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Introduction: Being in the close vicinity, chances of ureteral injury is high while doing radical operation for cervical cancer. Although the incidence is low, if it is not found during the operation, it can lead to serious complications such as urinary fistula. Timely detection and repair of ureteral injury can reduce the occurrence of serious complications.The placement of ureteral catheter before radical hysterectomy can be a good method to identify the ureter during operation to prevent injury.The objective of the study was to explore the advantages and disadvantages of the placement of ureteral catheter in radical operation of cervical cancer. Methods: 103 patients who were diagnosed as cervical cancer and underwent operation in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinling Hospital from January 2019 to April 2020 were analyzed in this study. The clinical stage ranges from IA to IIA. Among them, 23 cases were placed with double J stent before operation (observation group), 80 cases were operated without stent (control group). The intra-operative condition, operation and postoperative complications were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There was a significant difference in the operation time and intra-operative blood loss between the two groups (P< 0.05), and there was no significant difference in blood transfusion between the two groups (P> 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of urinary tract infection and urinary retention between the two groups (P> 0.05). The incidence of postoperative hematuria (including microscopic hematuria) was significant in two groups（P< 0.05). Ureteric injury occurred in the 9 patients in the control group (11.25%). Conclusion: Ureteral catheter inserted before radical operation of cervical cancer can help to identify the ureter easily, decrease urinary tract injury, shorten operation time and reduce intra-operative blood loss, and will not increase urinary retention and urinary tract infection. It is safe and effective method especially for young gynecologists.

Background: Heparin, it is commercially used as an anticoagulant in surgical procedures for the prevention of blood clotting. However, overdose and prolonged use of heparin often induce potentially fatal bleeding complication. So, it is of crucial importance to monitor closely heparin levels for the sake of health. In this work, a sensitive fluorescence sensing platform to detect heparin was set up based on MPA-CdSe QDs (quantum dots) and protamine enhanced fluorescent system. Methods: The image of CdSe QDs was taken on a JEM-2100 transmission electron microscope (JEOL Ltd.). The fluorescence spectrum was recorded on a FluoroMax-4 fluorescence spectrophotometer (Horiba, USA). UV–vis absorption spectrum was recorded using a Shimadzu UV-2450 Spectrophotometer (Tokyo, Japan). A vortex mixer IKA MS3 digital was selected to mix the solution. Results: Under optimized conditions, the linear response to detect heparin ranges from 0.06 to 14 µg mL-1 with a detection limit of 8 ng mL-1. The approach showed a highly selective response to heparin in the presence of 16 interfered substances. Conclusion: A simple method for the detection of heparin was developed based on MPA-CdSe QDs and protamine enhanced fluorescent system. The electrostatic effect between MPA-CdSe QDs and protamine resulted in strong fluorescence enhancement from the MPA-CdSe QDs. Moreover, the addition of heparin could cause a significant fluorescence decrease due to the strong affinity of protamine and heparin. Under optimal conditions, this method displayed a low detection limit and good selectivity over other substances.

In this work, a sensitive method based on the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technique was proposed to quantitatively detect severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) for the first time. A sandwich-type immunosensor was prepared by utilizing Fe3O4@SiO2 as a magnetic sensing platform and CdZnTeS quantum dots (QDs) as labels. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the fabricated ECL immunosensor showed excellent performance for SFTSV detection. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.003 fg mL−1 (S/N = 3), so the strategy presented in this study is the first quantitative analysis of SFTSV with a lower LOD. In addition, the developed SFTSV immunosensor exhibited long-term stability, high reproducibility and great specificity. Furthermore, serum sample analysis was performed to evaluate the practical application of the fabricated immunosensor. The obtained results manifested that the proposed ECL immunosensor may have great application prospects in clinical diagnosis.

In this work, we developed a simple and sensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor based on dendrimer-encapsulated Pt nanoclusters and carbon nanotubes (Pt-DENs/CNTs) nanocomposites modified glassy carbon electrode for determination of extracellular hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) released from living cells. The Pt-DENs/CNTs nanocomposites were characterized using UV–vis spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The non-enzymatic sensor exhibited outstanding catalytic activity toward H 2 O 2 reduction. The successful determination of extracellular H 2 O 2 demonstrated that the Pt-DENs/CNTs sensor maybe provide a potential tool to monitor H 2 O 2 in cellular biological processes.

The relationship between the maximum shear stress in a substrate solid and the elastic wave reflection coefficient from the interface between the substrate solid and an overlying solid half-space is investigated. Both substrate and overlying solid media are assumed to be initially isotropic and stress-free. Then as the substrate is subjected to horizontal confined stresses it becomes anisotropic. It is shown that longitudinal and shear wave reflection coefficients are related to the degree of stress induced anisotropy in the substrate medium. From this relation the confined stress level and the maximum shear stress generated on the vertical planes of the substrate are estimated. Authors in their previous investigation computed plane wave reflection coefficient in a biaxially compressed solid substrate immersed in a fluid. This paper reports for the first time how the maximum shear stress in a biaxially compressed substrate medium can be measured from the plane wave reflection coefficients when the overlying medium is also a solid half-space.

In this work, we synthesized water-dispersible cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) capped with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) in four sizes, namely 1.8, 2.7, 3.2 and 3.7 nm using the hydrothermal method. The obtained CdS QDs were characterized using UV–vis spectra, fluorescence spectra, X-ray powder diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of CdS QDs was investigated in aqueous solution. With increasing the particle size of CdS QDs, not only ECL peak potentials but also ECL onset potentials were shifted positively accompanying the continuous increasing ECL intensity. Under the optimized conditions, the electrochemiluminescence of CdS QDs was used for dopamine (DA) detection linearly ranging from 8 pM to 20 nM with the detection limit of 3.6 pM (S/N = 3). Furthermore, the applicability of the proposed sensor was also applied to detect DA in human urine and serum.

Chinese horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus), ancient marine arthropods dating back to the mid-Palaeozoic Era, have provided valuable resources for the detection of bacterial or fungal contamination. However, excessive exploitation for the amoebocyte lysate of Tachypleus has dramatically decreased the population of the Chinese horseshoe crabs. Thus, we present sequencing, assembly and annotation of T. tridentatus, with the hope of understanding the genomic feature of the living fossil and assisting scientists with the protection of this endangered species. The final genome contained a total size of 1.943 Gb, covering 90.23% of the estimated genome size. The transcriptome of three larval stages was constructed to investigate the candidate gene involved in the larval development and validate annotation. The completeness of the genome and gene models was estimated by BUSCO, reaching 96.2% and 95.4%, respectively. The synonymous substitution distribution of paralogues revealed that T. tridentatus had undergone two rounds of whole-genome duplication. All genomic and transcriptome data have been deposited in public databases, ready to be used by researchers working on horseshoe crabs.

Chinese horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus), ancient marine arthropods dating back to the mid-Palaeozoic Era, have provided valuable resources for the detection of bacterial or fungal contamination. However, excessive exploitation for the amoebocyte lysate of Tachypleus has dramatically decreased the population of the Chinese horseshoe crabs. Thus, we present sequencing, assembly and annotation of T. tridentatus, with the hope of understanding the genomic feature of the living fossil and assisting scientists with the protection of this endangered species. The final genome contained a total size of 1.943 Gb, covering 90.23% of the estimated genome size. The transcriptome of three larval stages was constructed to investigate the candidate gene involved in the larval development and validate annotation. The completeness of the genome and gene models was estimated by BUSCO, reaching 96.2% and 95.4%, respectively. The synonymous substitution distribution of paralogues revealed that T. tridentatus had undergone two rounds of whole-genome duplication. All genomic and transcriptome data have been deposited in public databases, ready to be used by researchers working on horseshoe crabs. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data (ISA-Tab format)

In this work, a novel and simple off–on fluorescent sensor is proposed for the selective detection of pyrophosphate (PPi) in an aqueous solution. The sensing approach is realized using fluorescent cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) capped with 3-mercaptopropionic acid, which displayed excellent optical properties and high photostability. The red emission of CdS QDs was significantly quenched in the presence of Co2+ (turn-off) due to the aggregation induced by the coordination between Co2+ ions and carboxyl groups on CdS QDs. However, the continuous addition of PPi can restore the fluorescence (turn-on) due to the competition between PPi and carboxyl groups to coordinate with Co2+ ions leading to the re-dispersion of CdS QDs. Thus a sensitive probing PPi method was successfully established. Under optimized conditions, the proposed fluorescent platform was used for PPi detection in the range of 0.2 to 260 μM with a detection limit of 35 nM. The fluorescence turn-off/on approach showed a highly selective response to PPi in the presence of 20 different types of species.

It is significant to monitor the early stage of apoptosis and evaluate the therapeutic effect of anticancer drugs in the diagnostic of cancer. Here, an electrochemical cytosensor with signal amplified strategy was constructed to quantitatively detect the concentration of early apoptotic cells and respond to therapy of anticancer drugs. To fabricate the platform, cuprous oxide (Cu2O) cube was utilized as a large platform for loading platinum-palladium nanoparticles (PtPd NPs) to prepare the Cu2O@PtPd nanocomposites. The formed nanocomposite was not only acted as signal amplified molecules towards the reduction of H2O2 by synergistic effect but also possessed large specific area to conjugate concanavalin A (Con A), which specifically interacted with the cell-surface carbohydrate. What’s more, the porous graphene oxide-Au (PGO-Au) nanocomposites were modified onto working electrode to improve the efficiency of electron transfer. Meanwhile, the PGO-Au nanocomposite was served as effective matrix to couple annexin V through Au-N bond to capture apoptotic cells owing to the specific interaction between phosphatidylserine (PS) on the cell surface and annexin V. In this system, A549 cell was chosen as model cells and cisplatin acted as apoptotic inducer. The proposed amperometric cytosensor exhibited a wide range detection of early apoptotic cells from 50 to 5 × 107 cells mL−1. Meanwhile, the detection limit was down to 20 cells mL−1. It also showed high specificity, acceptable sensitivity and good reproducibility, which had promising potential for the early evaluation of therapeutic effect.

In this paper, the author firstly attaches the importance and necessity to the application of body language in primary school. Then the author points out the problems in using body language and puts forward four ways to promote the application of body language to English teaching in the third grade in primary school towards.

To investigate whether serum resistin correlated with hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, or insulin resistance (IR) in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and their first-degree relatives (DFDRs) in a case–control observational study. We determined the serum levels of resistin, plasma lipids, glucose, and insulin, and performed clinical assessments of hypertension, obesity, and IR for 42 T2DM patients, 74 of their DFDRs, and 51 healthy control participants with no family history of T2DM (NC group). The biochemical and clinical variables were compared between the 3 groups, and relationships between serum resistin and the other variables were evaluated using a Pearson correlation analysis. Significant trends were observed in the triglyceride, HbA1c, and resistin levels, in which the values observed in the DFDR group were intermediate to those of the T2DM and NC groups (P

Aim The impact of viral status on recurrence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative therapy remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether the presence of viral load, genotype, specific mutation and antiviral therapy influenced HCC recurrence after curative therapy. Methods We performed a meta-analysis including 20 studies to assess the effect of viral status and antiviral therapy with nucleoside analog on recurrence of HCC after curative therapy. The pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated using a random or fixed effects model. PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database were searched for articles published from 1990 to December 2012. Results Our results showed that the presence of high viral load significantly increased overall HCC recurrence risk after curative therapy. Pooled data from four studies on the recurrence rate among patients with genotype C infection compared with genotype B showed an increased risk of recurrence. Basal core promoter (BCP) mutation was associated with a significant risk in the recurrence of HCC. The pooled estimate of treatment effect was significantly in favor of a preventive effectiveness of antiviral therapy. Conclusion The present study suggested that HCC patients with high viral load, genotype C and BCP mutation had a significantly higher risk of recurrence. Antiviral therapy has potential beneficial effects after the curative treatment of HCC in terms of tumor recurrence.

Background Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV) with an average fatality rate of 12%. The clinical factors for death in SFTS patients remain unclear. Methods Clinical features and laboratory parameters were dynamically collected for 11 fatal and 48 non-fatal SFTS cases. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with death. Results Dynamic tracking of laboratory parameters revealed that during the initial fever stage, the viral load was comparable for the patients who survived as well as the ones that died. Then in the second stage when multi-organ dysfunction occurred, from 7-13 days after disease onset, the viral load decreased in survivors but it remained high in the patients that died. The key risk factors that contributed to patient death were elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase fraction, as well as the appearance of CNS (central nervous system) symptoms, hemorrhagic manifestation, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and multi-organ failure. All clinical markers reverted to normal in the convalescent stage for SFTS patients who survived. Conclusions We identified a period of 7-13 days after the onset of illness as the critical stage in SFTS progression. A sustained serum viral load may indicate that disease conditions will worsen and lead to death.

The two principal functions of a primary cement job are to provide support for the casing and to provide hydraulic isolation between zones. A poor cement job may cause many issues during the well production. Therefore, cement bond evaluation is very important in well completion. The Sector Bond log (SBL) has been widely used for cement bond evaluation for years. The SBL tool has eight pairs of directional transmitter-receivers, which are equally distributed in azimuth and used for identifying channels and channel azimuths. To better understand SBL, using a parallel 3D finite difference algorithm, we numerically simulated acoustic responses of the SBL under a variety of cement bond scenarios and investigated the sensitivity of the integral amplitudes to channel size and its azimuth. We further developed a new approach to image potential channels in cement annulus using the integral amplitudes. The comparisons between conventional SBL images and the reprocessed ones using the new approach showed significant improvement on both synthetic and field data.

The velocities of shear waves propagating along radial direction of birch and elmwood specimens are measured in order to study the effect of anisotropy on shear wave velocity. The relationship between the shear wave velocity and the oscillation direction is examined by rotating an ultrasonic sensor. The results indicate that the effect of anisotropy on shear wave velocity in birch and elmwood specimens is similar to Japanese magnolia specimen. When the oscillation direction of the shear wave corresponds to the certain anisotropic direction of the wood specimen, the shear wave velocity decreases sharply and the relationship between shear wave velocity and rotation angle tends to become discontinuous. The intrinsic birefringence due to the anisotropy of birch and elmwood woods is observed. Their texture anisotropies are strong. In an isotropic nylon, on the contrary, the value of shear wave velocity was similar to a circular ring. This investigation is significant meanings in architectural and civil engineering field.

Detecting and characterizing the community structure of complex network is fundamental. We compare the classical optimization indexes of modularity and modularity density, which are quality indexes for a partition of a network into communities. Based on this, we propose a quantitative function for community partition, named communitarity or C value. We demonstrate that the quantitative is superior to modularity Q and modularity density D. Both theoretical and numerical results show that optimizing the new index not only can resolve small modules, but also can correctly identify the number of communities.

Using finite difference time domain (FDTD) method with nonsplitting perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition, a parallel computation scheme based on Message Passing Interface on computer-based cluster, is proposed to simulate high frequency (100 kHz) 3D transient acoustic field of Segmented Bond Tool logging in nonaxisymmetric cased hole. Average parameters of difference equations on the internal interfaces are proposed to improve the computational stability. This method is verified by the good agreement of the simulated waveforms with those obtained from the real-axis integration method for axisymmetric cased hole. The waveforms of 8-sector SBT logging in nonaxisymmetric cased hole with cement groove of various size and azimuth are simulated using the parallel FD algorithm, and the amplitude characteristics of casing wave versus included angle between cement groove and transducer are studied. New wave phenomena in nonaxisymmetric cased hole are presented. An idea to determine the size and azimuth of the cement groove is proposed.

This paper has conducted a structural analysis by workbench after establishing a stable platform for automotive three-dimensional model, primarily concerning whether the platform can provide a benchmark to meet the requirements of equipment, including the numerical analysis of whether the platform tilt angle under load can achieve the requirements as well as the scheme of improvement direction of the structure.

Water-saturated porous media often exhibit a seismoelectric effect due to the existence of an electrical double layer and a relative flow of pore fluid. Here we consider the seismoelectric waves in an open borehole surrounded by water-saturated porous formation which exhibits discontinuity of electrochemical properties at a cylindrical interface. We carefully analyze the seismoelectric interface response since these signals show sensitivity to contrasts in electrochemical properties across an interface. Both coupled and approximate methods are used to compute borehole seismoelectric fields. The simulation results show that the radiated electromagnetic wave from the electrochemical interface is generated due to the change of salinity in pore fluid in the porous formation. However, the elastic properties of the formation remain unchanged across such an electrochemical interface. As a result it is difficult to recognize such a change in electrochemical properties using only elastic waves. Therefore, the seismoelectric interface response is potentially used to detect the changes of the electrochemical properties in the formation.

Let {Xn, n ≥ 1} be a sequence of identically distributed ρ−-mixing random variables and set Sn = Σi=1nXi, n ≥ 1, the sufficient and necessary conditions for the existence of moments of supn≥1 |Sn/n1/r|p(0 0) are given, which are the same as that in the independent case.

Glycoprotein 5 (GP5) is the major glycoprotein of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). In this study, the gene encoding rtGP5, lacking signal peptide sequence, was expressed as GST-fusion protein in E. coli. Fifteen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against rtGP5 were developed and used to probe a series of GP5 peptides by ELISA, in which two MAbs specifically recognized the epitope GP5EP3 (146-156aa), four recognized GP5EP5 (164-180aa) and nine recognized GP5EP7 (192-200aa). After precise analysis by sequential deletion of the terminal amino acid residues, the three minimal epitopes (R(152)LYRWR(156), E(169)GHLIDLKRV(178) and Q(196)WGRL(200)) were determined, which were highly conserved among the North American type isolates, with the exception of one amino acid mutation (L(200) to P(200)). Mutational analysis showed that the mutant (Q(196)WGRP(200)) could be recognized by four of nine anti-GP5EP7 MAbs, indicating Q(196)WGRP(200) was also one minimal epitope. Western blot analysis showed that GP5EP5 and GP5EP7 (L(200) or P(200)) could be recognized by PRRSV-positive sera of CH-1a and/or BJ-4, suggesting GP5EP5 and GP5EP7 (L(200) or P(200)) were antigenic epitopes in the PRRSV-infected pigs. MAbs against GP5EP3, GP5EP5, and GP5EP7 could react with MARC-145 cells infected with the North American type isolates from China in IFA. However, very interestingly, when the highly pathogenic PRRSV, represented by HUN4, was passaged in MARC-145 cells, MAbs against GP5EP7 did not react with HUN4-F20-HUN4-F112 (20-112th passage virus), where Q(196)WGRL(200) had mutated to R(196)WGRL(200). Due to no mutations observed in GP5EP3 and GP5EP5, MAbs against GP5EP3 and GP5EP5 could recognize HUN4-F20-HUN4-F112. All the results herein might deepen the understanding of the antigen structure of in the C terminus of GP5 and facilitate the development of diagnostic antigens of the North American type PRRSV in China.

A highly sensitive electrochemical biosensor for the detection of trace amounts of methotrexate has been designed. Double stranded (ds)DNA molecules are immobilized onto a pretreated glassy carbon electrode (GCE(ox)) surface with Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique. The adsorptive voltammetric behaviors of methotrexate on DNA-modified electrode were explored by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The oxidation mechanism was proposed and discussed in this work. In addition, the optimum experimental conditions for the detection of methotrexate were explored, and the currents measured by SWV presented a good linear property as a function of the concentrations of methotrexate in the range of 2.0 × 10 −8 to 4.0 × 10 −6 mol L −1 , with an LOD of 5.0 × 10 −9 mol L −1 . The method proposed was applied for the determination of methotrexate in pharmaceutical dosage and diluted human urine with wonderful satisfactory successfully.

In this study, 4 overlapping fragments and 12 overlapping peptides of the nucleocapsid (N) protein from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) were expressed as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins and used to probe a panel of 16 anti-N protein monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by ELISA. The minimal epitope sequence of the following seven mAbs was determined by sequential deletion of terminal amino acid residues from each peptide: N2H7 corresponded to H54FPLA58; N2F7 corresponded to K52PHFPLA58; and N1A2, N1E3, N1G4, and N2E5 were reactive against E51KPHFP56. Furthermore, a polypeptide containing this epitope cluster was recognized by PRRSV-immune pig serum by Western blot, suggesting that residues 51-58 represent an immunodominant region of the N protein. Sequence alignment revealed that these epitopes are well conserved among North American and European genotypes of PRRSV. These findings enhance our knowledge of the antigenic structure of N protein and may facilitate the development of better diagnostic methods for PRRSV.

The function of the glycosylated protein 3 (GP3), a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) associated protein is poorly known. In the present study, the gene encoding GP3 (ORF3), lacking the highly hydrophobic domain in the N- and C-termini was expressed as GST-fusion proteins in E. coli. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against GP3 were developed and used to probe a series of GP3 peptides using ELISA. After precise analysis by sequential deletion of the terminal amino acid residues from each peptide, the minimal epitopes recognized by the MAbs were localized to W(74)CRIGHDRCGED(85) and Y(67)EPGRSLW(74). The epitope sequences were well conserved among most of the North American-type isolates, with the exception of two amino acid mutations in both epitopes in a few of these isolates. Mutational analysis revealed that these mutants were not recognized by any of the five MAbs, indicating that genetic variation could lead to altered antigenicity. Eight out of nine peptide fragments, 58-72aa, 73-87aa, 88-101aa, 102-115aa, 50-65aa, 66-81aa, 80-95aa and 94-109aa were recognized by PRRSV-positive pig serum as determined by Western blot analysis. The results herein may elucidate partially the antigenic structure of GP3 and variations of PRRSV.

A phage display peptide library targeting the nucleocapsid (N) protein of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) strain CH-1a was generated and used for epitope mapping. After 3 rounds of biopanning with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) N3H2 directed against the N protein, 3 positive phages were screened and sequenced. These phages share a consensus sequence, IQTAFNQGA, which corresponds to the amino acid (AA) 79-87 segment of the CH-1a N protein. A small DNA fragment coding for IQTAFNQGA was expressed as a fusion product, and reacted to N3H2 in Western blots and indirect ELISA. Four truncated peptides (IQTAFNQG, IQTAFNQ, QTAFNQGA, and TAFNQGA) expressed as GST fusion products failed to react with N3H2. The sequences around the N3H2-binding site among the N proteins of 57 PRRSV strains were compared. Our results indicate that the IQTAFNQGA motif is highly conserved among North American and European isolates. We concluded that the precisely defined nona-peptide epitope is a novel conserved Linear B cell epitope on the N protein of PRRSV.

Objective: Insulin resistance is a common feature of both polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM); however, the persistent reproductive disturbances appear to be limited to the former, suggesting that insulin resistance in the ovary itself may confer this susceptibility. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University-affiliated department. Patient(s): Forty-four women undergoing IVF treatment, of whom 11 had polycystic ovaries and 33 had normal ovulation (NO). Intervention(s): The various effects and signaling of insulin and insulin-like growth factor–1 (IGF-1) were examined in cultured ovarian granulosa cells treated with troglitazone (1 μg/mL) or with vehicle by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and in vitro functional analyses. Main outcome measure(s): Glycogen and DNA syntheses, mRNA and protein expression, and cellular localization of insulin/IGF-1 receptors and insulin receptor substrates (IRSs). Result(s): There were significant decreases in insulin-stimulated glucose incorporation into glycogen in PCOS cells, which is a metabolic action of insulin. However, IGF-1 stimulation was found to be greater in PCOS cells at all experimental concentrations with respect to thymidine incorporation compared with NO cells, which is a mitogenic action. Troglitazone increased the insulin-induced glycogen synthesis but reduced the IGF-1–augmented responses of DNA synthesis in PCOS cells to the range within those of NO granulosa cells. We then found that troglitazone treatment reversed the expression imbalance between IRS-1 and IRS-2 in PCOS cells. Conclusion(s): There is a selective defect in insulin actions in PCOS granulosa cells, which suggests ovarian insulin resistance, and this metabolic phenotype is associated with an enhanced IGF-1 mitogenic potential. Troglitazone could divergently alter expression of various IRS molecules and insulin actions and could be used as an ovarian insulin sensitizer and mitogen/steroidogenic inhibitor in PCOS.

The impact of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels on the prognosis of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether serum HBsAg levels influenced the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Furthermore, we explored the role played by serum HBsAg levels in prediction of spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance.We performed this meta-analysis including 11 studies to assess the effect of HBsAg levels on predicting clinical outcomes in chronic HBV carriers. The pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated using a random or fixed effects model. PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database were searched for articles published from 1990 to May 2014.Our results showed that high HBsAg levels significantly increased the risk of developing cirrhosis (OR, 2.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00-3.14; P 0.01). Pooled data from two studies revealed that high HBsAg levels increased the risk of HCC occurrence (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.52-3.22; P 0.01). High HBsAg levels were associated with a significant increased risk of late HCC recurrence after curative resection (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.48-2.77; P 0.01), but not early recurrence (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.89-1.27; P = 0.53). The pooled data indicated that low HBsAg levels were significantly in favor of spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance (OR, 7.89; 95% CI, 4.74-13.13; P 0.01).High HBsAg levels were associated with development of cirrhosis and HCC comparatively. Therefore, lower serum HBsAg levels were associated with a higher rate of spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance.

The impact of viral status on recurrence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative therapy remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether the presence of viral load, genotype, specific mutation and antiviral therapy influenced HCC recurrence after curative therapy.We performed a meta-analysis including 20 studies to assess the effect of viral status and antiviral therapy with nucleoside analog on recurrence of HCC after curative therapy. The pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated using a random or fixed effects model. PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database were searched for articles published from 1990 to December 2012.Our results showed that the presence of high viral load significantly increased overall HCC recurrence risk after curative therapy. Pooled data from four studies on the recurrence rate among patients with genotype C infection compared with genotype B showed an increased risk of recurrence. Basal core promoter (BCP) mutation was associated with a significant risk in the recurrence of HCC. The pooled estimate of treatment effect was significantly in favor of a preventive effectiveness of antiviral therapy.The present study suggested that HCC patients with high viral load, genotype C and BCP mutation had a significantly higher risk of recurrence. Antiviral therapy has potential beneficial effects after the curative treatment of HCC in terms of tumor recurrence.

To evaluate the relationship between 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] and carotid artery intimal medial thickness (IMT) in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients.Serum 25(OH)D and carotid IMT were measured in 300 T2DM patients. Patients were divided into four quartile groups according to the serum 25(OH)D levels (Q1:26.17 nmol/L, 74 cases; Q2: 26.17 - 32.75 nmol/L, 76 cases; Q3: 32.75 - 42.93 nmol/L, 78 cases; Q442.93 nmol/L, 72 cases).Carotid IMT, carotid artery plaque prevalence, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, CRP and PTH were significantly higher in subjects with low 25(OH)D compared subjects with high 25(OH)D (P0.05). Carotid artery IMT in Q1 and Q2 groups were significantly higher than that in Q4 group (1.03 ± 0.21 vs. 0.90 ± 0.20, 1.01 ± 0.26 vs. 0.90 ± 0.20, P0.05), was similar among Q1 and Q2 and Q3 groups. Prevalence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in Q1 group (50.0%) was also significantly higher than in Q3 (29.5%, P0.05) and Q4 (16.7%, P0.05). Similarly, 25(OH)D concentration was significantly lower in patients with carotid plaque compared patients without carotid plaque [(28.31 ± 4.91) nmol/L vs. (36.31 ± 4.31) nmol/L, P0.01]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that carotid IMT was positively correlated with age, smoking, BMI, HbA1c, CRP, LDL-C, PTH/25(OH)D ratio (P0.05), and was negatively correlated with 25 (OH) D (r = -0.51, P0.01). Multivariate regression analysis showed that 25(OH)D concentration was an independent predictor of carotid IMT in this cohort (β = -0.39, P0.01).Serum 25(OH)D concentration is negatively correlated with carotid IMT and low 25 (OH) D level is a risk factor for preclinical atherosclerosis in T2DM patients.

The nanocrystalline ZrO2 : Pr3+ and ZrO2 : Pr3+, Sm3+ powders with room temperature sharp characteristic emissions were prepared by coprecipitation method. Luminescence properties of nanocrystalline ZrO2 : Pr3+ with different sintering temperatures and doping concentrations were studied. The energy transfer between the nanocrystalline ZrO2 host and the dopants was observed. The different Pr3+ concentration dependence of emission intensities of levels 3P0 and 1D2 was discussed. The dependence on Pr3+ concentration in nanocrystalline ZrO2 : Pr3+, Sm3+ of the emission intensity of 4G(5/2)-6H(7/2) transitions of Sm3+ ions and the energy transfer between Pr3+ and Sm3+ ions were investigated and discussed.

Based on the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV strain BJ101, antigenic immunodominant genes coding for the structure proteins of SARS-CoV were predicted by bio-informatics methods, and two chimeric genes A and B with multi-immunodominants lined up by Gly-Pro-Gly linker were synthesized. The chimeric genes were cloned into plasmid pGEX-6p-1 and expressed in E. coli with IPGT inducing. BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified recombinant fusion protein. The specificity of monoclonal antibodies were tested with a commercial ELISA kit for detecting antibody against SARS-CoV. The results showed that two peptides with molecular weights of 34kD and 35kD expressed by the two chimeric genes could be recognized by SARS patient convalescent serum in Western blot. Six positive hybridoma cell lines stably secreting monoclonal antibodies were selected. The subtype of monoclonal antibody D3C5 is IgG2a, and subtypes of all other five monoclonal antibodies are IgG1. Light chains of all monoclonal antibodies are kappa. With a commercial SARS-CoV antibodies detection ELISA kit, five out of six monoclonal antibodies were positively recognized. In western blot analysis with inactived virus cultures, D3D1 specifically recognized a band of about 180 kD. To further analyse the epitopes corresponding to the monoclonal antibodies, six oligoes (S1-S6) from S gene were synthesized and expressed. The results showed that the monoclonal antibodies D3D1 and D3C5 specifically recognized expression product of S2 and S5 oligoes, respectively. The S2 and S5 oligoes are corresponding to 447-458aa and 789-799aa of SARS-CoV S protein respectively.