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Interventional pulmonology is an essential part of the treatment of respiratory diseases and an important component of modern respiratory medicine. In recent years, interventional respiratory medicine has kept up with the trend of the times, constantly developing and integrating various techniques, expanding the scope of application of interventional respiratory medicine, and developing in the direction of personalized and precision medicine as well. Here, we reviewed the new progress and up-to-date research achievements of interventional pulmonology from December 2021 to September 2022.介入呼吸病学是呼吸系统疾病诊疗不可或缺的基本手段，是现代呼吸病学的重要组成部分。近几年，介入呼吸病学紧跟时代潮流，不断开发、融合各种技术，一方面拓展了介入呼吸病学的应用范围，一方面也向着个体化、精准化的方向发展。本文就2021年10月至2022年9月介入呼吸病学的最新研究进展综述如下。.

报道1例免疫检查点抑制剂（ICPis）诱发垂体炎并发垂体危象患者的诊断及治疗经过，通过回顾加深了对ICPis使用并发症的警惕。.

自2019年12月以来，2019-冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）在我国及全世界暴发，并迅速传播与蔓延，引起人们的极大关注。2019-冠状病毒病感染后除发热和肺炎症状外，消化系统的损害已逐渐引起大家的重视。本文介绍COVID-19的概况、流行病学、致病机制，综述COVID-19的消化系统损害的相关机制及诊断治疗，以期为COVID-19的防治提供参考。.

Apis cerana cerana is an excellent subspecies of Apis cerana, playing a vital role in pollination for wild flowers and crops as well as ecological balance. Nosema ceranae, an emergent fungal parasite infecting various bee species, originates from eastern honeybee. In this article, midguts of N. ceranae-inoculated A. c. cerana workers at 7 days post inoculation (dpi) and 10 dpi (AcT1 and AcT2) and un-inoculated workers’ midguts (AcCK1, AcCK2) were subjected to Nanopore-based genome-wide DNA methylation sequencing. Totally, 1773258, 2151476, 1927874 and 2109961 clean reads were generated from AcCK1, AcCK2, AcT1, and AcT2 groups, with the N50 lengths of 7548, 7936, 7678, and 7291 and the average quality value of 8.97, 8.95, 9.24, and 8.98, respectively. Among these, 93.85%, 94.49%, 88.69%, and 81.27% clean reads could be mapped to the reference genome of A. c. cerana. In the aforementioned four groups, 2149685, 2614513, 1637018 and 2726985 CHG sites were identified; the numbers of CHH sites were 9581990, 11801082, 7178559, and 12342423, whereas those of CpG sites were 14325356, 15703508, 14856284 and 13956849, respectively. Additionally, there were 36114, 118867, 30249, and 82984 6mA methylation sites respectively discovered. These data can be used for identifying differential 5mC methylation and 6mA methylation engaged in response of eastern honeybee workers to N. ceranae infestation, and for investigating the 5mC or 6mA methylation-mediated mechanism underlying host response.Value of the dataThe data provide enrichment for information about 5mC and 6mA methylation in eastern honeybees.Our data contributes to clarification of the epigenetic mechanism underlying eastern honeybee worker’s response to microsporidian infestation.This presented data offer novel insights into interaction between Apis cerana and Nosema ceranae.

The influence of Ho substitution for Tm atoms on the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of TmGa compound was systematically investigated according to magnetic measurements and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) experiments. The magnetic transitions of ${\mathrm{Tm}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ho}}_{x}\mathrm{Ga}$ compounds show different types by Ho substitution due to the variation of spin and orbital angular momentum quantum number and the complete magnetic diagram of ${\mathrm{Tm}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ho}}_{x}\mathrm{Ga}$ compounds was obtained. The spin reorientation (SR) transition of ${\mathrm{Tm}}_{0.1}{\mathrm{Ho}}_{0.9}\mathrm{Ga}$ compound was directly confirmed by variable-temperature NPD experiments. Results show that the magnetic moment orders along the $c$ axis at the temperatures between ${T}_{\mathrm{SR}}$ and ${T}_{\mathrm{C}}$ and it cants away from the $c$ axis towards the $ab$ plane upon cooling below ${T}_{\mathrm{SR}}$. Furthermore, Ho substitution plays a dominant role in MCE of ${\mathrm{Tm}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ho}}_{x}\mathrm{Ga}$ compounds. When $x=0.15$, the peak value of magnetic entropy change reaches the maximum value of 18.0 J/kg K under field change of 0--2 T. The refrigerant temperature span ($\ensuremath{\delta}{T}_{\mathrm{FWHM}}$) and refrigeration capacity of ${\mathrm{Tm}}_{0.85}{\mathrm{Ho}}_{0.15}\mathrm{Ga}$ compound show enhancement of 23.0 and 21.6%, correspondingly, compared with TmGa compound. The giant MCE of ${\mathrm{Tm}}_{0.85}{\mathrm{Ho}}_{0.15}\mathrm{Ga}$ compound results from the optimization of spin and total angular momentum quantum number by Ho substitution.

Liver cirrhosis is the end-stage of chronic liver disease and can affect the function of multiple organs. Gastrointestinal tract damage resulting from cirrhosis is more common in clinic, which may cause gastroparesis, affect the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and destroy the intestinal mucosal barrier function. In addition, it may be accompanied by a series of gastrointestinal complications that affect the patient's prognosis. Clinically, more attention should be paid to early monitoring, early diagnosis and early treatment of cirrhosis-related gastrointestinal complications so to control the progression of liver cirrhosis condition, reduce advanced stage complications, and improve patient's quality of life.肝硬化是慢性肝病的终末阶段，可影响到全身多器官功能。而肝硬化所致消化道损害临床上更为常见。肝硬化会导致胃肠动力下降、影响营养物质的消化吸收及破坏肠黏膜屏障功能，还会并发一系列胃肠道并发症，影响患者预后。临床上，更应重视肝硬化相关胃肠道并发症，做到早期监测、早期诊断和早期治疗，控制肝硬化病情进展、减少晚期并发症、提升患者生活质量。.

To explore the role of imatinib in desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.Normal group (n=20), DOCA induction group (n=20), and imatinib treatment group (treatment group, n=20) were set up. Then, the cardiac function was examined via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography (ECG) on the 21st d after modeling. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and myocardial function index creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were detected. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure tumor necrosis factor-gamma (TNF-γ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assay was carried out to observe the pathological changes in myocardial tissues. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting were employed to measure the expression levels of important myocardial fibrosis-related genes [checkpoint kinase 1 (Chek1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)], as well as genes and proteins of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.In comparison with the normal group, DOCA induction group had significantly lowered fractional shortening (FS, %) and ejection fraction (EF, %), but overtly increased left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESd), as well as levels of serum ALP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and CK-MB. Besides, the levels of TNF-γ, IL-6, and IL-1β were notably raised in the DOCA induction group. HE staining results showed that myocardial injury was more severe in DOCA induction group. The results of the gene detection revealed that the expression levels of Chek1, α-SMA, p38 MAPK, and JNK were evidently higher in DOCA induction group than those in the imatinib treatment group (p0.05), and the expression of p38 MAPK protein in the rat myocardial tissues was remarkably lower in the treatment group than that in the DOCA induction group (p0.05).Imatinib can regulate the repair of myocardial injury caused by DOCA-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats by repressing the p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

The copper mould and molten steel were modelled simultaneously by a three-dimensional (3D) model, which couples fluid flow, heat transfer and solidification. Thermal boundary conditions (e.g. air gap distribution, slag resistance, contact resistance) along casting direction and circumference direction were discussed and applied. The results of solid shell thickness distribution were compared with reference experimental data and reasonable agreements were found. The calculations indicate that, the shell thickness distribution along circumference in web was affected by the cross-section sizes. The uniform shell thickness distributions at narrow face and R corner were caused by the scouring of fluid flow. The heat transfer fluxes at hot face of mould were various at different locations.

To determine the appropriate concentration of trypan blue (TB) for subretinal injection in a rat model and to provide a safety profile that limits retinal toxicity while maintaining dye visibility.Adult rats were subretinally injected with various concentrations of either TB or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); rats which received sham injections served as an additional control. The injected areas were visualized under a surgical microscope. Electroretinography (ERG) was performed to measure retinal function. Animals were then sacrificed, and the eyes were sectioned and examined by light microscopy. Terminal deoxynucleotidy1 transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was applied to determine retinal apoptosis.One day after the subretinal injection, TB stains were visible under the surgical microscope in the 0.2%, 0.08%, and 0.04% TB-injected groups, but not in the 0.02% TB-injected group. TB stain was detectable in the retina and sclera of the 0.2%, 0.08%, and 0.04% TB-injected groups for over 2 weeks after injection. However, the amplitudes of ERGa- and b-waves were affected and became significantly lower in the 0.2% TB-injected group than the amplitudes in the PBS-, or sham-injected group. Moreover, TUNEL+ cells appeared in the outer nuclear layer (ONL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer of the 0.2% and 0.08% TB-injected groups at 1 and 7 days after subretinal injection. In contrast, very few TUNEL+ cells were found in the 0.04% TB- or PBS-injected group. Two weeks after injection, the ONL was significantly thinner in the 0.2% TB-injected group than in the 0.04% TB-, PBS- or sham-injected group.TB injection induces a dose-dependent neurotoxic effect on retinal cells. Subretinal injection of 0.04% TB is relatively safe and effective for subretinal staining.

Fluorescence imaging signal is severely limited by the quantum efficiency and emission wavelength. To overcome these challenges, novel NIR-emitting K5NdLi2F10 nanoparticles under NIR excitation was introduced as fluorescence imaging probe for the first time. The photostability of K5NdLi2F10 nanoparticles in the water, phosphate buffer saline, fetal bovine serum and living mice was investigated. The fluorescence signal was detected with depths of 3.5 and 2.0 cm in phantom and pork tissue, respectively. Fluorescence spectrum with a significant signal-to-background ratio of 10:1 was captured in living mice. Moreover, clear NIR images were virtualized for the living mice after intravenous injection. The imaging ability of nanoparticles in tumor-beard mice were evaluated, the enrichment of K5NdLi2F10 nanoparticles in tumor site due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect was confirmed. The systematic studies of toxicity, bio-distribution and in-vivo dynamic imaging suggest that these materials give high biocompatibility and low toxicity. These NIR-emitting nanoparticles with high quantum efficiency, high penetration and low toxicity might facilitate tumor identification in deep tissues more sensitively.

Family-based cohort study is a special type of study design, in which biological samples and environmental exposure information of the member in a family are collected and related follow up is conducted. Family-based cohort study can be applied to explore the effect of genetic factors, environmental factors, gene-gene interaction, and gene-environment interaction in the etiology of complex diseases. This paper summarizes the objectives, methods and results, as well as the opportunities and challenges of the family-based cohort study on common chronic non-communicable diseases in rural population in northern China.家系队列研究是一种特殊的队列研究方法，以家系为单位收集研究对象的生物样本和环境暴露信息，并进行随访，为探索复杂性疾病病因研究中遗传、环境、基因-基因和基因-环境交互作用提供重要资源。本文将对"北方农村地区居民常见慢性非传染性疾病的家系队列研究"的目标、方法、初步结果、机遇与挑战进行简单介绍。.

To provide a flexible calibration method and make an accurate machine vision (MV) based flatness measurement strategy a reality in routine production line, an area scan charge coupled device (CCD) laser stripe scanning approach is presented. The applicability of the proposed method is not tied to the strip exclusively. First, we devise an automatic laser stripe imaging quality evaluation method through analysing the characteristics of the image grey gradient of laser stripe, which is a prerequisite for precisely extracting the laser stripe modulated information in hot or reflective object surface; second, a fast system calibration method is designed based on the area scan CCD imaging principle and spatial measurement technologies; here, the practical calibration is an indispensable technique for MV based measurement with large field of view in modern steelmaking lines. The proposed method performs competitively with the state-of-the-art as seen from the comparison of the experimental results. Thro...

Summary Chinese traditional medicines have been used for several thousands of years in Asian countries, not only in humans but also in many animal species. These compounds prevent and control different types of diseases including internal diseases as well as some infectious diseases, where the aetiological agent is viral, bacterial, parasitic or mycotic. Rhizoma coptidis is believed to inhibit Shigella dysenteriae and that Radix isatidis can prevent flu caused by the influenza virus. It is thus hypothesized that some of these traditional herbal compounds will have anti-fungal activity. Saprolegniosis is a disease common in fish and their eggs in both fresh and brackish water; a newer, safer medication against Saprolegnia is needed after the prohibition in many countries of the extremely effective fungicide, malachite green. In the present study an attempt is made to identify herbal compounds that have anti-Saprolegnia activity. A strain of Saprolegnia, CCF1301, was isolated from the skin of infected grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and identified as Saprolegnia ferax by the 26S rDNA D1/D2 region and ITS region. This strain was used to evaluate the antifungal activity of thirty Chinese traditional herbal medicine extracts, and a modified dish dilution method was developed for the evaluation. Saprolegnia-infected rapeseeds with visible hyphae were transplanted onto prepared PDA plates containing 2 g L−1 herbal plant extracts and incubated at 20°C for 48 h. Each herbal plant species was tested in triplicate. Those herbal plant extracts that showed negative mycelium presence at 2 g L−1 were further tested for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) evaluation. The results showed that Syzygium aromaticum, Magnolia officinalis, Melaphis chinensis, Euphorbia fischeriana Steud, and Sophora flavescentis exhibited enhanced growth inhibition at 2 g L−1 and MIC values of 500, 62.5, 250, 62.5, 250 mg L−1 concentrations, respectively. It was obvious that Magnolia officinalis and Euphorbia fischeriana Steud exhibited the best antifungal activity. Since there is a high natural toxicity in Euphorbia fischeriana Steud, its applicability as the main ingredient in an aquaculture therapeutic formulation requires further research. Thus, Magnolia officinalis would appear to be the more valuable antifungal herbal species with which to pursue further research.

To explore the relationship between glycemic control and visceral adiposity index (VAI) among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.A community-based epidemiological field study for patients with T2DM aged ≥ 40 years was conducted in China.Every participant underwent physical examinations, biochemical tests of fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and so on, and a questionnaire, including anthropometric characteristics, lifestyle, disease history, family history, and medication use. Those participants with HbA1c ≥7.0% were classified as the poorly controlled in our analysis of relationship between glycemic control and VAI. Anthropometric characteristics, lifestyle, and biochemical indexes of the participants were compared among the groups of different VAI levels. Logistic models were applied in multiple analysis adjusting for possible confounders.A total of 1 607 patients with T2DM were recruited in our analysis with a mean age of (59.4±8.1) years and an average T2DM duration of (7.0±6.4) years. Among them, 78.3% were on hypoglycemic therapy. The cutoff points of quartiles of VAI were calculated for the males and females, respectively. According to the ascending order of the quartiles of VAI, the participants were divided into four groups, i.e. Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4. The poor glycemic control rate for these groups were 60.6%, 65.7%, 70.1%, and 71.0%, respectively (Trend χThe glycemic control among the patients with T2DM is significantly associated with VAI. High level of VAI is an indicator of poor glycemic control.

Liver cancer is a common malignant tumor. Although the overall incidence and mortality rates of liver cancer has been decreasing in recent years, the incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated liver cancer tends to increase. The health and social issues brought by NAFLD-associated liver cancer have attracted more and more attention, and its epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis and treatment await further research. This article summarizes the current epidemiology and pathogenesis of NAFLD-associated liver cancer.肝癌作为常见的恶性肿瘤，虽然其总的发病率及病死率近年来有所下降，但非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）相关肝癌的发病呈上升趋势。NAFLD相关肝癌所带来的健康以及社会问题已引起了广泛关注，其流行病学研究、发病机制、诊断治疗等问题值得深入研究。现对NAFLD相关肝癌的流行病学现状以及发病机制进行介绍。.

Esophageal and gastric varices are common complications of liver cirrhosis and are seen in 50% of patients with liver cirrhosis. The annual incidence rate of esophagogastric variceal bleeding is 5%-15%, and even if the recommended treatment is used, the 6-week mortality rate is still as high as 15%-20%. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common complication of end-stage liver disease and has an incidence rate of 10%-30% in patients with severe liver damage. SBP refers to the bacterial infection of the peritoneum and/or ascites that occurs in the absence of any inflammation in adjacent tissues (e.g., intestinal perforation and intestinal abscess). Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is the clinical syndrome manifesting as cognitive impairment in patients with chronic liver disease, and its pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated and may be associated with ammonia poisoning theory, γ-aminobutyric acid and endogenous benzodiazepine complex receptor theory, and inflammatory pathway theory. This article introduces the advances in the treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis, SBP, and HE in 2016.食管胃静脉曲张是肝硬化常见并发症，约见于50%肝硬化患者。食管胃静脉曲张出血的年发生率为5%～15%，即便应用了当前推荐的治疗方案，其6周内病死率仍高达15%～20%。自发性细菌性腹膜炎作为终末期肝脏疾病的一种常见的并发症，在重症肝损害患者中发生率为10%～30%。指无任何邻近组织炎症(如肠穿孔、肠脓肿)的情况下发生的腹膜和(或)腹水的细菌感染。肝性脑病是在慢性肝病背景下发生的以认知功能障碍为表现的临床综合征，其疾病的发病机制尚未完全阐明，和过去我们认识的引起肝性脑病发病与氨中毒学说、γ-氨基丁酸与内源性苯二氮复合受体学说、炎症通路学说等机制有关。现对肝硬化上消化道出血处理、自发性细菌性腹膜炎、肝性脑病等方面2016年新进展进行介绍。.

A three-dimensional mathematical model of bloom continuous casting with mould electromagnetic stirring (M-EMS) has been developed. Stirring current effects on induced flow characteristics, heat transfer and solidification were investigated numerically. The results indicate that the electromagnetic force has a circumferential distribution on the plane transverse to the bloom strand, with maxima at the bloom corners. Joule heating produced by M-EMS is very small and can be ignored in the heat transfer calculations. Under the influence of rotational M-EMS, the swirl flow velocity of the melt decreases significantly when solidification is considered. With increasing stirring current, swirl flow intensifies remarkably, which prevents the superheated jet from the submerged entry nozzle flowing downwards and thereby reduces jet penetration into the liquid core. This increases the temperature of the melt in the mould and the temperature gradient at the solidification front, promoting superheat dissipation...

In order to solve the problem of the minimum climbing gradient of plateau airport and the problem of limiting slope at ends of clearance obstacles, we establish a model for calculating the performance of aircraft climbing and analyse the performance of climbing during the flight of the aircraft in the course of taking off. Through the simulation calculation, the variation law of the flight route height at different air pressure heights is analysed for the aircraft’s full and one engine failure, and the relationship between the flight path gradient and the air pressure height when the aircraft is in full engine and one engine failure condition is established.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has stipulated the spacing of parallel runways, but it hasn’t considered different aircraft categories classified by speed. So there is no provision as a reference for the safety runway spacing corresponding to different aircraft speed combinations. This paper studied the safety spacing of parallel runways based on aircraft categories classified by speed in the ICAO regulations with the aim of providing more reasonable planning for the parallel runway configuration suited for different aircraft speed combinations. The improved simulation model is established. The innovations are mainly reflected in the following two aspects. First, based on the established evasion solution to the hazardous scenario in PLB(Parallel Landing Blunder) model, this paper added a new solution that the deviating aircraft (blunderer) corrects its course returning to the designated approach course (i.e., the course correction solution). Second, when adopting the evasion solution, this paper revised the simulated evasion maneuver command according to Doc. 8168 of ICAO, because it could better reflect the pilot’s real response. According to the simulation results, it is concluded that when the combinations consists of the same aircraft category, both A-A and B-B combinations can conduct simultaneous independent parallel instrument approaches (SIPIA) to the parallel runways with the spacing of 835m. When the combinations consist of different aircraft categories, the paper emphatically studied the A-E combinations with the largest difference of approach speed. In the case of A-E combinations, with 1035 m runway spacing, the collision risk of SIPIA is relatively high.

To analyze the outcome and prognostic factors of IMRT-based preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Clinical data of 62 patients with thoracic ESCC who received IMRT-based neoajuvant chemoradiotherapy from January 2009 to January 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The radiation therapy was given 1.8-2 Gy/fraction per day over 5 days per week with 6 MV X-rays, and then all patients underwent esophagectomy and lymphadenectomy.Among the 62 patients, the R0 resection rate was 96.8%. Twenty (32.3%) patients achieved pCR and 56 (90.3%) cases got down-staging. Grade Ⅲ marrow suppression and esophagitis were seen in 8 (12.9%) and 2 (3.2%) patients, respectively. Eleven (17.7%) patients experienced postoperative complications and three died. The median follow-up was 27 months. The 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 88.0%, 63.3% and 44.2%, respectively, with a corresponding disease-free survival rate of 68.1%, 54.8%, and 43.9%, respectively.The univariate analysis showed that pre-treatment stage Ⅱ, down-staging, T/N pCR, good tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, pN0 and R0 resection were favorable prognostic factors (P0.05). The multivariate analyses indicated that pre-treatment stage was an independent prognostic factor.For patients with thoracic ESCC, IMRT-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery can achieve a higher R0 resection rate, down-staging rate, higher pCR rate, and a better tolerance. The incidence of postoperative complications is low. Pre-treatment stage, down-staging, pathological tumor response, lymph node status and R0 resection results are prognostic factors, and the pre-treatment stage is an independent prognostic factor.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of technical advancement of radiation therapy in patients with LA-NSCLC receiving definitive radiotherapy (RT).Patients treated with definitive RT (≥50 Gy) between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Overall survival (OS), cancer specific survival (CSS), locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated and compared among patients irradiated with different techniques. Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) and esophageal injury (RIEI) were assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 3.0 (NCI-CTCAE 3.0).A total of 946 patients were eligible for analysis, including 288 treated with two-dimensional radiotherapy (2D-RT), 209 with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and 449 with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) respectively. The median follow-up time for the whole population was 84.1 months. The median OS of 2D-RT, 3D-CRT and IMRT groups were 15.8, 19.7 and 23.3 months, respectively, with the corresponding 5-year survival rate of 8.7%, 13.0% and 18.8%, respectively (P0.001). The univariate analysis demonstrated significantly inferior OS, LRPFS, DMFS and PFS of 2D-RT than those provided by 3D-CRT or IMRT. The univariate analysis also revealed that the IMRT group had significantly loger LRPFS and a trend toward better OS and DMFS compared with 3D-CRT. Multivariate analysis showed that TNM stage, RT technique and KPS were independent factors correlated with all survival indexes. Compared with 2D-RT, the utilization of IMRT was associated with significantly improved OS, LRPFS, DMFS as well as PFS. Compared with 3D-CRT, IMRT provided superior DMFS (P=0.035), a trend approaching significance with regard to LRPFS (P=0.073) but no statistically significant improvement on OS, CSS and PFS in multivariate analysis. The incidence rates of RILI were significantly decreased in the IMRT group (29.3% vs. 26.6% vs.14.0%, P0.001) whereas that of RIET rates were similar (34.7% vs. 29.7% vs. 35.3%, P=0.342) among the three groups.Radiation therapy technique is a factor affecting prognosis of LA-NSCLC patients. Advanced radiation therapy technique is associated with improved tumor control and survival, and decreased radiation-induced lung toxicity.

To investigate the effect of polyene phosphatidyl choline (PPC) on hepatocyte steatosis and the possible role of the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α (PPARα)/carnitine palmityl transferase 1A (CPT-1A) pathway in the treatment.L02 hepatocyte steatosis was induced with PPC treatment, and Oil Red O staining and triglyceride measurement were used to evaluate the influence of PPC on the degree of steatosis. Quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to measure the changes in mRNA and protein of CPT-1A, followed by using GW6471 to specifically inhibit the PPARα pathway. The changes in the above indices were observed, and one-way analysis of variance and LSD method for pairwise comparison were used to analyze the data.Compared with the blank control and DMSO group, the PPC treatment group had a significantly lower triglyceride content after steatosis (214.97±25.53 and 219.62±19.40 μg/mg vs 163.82±14.94 μg/mg, F = 6.90, P0.05), but had significantly higher levels of mRNA (0.36±0.04 and 0.37±0.04 vs 0.75±0.09, F = 38.37, P0.05) and protein of CPT-1A. After inhibition by GW6471, a specific PPARα inhibitor, the content of triglyceride showed no significant difference between the blank control group, DMSO group, and PPC treatment group (244.04±22.38 μg/mg vs 242.27±18.71 μg/mg vs 225.41±27.63 μg/mg, F = 0.59, P0.05), and the levels of mRNA (0.16±0.06 vs 0.17±0.02 vs 0.18±0.04, F = 0.18, P0.05) and protein of CPT-1A also showed no significant difference between the three groups.PPC may relieve hepatocyte steatosis through activation of the PPARα/CPT-1A pathway.

Evidence indicates that the polymorphisms in genes involved in bile acid metabolism may play an important role in the development of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) in tuberculosis (TB) patients treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs.To investigate the association between genetic variants of CYP7A1, BAAT and UGT1A1 and the risk of ATDH in a Chinese cohort.In this nested case-control study, 89 TB patients with ATDH and 356 matched ATDH-free TB patients constituted cases and controls, respectively. Genetic polymorphisms of CYP7A1, BAAT and UGT1A1 were determined using the TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assay. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a conditional logistic regression model.Significant differences were found in genotype distributions of rs1457043 in CYP7A1 between patients with and those without ATDH (P = 0.014). Genotype and haplotype analysis showed that patients carrying an AG genotype of rs1457043 and G-C or G-A haplotypes of rs1457043-rs8192870 in CYP7A1 were at a higher risk of ATDH than those with GG genotype and A-C haplotype, with ORs of respectively 2.05 (95%CI 1.18-3.15) and 2.40 (95%CI 1.62-3.57).Genetic polymorphisms of CYP7A1 may be associated with susceptibility to ATDH in the Chinese population.

Solid solutions In2 - xCrxMo3O12 have been prepared via the solid state reaction method. The structural and thermal expansion properties have been characterized using X-ray diffraction. All compounds exhibit monoclinic structure with space group P21/a at room temperature, and transform to orthorhombic structure at higher temperature. Compounds In2 - xCrxMo3O12 (x = 0.7, 1.0 and 1.3) possess strong positive thermal expansion in the monoclinic structure, while their thermal expansion coefficients of orthorhombic structure vary from negative to positive with increasing Cr content. It is worthwhile to note that In1.3Cr0.7Mo3O12 and InCrMo3O12 have near zero thermal expansion properties.

Sorting of particles such as cells is a critical process for many biomedical applications, and it is challenging to integrate it into an analytical microdevice. We report an effective and flexible dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based microfluidic device for continuous sorting of multiple particles in a microchannel. The particle sorter is composed of two components-a DEP focusing unit and a Movable DEP Trap (MDT). The trap is formed by an array of microelectrodes at the bottom of the channel and a transparent electrode plate placed at the top. The location of the trap is dependent on the configuration of voltages on the array and therefore is addressable. Flowing particles are first directed and focused into a single particle stream by the focusing unit. The streamed particles are then sorted into different fractions using the movable trap by rapidly switching the applied voltage. The performance of the sorter is demonstrated by successfully sorting microparticles in a continuous flow. The proposed DEP-based microfluidic sorter can be implemented in applications such as sample preparation and cell sorting for subsequent analytical processing, where sorting of particles is needed.

Summary What is Known and Objective: The pathogenic mechanism of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) is thought to involve drug-metabolizing enzymes including N-acetyl transferase2 (NAT2), cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, T1. The associations between genetic polymorphisms of those genes and ATDH have been reported but with inconsistent results. Moreover, most studies were hospital-based retrospective studies and not prospective. We aimed to investigate possible associations of CYP2E1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms with ATDH using a more robust case–control study nested in a population-based prospective antituberculosis treatment cohort. Methods: A total of 4304 patients with smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) who received standard short-course chemotherapy were monitored for 6–9 months. Incidence density sampling method was adopted to select controls and 4 : 1 matched with each ATDH cases by age (±5 years), sex, treatment history, disease severity and drug dosage. The CYP2E1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR–RFLP and multiplex PCR methods. Conditional logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), as well as corresponding P-values. Results and Discussion: A total of 89 ATDH cases and 356 controls were included in this study. There was no statistically significant association between CYP2E1 RsaI c1/c1 genotype or DraI C/C genotype and ATDH (OR = 0·99, 95% CI:0·62–1·59; OR = 1·13, 95% CI: 0·40–3·20, respectively) compared with CYP2E1 RsaI c1/c2 or c2/c2 genotypes or DraI D/D genotype, or between GSTM1/GSTT1 null genotypes and ATDH (OR = 1·22, 95% CI: 0·76–1·96; OR = 0·96, 95% CI: 0·60–1·52, respectively) compared with non-null genotypes. What is new and Conclusion: This is the first study of the involvement of CYP2E1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms in ATDH using a nested case–control population-based prospective cohort design. We could not confirm positive associations of genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1 RsaI, CYP2E1 DraI, GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null with ATDH reported by various groups, in our Chinese TB population.

Based on the laser triangulation and machine vision technology, a three-dimensional quantitative inspection method for continuous cast slab surface defects was established, which adopted one laser and two array charge coupled device cameras and an optimal laser stripe imaging algorithm. In addition, the laser scanning system establishing method is described in detail in this paper. A laser stripe edge shape extraction method on the slab surface is proposed that utilises an improved edge scanning extraction model in accordance with the charge coupled device camera frame frequency. The detection accuracy control algorithm is presented and finally the three-dimensional image reconstruction method for slab surface defect shape was also studied. Based on the research work, the possibility of the presented laser scanning system was verified through industrial application experiments in a steel plant.

In this paper, a scanning laser system based on an array couple charged detector (CCD) has been developed to detect and measure quantitatively the morphology and depth of defects on continuously cast billet (CC billet) surface at high temperatures. The technique, based on a linear light scattering method, employs a low power He–Ne laser and a conventional CCD probe and enables a narrow line array laser beam to be projected on the test surface across the width direction on the CC billet surface. In the relative scanning direction between the test surface and the CCD probe, the one-dimensional linear surface image acquired by the CCD sensor at a given shutter time, which exhibits the curvature change of the laser scanning line, can be used to determine the distance morphology according to triangulation principles. Combining with casting speed, a linear laser beam image can be spliced into a two-dimensional surface image that constructs the billet surface profile and detects surface defect shape and ...

Glutamatergic pathways mediate transmission of pain. Strategies to reduce glutamatergic neurotransmission may have beneficial effects to mitigate nociception. Recent work revealed that overexpression of the astrocytic glutamate transporter (GLT-1) by transgenic or pharmacologic approaches produced a diminished visceral nociceptive response to colonic distension. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of GLT-1 overexpression on the visceromotor response to bladder distension. Increased glutamate uptake activity produced by 1-wk ceftriaxone (CTX) treatment attenuated 60–64% the visceromotor response to graded bladder distension compared with vehicle-treated mice. One-hour pretreatment with selective GLT-1 antagonist dihydrokainate reversed the blunted visceromotor response to bladder distension produced by 1-wk CTX, suggesting that GLT-1 overexpression mediated the analgesic effect of CTX. Moreover, sensitization of the visceromotor response to bladder distension produced by local bladder irritation (acrolein) was also attenuated by 1-wk CTX treatment. A model of cross-organ sensitization of bladder visceromotor response to distension was next studied to determine whether increased expression of GLT-1 can mitigate colon to bladder sensitization. Intracolonic trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) administered 1 h before eliciting the visceromotor response to graded bladder distension produced a 75–138% increase in visceromotor response compared with animals receiving intracolonic vehicle. In marked contrast, animals treated with 1-wk CTX + intracolonic TNBS showed no enhanced visceromotor response compared with the 1-wk vehicle + intracolonic vehicle group. The study suggests that GLT-1 overexpression attenuates the visceromotor response to bladder distension and both local irritant-induced and cross-organ-sensitized visceromotor response to bladder distension.

Experimental and clinical data support a growth inhibitory role for HER4 in breast cancer. Clinically HER4 expression is extinguished during breast tumorigenesis supporting a tumor suppressor function for HER4, however, a molecular mechanism to explain the selective loss of HER4 expression has remained elusive. Epigenetic mechanisms, for example, aberrant gene promoter hypermethylation, have been shown to ablate tumor suppressor gene expression in breast carcinomas. We identified a CpG island within the HER4 promoter and show by pyrosequencing of bisulfite-treated DNA an inverse correlation between HER4 expression and the extent of promoter methylation. Treatment of the HER4-negative BT20 cell line with the DNA demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (DAC)-enhanced HER4 expression, confirming a role for DNA methylation in suppressed HER4 expression. DAC treatment to reactive HER4 expression in combination with the HER4 ligand heregulin-β1 (HRG) resulted in apoptosis of BT20 cells providing a novel therapeutic strategy for triple-negative tumors. The BT20 cells were rescued from apoptosis when preincubated with HER4 small interfering RNA, thereby confirming a role for HER4 in DAC/HRG-induced apoptosis. We verified HER4 promoter methylation in primary breast carcinomas and detected a significant increase in HER4 promoter methylation in HER4-negative breast tumors (P

This article presents a microfluidic device (so called concentrator) for rapid and efficient concentration of micro/nanoparticles using direct current dielectrophoresis (DC DEP) in continuous fluid flow. The concentrator is composed of a series of microchannels constructed with PDMS-insulating microstructures to focus efficiently the electric field in the flow direction to provide high field strength and gradient. Multiple trapping regions are formed within the concentrator. The location of particle trapping depends on the strength of the electric field applied. Under the experimental conditions, both streaming movement and DEP trapping of particles simultaneously take place within the concentrator at different regions. The former occurs upstream and is responsible for continuous transport of the particles, whereas the latter occurs downstream and rapidly traps the particles delivered from upstream. The observation agrees with the distribution of the simulated electric field and DEP force. The performance of the device is demonstrated by successfully and effectively concentrating fluorescent nanoparticles. At the sufficiently high electric field, the device demonstrates a trapping efficiency of 100%, which means downstream DEP traps and concentrates all (100%) the incoming particles from upstream. The trapping efficiency of the device is further studied by measuring the fluorescence intensity of concentrated particles in the channel. Typically, the fluorescence intensity becomes saturated in Trap 1 by applying the voltage (400 V) for >2 min, demonstrating that rapid concentration of the nanoparticles (107 particles/ml) is achieved in the device. The microfluidic concentrator described can be implemented in applications where rapid concentration of targets is needed such as concentrating cells for sample preparation and concentrating molecular biomarkers for detection.

After 50 years of service for the Research&Development in neutron science and technology, the Heavy Water Research Reactor (HWRR) (maximum power 10 MW) at CIAE was taken out of service in 2007. The China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR) at the Chinese Institute of Atomic Energey (CIAE) has taken over this role. It is a 60 MW tank-in-pool type reactor using a D2O reflector for inverse neutron trap, designed to yield an optimal undisturbed thermal neutron flux of 8 × 1014 n/cm2•s.

Objectives - The autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) are a group of genetically diverse neurological conditions linked by progressive deterioration in balance and coordination. Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2 (SCA2) is one of the ADCAs and also belongs to a special group caused by the expansion of an unstable CAG repeat encoding a polyglutamine tract. We aimed to investigate the frequency of SCA2 mutation in the ataxia patients referred to the clinic. Materials and methods - We screened 58 families with inherent cerebellar ataxia and 57 normal individuals by the use of radioactive genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. A simple non-radioactive PCR for rapid detection of the expanded SCA2 alleles via agarose gel electrophoresis was also employed. Results - Eight SCA2 affected patients and 1 at-risk individual in 5 unrelated SCA2 families were identified. The CAG repeats of normal alleles in the sample studied range in size from 16 to 30 repeat units, while those of SCA2 chromosomes are expanded to 34 to 49 repeat units. Our results also showed that unlike SCA I and SCA3/MJD, the size distribution of the normal alleles showed few polymorphisms, with the 22 repeat allele accounting for 90.1%. Homozygosity in normal individuals was 80.2%. No overlap in ataxin-2 allele size between normal and expanded chromosomes was observed. Conclusion - This is the first report of the SCA2 gene distributions in the population of Taiwan. The SCA2 mutation accounts for 8.6% of ADCA type I families referred to us, intermediate between SCAI (1.7%) and SCA3/MJD (24%) of the ADCA type I families in our collection.

This paper presents a microfluidic system for separation of microparticles based on the use of dielectrophoretic barriers, which are constructed by aligning two layers of microelectrode structure face-to-face on the top and bottom sides of the microchannel. The energized barriers tend to prevent the particles in the flow from passing through. However, particles may penetrate the barriers if a sufficiently high flow rate is used. The flow velocity at which the particles begin to penetrate the barrier is defined as threshold velocity. Different particles are of different threshold velocities so that they can be separated. In this paper, the electrodes are configured with open ends and aligned with a certain angle to the direction of the flow. Polystyrene microbeads of different sizes (i.e., 9.6 and 16 μm in diameter) are studied in the tests. Under the experimental conditions, two particle trajectories are observed: the 9.6 μm beads penetrate the barriers and move straightly toward the fluidic outlet, while the 16 μm beads snake their way along the electrode edges at a relatively low speed. The two subpopulations of particles are separated into spatial distance of ∼10 mm within tens of seconds. The system presents a rapid and dynamic separation process within a continuous flow.

Manipulation and separation of micro-sized particles, particularly biological particles, using the dielectrophoretic (DEP) force is an emerging technique in MEMS technology. This paper presents a DEP-based microsystem for the selective manipulation and separation of bioparticles using dielectrophoretic effects. The microfabricated DEP device consists of a sandwich structure, in which a microchannel with electrode array lining on its bottom is sandwiched between the substrate and the glass lid. Dielectrophoretic behavior of polystyrene particles with diameter of 4.3 μm was studied. Both positive DEP and negative DEP were observed. Particles under positive DEP were attracted to the edges of the electrodes, while those under negative DEP were repelled away from the electrodes and levitated at certain height above the electrodes (within a proper range of frequencies of the electric field). Levitation height of the particles was measured. It was demonstrated that the levitation height of a specific particle strongly depends on the combined contributions of a number of parameters, such as the frequency of the electric field, dielectric properties of the particles and the surrounding medium. Different particles can be separated and manipulated on the basis of their difference in these parameters.

To provide experimental basis for clinic treatment by observing the effects of simple acute hematoma on cartilage and synovium, and improvement of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the damage. Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided 3 groups according to killed time: hematoma group, HA group and control group. These rabbits were killed at 4 days, 2, 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Knee articular cartilage and synovium were obtained to detect histology, histochemistry and chondroitin proteoglycans (PG). Morphologies of cartilage and synovium in the control group were normal, while cartilage cells were detected hyperplasia of activation and each layer was disorganized in hematoma groups with 4 days and 2 weeks. Compared to the control group, concentrations of PG in 4 days and 2 weeks groups were significantly reduced (p