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Bilateral dichotomous data are very common in modern medical comparative studies (e.g. comparison of two treatments in ophthalmologic, orthopaedic and otolaryngologic studies) in which information involving paired organs (e.g. eyes, ears and hips) is available from each subject. In this article, we study various confidence interval estimators for proportion difference based on Wald-type statistics, Fieller theorem, likelihood ratio statistic, score statistics and bootstrap resampling method under the dependence or/and independence models for bilateral binary data. Performance is evaluated with respect to the coverage probability and expected width via simulation studies. Our empirical results show that (1) ignoring the dependence feature of bilateral data could lead to severely incorrect coverage probabilities; and (2) Wald-type, score-type and bootstrap confidence intervals based on the dependence model perform satisfactorily for small to large sample sizes in the sense that their empirical coverage probabilities are close to the pre-specified nominal confidence level and are hence recommended. A real data from an otolaryngologic study is used to illustrate the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three [1-N-(4′-R-benzyl)-4-aminopyridinium][Pt(mnt)2] compounds were structurally and magnetically characterized, where the substituent was attached to the para-position of the phenyl ring (R = CN (1), Cl (2), and H (3); mnt2- = maleonitriledithiolate). 1 and 2 crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with the cations and anions forming segregated columnar stacks. Their structural differences involved two aspects: (1) both anion and cation stacks were regular in 1 and irregular in 2; (2) the neighboring cations were arranged in the boat-type pattern in 1, whereas these cations were in the chair-type pattern in 2 within the cation stack. 3 belonged to the triclinic space group P1, where the anions were assembled into the stack with a tetrameric [Pt(mnt)2]- subunit, but the cations did not form the columnar stack. Magnetic measurements disclosed that a spin-Peierls-type transition occurred around 240 K for 1, whereas a long-range, antiferromagnetic ordering took place at about 5.8 K, and a metamagnetic phenomenon was observed with HC ≈ 1000 Oe for 2; 3 showed very strong antiferromagnetic interactions with diamagnetism in the temperature range 5-300 K. Combined with our previous studies, the correlation between the stacking pattern of benzylpyridinium derivatives in a cation stack and the spin-Peierls-type transition is discussed for the series of quasi-1-D [M(mnt)2]- (M = Ni, Pd and Pt) compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Accumulating evidence indicates that type II cystatin (CST) genes play a pivotal role in several tumor pathological processes, thereby affecting all stages of tumorigenesis and tumor development. However, the prognostic and predictive value of type II CST genes in GC has not yet been investigated. Methods The present study evaluated the expression and prognostic value of type II CST genes in GC by using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the Kaplan–Meier plotter (KM plotter) online database. The type II CST genes related to the prognosis of GC were then screened out. We then validated the expression and prognostic value of these genes by immunohistochemistry. We also used Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), Gene Multiple Association Network Integration Algorithm (GeneMANIA), Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING), nomogram, genome-wide co-expression analysis, and other bioinformatics tools to analyze the value of type II CST genes in GC and the underlying mechanism. Results The data from the TCGA database and the KM plotter online database showed that high expression of CST2 and CST4 was associated with the overall survival (OS) of patients with GC. The immunohistochemical expression analysis showed that patients with high expression of CST4 in GC tissues have a shorter OS than those with low expression of CST4 (HR = 1.85,95%CI: 1.13–3.03, P = 0.015). Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that the high expression level of CST4 was an independent prognostic risk factor for OS. Conclusions Our findings suggest that CST4 could serve as a tumor marker that affects the prognosis of GC and could be considered as a potential therapeutic target for GC.

Aiming at the problem of mounting adaptability evaluation of shipboard gun weapon system, a mounting adaptability evaluation model based on analytic hierarchy process is put forward. The mounting adaptability of guns, tracking sensors and fire control equipment are chosen as fuzzy variables to evaluate the mounting adaptability of shipboard gun weapon system in the model. And the evaluation ruler of them is given. And the calculation method of mounting adaptability based on analytic hierarchy process is put forward. The example analysis shows the model can realize the quantitative evaluation for the adaptability of shipboard gun weapon system. The model has good operability and provides a powerful support for type selection decision-making.

A multi-layer interconnection structure is a basic component of electronic devices, and printing of the multi-layer interconnection structure is the key process in printed electronics. In this work, electrohydrodynamic direct-writing (EDW) is utilized to print the conductor—insulator—conductor multi-layer interconnection structure. Silver ink is chosen to print the conductor pattern, and a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) solution is utilized to fabricate the insulator layer between the bottom and top conductor patterns. The influences of EDW process parameters on the line width of the printed conductor and insulator patterns are studied systematically. The obtained results show that the line width of the printed structure increases with the increase of the flow rate, but decreases with the increase of applied voltage and PVP content in the solution. The average resistivity values of the bottom and top silver conductor tracks are determined to be 1.34 × 10−7 Ω·m and 1.39 × 10−7 Ω·m, respectively. The printed PVP layer between the two conductor tracks is well insulated, which can meet the insulation requirement of the electronic devices. This study offers an alternative, fast, and cost-effective method of fabricating conductor—insulator—conductor multi-layer interconnections in the electronic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract COVID-19 vaccines from multiple manufacturers are needed to cope with the problem of insufficient supply. We did two single-center, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 and phase 2 trials to assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of a recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) in healthy population aged 18 years or older in China. Eligible participants were enrolled, the ratio of candidate vaccine and placebo within each dose group was 3:1 (phase 1) or 5:1 (phase 2). From August 28, 2020, 168 participants were sequentially enrolled and randomly assigned to receive the low dose vaccine, high dose vaccine or placebo with the schedule of 0, 28 days or 0, 14, 28 days in phase 1 trial. From November 18, 2020, 960 participants were randomly assigned to receive the low dose vaccine, high dose vaccine or placebo with the schedule of 0, 21 days or 0, 14, 28 days in phase 2 trial. The most common solicited injection site adverse reaction within 7 days in both trials was pain. The most common solicited systematic adverse reactions within 7 days were fatigue, cough, sore throat, fever and headache. ELISA antibodies and neutralising antibodies increased at 14 days, and peaked at 28 days (phase 1) or 30 days (phase 2) after the last dose vaccination. The GMTs of neutralising antibody against live SARS-CoV-2 at 28 days or 30 days after the last dose vaccination were highest in the adult high dose group (0, 14, 28 days), with 102.9 (95% CI 61.9–171.2) and 102.6 (95% CI 75.2–140.1) in phase 1 and phase 2 trials, respectively. Specific T-cell response peaked at 14 days after the last dose vaccination in phase 1 trial. This vaccine is safe, and induced significant immune responses after three doses of vaccination.

Background: Inconsistencies in the use of the vasoactive agent therapy to treat shock are found in previous studies. A descriptive study was proposed to investigate current use of vasoactive agents for patients with shock in Chinese intensive care settings. Methods: A nationwide survey of physicians was conducted from August 17 to December 30, 2012. Physicians were asked to complete a questionnaire which focused on the selection of vasoactive agents, management in the use of vasopressor/inotropic therapy, monitoring protocols when using these agents, and demographic characteristics. Results: The response rate was 65.1% with physicians returning 586 valid questionnaires. Norepinephrine was the first choice of a vasopressor used to treat septic shock by 70.8% of respondents; 73.4% of respondents favored dopamine for hypovolemic shock; and 68.3% of respondents preferred dopamine for cardiogenic shock. Dobutamine was selected by 84.1%, 64.5%, and 60.6% of respondents for septic, hypovolemic, and cardiogenic shock, respectively. Vasodilator agents were prescribed by physicians in the management of cardiogenic shock (67.1%) rather than for septic (32.3%) and hypovolemic shock (6.5%). A significant number of physicians working in teaching hospitals were using vasoactive agents in an appropriate manner when compared to physicians in nonteaching hospitals. Conclusions: Vasoactive agent use for treatment of shock is inconsistent according to self-report by Chinese intensive care physicians; however, the variation in use depends upon the form of shock being treated and the type of hospital; thus, corresponding educational programs about vasoactive agent use for shock management should be considered.

The asymmetric unit of the title complex, (C6H13N4)2[Ni(C4N2S2)2], comprises one 1-azonia-3,5,7-triazatricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane cation and one half of an [Ni(mnt)2]2− (mnt2− is maleonitriledithiolate or 1,2-dicyanoethene-1,2-dithiolate) dianion. The Ni2+ ion is located on a center of inversion and is coordinated by four S atoms from two mnt2− ligands in a square-planar coordination mode. Intermolecular N—H...N hydrogen-bond interactions link one anion and two cations in the crystal structure.

Objective: This study was to investigate the effects of siRNA mediated silencing of myeloid cell leukelia-1 (Mcl-1) on the biological behaviors and drug resistance of human drug-resistant gastric cancer (GC) cell lines, and to explore the potential mechanisms., Methods: siRNA targeting Mcl-1 mRNA were designed and independently transfected into SGC-7901/VCR and SGC-7901/DDP. Cell proliferation and drug sensitivity were examined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry. Cell Invasion and migration abilities were detected by transwell chamber assays. The expressions of drug-resistance-related genes and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot assay, respectively., Results: siRNA effectively inhibited the Mcl-1 expression, lowered the proliferation rate (P<0.05), raised the apoptosis rate (P<0.05), and arrested cells in S-phase (P<0.05). After inhibiting Mcl-1, the cell migration and invasion decreased (P<0.05), the resistance to VCR, DDP and 5-Fu was reversed to different extents (P<0.05), TS mRNA expression increased significantly (P<0.05), MDR1 remained unchanged (P>0.05), but DPD and TOP2A decreased significantly (P<0.05). Following Mcl-1 silencing, Bcl-2 was over-expressed in VCR-siRNA group, but the expressions of Fas and survivin reduced markedly (P<0.05); Bcl-2 and Fas expressions decreased significantly in DDP-siRNA group (P<0.05), but survivin expression remained unchanged., Conclusion: Mcl-1 is implicated in the proliferation, invasion, apoptosis and drug resistance of GC cells, and may be a promising target for the therapy of GC.

Taxus chinensis var. mairei is an endemic and endangered plant species in China. The resources of T. chinensis var. mairei have been excessively exploited due to its anti-cancer potential, accordingly, the extant T. chinensis var. mairei population is decreasing. In this paper, ultrasonic extraction and HPLC were adopted to determine the contents of active components paclitaxel, 7-xylosyltaxol and cephalomannine in cultivated and wild T. chinensis var. mairei plants, with the content distribution of these components in different parts of the plants having grown for different years and at different slope aspects investigated. There existed obvious differences in the contents of these active components between cultivated and wild T. chinensis var. mairei plants. The paclitaxel content in the wild plants was about 0.78 times more than that in the cultivated plants, whereas the 7-xylosyltaxol and cephalomannine contents were slishtly higher in the cultivated plants. The differences in the three active components contents between different parts and tree canopies of the plants were notable, being higher in barks and upper tree canopies. Four-year old plants had comparatively higher contents of paclitaxel, 7-xylosyltaxol and cephalomannine (0.08, 0.91 and 0.32 mg x g(-1), respectively), and the plants growing at sunny slope had higher contents of the three active components, with significant differences in the paclitaxel and 7-xylosyltaxol contents and unapparent difference in the cephalomannine content of the plants at shady slope. It was suggested that the accumulation of the three active components in T. chinensis var. mairei plants were closely related to the sunshine conditions. To appropriately increase the sunshine during the artificial cultivation of T. chinensis var. mairei would be beneficial to the accumulation of the three active components in T. chinensis var. mairei plants.

Aim: To investigate the effect of chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) on the cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells., Methods: CLIC1 expression was evaluated in human gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and MGC-803 by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Four segments of small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting CLIC1 mRNA and a no-sense control segment were designed by bioinformatics technology. CLIC1 siRNA was selected using Lipofectamine 2000 and transfected transiently into human gastric cancer SGC-7901 and MGC-803 cells. The transfected efficiency was observed under fluorescence microscope. After transfection, mRNA expression of CLIC1 was detected with RT-PCR and Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression. Proliferation was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and apoptosis was detected with flow cytometry. Polycarbonate membrane transwell chamber and Matrigel were used for the detection of the changes of invasion and migration of the two cell lines., Results: In gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and MGC-803, CLIC1 was obviously expressed and CLIC1 siRNA could effectively suppress the expression of CLIC1 protein and mRNA. Proliferation of cells transfected with CLIC1 siRNA3 was enhanced notably, and the highest proliferation rate was 23.3% (P = 0.002) in SGC-7901 and 35.55% (P = 0.001) in MGC-803 cells at 48 h. The G2/M phase proportion increased, while G0/G1 and S phase proportions decreased. The apoptotic rate of the CLIC1 siRNA3 group obviously decreased in both SGC-7901 cells (62.24%, P = 0.000) and MGC-803 cells (52.67%, P = 0.004). Down-regulation of CLIC1 led to the inhibition of invasion and migration by 54.31% (P = 0.000) and 33.62% (P = 0.001) in SGC-7901 and 40.74% (P = 0.000) and 29.26% (P = 0.002) in MGC-803. However, there was no significant difference between the mock group cells and the negative control group cells., Conclusion: High CLIC1 expression can efficiently inhibit proliferation and enhance apoptosis, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells in vitro. CLIC1 might be a promising target for the treatment of gastric cancer.