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A TTF-based (TTF=tetrathiafulvalene) tridentate ligand (α-(4'-methyl-4,5-di-n-dodecylthylthiotetrathiafulvalene-5'-ylthio)- α'-[2,2,2-tris(1-pyrazolyl)ethoxy]-p-xylene) (L) with long-chain alkyl moieties was prepared in order to obtain a new multi-redox active gelator based on a mixed-metal octanuclear complex [Fe III 4 Ni II 4 (CN) 12 (tp) 4 (L) 4 ](BF 4 ) 4 (1). The magnetism, electrochemistry, and gelation behavior of 1 were studied and 1,2-dichlorobenzene solutions of 1 are shown to display thermoreversible gelation behavior at room temperature. Furthermore, the gel phase of 1 was shown to undergo room-temperature gel-to-sol transformations induced by both the oxidation and reduction of the gelator complex by F 4 TCNQ or [Fe II (Cp*) 2 ], respectively., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Tungsten-based polyoxometalates (POMs) have been employed as UV-driven photo-catalysts for a range of organic transformations. Their photoactivity is dependent on electronic transitions between frontier orbitals and thus manipulation of orbital energy levels provides a promising means of extending their utility into the visible regime. Herein, an organic-inorganic hybrid polyoxometalate, K 6 [P 2 W 17 O 57 (PO 5 H 5 C 7 ) 2 ]⋅6 C 4 H 9 NO, was found to exhibit enhanced redox behaviour and photochemistry compared to its purely inorganic counterparts. Hybridization with electron-withdrawing moieties was shown to tune the frontier orbital energy levels and reduce the HOMO-LUMO gap, leading to direct visible-light photoactivation of the hybrid and establishing a simple, cheap and effective approach to the generation of visible-light-activated hybrid nanomaterials., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A cage complex, H 2 O@[Co 5 Fe 4 ], was found to encapsulate two water molecules during its self-assembly. The complex exhibited remarkable multifunctionality, combining magnetic switching from the thermal electron-transfer-coupled spin transition of the cage host and dipolar reorientational motion of the confined water, as evidenced by permittivity measurements, density functional theory calculations, and solid-state 2 H NMR spectra.

It is possible that fluorous compounds could be utilized as directing forces in crystal engineering for applications in materials chemistry or catalysis. Although numerous fluorous compounds have been used for various applications, their structures in the solid state remains a lively matter for debate. The reaction of 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridine with HX (X = I or Cl) yielded new fluorous ponytailed pyridinium halide salts, namely 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium iodide, C 8 H 9 F 3 NO + ·I - , (1), and 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium chloride, C 8 H 9 F 3 NO + ·Cl - , (2), which were characterized by IR spectroscopy, multinuclei ( 1 H, 13 C and 19 F) NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structure analysis showed that there are two types of hydrogen bonds, namely N-H...X and C-H...X. The iodide anion in salt (1) is hydrogen bonded to three 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium cations in the crystal packing, while the chloride ion in salt (2) is involved in six hydrogen bonds to five 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium cations, which is attributed to the smaller size and reduced polarizability of the chloride ion compared to the iodide ion. In the IR spectra, the pyridinium N-H stretching band for salt (1) exhibited a blue shift compared with that of salt (2).

The objective was to investigate the upstream mechanisms of apoptosis which were triggered by a novel anti-microtubule drug, ABT-751, in hepatocellular carcinoma-derived Huh-7 cells. Effects of ABT-751 were evaluated by immunocytochemistry, flow cytometric, alkaline comet, soft agar, immunoblotting, CytoID, green fluorescent protein-microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta detection, plasmid transfection, nuclear/cytosol fractionation, coimmunoprecipitation, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, small-hairpin RNA interference and mitochondria/cytosol fractionation assays. Results showed that ABT-751 caused dysregulation of microtubule, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage, G 2 /M cell cycle arrest, inhibition of anchorage-independent cell growth and apoptosis in Huh-7 cells. ABT-751 also induced early autophagy via upregulation of nuclear TP53 and downregulation of the AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (MTOR) pathway. Through modulation of the expression levels of DNA damage checkpoint proteins and G 2 /M cell cycle regulators, ABT-751 induced G 2 /M cell cycle arrest. Subsequently, ABT-751 triggered apoptosis with marked downregulation of B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2, upregulation of mitochondrial BCL2 antagonist/killer 1 and BCL2 like 11 protein levels, and cleavages of caspase 8 (CASP8), CASP9, CASP3 and DNA fragmentation factor subunit alpha proteins. Suppression of ROS significantly decreased ABT-751-induced autophagic and apoptotic cells. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy significantly increased the percentages of ABT-751-induced apoptotic cells. The autophagy induced by ABT-751 plays a protective role to postpone apoptosis by exerting adaptive responses following microtubule damage, ROS and/or impaired mitochondria., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A cyanide-bridged [Co 3 Fe 2 ] cluster with trigonal bipyramidal geometry shows solvent-driven reversible on/off switching of its thermally induced electron-transfer-coupled spin transition (ETCST) behaviour.

A series of bimetallic oxalate-bridged one-dimensional chains with monocationic dabco derivatives, ({R-dabco}[M(solv) 2 ][Cr(ox) 3 ]·n(solv)) (dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, H 2 ox = oxalate; R = H, M = Co (1); R = H, M = Zn (2); R = Bu, M = Co (3); R = Bu, M = Zn (4)) were synthesized. All compounds have one-dimensional zig-zag chain structures with R-dabco cations located between chains. Cryomagnetic studies reveal that 1 and 3 showed intrachain ferromagnetic interactions between Co(ii) and Cr(iii) ions and metamagnetic behaviour due to interchain antiferromagnetic interactions. Permittivity measurements on compound 4 indicate specific paraelectronic relaxation behaviour originating from the rotational motion of the dabco alkyl substituent.

Objective: Ovarian cancer is a gynecological malignancy with high mortality rates all over the world. Markers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy are urgently required to improve the mortality rates. As a key proto-oncogene, CCND1 is known to be amplified in many different carcinomas, including breast cancer, esophageal cancer, bladder cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer, etc. CCND1 plays an important role in cancer development and progression. However, its function and mechanism have not been completely elucidated in ovarian cancer., Materials and Methods: In the present study, we use cisplatin in vitro to inhibit the cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3. CCND1 expression, cell proliferation and cell cycle analysis were carried out by real-time PCR, CCK-8 and flow cytometry respectively., Results: Our results demonstrated that cisplatin could inhibit the expression of CCND1 in human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line, which is related to the decreased cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis., Conclusions: This study demonstrated that CCND1 is a potential therapeutic target for epithelial ovarian cancer treatment.

Bone metastasis is a common complication in prostate cancer patients that can cause bone pain and pathological fracture. This study tested serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), collagen type I pyridine crosslinking peptide (ICTP) in prostate cancer patients and the significance of the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve in the diagnosis of prostate cancer bone metastases. Eighty-three prostate cancer patients were enrolled including 42 in the bone metastases group and 41 in the non-bone metastases group. Serum levels of BSP, ALP, ICTP, and PSA were highest in the bone metastases group followed by the non-bone metastases group, hyperplasia group, and then the control group (P < 0.05). Based on Gleason score, serum levels were highest in the poorly differentiated group followed by moderately differentiated and well-differentiated groups (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that the diagnostic efficiency of the biomarkers in turn was BSP, PSA, ICTP, and ALP. The sensitivity of BSP, ALP, ICTP, and PSA in the diagnosis of prostate cancer bone metastases were 80.95, 57.14, 69.05, 71.43%, respectively, and the specificity of the same markers were 72.80, 64.80, 76.80, and 88.80%, respectively. Combined detection of the four markers improved sensitivity to 97.62% and the negative-predictive value increased to 97.60%. PSA + BSP showed the best efficiency when combining two markers. In conclusion, serum levels of BSP, ALP, ICTP, and PSA increased in patients with bone metastases, and combined detection of all markers could improve the positive-predictive value.

Plague is an anthropozoonotic disease caused by the Yersinia pestis ,which developed by many factors including local climate factors. In recent years, more and more studies on the effects of climate on plague were conducted. According to the researches, climate factors (mainly the rainfall and temperature) affected the development and distribution of plague by influencing the abundance of plague host animals and fleas index. The climate also affected the epidemic dynamics and the scope of plague. There were significant differences existing in the influence of climate on the palgue developed in the north and south China. In the two different plague epidemic systems, the solitary Daurian ground squirrel-flea-plague and the social Mongolian gerbil-flea-plague, the obvious population differences existed among the responses of the host animal to the climate changes. Although the internal relationship between the rainfall, the flea index, the density of rodents and the plague supported the nutritional cascade hypothesis, it can not prove that there is a clear causality between the occurrence of plague and rainfall. So the influence of climate factors on plague distribution can only be used for early forecasting and warning of the plague.

Background/aims: To analyze the clinicopathological factors that affect the prognosis and fertility of patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs)., Methods: The medical records and follow-up data of 106 patients with MOGCTs who were treated at The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between January 1986 and December 2010 were enrolled in this study. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to analyze the survival curves. The different prognoses among the various clinicopathological factors were evaluated using a univariate analysis and a log-rank test. The multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard regression method. A logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of different factors on the prognoses and fertility., Results: The median age at primary treatment was 22 years (range: 9-61years). A total of 59 patients received fertility-preserving surgery, 45 received radical surgery and 94 received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up time was 56.5 months (range: 2-309 months). A total of 11 patients experienced a recurrence, and 23 patients died from their cancer. Of the 47 patients who are alive without tumor, 45 have normal menstruation. Of the 39 patients who wished to become pregnant, 31 patients had 33 successful pregnancies that resulted in 33 live births. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed with respect to the progression-free survival (PFS; 67.6 vs. 63.3%), the overall survival (OS; 70 vs. 64.1%) and the mortality rate (15.3 vs. 31.3%) between patients who received fertility-preserving surgery and those who received radical surgery. The univariate analysis showed that the pathological types, postoperative residual tumor size, lymph node resection, and omental resection were associated with OS (p < 0.1), whereas postoperative residual tumor size, number of chemotherapy cycles, lymph node resection, and omental resection were associated with PFS (p < 0.1). The multivariate analysis showed that only the postoperative residual tumor size was an independent prognostic factor of OS, whereas the postoperative residual tumor size, number of chemotherapy cycles and lymph node resection were independent prognostic factors of PFS. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed with respect to the OS, PFS and fertility between patients who received fertility-preserving surgery and those who were treated with or without comprehensive surgical staging., Conclusion: MOGCTs can achieve a good prognosis after surgery and chemotherapy. Postoperative residual tumor size was an independent prognostic factor of PFS and OS. Moreover, comprehensive surgical staging cannot improve the prognosis. Fertility-preserving surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy appeared to have little or no effect on prognosis and fertility., (© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

A mononuclear compound, [Co(II)(pyterpy)2](PF6)2·2CH3OH [2; pyterpy = 4'-(4‴-pyridyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine], shows a phase-transition-coupled, abrupt spin transition with a 9 K wide hysteresis that can transform to a spin-crossover compound, [Co(II)(pyterpy)2](PF6)2·2CH2Cl2·CH3OH (3).

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has proven to be an effective approach for the subtyping isolates of the Cronobacter genus and to exhibit a high level of discrimination between isolates. In this study, 151 Cronobacter strains were isolated from different sources and provinces across China from 2010 to 2012 and analyzed by MLST. Their sequence type profiles were compared with strains from other countries which were widely geographically and temporally distributed. Out of 151 strains in this study, the majority of strains were Cronobacter sakazakii (70.9 %), C. malonaticus (15.9 %), C. dublinensis (10.6 %), C. turicensis (2.0 %), and C. muytjensii (0.7 %). The strains were divided into 85 sequence types (STs), among which only 17 had previously been reported in other countries. The 85 identified STs for the Cronobacter genus were grouped into 14 clonal complexes and 47 singletons according to eBURST algorithm. The Cronobacter isolated from China showed a high diversity when they were subtyped using the MLST method. When compared to the Cronobacter PubMLST database, some sequence types of strains cultured from food and/or water in this study were also the same with strains isolated from patients in other countries as reported previously. This result showed the potential hazard of strains contaminating water and weaning food from China.

The self-assemblies of 1,4-bis(pyrid-4-yl)benzene (bpb) and Fe(NCX)2 (X = S, Se, BH3) afforded six coordination polymers with the general formula of [Fe(bpb)2(NCX)2]·Y (X = S and Y = 3C2H5OH·2.5H2O for complex 4, X = S and Y = 2C2H5OH for 5, X = Se and Y = 2C2H5OH·H2O for 6, X = Se and Y = 0.67CH2Cl2·1.33C2H5OH·0.67H2O for 7, X = BH3 and Y = 3C2H5OH·2H2O for 8, X = BH3 and Y = 2CH2Cl2·2C2H5OH for 9). The frameworks of complexes 4 and 5 with the NCS(-) anion as coligand are supramolecular isomers, of which complex 4 features a threefold self-interpenetrated three-dimensional (3D) CdSO4-type topological structure with a Schläfli symbol of 6(5)·8, and complex 5 is a two-dimensional (2D) 4(4) rhombic grid network. These two complexes are purely high-spin systems. Complexes 6 and 7 with the NCSe(-) anion as coligand, both having the 3D 6(5)·8 CdSO4-type framework, show gradual and incomplete spin-crossover behaviors with transition temperature T1/2 being equal to 86 and 96 K, respectively. The usage of NCBH3(-) anion as coligand leads to the formation of 2D 4(4) rhombic grid networks for both complexes 8 and 9, which undergo relatively abrupt, complete spin crossover with T1/2 being equal to 247 and 189 K, respectively. The structural divergences are attributed to the coligands NCX(-) (X = S, Se, BH3) and solvent molecules. Meanwhile, a significant coligand effect is observed on the spin-crossover behaviors of these complexes, and the completeness and transition temperature of spin-state conversion depends on the nature of the coligand, that is, T1/2(NCS(-)) < T1/2(NCSe(-)) < T1/2(NCBH3(-)). These results further facilitate the design and synthesis of spin-crossover complexes with spin-state conversion.

A new three-dimensional magnetic network, [Co9(OH)6(C42H24O18P3N3)2(H2O)8] (1), has been successfully prepared by utilizing the flexible hexacarboxylate ligand derived from cyclotriphosphazene, which had been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurement. This compound consists of one-dimensional (1D) cobalt-hydroxyl chains based on planar nonanuclear clusters, which are located in the b-c plane to form the nearly two-dimensional cobalt layer. Magnetic measurements reveal that 1 shows spin-canted antiferromagnetism with spin-glass behavior. These results suggest that reasonable design and choice of large carboxylate ligand based on a specific scaffold could be effective for the construction of magnetic materials based on a novel 1D magnetic chain.

Hybrid materials integrated with a variety of physical properties, such as spin crossover (SCO) and fluorescence, may show synergetic effects that find applications in many fields. Herein we demonstrate a promising post-synthetic approach to achieve such materials by grafting fluorophores (1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde and Rhodamine B) on one-dimensional SCO Fe(II) structures. The resulting hybrid materials display expected one-step SCO behavior and fluorescent properties, in particular showing a coupling between the transition temperature of SCO and the temperature where the fluorescent intensity reverses. Consequently, synergetic effect between SCO and fluorescence is incorporated into materials despite different fluorophores. This study provides an effective strategy for the design and development of novel magnetic and optical materials., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Three novel complexes, namely, [Co(III)(3,5-DBCat)(3,5-DBSq)(bpe)]·2CH3CN·2H2O (1·S), [Co(III)(3,5-DBCat)(3,5-DBSq)(azpy)]·2CH3CN·2H2O (2·S), and [Co(II)(3,5-DBSq)2(bpb)][Co(III)(3,5-DBCat)(3,5-DBSq)(bpb)]0.5·2CH3CN·2H2O (3·S), were synthesized and characterized by valence tautomeric (VT) X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements [where 3,5-DBCatH2 = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-catechol, 3,5-DBSqH = 3,5-di-tert-butyl-semiquinone, bpe = trans-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene, azpy = trans-4,4'-azopyridine, and bpb = 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)benzene]. The three complexes have similar one-dimensional chain structure building from bidentate-bridging pyridine ligands and planar 3,5-DBCat/3,5-DBSq-fixed Co(II/III) entities. Complexes 1·S and 2·S could retain the crystallinity during desolvation, and the crystal structures of 1 and 2 were therefore able to be determined. Only when 1·S and 2·S desolvated above 310 K did the magnetic susceptibilities × temperatures values of the two complexes rise sharply, and then thermally induced complete, one-step VT transitions for 1 and 2 were available and repeatable. Complex 3·S showed an incomplete, one-step VT transition independent of solvent molecules. Among these complexes, only 1 was sensitive to photoexcitation at low temperature, its photoinduced metastable state relaxed with temperature-independent behavior at low temperature range (5-10 K) and with thermally assisted behavior at high temperature range (above 20 K), respectively.

A bulky bidentate ligand was used to stabilize a macrocyclic [Fe(III)8Co(II)6] cluster. Tuning the basicity of the ligand by derivatization with one or two methoxy groups led to the isolation of a homologous [Fe(III)8Co(II)6] species and a [Fe(III)6Fe(II)2Co(III)2Co(II)2] complex, respectively. Lowering the reaction temperatures allowed isolation of [Fe(III)6Fe(II)2Co(III)2Co(II)2] clusters with all three ligands. Temperature-dependent absorption data and corresponding experiments with iron/nickel systems indicated that the iron/cobalt self-assembly process was directed by the occurrence of solution-state electron-transfer-coupled spin transition (ETCST) and its influence on reaction intermediate lability., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: There is a high prevalence of oral cancer in Taiwan, which is associated with betel quid chewing. Gene encoding splicing factors, especially splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1), have been shown to be the most highly mutated in various hematological malignancies and have a great influence on clinical outcomes. However, few splicing targets have been identified for oral cancer. The aim of this study was to explore splicing factor 3b subunit 3 (SF3B3) gene mutations in oral cancer., Methods: High resolution melting (HRM) analysis was used to characterize SF3B3 polymorphisms. Genomic DNA was extracted from 78 oral cancer tissues, and every exon from exon 2 to exon 26 of the SF3B3 gene was screened by HRM analysis. All results were confirmed by direct DNA sequencing over the range of codons of interest., Results: Only one single nucleotide polymorphism with amino acid substitution was found to change from serine to asparagine at codon 811 (S811N) in exon 18 with an allele frequency of 1.3%., Conclusions: The molecular effects of drugs targeting the splicing factors in various cancers may offer a new perspective for the role in cancer progression and the development of novel antitumor therapy. HRM analysis with direct sequencing over the range of codons of interest is a fast, reliable, accurate, and cost-effective screening method to detect unknown gene mutations.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been known as one of the most lethal human malignancies, due to the difficulty of early detection, chemoresistance, and radioresistance, and is characterized by active angiogenesis and metastasis, which account for rapid recurrence and poor survival. Its development has been closely associated with multiple risk factors, including hepatitis B and C virus infection, alcohol consumption, obesity, and diet contamination. Genetic alterations and genomic instability, probably resulted from unrepaired DNA lesions, are increasingly recognized as a common feature of human HCC. Dysregulation of DNA damage repair and signaling to cell cycle checkpoints, known as the DNA damage response (DDR), is associated with a predisposition to cancer and affects responses to DNA-damaging anticancer therapy. It has been demonstrated that various HCC-associated risk factors are able to promote DNA damages, formation of DNA adducts, and chromosomal aberrations. Hence, alterations in the DDR pathways may accumulate these lesions to trigger hepatocarcinogenesis and also to facilitate advanced HCC progression. This review collects some of the most known information about the link between HCC-associated risk factors and DDR pathways in HCC. Hopefully, the review will remind the researchers and clinicians of further characterizing and validating the roles of these DDR pathways in HCC.

Objective: To study the pathogenic ecology characteristics of plague in Qinghai plateau., Methods: Applied molecular biology techniques, conventional technologies and geographic information system (GIS) to study phenotypic traits, plasmid spectrum, genotype, infected host and media spectrum etc.of 952 Yersinia pestis strains in Qinghai plateau plague foci, which were separated from different host and media in different regions during 1954 to 2012., Results: The ecotypes of these strains were Qingzang plateau (91.49%, 871/952),Qilian mountain (6.41%, 61/952) and Microtus fuscus (1.26%, 12/952).83.6% (796/952) of these strains contained all the 4 virulence factors (Fr1, Pesticin1,Virulence antigen, and Pigmentation), 93.26% (367/392) were velogenic strains confirmed by virulence test.725 Yersinia pestis strains were separated from Qinghai plateau plague foci carried 9 kinds of plasmid, among which 713 strains from Marmot himalayan plague foci carried 9 kinds of plasmid, the Mr were 6×10(6), 7×10(6), 23×10(6), 27×10(6), 30×10(6), 45×10(6), 52×10(6), 65×10(6) and 92×10(6) respectively. 12 Yersinia pestis strains were separated from Microtus fuscus plague foci carried only 3 kinds of plasmid, the Mr were 6×10(6), 45×10(6), 65×10(6). Meanwhile, the strains carrying large plasmid (52×10(6), 65×10(6) and 92×10(6)) were only distributed in particular geographical location, which had the category property. The research also confirmed that 841 Yersinia pestis strains from two kinds of plague foci in Qinghai plateau had 11 genomovars. The strains of Marmot himalayan plague foci were given priority to genomovar 5 and 8, amounted to 611 strains, genomovar 8 accounted for 56.00% (471/841), genomovar 5 accounted for 23.07% (194/841). Besides, 3 new genomovars, including new 1(62 strains), new 2(52 strains), new 3(48 strains) were newly founded, and 12 strains of Microtus fuscus plague foci were genomovar 14., Conclusion: The main host and media of Qinghai plateau plague foci directly affected the spatial distribution regularities of plague epidemic and the pathogens characteristics, meanwhile the polymorphism of plague ecological geographic landscape leds to the complexity of Yersinia pestis' genotype.

Primary liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the third most common cause of cancer mortality. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 85% to 90% of primary liver cancers. Major risk factors for HCC include infection with HBV or HCV, alcoholic liver disease, and most probably nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In general, men are two to four times more often associated with HCC than women. It can be suggested that sex hormones including progesterone may play some roles in HCC. Rather, very limited information discusses its potential involvement in HCC. This paper thus collects some recent studies of the potential involvement of progesterone and related compounds in HCC from basic and clinical aspects. In addition, two synthetic progestins, megestrol acetate (MA) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), will be discussed thoroughly. It is noted that progesterone can also serve as the precursor for androgens and estrogens produced by the gonadal and adrenal cortical tissues, while men have a higher incidence of HCC than women might be due to the stimulatory effects of androgen and the protective effects of estrogen. Eventually, this paper suggests a new insight on the associations of progesterone and related compounds with HCC development and treatment.

Objective: To study the mechanism and clinical effect of using the manipulatin of move, adduction, rotation method for the treatment of shoulder dislocation., Methods: from January 2010 to March 2012,120 patients with shoulder dislocation admitted were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 60 cases in each group. In the treatment group, there were 31 males and 29 females; In control group, there were 30 males and 30 females. In treatment group, 60 patients create their own "on the move, adduction, rotation manipulative treatment,the other 60 cases in control group used traditional restoration methods in wearing the traction treatment. The efficacy of two methods of treatment of shoulder dislocation were compared on reset process once successfully rate, the patient's level of pain (VAS)., Results: In treatment group, restoration once successfully were in 59 cases, improvement of the pain (VAS) values was 3.76 +/- 1.05, the results were excellent in 57 cases, good in 2, poor in 1,without concurrent fractures and nerve injury, without re-dislocation after 3 months. In control group, restoration once successfully were in 50 cases, improvement of pain (VAS) values was 5.67 +/- 1.15, the results were excellent in 45 cases, good in 7, poor in 8. The reset once successfully rate,improvement of VAS values and clinical effect in treatment group were better than that of control group., Conclusion: On the move, adduction, rotation method has advantages of more wearing traction with uniform force, work together to focus, saving time and effort, easy and convenient to avoid iatrogenic injury.

Objective: To analyse the clinicopathologic factors affecting prognosis and fertility of patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumor (MOGCT)., Methods: The medical records and follow up data of 106 patients with MOGCT treated at Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between January 1986 and December 2010.Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyse survival curves. The different prognoses between different clinicopathologic factor was evaluated by univariate analysis and log-rank test. The multivariate analysis was performed by the Cox proportional hazard regression method. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of different factors on the prognoses and fertility., Results: The median age at primary treatment was 22 years old (range: 9 - 61 years old), 59 patients received fertility-preserving surgery, 45 patients received radical surgery, only 2 cases performed biopsy; 94 patients received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow-up time was 56.5 months (range: 2 - 309 months), there were 11 cases recurrences, 23 cases died from cancer. Of 47 patients live without tumor, 45 patients had normal menstrual. Of the 39 patients desiring pregnancy, 31 cases got 33 successful pregnancies, resulting in 33 live births. There is no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in progression free survival (PFS; 67.6% versus 63.3%) and overall survival (OS; 70.0% versus 64.1%) and mortality [15% (9/59) versus 31% (14/45)] between fertility-preserving surgery patients and radical surgery patients. The univariate analysis showed that the pathological types, postoperative residual tumor size, lymph nodes and omental resection were associated with OS (P < 0.1), and postoperative residual tumor size, chemotherapy cycles, lymph nodes and omental resection were associated with PFS (P < 0.1). The multivariate analysis showed only the postoperative residual tumor size was independent prognostic factor of OS (P = 0.039), and postoperative residual tumor size, chemotherapy cycles, lymph nodes resection were independent prognostic factors of PFS (P < 0.05). There is no statistically significant difference in OS, PFS and fertility between fertility-preserving surgery patients treated with or without a comprehensive staging surgery (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: MOGCT can achieve a good prognosis after surgery combined chemotherapy. Postoperative residual tumor size is independent prognostic factor of PFS and OS. Comprehensive staging surgery could not improve prognosis. Fertility-preserving surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy appeared to have little or no effect on prognosis and fertility.

The occurrence of spin-crossover (SCO) highly depends on external influences, i.e. temperature, pressure, light irradiation or magnetic field, this electronic switching phenomenon is accompanied by drastic changes in magnetic and optical properties, dielectric constants, colour and structures. Thus, SCO materials are particularly attractive for potential applications in molecular sensing, switching, data storage, display, and other electronic devices at nanometric scale. Polymorphism is widely encountered in the studies of crystallization, phase transition, materials synthesis, biomineralization, and in the manufacture of drugs. Because different crystal forms of the same substance can possess very different properties and behave as different materials, so they are particularly meaningful for investigating SCO phenomena. Studying polymorphism of SCO compounds is therefore important for better understanding the structural factors contributing to spin transition and the structure-function relationship. This critical review is aimed to provide general readers with a comprehensive view of polymorphism in SCO systems. The article is generally structured according to specific metal ions and the dimensionality of compounds in the field. This paper is addressed to readers who are interested in multifunctional materials and tuning magnetic properties through supramolecular chemistry principles (129 references).

Spin-crossover (SCO) complex [Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2)] (tpa = tri(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) crystallized in two solvate forms, yellow [Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2)]·X [Fe:X = 1:1; X = n-PrOH (complex is named as n-PrOH), i-PrOH (i-PrOH), CH(2)Cl(2) (CH(2)Cl(2)), CHCl(3) (CHCl(3)), MeCN (MeCN)] and red [Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2)](2)·Y [Fe:Y = 2:1; Y = MeOH (MeOH), EtOH (EtOH)], respectively. Between the two forms, interesting solvent-vapor induced in situ reversible and irreversible guest molecule exchanges, [Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2)]·X ⇌ [Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2)](2)·Y, occurred in the solid state followed by dramatic color changes as well as distinct structural and SCO behavior transformations. Comprehensive studies on structures and SCO behaviors associating guest exchanges have been conducted by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, PXRD, IR, elemental analysis, and magnetic measurements, respectively. This discrete molecular system shows unique solvent-dependent SCO behavior related to the nature of solvent molecules; the distinct color changes during guest exchange originate from the alternations of electronic states of the guest-sensitive Fe(II) centers, providing an effective route to fine-tune and optimize materials' properties by systematic structural perturbation, or serving for detection of toxic gases, such as CH(2)Cl(2) and CHCl(3).

The complex [Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2)] showed successive polymorphic transformations (polymorphs II-IV) that produced crystals with distinct changes in color, crystal structure, and spin-crossover behavior.

Herein reported is the first two-dimensional coordination polymer capable of undergoing thermally induced and photoinduced valence tautomeric transitions.

The long-sought-after crystal structure of Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2) (1, tpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), an otherwise well-studied spin-crossover (SCO) complex, has been obtained, and its one-step, incomplete spin transition was correlated to its solid-state structures at different temperatures. Upon exposure to methanol vapor, single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation of 1 to a new SCO compound, 2, formulated as {[Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2)] x [Fe(tpa)(NCS)(2) x CH(3)OH]}, occurs with a dramatic color change from yellow to red. Crystallographic studies revealed that the asymmetric unit of the structure of 2 contains two independent Fe(II) centers. Studies by magnetic measurements and Mossbauer spectroscopy revealed a two-step complete spin transition for compound 2, between LS-LS and HS-HS, via an unambiguous intermediate LS-HS phase; the two SCO centers of disparate spin states were resolved crystallographically. That a significant portion of the original crystal structure is maintained indicates that the present approach is a more subtle means of altering the properties associated with SCO phenomenon than by changing counteranions or crystallization using different solvents. Furthermore, the dramatic changes in crystal structure and SCO behaviors triggered by mere solvent sorption suggest that this approach is rather efficient in modifying and hopefully fine-tuning and optimizing properties of SCO compounds. Coupled with the aforementioned gentleness and subtlety, the present approach of heterogeneously introducing perturbations to pre-existing supramolecular arrays of SCO units is more conducive to systematic studies aiming at the discovery of new SCO systems and phenomenon toward their ultimate materials applications.

Spin-crossover (SCO) compounds are a sort of bistable material whose electronic and magnetic properties can be tuned by external physical stimuli, such as heat, light, and pressure. The title SCO compound [Fe(pmea)(NCS)(2)] (1; pmea = bis[(2-pyridyl)methyl]-2-(2-pyridyl)ethylamine) undergoes spin transition in such a way that it is an ideal candidate to investigate pressure effects on the SCO behavior. First, the spin transition is complete and abrupt so that the pressure-dependent spin transition should be remarkable. Second, the T(1/2) value under ambient pressure is 184 K, which guarantees that the SCO temperature under various pressures does not exceed that restrained by high-pressure devices. The magnetic data of compound 1 under different external pressures were analyzed through a known method, as reported by Gutlich, which gave an interaction parameter Gamma of 264(5) cm(-1) and a volume change DeltaV degrees (HL) of 32(3) A(3) molecule(-1) [HL represents a high-spin (HS) <--> low-spin (LS) transition], respectively. Meanwhile, the calculated entropy change DeltaS degrees (HL)(T) at 1 bar is 59.79 J mol(-1) K(-1), which is a typical value that drives the spin transition from a LS to HS state. The pressure effects on the SCO behavior of compound 1 reported here may provide information for a deep understanding of the correlation between pressure and spin transition.

Background: Epidural analgesia is widely used for efficient pain relief after major surgery. However, it may cause urinary retention, leading to delayed removal of bladder catheters with prolonged patient discomfort. Using a specific regimen in patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), we examined the optimal duration of urinary catheterization in patients undergoing major thoracic surgery., Methods: Seventy-eight patients scheduled for elective thoracotomy were prospectively randomized into two groups: Group 1, removal of the transurethral catheter on the first postoperative day (n = 38); Group 2, removal of the catheter after discontinuation of PCEA (n = 40). The PCEA regimen was a mixture containing low-dose morphine, bupivacaine and neostigmine and was given for 3 days after surgery in all subjects. Micturition problems, pain scores assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS), and side effects were evaluated during and after PCEA treatment., Results: The average duration of urinary drainage after surgery was 30.2 + or - 5.1 hours and 78.5 + or - 7.3 hours in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. After removal of the bladder catheter, no patient in either group required re-catheterization for urinary retention or encountered catheter-related infection. VAS scores were significantly lower in Group 1 at rest and at 24, 36 and 48 hours after cessation of PCEA. VAS scores were significantly higher in Group 2 patients, possibly due to catheter-induced pain related to prolonged catheterization., Conclusion: Routine continuous bladder catheterization may not necessarily be required after thoracotomy in patients with ongoing continuous thoracic epidural analgesia.

Objective: To study the biological characteristics of Yersinia pestis and to develop prevention and control program on plague in Sanjiangyuan areas, Qinghai province., Methods: To identify the biologic types and molecular biological features of Y.pestis isolated in Sanjiangyuan area from 1954-2007., Results: Among the 411 strains of Y. pestis, 12 strains belonged to the microtus type Y. pestis with denitrification (-) and donkey-hide gelatin carbohydrate (-) and glycerine (+). 399 strains belonged to classic type Y. pestis with denitrification (+) and donkey-hide gelatin carbohydrate (+) and glycerine (+). 411 Y. pestis strains had factor F I and Pst I. Among them, VW+ strains of Y. pestis accounted for 95.13% (391/411), VW-accounted for 4.87% (20/411), Pgm(+) accounted for 80.78% (332/ 411), Pgm(+/-) accounted for 9% (37/411) and Pgm(-) accounted for 10.22% (42/411) respectively. 96.82% (213/220) of the Y. pestis strains showed strong virulence to laboratory mice while 3.18% (7/220) of the strains carried medium virulence. 90.02% of the tested Y. pestis (370/411) strains had 6 x10(6), 45 x 10(6), 65 x 10(6) plasmids. 8 types of genome were found among 80 strains of Y. pestis, with 6 of them resembling ZHOU Dongsheng' s classification. Two new genome types were found., Conclusion: The Y. pestis in the Sanjiangyuan area had the characteristics of plague pathogen, identified in Qinghai-Tibet plateau. It is estimated that human beings are highly susceptible to the disease which spread fast, causing serious signs and symptoms with high death rate.