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Purpose: This study analyzes the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, vaginal microecology, and cervical lesions to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer (CC) in the Xinjiang region. Methods: Real‐time quantitative PCR was used for HPV genotyping and viral load. The Gram staining and dry biochemical enzyme kit were utilized to diagnose vaginal secretions. The χ2 test and Logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: The HPV infection rate among women in the Xinjiang region was 30.29%, of which the single HPV infection accounts for 77%. HPV16 and HPV52 were the main infection types. There was significant differences in the HPV infection rate and infection types among the Han, Uighur, Hui, and Kazakh ethnic groups. The viral load of HPV16 and HPV52 increases with the upgrade of cervical lesions. There were significant differences in vaginal microecology evaluation indicators H2O2, SNA, LE, GUS, trichomonas, clue cells, and lactobacilli among different ethnic groups. HPV negative patients with varying grades of cervical lesions exhibit a notable variance in H2O2 and LE, which is statistically significant. Single HPV infection and high viral load HPV significantly increase the risk of CC. Conclusions: This study indicates that HPV infection and vaginal microecology differ among ethnic groups, which have a strong correlation with the progression of CC, offering guidance on CC screening and interventions in the Xinjiang area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The interfacial properties of epoxy nanocomposites reinforced by thermally exfoliated graphene nanosheets (TEG) and activated thermally exfoliated graphene nanosheets (a-TEG) were compared. The specific surface area (SSA) of a-TEG with well-defined micro-mesopore size distribution was 1000 m2/g, which was much higher that of TEG (550 m2/g). The interfacial interaction between a-TEG and epoxy was stronger than that of TEG/epoxy owing to their higher SSA and pore size which was proved by dynamic mechanical analysis. As a result, the tensile strength of a-TEG/epoxy was increased compared with that of TEG/epoxy for all concentrations. In particular, the tensile and flexural strength of a-TEG/epoxy was increased up to 20 and 50% in comparison to that of TEG/epoxy at 0.05 wt % graphene, respectively. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41164. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To evaluate biochemical non-evidence of disease and adverse events of salvage intensity-modulated radiotherapy using an endorectal balloon for prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy. Methods Data of 107 patients (median age 65 years) with persistent (>0.1 ng/mL) or rising prostate-specific antigen after radical prostatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The mean dose to clinical target volume was 70 Gy in 32 fractions (the equivalent dose in 2 Gy fraction is 73.2 Gy based on α:β = 2). Biochemical non-evidence of disease and predictive factors were assessed. Genitourinary toxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity were also evaluated using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group toxicity criteria. Results The median follow up was 37 months (range 6-126 months). A total of 48 patients developed biochemical recurrence. The 3- and 5-year biochemical non-evidence of disease rates of all patients were 52.6% and 48.8%, respectively. The Gleason score (≥4 + 3, ≤3 + 4) and pre-intensity-modulated radiotherapy prostate-specific antigen level (≥0.5 ng/mL, <0.5 ng/mL) were significant predictive factors for biochemical non-evidence of disease in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, only the Gleason score was detected as a significant variable. The highest late genitourinary toxicities were grade 2 in 13% and grade 3 in 6% of patients. The highest late gastrointestinal toxicities were grade 2 in 6% and grade 3 in 3% of patients. Conclusion Despite a relatively high radiation dose, intensity-modulated radiotherapy with an endorectal balloon can be delivered with acceptable toxicity and efficacy for patients developing biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Composites were investigated regarding the comparison of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with exfoliated graphene(EG) in poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and the effect of silane-treated carbon nanofillers on properties of PLLA composites. Solution blending method was used to prepare PLLA composites at a filler content of 0.5 wt %. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectra results indicated the attachment of silane molecules on the surface of these nanofillers. It was found that the addition of these nanofillers greatly enhanced the mechanical, thermomechanical, and crystallization behaviors of PLLA due to the heterogeneous nucleation effect. Moreover, the silane-treated fillers further enhanced the breaking elongation moderately (although the materials are still brittle), modulus and thermal property of the nanocomposites, without sacrificing the tensile strength, compared with the pristine nanocomposites. On the other hand, composites reinforced with MWCNTs and EG perform almost the same mechanical property. And EG outperformed MWCNTs in thermomechanical properties of composites when being used as the reinforcement of PLLA. Conversely, composites reinforced with MWCNTs showed better crystallization properties than those reinforced with EG. Interestingly, no significant changes were observed for the crystallization properties of PLLA composites when MWCNTs and EG had been treated by silane coupling agent. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1194-1202, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors’ recent discovery that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) participates in colon cancer cells’ survival and proliferation prompted us to investigate whether GSK-3β inhibition alters proliferation of colon cancer cells in vivo. Groups of four or five athymic mice (Balb/c, nu/nu) with subcutaneous xenografts of SW480 human colon cancer cells were treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or different doses (1, 2 and 5 mg/kg body weight) of either small-molecule GSK-3β inhibitor (SB-216763 and AR-A014418) by intraperitoneal injection three times per week for 5 weeks. Compared with DMSO (a diluent of the GSK-3β inhibitors) as a control, either GSK-3β inhibitor significantly inhibited proliferation of cancer cell xenografts in the rodents in a dose-dependent manner. Histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis of tumor xenografts demonstrated a significant, dose-dependent decrease in fractions of proliferating cells and an increase in the incidence of apoptosis of cancer cells in mice treated with either GSK-3β inhibitor. No adverse events or effects were observed in the rodents during the course of treatment, except for rare lethal accidents due to intraperitoneal injection. Morphological examination showed no apparent pathologic changes in major organs including the lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen and large bowel of rodents treated with DMSO and the GSK-3β inhibitors. The results indicate that the GSK-3β inhibitors would be a novel class of therapeutic agent for colon cancer. ( Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 1388–1393) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]