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Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in patients undergoing low or ultra-low anterior resection (LAR) is a common problem and significantly impacts the quality of life. Patients with an ileostomy after LAR are more likely to develop LARS. However, there hasn't been a model predicting LARS occurrence in these patients. This study aims to construct a nomogram to predict the probability of LARS occurrence in patients with temporary ileostomy and guide preventive strategies before reversal. 168 patients undergoing LAR with ileostomy from one center were enrolled as the training cohort, and 134 patients of the same inclusion criteria from another center were enrolled as the validation cohort. The training cohort was screened for risk factors for major LARS using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The nomogram was constructed using the filtered variables, the ROC curve was used to describe the model's discrimination, and the calibration was used to describe the accuracy. The optimal cut-off value for stoma closure time was 128 days. Three risk factors were identified using logistic regression analysis: preoperative radiotherapy (OR = 3.038, [95%CI 1.75–5.015], P = 0.005), stoma closure time (OR = 2.298, [95%CI 1.088–4.858], P = 0.029) and pN stage (OR = 1.739, [95%CI 1.235–3.980], P = 0.001). A nomogram was constructed based on these three variables and showed good performance predicting major LARS after stoma reversal. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.827 in the training group and 0.821 in the validation group; The calibration curve suggested good precision in both groups. This novel nomogram can accurately predict the probability of major LARS occurrence after ileostomy reversal for rectal cancer patients. This model can help screen ileostomy patients with high risks and guide individualized preventive strategies before stoma reversal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a comparative study of the COVID-19 epidemic in three different settings: mainland China, the Guangdong province of China and South Korea, by formulating two disease transmission dynamics models which incorporate epidemic characteristics and setting-specific interventions, and fitting the models to multi-source data to identify initial and effective reproduction numbers and evaluate effectiveness of interventions. We estimated the initial basic reproduction number for South Korea, the Guangdong province and mainland China as 2.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): (2.5, 2.7)), 3.0 (95%CI: (2.6, 3.3)) and 3.8 (95%CI: (3.5,4.2)), respectively, given a serial interval with mean of 5 days with standard deviation of 3 days. We found that the effective reproduction number for the Guangdong province and mainland China has fallen below the threshold 1 since February 8th and 18th respectively, while the effective reproduction number for South Korea remains high until March 2nd Moreover our model-based analysis shows that the COVID-19 epidemics in South Korean is almost under control with the cumulative confirmed cases tending to be stable as of April 14th. Through sensitivity analysis, we show that a coherent and integrated approach with stringent public health interventions is the key to the success of containing the epidemic in China and especially its provinces outside its epicenter. In comparison, we find that the extremely high detection rate is the key factor determining the success in controlling the COVID-19 epidemics in South Korea. The experience of outbreak control in mainland China and South Korea should be a guiding reference for the rest of the world. • We conducted a comparative study of the COVID-19 epidemic in three different settings: mainland China, the Guangdong province of China and South Korea. • We estimated the initial basic reproduction number for South Korea, the Guangdong province and mainland China as 2.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): (2.5, 2.7)), 3.0 (95%CI: (2.6, 3.3)) and 3.8 (95%CI: (3.5,4.2)). • A coherent and integrated approach with stringent public health interventions is the key to the success of containing the epidemic in China and especially its provinces outside its epicenter. • The extremely high detection rate of infected individuals is the key to the success in controlling the epidemics in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.08.006 Byline: Jianhong Wu (a), Christopher Capp (a), Liping Feng (b), Tao-shih Hsieh (a) Keywords: Rothmund-Thomson syndrome; Drosophila; RecQ4; DNA replication Abstract: Members of the RecQ family play critical roles in maintaining genome integrity. Mutations in human RecQL4 cause a rare genetic disorder, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. Transgenic mice experiments showed that the RecQ4 null mutant causes embryonic lethality. Although biochemical evidence suggests that the Xenopus RecQ4 is required for the initiation of DNA replication in the oocyte extract, its biological functions during development remain to be elucidated. We present here our results in establishing the use of Drosophila as a model system to probe RecQ4 functions. Immunofluorescence experiments monitoring the cellular distribution of RecQ4 demonstrated that RecQ4 expression peaks during S phase, and RecQ4 is expressed only in tissues active in DNA replication, but not in quiescent cells. We have isolated Drosophila RecQ4 hypomorphic mutants, recq.sup.EP and recq4.sup.23 , which specifically reduce chorion gene amplification of follicle cells by 4-5 fold, resulting in thin and fragile eggshells, and female sterility. Quantitative analysis on amplification defects over a 14-kb domain in chorion gene cluster suggests that RecQ4 may have a specific function at or near the origin of replication. A null allele recq4.sup.19 causes a failure in cell proliferation, decrease in DNA replication, chromosomal fragmentation, and lethality at the stage of first instar larvae. The mosaic analysis indicates that cell clones with homozygous recq4.sup.19 fail to proliferate. These results indicate that RecQ4 is essential for viability and fertility, and is required for most aspects of DNA replication during development. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA (b) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA Article History: Received 5 July 2008; Revised 5 August 2008; Accepted 6 August 2008

• Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped double perovskite Ba 2 SrWO 6 phosphors were prepared through a solid-state reaction. • XRD and rietveld refinement demonstrate the lanthanide substitution led to the reduction of cell volume. • Upconversion properties were studied under 980 and 1550 nm excitation. • Fluorescence intensity ratio and lifetime-based temperature sensing behaviors were evaluated. All inorganic double perovskites have been adopted as photo-luminescent hosts due to their high stability, absorption coefficient and carrier mobility. Various photo-luminescent properties are being investigated in double perovskites including infrared emitting, upconverting, afterglowing, temperature sensing and so on. Taking advantage of the Boltzmann distributed energy levels, erbium ions are gifted as spectral temperature sensing centers. Here, we synthesized Er3+ doped monoclinic Ba 2 SrWO 6 (BSWO) double perovskites and carried out a series of examinations for their upconverting as well as temperature sensing characteristics. Upon 980 and 1550 nm excitation, the upconversion processes are determined by the relationship between emission intensities against excitation powers. The optical temperature sensitivities are evaluated by exploiting fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) and lifetime, where the maximum values for FIR and lifetime sensitivities are 14.3 × 10−3 and 2.2 × 10−3 K−1 respectively, suggesting that Er3+ doped double perovskites hold great potential for the development of novel optical temperature sensing materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.04.459 Byline: Jianhong Wu, Joshua H. Hou, Tao-shih Hsieh Keywords: Gametogenesis; Drosophila; Hub cells; WD40 repeats; wh; Male sterile Abstract: Through mutagenesis by P-element transposition, we identified a series of mutants with deletions in topoisomerase 3[beta] gene (top3[beta]) and an adjacent, previously uncharacterized gene CG15897, here named wuho (wh). Whereas top3[beta] truncation does not affect viability or fertility, wh null mutants display male sterile and female semi-sterile phenotypes. Furthermore, wh mutants can be fully rescued by wh transgenes, but not by top3[beta] transgenes, suggesting that the fertility phenotypes are caused by wh deletion. The alignment of WH protein sequence with other eukaryotic putative homologues shows they are evolutionarily conserved proteins with 5 WD40 repeats in the middle portion of the protein, and a bipartite nuclear localization signal at the carboxyl terminus. Yeast homologue with 5 WD40 repeats, Trm82, is the non-catalytic subunit of a tRNA methylase. Immunostaining shows that WH has the highest expression in hub cells, a niche for germline stem cells of testis. However, WH is not required for the maintenance of hub cells or the germline stem cells. In wh mutant males, spermatogenesis is arrested at the elongating stage of the developing spermatids, resulting in an absence of mature sperms in the seminal vesicles. The decreased fertility in wh mutant females is mostly due to defects in oogenesis. There are abnormal egg chambers present in the mutant females, in which the cystocytes fail to arrest their cell division at the fourth mitotic cycle, resulting in more than 16 cells in a single egg chamber. Additionally, these abnormal cystocytes do not undergo multiple rounds of endoreplication as the nurse cells do in a normal egg chamber. Therefore, the cytological analyses demonstrate that wh has a critical function in cellular differentiation for germline cells during gametogenesis. Author Affiliation: Biochemistry Department, PO Box 3711, Duke University Medical Center, Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA Article History: Received 25 January 2006; Revised 20 April 2006; Accepted 21 April 2006