatial distribution of soil C/N.

Ion channels are involved in the mechanism of anesthetic action and side effect.The transcription and expression of ion channel genes can be modulated by general anesthetics.The adverse effect of continuous infusion of etomidate has been concerned.However,the effects of etomidate on mRNA expressions of ion channel genes remain unclear.In this study,we exposed Daphnia pulexin 250μmol/L of etomidate for 240 min and observed the change of heart rate,phototactic behavior and blood glucose during the period of exposure,as well as the mRNA expressions of 120 ion channel genes at the end of the experiment.Compared to the controls,heart rate,phototactic behavior and blood glucose were not influenced by 250μmol/L of etomidate.According to the quantitative PCR results,18 of 120Daphnia pulexion channel genes transcripts were affected by persistent 240 min exposure to 250μmol/L of etomidate:2genes were upregulated and 16 genes were down-regulated,suggesting that etomidate showed effects on many different ion channels in transcription level.Systematical exploration of transcriptional changes of ion channels could contribute to understanding of the pharmacological mechanism of etomidate.

To establish a multi-pretreatment method for the determination of aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 in Chinese patent medicines, aflatoxins were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector with post-column derivatization, after the multi-pretreatment of samples. The results showed that after the samples extracted with MeOH-H2O, dehydrated by anhydrous magnesium sulphate and sodium chloride, and finally purified by neutral alumina, the impurity interference of different sources in Chinese patent medicines matrix can be effectively removed, and the main peak can be nicely separated from the impurity peak. The detection limits were 0.25, 0.25, 0.50, 0.25 μg x L(-1) for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, respectively. The quantification limits were 1.00, 0.50, 1.00, 0.50 μg x L(-1), respectively. Aflatoxin B1, G1 showed a good linear relationship at a range of 1.0-50 μg x L(-1), aflatoxin B2, G2 at a range of 0.5-12.5 μg x L(-1) (R2 > 0.99). The average recovery was 80.40% - 108.6%. The present method is simple, reproducible with the reasonable recoveries and can be applied for the determination of aflatoxins in Chinese patent medicines.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and management of intractable deep-seated epistaxis., Methods: Clinical data were analyzed retrospectively in 195 patients with intractable deep-seated epistaxis treated in Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao College between June 2008 and June 2014. The analyses included common risk factors, bleeding sites, treatments and therapeutic effects. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data., Results: There were 162 males and 33 females, aged from 15 to 88 years old (mean 52 ± 16 years). One hundred and eighty-seven cases (95.9%) were unilateral and 8 cases (4.1%) were bilateral. One hundred and twenty-six cases (64.6%) had the history of hypertension or blood pressure higher than normal on admission. Eight patients were cured by nasal packing and appropriate drugs, and 187 patients were treated by endoscopy and electrocoagulation. The numbers of treatment needed to stop bleeding were 1 time in 184 cases (98.4%), 2 times in 3 cases (1.6%). Thirteen cases did not have certain bleeding point, while the other 174 had certain one or more bleeding sites. The rewarded bleeding sites were 222, which were found in the following different sites: posterior inferior nasal meatus (33.3%, 74 /222), olfactory cleft of nasal septum (26.6%, 59/222), the root of the middle turbinate (14.0%, 31/222), and so on. Hypertension and diabetes were risk factors (OR value was 3.411, 7.142, both P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Intractable deep-seated epistaxis are mainly found in males and are almost unilatera1. Hypertension and diabetes are the common risk factor. The most effective and safe treatment for intractable deep-seated epistaxis is electrocoagulation under nasal endoscopy.

Objective: To describe tne regional different factors which impact on early cochlear implantation in prelingual deaf children between eastern and western regions of China., Method: The charts of 113 children who received the cochlear implantation after 24 months old were reviewed and analyzed. Forty-five of them came from the eastern region (Jiangsu, Zhejiang or Shanghai) while 68 of them came from the western region (Ningxia or Guizhou). Parental interviews were conducted to collect information regarding the factors that impact on early cochlear implantation. Result:Based on the univariate logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) value of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was 5. 481, which indicated the correlation of UNHS with early cochlear implantation is significant. There was statistical difference between the 2 groups (P<0. 01). For the financial burden, the OR value was 3. 521(strong correlation) and there was statistical difference between the 2 groups (P<0. 01). For the communication barriers and community location, the OR value was 0. 566 and 1. 128 respectively, and there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups (P>0. 05). The multivariate analysis indicated that the UNHS and financial burden are statistically different between the eastern and western regions (P=0. 00 and 0. 040 respectively)., Conclusion: The UNHS and financial burden are statistically different between the eastern reinforced in the western region. In addition, the government and society should provide powerful policy and more financial support in the western region of China. The innovation of management system is also helpful to the early cochlear implantation.

A rapid and sensitive method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of ephedrine and N-methylephedrine in urine samples by solid phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-UPLC-ESI MS/MS). The samples were extracted with Oasis MCX solid phase extraction cartridges and measured in the modes of electrospray positive ionization (ESI +) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Good linearities were observed in the range of 0.025 0 - 2.50 microg/L with correlation coefficient over 0.999 0 for both analytes. The recoveries were above 80% with RSDs less than 5.0%. The limits of detection were 0.01 microg/L. The method proves to be rapid and sensitive for the trace determination of ephedrine and N-methylephedrine in urine samples.

A rapid, specific and sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of four trace alkaloids, including aconitine (AC), hypaconitine (HA), mesaconitine (MA) and yunaconitine (YA) in human urine samples. UPLC-MS-MS system coupled with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source was performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The sample preparation was performed with hollow fiber microextraction (HF-LPME) prior to the analysis. The enrichment factors of the four alkaloids were 102 - 301. The separation was applied on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 micro m) with a gradient elution of acetonitrile and 10 mmol/L NH4HCO3, as mobile phase. The retention times , were less than 3 min. This method significantly improved the detection sensitivity, and the limits of quantitation were from 0. 01 to 0.1 ng/L. The calibration curves were linear over the ranges of 0.01 - 10 ng/L for AC, MA and YA, 0.1 - 100 ng/L for HA in human urine samples, and the correlation coefficients were 0. 998 1, 0.998 4, 0.999 5 and 0.998 6, respectively. The method was proved to be rapid and sensitive for aconitum alkaloid analysis in urine samples.

Objective: To investigate the treatment and prognosis of the patients with oral mucosal melanoma (OMM)., Methods: The clinicopathological and follow-up data of patients with OMM in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 1976 to December 2005 were analyzed retrospectively., Results: Fifty-one cases were analyzed. The pathological lymph node metastasis rate was 61% (31/51) and the affected sites were confined to level I(b)-III (94%). The overall three year and five yearsurvival rates were 35% and 21% respectively. No significant difference of three year and five year survival rates were found between the group of incisional biopsy and the group of excisional biopsy. The prognosis was not affected by pigmentation. The survival rate of the patients receiving surgery combined with biotherapy or biochemotherapy was significantly higher than that of the patients treated by other modalities (P = 0.003)., Conclusions: In patients with OMM, lymph node metastasis was mostly confined to level I(b)-III. Incisional biopsy and pigmentation were not associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The prognosis of the patients with OMM was poor and the patients may get a better prognosis by receiving surgery combined with biotherapy or biochemotherapy.

Objective: Wilms' tumor (WT) is the most common malignant renal tumor in childhood. The WT1 gene located at 11p13 was identified in 1990 as a tumor suppressor gene important in the development in WT. The WT1 gene consists of 10 exons, with exons 1 to 6 encoding an N-terminal proline- and glutamine-rich transactivational domain, and exons 7 to 10 encoding a C-terminal zinc-finger domain involved in DNA binding. In China we know little about the frequency and genotype of WT1 mutations in Chinese WT patients. This study aimed to determine the frequency and genotype of WT1 mutations in children with nonsyndromic WT in China., Methods: We collected peripheral blood of WT patients treated in Beijing Children's Hospital. Genomic DNA of 54 WT patients was isolated from blood samples. All coding WT1 exons and their flanking intronic sequences were amplified by PCR method. The amplified PCR products from all individuals were then subjected to automatic DNA sequencing., Results: Four different constitutional WT1 mutations were identified in four children. Three mutations are predicted to produce truncated protein. One mutation is missense. Of the four mutations, three had not been reported before. Patient 1 had a 1006 A > T transition in exon 7, which caused (336)Lys to become a stop codon (K336X). DNA sequence analyses in patient 2 indicated the point mutations in exon 9 which was a 1168 C > T substitution and caused (390)Arg to become a stop codon (R390X). It indicated a point mutations in exon 6 in patient 3 which was a 814 G > T substitution and resulted in (272)Glu to become a stop codon (E272X). In patient 4 there was a homozygous mutation in exon 10. The mutation was a 1228 A > G substitution and resulted in (410)Ser to become a Gly codon (S410G)., Conclusion: Constitutional WT1 mutations occur at a low frequency (7.4%) in Chinese patients with Wilms' Tumor. It is similar to the results of overseas study. Four WT1 gene mutations were confirmed, three were nonsense, one was missense.

Titanium nitride (TIN) hard protective films were fabricated on AISI52100 bearing steel surface employing plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID) technique. The TiN films were characterized using a variety of test methods. Atomic force microscope (AFM) revealed that the titanium nitride film has extremely smooth surface, very high uniformity and efficiency of space filling over large areas. X-ray diffraction (XRD) result indicated that (200) crystal face of titanium nitride phase is the preferred orientation and three kinds of titanium components exist in the surface modified layer. Tailor fitting analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) combined with Ar ion etching proved that Ti2p(1/2) and Ti2p(3/2) have two peaks in the titanium nitride film layer, respectively. It is shown that different chemical state exists in titanium compound. N(1s) bond energy of XPS has also three fitting peaks at 396.51, 397. 22 and 399.01 eV, corresponding to the nitrogen atom in TiNxOy, TiN and N--N, respectively. Combined with the XPS Tailor fitting analysis results of O(1s) bond energy, it was shown that there is a large amount of titanium nitride phase in addition to a small amount of simple substance nitrogen and oxide of titanium in the surface layer. The whole film system is made up of TiN, TiO2, N--N and Ti--O--N compound.

Objective: To summarize clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of infants with urinary calculus and acute renal failure developed after being fed with melamine tainted formula milk., Methods: Data of infant patients with urinary calculus and acute renal failure due to melamine tainted formula milk admitted to the Beijing Children's Hospital affiliated to the Capital Medical University and the Xuzhou Children's Hospital in 2008 were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, image features as well as effects of 4 types of therapies., Results: All the 34 infants with urinary calculus were complicated with acute renal failure, their blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was (24.1 +/- 8.2) mmol/L and creatinine (Cr) was (384.2 +/- 201.2) micromol/L. The chemical analysis on the urinary calculus sampled from 14 of the infants showed that the calculus contained melamine and acidum uricum. The time needed for the four types of therapies for returning Cr to normal was (3.5 +/- 1.9) d for cystoscopy group, (2.7 +/- 1.1) d for lithotomy group, (3.8 +/- 2.3) d for dialysis group, and (2.7 +/- 1.6) d for medical treatment group, which had no statistically significant difference (P = 0.508). Renal failure of all the 34 infants was relieved within 1 to 7 days, averaging (3.0 +/- 1.8) d., Conclusion: Melamine tainted formula milk may cause urinary calculus and obstructive acute renal failure. It is suggested that firstly the patients with urinary calculus complicated with acute renal failure should be treated with dialysis or medication to correct electrolyte disturbances, in particular hyperkalemia, and then relieve the obstruction with available medical and surgical methods as soon as possible. It is observed that the short term prognosis is satisfactory.

Objective: To establish a capillary electrophoresis with field-amplified sample stacking method for the separation and determination of aconitine alkaloid in Guifudihuang pills., Method: An uncoated fused-silica capillary column (50 microm x 43 cm, effective length 35 cm) was used. The running buffer was 50 mmol x L(-1) phosphate electrolyte solution (pH 4.6)-methanol (8:2). The runing voltage was 10 kV and the capillary inlet was dipped in methanol for 5 s prior to electrokinetic injection (10 kV, 40 s). The detection wavelength was 235 nm., Result: This method allowed 500 fold enrichment of aconitine alkaloid. A good linear relation was obtained in the range of 31.3-2 x 10(3) microg x L(-1) (r = 0.9996), with the detection limit of 9.4 microg x L(-1). The average recovery was 98.0% with the RSD of 2.6%., Conclusion: The method is simple, rapid and specific with high stacking efficiency; it provides a new reliable means for production and quality control of Guifudihuang pills.

Objective: To establish a RP-HPLC method for fast and simultaneous determination of four index contents, which are Genpioside, Baicalin, Berberine Hydrochloride and Ammonium Glyeyrrhizinate, in Qingwei Huanglian tablets., Method: A separation was well achieved by gradient elution on a Hypersil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column with the mobile phases of acetontrile -0.5% triethylamine water-solution (pH 3.0) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), detection wavelength of 230 nm, and room temperature., Result: The calibration curve were linear in the ranges of 4.82-77.2, 5.80-92.8, 1.63-26.1 and 6.40-102 microg x mL(-1) (r = 0.9997-0.9999) for genpioside, baicalin, berberine hydrochloride and ammonium glyeyrrhizinate, respectively. The average recoveries of four index components were not less than 98.0%., Conclusion: The method is convenient, rapid and accurate. It is suitable for the quality control of Qingwei Huanglian tablets.

Objective: To investigate whether human L02 hepatocytes could survive after implanting them into normal, immunocompetent rats., Methods: Human L02 hepatocytes were injected through the uterine walls into the intraperitoneal cavities of fetal Sprague-Dawley rats to induce immune tolerance to human L02 hepatocytes. Human L02 hepatocytes stained with DiI were implanted into the spleens of the 2-week old rats. Immuno-fluorescent staining, SP immunohistochemistry, and DiI staining were used to detect human albumin and specific proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the rat livers. The distribution of human L02 hepatocytes was observed under the fluorescent microscope., Results: Dynamic distribution of human L02 hepatocytes in the rat livers was observed from the 1st to the 10th week after the implantation. Human albumin was detected at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, and at the 4th week it had the highest level. Specific human PCNA was detected in the rat livers from the 2nd to the 6th week after implantation. The PCNA positive cells were most abundant at the 4th week., Conclusion: Human L02 hepatocytes can survive and proliferate for 10 weeks after implanting them into genetically normal immunocompetent rats.

Aim: To investigate the effect of iguratimod (T-614), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on TNFalpha mRNA expression and TNFalpha production, and on the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in the rat alveolar macrophage cell line (NR8383) activated by LPS., Methods: NR8383 cells were pretreated with T-614 (13.4, 26.7, 53.4 micromol x L(-1)), then were stimulated with LPS. The production of TNFalpha in the supernatant of NR8383 was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The TNFalpha mRNA level was determined by a semi-quantitative PCR assay. Assessment of the NF-kappaB DNA binding activity was performed by an ELISA kit., Results: T-614 inhibited LPS-stimulated mRNA expression and production of TNFalpha in a concentration-dependent manner, as well as the activity of NF-kappaB. The IC50 value of effect of T-614 on TNFalpha level was 26.2 micromol x L(-1)., Conclusion: The inhibitory effect of T-614 on the production of TNFalpha in LPS-stimulated NR8383 cells may be mediated by suppression of NF-kappaB activity.

The dimorphic transition of yeast and hyphal forms is one of most determinants in Candida albicans for its pathogenicity. This transition is regulated by several signal transduction pathways. Transcriptional factor Flo8 plays an important role in morphogenesis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this work, a C. albicans genomic DNA library was introduced into a S. cerevisiae flo8/flo8 mutant and genes which could suppress invasive growth defect were isolated. A novel gene was isolated and designated CaPPE1 (Candida albicans PPE1 gene). CaPPE1 encoded for a 361 amino acid protein CaPpe1, shared highest similarity in amino acids (35% identity) with the protein phosphatase methylesterase Ppel of S. cerevisiae. In haploid of S. cerevisiae, ectopic expressed CaPPE1 could partially suppress the invasive growth defect of the flo8 mutant but failed to suppressed the invasive growth defects of the mutants in MAPK pathway(ste12/ste12 and tec1/ tecl). Ectopic expression of the CaPPE1 in diploid of S. cerevisiae suppress the filamentous growth defect of some mutants in MAPK pathway, but not in flo8/flo8 mutant under nitrogen starvation condition. It is suggested that CaPpe1 may be involved in different regulating pathways in diploid filamentous growth and in haploid invasive growth.

Objective: To study the difference in the pharmacokinetics of emodin in Zhiganning capsules and Rhizoma Polygontum Cuspidatum by nonaqueous RP-HPLC., Method: The rats were orally administered with the extraction of Rhizoma Polygontum Cuspidatum and Zhiganning capsules. After hydrolysis and extraction, the content of emodin in the plasma is determined by Nonaqueous RP-HPLC., Result: The concentration-time profiles of emodin fit two-compartment model. The pharmacokinetics parameters including, t1/2alpha, AUC(0-infinity), CL(s) and C(max) of emodin in the group of Rhizoma Polygontum Cuspidatum were significantly different from these in the group of its compounds., Conclusion: There is a significant difference in pharmacokinetics of emodin between zhiganning capsules and the extraction of Rhizoma Polygontum Cuspidatum.

A rapid and simple ion-pair reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) has been established for the routine analysis of zoledronic acid and its related substances. The chromatographic conditions were optimized based on the satisfactory separation of zoledronic acid from imidazol-1-ylacetic acid, their retention times and peak shape. The excellent separation of zoledronic acid from its related substances, including the remaining imidazol-1-ylacetic acid used in the synthesis of zoledronic acid and other impurities of oxidation and decomposition, was achieved within 9 min on a Hypersil C8 column with UV detection at 220 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of methanol (20%) and 5 mmo/L phosphate buffer (80%) that contains 6 mmol/L tetrabutylammonium bromide. The resolution factor of zoledronic acid from its adjacent peak was more than 2.5. This is a simple and rapid method for the routine assay of zoledronic acid.