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This study aimed to investigate the relationship between baseline atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and new-onset myocardial infarction (MI) in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).2,281 participants were included in this analysis after strict adherence to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using multivariable Cox regression models. A generalized additive model was employed to determine nonlinear relationships.In multivariate-adjusted models, there was a positive association between AIP and new-onset MI (per SD increase; HR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.22-1.65). Smoothing curve fitting revealed a J-shaped association between AIP and new-onset MI, with a turning point of approximately -0.08. The addition of AIP to a model with established risk factors improved the C-index (p=0.007), integrated discrimination improvement (p=0.007), and continuous net reclassification improvement (p=0.027) for the new-onset MI.A J-shaped relationship was observed between AIP and new-onset MI.

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of coated metal stent implantation for ureteroscopic lithotripsy related refractory ureteral stricture (URL-rUS). METHODS: Electronic medical records of 30 patients (31 affected renal units) receiving coated metal stent implantation for URL-rUS from Sept. 2018 to Aug. 2021 at Peking University People' s Hospital were reviewed for analysis. Coated metal stents were implanted in retrograde approach via ureteroscope. Last outpatient follow-up was set as endpoint. Baseline information, stricture characteristics and decompression strategy before coated metal stent implantation were retrospectively collected. Serum creatinine (Scr) concentration and renal pelvis width (RPW) were used as renal function indicators. Peri-operative and long-term complications and according outcomes were recorded. For the patients who had double J tubes implanted for drainage before operation, Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ) was applied to evaluate the stent-related discomforts and quality of life (QoL) before and after surgery. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS (version 25.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: Totally 30 patients with 31 affected renal units were included. All the patients previously underwent unsuccessful traditional endoscopic balloon dilation or endoureterotomy before receiving coated metal stent implantation. The mean age was (45.5±9.3) years old. The median follow-up time were 14 (6-36) months. All coated metal stents were successfully placed with a median duration of 60 (30-195) min. No severe peri-operative complications occurred. At endpoint, 28 (90.3%) sides of coated metal stents remained unobstructed with a longest indwelling time of 36 months. Causes of failures included stent migration (1 case, 3.2%), encrustation (1 case, 3.2%) and repeated stent related urinary tract infection (1 case, 3.2%). When compared with the baseline, significant reductions were observed in both Scr concentration and RPW at endpoint [(90.7±19.5) mmol/L vs. (83.1±18.5) μmol/L, P < 0.01, for Scr; (2.5±1.3) cm vs. (1.9±0.8) cm, P < 0.01, for RPW], indicating good preservation of renal function and remission of hydronephrosis. For 26 patients with double J stents before operation, significant reduction of USSQ average score (100.4±6.6 vs. 82.1±4.9, P < 0.01) evidenced better life quality preserving ability of coated metal stent versus double J stent. CONCLUSION: Coated metal stent implantation is a safe and minimally invasive management of ureteral stricture providing a satisfying long-term patency rate, after which the patients' quality of life and renal function could be both improved. This method could serve as a promising alternative long-term maintenance treatment option for patients with URL-US, especially when traditional endoscopic interventions failed.

Impurities degrade tokamak plasma confinement by causing energy loss, diluting fuel concentration, and even terminating discharge in some extreme cases. Previously, the suppression effects of impurity accumulation due to on-axis electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) have been studied on Experimental and Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy. However, it is difficult to quantify changes in the tungsten (W) impurity profile since W-line emission in the EUV range cannot be easily resolved. X-ray crystal spectroscopy (XCS) is widely used to measure the ion temperature and rotation velocity of plasmas by using line emission in the soft X-ray range. In addition, the XCS can also be used to study the behavior of impurities. An in situ absolute intensity calibration of tangential XCS was conducted by analyzing calculations and measurements of bremsstrahlung radiation. After obtaining the calibration coefficient, the W44+-ion-density profiles were evaluated using Abel inversion operations and the spectral line of W XLV (W44+, 3.9095 Å). Thus, a direct observation of the W44+-impurity concentration suppressed by ECRH was accomplished. Such W44+-density profiles can be used in the future to analyze W transport in combination with impurity transport codes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) on detrusor underactivity (DUA). METHODS: From December 2019 to April 2020, 6 patients with DUA who had been treated with SNM were assessed retrospectively. The average age was 58 years (46-65 years), with 3 males and 3 females. All the patients were diagnosed with DUA by urodynamics examination. Obstruction of bladder outlet was excluded through the cystoscopy. No patient had the history of neurological disease. All the patients were placed with the bladder colostomy tube before SNM. One female patient accepted the trans-urethral resection of bladder neck. Two male patients accepted the trans-urethral resection of prostate. All the 3 patients had no improvement of void symptom after the urethral operation. Before SNM, the average 24 h times of voiding was 23.8 (18-33), average volume of every voiding was 34.2 mL (10-50 mL), average residual volume was 421.7 mL (350-520 mL). The preoperative and postoperative 24 h urine frequency, average voided volume, and average residual urine volume were compared respectively. RESULTS: Totally 6 patients underwent SNM with stage Ⅰ procedure. The operation time for stage Ⅰ procedure was 62-135 min (average 90 min). After an average follow-up of two weeks, stage Ⅱ procedure was performed on responders. Four patients accepted stage Ⅱ procedure (conversion rate 66.7%), the other two patients refused the stage Ⅱ procedure because the urine frequency did not reach the satisfied level. But all the patients had the improvement of residual urine volume. For the 4 patients at the follow-up of 10-15 months, the improvement of void was still obvious. For the all patients after stage Ⅰ procedure, the average 24 h urine frequency reduced to 13.5 times (9-18 times, P < 0.001), the average voided volume increased to 192.5 mL (150-255 mL, P < 0.001), and the average residual urine volume reduced to 97.5 mL (60-145 mL, P < 0.001). No adverse events, such as wound infection or electrode translocation were detected during an average follow-up of 11.3 months. Only one of the 4 patients who received the stage Ⅱ procedure did the intermittent catheterization for one time each day. CONCLUSION: SNM provides a minimal invasive approach for the management of DUA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the treatment of patients with solitary kidney stones. METHODS: The clinical data of 22 patients with solitary kidney stones treated with PCNL in Peking University People's Hospital from September 2008 to June 2014, with the follow-up data of more than 5 years were analyzed retrospectively. Perioperative indicators, postoperative stone free rate (SFR) and incidence of complications were recorded. Ultrasonography was used to evaluate the long-term stones recurrence rate. Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were used to assess the long-term renal function. RESULTS: In this group of 22 patients, the average age was (50.3±11.8) years, with 10 cases of anatomic solitary kidneys, 12 functional solitary kidneys, and the median stone diameter was 1.65 (1.1-3.9) cm. All the patients had multiple stones, including 7 cases of staghorn stones. The median pre-operative serum creatinine was 104.5 (60.0-460.0) μmol/L, and the mean eGFR was (60.3±29.4) mL/min, showing no statistically significant difference compared with that before surgery. The mean operative time was (88.2±42.0) min, and there were 11 cases of single-channel and double-channel PCNL. The median serum creatinine on the first day after surgery was 102.0 (63.0-364.0) μmol/L, and the mean eGFR was (58.0±25.1) mL/min. The mean postoperative hospital stay was (8.7±5.2) days. In this group, 5 patients (22.7%) presented short-term complications, among which 4 patients presented postoperative infection and massive hemorrhage at the same time, which improved after conservative treatment, and 1 patient presented pleural injury and improved after closed thoracic drainage. Two patients (9.1%) developed long-term complications, and ureteral stricture occurred 3 months after operation, which improved after balloon dilatation. The median follow-up time was 6.2 (4.7-11.1) years. The median serum creatinine at the last follow-up was 104.0 (72.4-377.0) μmol/L, and the mean eGFR was (60.1±23.7) mL/min, showing no statistically significant difference compared with that before surgery. Renal function decreased in 6 patients (27.3%). Initial and final SFR were 72.7% and 100%, respectively. During the 6.2-year follow-up, 9 patients (40.9%) experienced recurrence of kidney stone. After stone recurrence, 13 lithotomy surgeries were performed, and the SFR by the latest follow-up was 63.6%. CONCLUSION: This study had the longest follow-up time for patients with solitary kidney stones after PCNL reported at home and abroad. Ultrasound-guided standard PCNL was safe and effective in the treatment of solitary kidney stones. Long-term follow-up results showed that the recurrence rate of kidney stones was still high, but the long-term renal function was stable after operation, and some patients showed mild renal function decline.

Abnormal genomic DNA methylation is an important epigenetic change in malignant tumors. Esophageal squamous cell cancer is one of common malignant tumors in our country. In this paper summarized and discussed the progress of genomic DNA methylation in the esophageal squamouscell cancer, including the level of genomic DNA methylation, frequent abnormally methylated genes, methylation markers and potential targets, etc. This paper might provide candidate biomarkers and targets for further studies on the mechanism of the tumorigenesis and development of the esophagealsquamouscell cancer, as well as for the clinical application of esophageal cancer.基因组DNA甲基化异常是恶性肿瘤重要的表观遗传学改变。食管鳞癌是我国常见的恶性肿瘤之一，本文从全基因组DNA甲基化水平、高频甲基化异常改变基因、甲基化标志物和潜在靶点等方面，总结讨论了食管鳞癌中基因组DNA甲基化的研究进展，为深入研究其发生发展机制、以及为食管鳞癌的临床应用提供候选标志物和靶点。.

This paper describes the production of metal powder using an atomiser with internal-mixing mechanisms under supersonic configuration. The atomiser is designed with a convergent–divergent channel and a confinement section. The atomisation gas was first accelerated to supersonic speed through the annular convergent–divergent channel. It was then introduced to the confinement section and impinged onto the melt injected from the delivery tube. The interaction between the atomisation gas and the melt in the confinement section resulted in the atomisation of the melt. The confinement of the region downstream of the delivery tube is called the internal-mixing zone. Flow expansion was observed in the internal-mixing zone as the supersonic flow came out from the divergent section. The liquid phase was confined by the high-speed gas flow in the centre of the atomiser. The velocity of atomisation gas can further increase through the flow expansion and the high-velocity region of atomisation gas is extended. ...

This research experimentally investigated effects of injection pressure, formation chamber and bypass flow on spray performances and cryogenic characteristics of CO2 snow under cryosurgery guided by endoscopic. Results show that CO2 snow has a superior freezing capability in the application of cryosurgery. The length of formation chamber is an effective design parameter to control spray performances and cryogenic characteristics. Increase in the length of formation chamber can increase snow size and conversion ratio, as well as the cooling rate and impact area of the tissue. Thus, it is suitable for the application on wider range nidus. Moreover, the bypass flow can efficiently modulate the cooling effect of the main flow with CO2 snow particles, and extend the operation time of cryosurgery. The experimental results also show that decrease the cylinder pressure, decrease the length of formation chamber, and increase the diameter of bypass apertures can slow down the flying velocity of CO2 snow which are effective methods to control the jet velocity and prevent the risk of penetration.

We present a data processing method based on multiple beam interference and Fresnel's formula that extract simultaneously the refraction index and the extinction coefficient from terahertz time domain spectra, and the dielectric coefficient can also be calculated. Typical THz-TDS system working in transmission mode was utilized for direct measurement of the transmission spectra with a frequency accuracy of 7.6 GHz and range from 0.3 THz to 4 THz at room temperature. This method is verified with a double-faced polished 350-μm 100-cut GaAs wafer, and the reasonable average relative error for refractive index in the whole range is less than 0.83% comparing with conventional method, which provides a new approach to process the transmission spectra with oscillations.

The present study aimed to evaluate the expression and intratumoral heterogeneity of LN-5γ2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).The expression of LN-5γ2 protein was examined in 135 ESCC cases by immunohistochemistry, and to analyze its relationship with the clinical relevance of patients. The protein expressions in different regions in the same tumor as well as different nests in the same region were compared.Moderate and high expression of LN-5γ2 protein was detected in 40.0% (54/135) of tumor tissues. Positive immunohistochemical staining was observed in 31.1% (23/74) of early stage (stages Ⅰ/Ⅱ) cases and 50.8% (31/61) of late stage (stage Ⅲ) cases, with a significant difference between these two groups (P=0.023). There was no statistical association of LN-5γ2 expression with age, sex of patients, PT sage, lymph node metastasis and degree of tumor differentiation (P0.05). However, differential expression of LN-5γ2 protein was found at different sampling sites in the same tumor and the same sampling site in different carcinomas.High expression of LN-5γ2 is positively correlated with tumor clinical stages and there existed intratumoral heterogeneity of LN-5γ2 expression in ESCC tissues.

To investigate the association between the dose and plasma concentration of ribavirin (RBV) and sustained virologic response (SVR) during the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment with pegylated interferon-α-2b (PEG-IFN-α-2b) and RBV.A total of 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who were treated with PEG-IFN-α-2b and RBV as the antiviral treatment were enrolled, and according to the therapeutic effect (SVR was defined as HCV RNA maintained below the lower limit of detection at 24 weeks after drug discontinuation in patients who achieved virologic response at the end of treatment, and recurrence was defined as HCV RNA turning positive), these patients were divided into SVR group (20 patients aged 19-55 years, including 10 male patients) and recurrence group (20 patients aged 21-76 years, including 12 male patients). The HPLC-MS/MS was used to measure the RBV plasma concentration at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 48 of treatment. The t-test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used for statistical analysis.During the antiviral treatment, the dose of RBV showed a significant difference between the two groups (15.01 ± 1.21 mg/kg vs 10.28 ± 2.81 mg/kg,t= 6.908,P= 0.000). The area under the ROC curve reached 0.96 (95%CI0.00-1.00,P= 0.000), suggesting that the dose of RBV had a high value in predicting SVR. When the dose of RBV was higher than 13.05 mg/kg (sensitivity 100%; specificity 85%), the possibility of achieving SVR was also increased. The RBV plasma concentrations in the SVR group at weeks 4,12, 24, and 48 of treatment were 1 894.8 ± 740.7 ng/ml, 2 029.9 ± 547.7 ng/ml, 2 011.8 ± 354.2 ng/ml, and2 093.5 ± 540.3 ng/ml, respectively, and those in the recurrence group were 1 223.1 ± 722.7 ng/ml, 1 286.9±685.4 ng/ml, 1304.7 ± 692.0 ng/ml, and 1 221.3 ± 655.3 ng/ml, respectively. The RBV plasma concentration at each time point showed significant differences between the two groups (t= 2.903,P= 0.006;t= 3.787,P= 0.001;t= 4.068,P= 0.000;t= 4.593,P= 0.000). The results of ROC analysis showed that the areas under the ROC curve at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 48 of treatment were 0.76 (95%CI0.61-0.92,P= 0.005), 0.83 (95%CI0.68-0.97,P= 0.000), 0.83 (95%CI0.69-0.98,P= 0.000), and 0.86 (95%CI0.72-1.00,P= 0.000), respectively, suggesting that the RBV plasma concentration had a high value in predicting SVR. When the cut-off values of RBV plasma concentration at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 48 of treatment were higher than 1262.5 ng/ml (sensitivity 90%; specificity 60%), 1432 ng/ml (sensitivity 100%; specificity 65%), 1427 ng/ml (sensitivity 100%; specificity 65%), and 1610 ng/ml (sensitivity 95%; specificity 80%), respectively, there was a greater possibility of achieving SVR.During the antiviral treatment with PEG-IFN-α-2b and RBV, the dose and plasma concentration of RBV have a high value in predicting the recurrence of CHC and the possibility of SVR.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating subtype of stroke that is characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. Thus far, there is no effective treatment option for spontaneous ICH. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of local hypothermia on brain injuries after ICH.Bacterial collagenase was used to induce ICH stroke in male Wistar rats. We assessed the effects of normothermia and 4 hours of local hypothermia (~33.2°C) initiated 1 hour after collagenase infusion on the neurological outcomes and brain water content at 1 and 3 days after ICH. The pathological changes of neuronal ultrastructure were examined with transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the expression levels of apoptotic molecules and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) were determined using western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Results :Local hypothermia tends to reduce neurological deficits compared with the normothermic group at day 3 after ICH. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that local hypothermia significantly improves the ultrastructural outcomes at 1 and 3 days after ICH. In addition, local hypothermia markedly reduces edema formation and the expression levels of MMP-9 and apoptotic signal.These data suggest that local hypothermia induces a reduction in the brain edema and partly reduces neurological deficits along with marked inhibitory effects on MMP-9 and cell apoptosis after ICH.

Carbon-doped silicon oxide (SiOCH) low dielectric constant (low-k) material is a good candidate for advanced interconnect technology. Good thermal stability of the dielectric is required due to the many thermal processes involved during IC fabrication. The thermal stability of tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS) based plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) carbon doped low-k material with annealing temperature from 400 to 800 degrees C in N2 was studied. The thermal stability temperature of TMCTS based carbon doped low-k material is 600 degrees C. Above 600 degrees C annealing, the thermal energy can break Si-CH3, Si-C, Si-H, and C-H bonds leading to outgasing, which results in film composition change, weight loss, and thickness shrinkage. Film composition changes, especially carbon loss and oxygen incorporation, can degrade its reliability extremely. Carbon is desorbed in the form of CH4, CO, and other hydrocarbon.

Dielectric materials with lower permittivity (low k) are required for isolation to reduce the interconnect RC delay in deep submicron integrated circuit. In this work, carbon-doped silicon oxide films are investigated as a potential low k material. The films were prepared by the radio frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique from trimethylsilane (3MS) in an oxygen (O2) environment. The O2/3MS flow ratio (in sccm) was varied from 50:600 to 900:600 to investigate its effects on the properties of the films. The films were also annealed at 400 °C in an N2 atmosphere for 30 min to determine the thermal stability of their properties. Thickness and refractive index were measured by opti-probe. Chemical structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Dielectric constants were measured using a Si/insulator/mercury probe structure. It was found that the deposition rate increased almost three times while the refractive index decreased from 1.46 to 1.39 with increasing oxygen concentration in the gas feed. Dielectric constants as low as 2.9 have been obtained for the as-prepared film with a O2/3MS flow ratio of 100:600. FTIR spectra revealed that more Si–CH and Si–CH3 groups were introduced into the silicon dioxide backbone of the films at this flow ratio, and the low dielectric constant obtained is attributed to the increased incorporation of carbon in the form Si–CH3 bond, which has lower polarizability compared to the Si–O bonds that were replaced. The annealing has been found to lower the dielectric constant of the films, but has no effect on their composition and chemical structure.

Carbon doped silicon oxide SiO(C, H) low k thin films (k∼2.9) deposited by the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique from trimethylsilane (3MS) and oxygen (O2) have been studied. Two types of chemical vapor deposition process recipes, namely CVD1 and CVD2 were applied for film deposition. CVD1 is an initial recipe that resulted in films with a uniform deposition rate irrespective of film thickness and a low dielectric constant of about 2.9. However, it suffers from extraordinarily high post particle counts. CVD2 is a modified recipe adopted to address this issue. The main difference between the two recipes is that a pump down step immediately before the film deposition has been omitted in recipe CVD2, and this has successfully reduced the particle counts to a satisfactory level. However when using recipe CVD2, the deposition rate is nonuniform and the dielectric constant is slightly above 3.0, attributed to the residual oxygen in the process step prior to film deposition. In this study we in...

A non-invasive dual-functional eye measurement system is developed by integrating spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system with an optical reflectometer. The integrated system measures anterior segment of the eye as commonly performed by a SD-OCT while at the same time provides high resolution evaluation of tear film thickness and tear thinning dynamics. 6 μm axial resolution for anterior segment imaging and high resolution of 21nm for tear film thickness measurement are achieved. The present minimum measured tear film thickness is 0.3 μm. As a phantom study, a model eye with artificial tear film is evaluated using the integrated OCT/reflectometer device.

In this paper, a high-performance fluid infrared temperature measurement system without the need for “radiance correction” through an analysis of liquid fluid properties was proposed based on the Blackbody Radiation Theory and Max Planck’s Quantum Theory. In terms of practical application, the system can be calibrated by a high-precision contact-type thermodetector at a time. Then, the resulting data were fitted to complete a continuous curve to meet the measured temperature variation of the liquid fluid. Accordingly, the precise temperature is measured. A higher pertinence of the system makes it easier for a real-time liquid temperature monitoring with accuracy up to 0.1%. This method can also be extended to other non-contact temperature measurement field.Copyright © 2012 by ASME

High precision speed and position tracking control is important to ensure safe and reliable operation of high speed train. This paper presents a solution to achieve fault-tolerant control of train consisting of multiple vehicles with distributed traction and braking systems. A multiple point-mass model coupled with uncertain resistive forces (i.e. aerodynamic resistance, mechanical resistance, transient impacts, etc.) is utilized for control design and stability analysis. Traction and braking faults in the form of tracking power loss and/or braking capability loss are explicitly considered. To cope with the resultant dynamic model that contains actuator faults, uncertain in-train forces as well as resistive disturbances, a fuzzy-adaptive fault-tolerant control method is proposed. The salient feature of the developed control scheme lies in its independence of the precise dynamic model of the train. More specifically, there is no need for system parameter estimation, no need for fault detection and diagnosis, and no need for in-train force and resistive force estimation or approximation in designing and implementing the control scheme. The stable control algorithm is derived based on Lyapunov stability theory. Its effectiveness is confirmed with simulation verification.

In a population-based case-control study in Yangzhong, China, we investigated the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of GSTP1 and susceptibility to gastric cancer and its premalignant lesion, chronic gastritis. The possible gene-gene interactions between GSTP1 polymorphisms and GSTM1, GSTT1 genes were explored.Epidemiologic data were collected by standard questionnaire from 133 gastric cancer cases, 166 chronic gastritis cases, and 433 cancer-free population controls. Blood samples for Helicobacter pylori and molecular marker assays were collected from 84 gastric cancer cases, 146 chronic gastritis, and 429 population controls. GSTP1 polymorphisms were determined by the PCR-RFLP method and H. pylori infection was measured by the ELISA method. Associations between certain GSTP1 genotypes and both gastric cancer and chronic gastritis were assessed by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) derived from logistic regression.The distributions of three GSTP1 genotypes, Ile/Ile, Ile/Val, and Val/Val, were similar in gastric cancer cases, chronic gastritis, and controls. After adjusting for age, gender, education, body mass index, pack-year of smoking, alcohol drinking, H. pylori infection, salt and fruit intakes, the adjusted ORs of Val/Val were 1.3 (95% CI: 0.1-11.2) for gastric cancer and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.2-4.8) for chronic gastritis. Combining the Val alleles (Val/Val and Ile/Val) into one group, no association was observed between GSTP1 and both gastric cancer and chronic gastritis. In addition, the allelism at the GSTP1 locus did not increase gastric cancer and chronic gastritis risks associated with the GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotypes.Our data suggest that the GSTP1 genotype seems not to be associated with the risk of gastric cancer and chronic gastritis in a high-risk Chinese population.

Transglutaminase-3 (TGase-3) is an enzyme with the ability to catalyze the irreversible cross-linking of peptide-bound glutamine residues either with peptide-bound lysines or with primary amines. It has been implicated in the formation and assembly of the cornified cell envelope of the epidermis, hair follicle and perhaps other stratified squamous epithelia. We show here the involvement of TGase-3 in human esophageal cancer. In an initial study, mRNA differential display was performed with 3 pairs of esophageal cancer tissues and matched normal adjacent mucosa by a 10-mer arbitrary primer and mixed anchored primers (GT15N, N = A, C and G). Four differentially expressed cDNA bands were consistently observed in all 3 normal tissues but barely detected in their tumor counterparts. One of them was identified to be the 3; end of TGase-3. Northern blot and dot blot analyses of 14 samples confirmed the down-regulation of TGase-3 in malignant tissues compared with normal epithelia. RT-PCR revealed that TGase-3 expression was lost in 3 esophageal carcinoma cell lines and decreased in 35/38 tumors compared with adjacent normal mucosa. Taken together, 49/52 (94.2%) esophageal tumors presented down-regulation of the gene. Our data suggest that alteration of TGase-3 expression is a common event in the development of human esophageal cancer.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes are involved in detoxification of many potentially carcinogenic compounds. The homozygous deletions or null genotypes of GSTT1 (theta class) and GSTM1 (mu class) genes may be associated with an increased risk of cancer. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between GSTT1, GSTM1 and the risk of gastric cancer, as well as the potential interactions between these genetic markers and other risk factors of gastric cancer in the Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study with 143 cases with gastric cancer, 166 chronic gastritis (CG) cases and 433 cancer-free population controls from Yangzhong County, China. The epidemiological data were collected by a standard questionnaire for all of the subjects, and blood samples were obtained from 91 gastric cancer cases, 146 CG cases, and 429 controls. GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes were assayed by the PCR method, and Helicobacter pylori infection was measured by the ELISA method. Using logistic regression model in SAS, we assessed the independent effects of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes on the risk of gastric cancer and their potential interactions with other factors. The prevalence of GSTM1 null genotype was 48% in gastric cancer cases, 60% in CG patients, and 51% in controls. The prevalence of GSTT1 null genotype was 54% in gastric cancer cases, 48% in CG patients, and 46% in controls. After controlling for age, gender, education, pack-years of smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, H. pylori infection, and fruit and salt intake, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for GSTT1 and gastric cancer was 2.50 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-6.22). When gastric cancer cases were compared with CG patients, the adjusted OR for GSTT1 was 2.33 (95% CI, 0.75-7.25). However, GSTT1 null genotype was not associated with the risk of CG when using population controls. No obvious association was found between GSTM1 and the risk of both gastric cancer and CG. Our results suggest that GSTT1 null genotype may be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer in a Chinese population.

A new protocol for fluorescence in situ rehybridization is described. Biotin-labeled chromosome-specific DNA probes were hybridized onto metaphases which previously had been studied by FISH. This method makes it possible to reexamine the same metaphase spreads with different DNA probes. It allows for precise characterization of cytogenetic translocations and for detection of multiple aberrations presented in a karyotype. It is especially useful in cases where a limited number of cytogenetic preparations are available.

A method of in situ hybridization is described for rapid characterization of cytogenetical translocations. In the same experimental procedure, biotinylated centromeric and 'painting' DNA probes were used in combination. Signals of the double-target hybridization were visualized by only one fluorescein. This technique also permits a simultaneous detection of multiple unrelated aberrations involving several chromosomes.

Transitional cell carcinomas of human urinary bladder were studied by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). With current hybridization to isolated nuclei, 26 tumors were investigated and nonrandom +7, -9 and -10 were identified. Monosomy 11, tetraploidies and polyploidies were detected in invasive and poor-differentiated tumors. Hybridization on frozen sections offers another means of analysing surgical samples. FISH to vesical washings can be applied to monitor tumor progression. Hybridizations on paraffine sections and on tissues previously stored in liquid nitrogen allow retrospective studies of the archived materials. Our data suggest that the interphase FISH can become a powerful tool for cytogenetic studies of bladder cancer.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to interphase nuclei has been a valuable method for examining the chromosome copies in tumor cells in clinical practice. Twelve cases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder were investigated with a biotin-labeled repetitive DNA probe to detect numerical aberrations of chromosome 10 in interphase nuclei. The cells containing one fluorescent signal were screened in two of seven non-invasive tumors and in four of five invasive tumors. Two patients presented two FISH spots of different sizes. More than two signals were seen in one invasive tumor. The findings suggest that partial or complete loss of a chromosome 10 is a nonrandom aberration in bladder cancer.

1. In chloralose-urethane anaesthetized cats, the dorsal cardiovascular reactive area (DCRA) in the parvocellular reticular nucleus dorsomedial to the facial nucleus, and the ventral cardiovascular reactive area (VCRA) ventromedial to the facial nucleus, were stimulated by microinjections of sodium glutamate (100-200 nmol) or electric current. 2. Stimulation of DCRA, with a long latency of 15-20 s, elicited a marked increase of blood flow in the contralateral femoral artery with little change to moderate increase in systemic arterial blood pressure (ABP). In the relatively dorsal portion of DCRA, however, a smaller increase of blood flow in the ipsilateral femoral artery was elicited. 3. On the other hand, stimulation of VCRA with a short latency (3-5s) evoked an increase of blood flow in both femoral arteries which was more prominent on the contralateral side. The responses were accompanied with decreases in the blood flow of other vascular beds with only a slight increase or minimal change in ABP. 4. The data suggest that DCRA and VCRA are both viscerotopically organized to alter the resistance of individual vascular beds for redistribution of blood flow.

The resistance to antibiotics of the 985 clinical isolates collected in Tian Tan hospital was studied. The results showed that S. aureus had a resistant rate of more than 90% to penicillin and was also highly resistant to erythromycin. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) was isolated in 15.6% of all the isolates with S. aureus. The isolation rate of MRSA is lower than that in other countries or districts of West Pacific Area. K. pneumonia and other Gram negative bacilli had a resistant rate of 0.6% to amikacin and P. aeruginosa was all sensitive to Polymyxin-B.

Micrograting devices have recently been implemented in chalcogenide [1], polymer [2], GaAs [3], and InP [4] based materials for multichannel wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer applications. In waveguide grating demultiplexers, the micrograting length/beam width ratio (q = d/ωo) is an important parameter in determining device performance. Finite beam Bragg diffraction effects have previously been considered in the case of thick planar gratings [5,6], but should also be accounted for in the design of waveguide demultiplexers, if beam profiles, efficiencies, and channel selectivities are to be optimized in such devices.

The use of planar integration for large fanout optical interconnection applications, based upon the concepts of diffractive and reflective optics, has recently been reported.1-3 Herein, we report on the use of multiplexed holographic diffraction gratings, and substrate wave propagation in a soda-lime glass substrate,4 to achieve a 1-to-30 channel fanout with high overall diffraction efficiency.

Wavelength-division multiplexing and demultiplexing is recognized as a powerful means for increasing the channel density and bandwidth of data transmission and processing systems.1 Herein, we report on the development of a new four-channel integrated-optic wavelength-division demultiplexer, using multiplexed waveguide holographic gratings patterned on a locally sensitized single-mode polymer (photo-lime gelatin) microstructure waveguide.

The CO2 laser, is for the first time, used as a light source to generate acoustic waves (P, R, and S waves) in an Al sample. The relationship between the acoustic wave amplitude and the incident laser energy is investigated. The spectra of the resonance P and S waves in the Al sample for the frequency range between 1 and 10 MHz are presented. The value of the amplitude ratio between the generated P and S waves is 2.0–3.0.

High‐power CO2 laser radiation has been used to study the optical breakdown plasma on various solid targets (NaCl, KBr, ZnSe, and Ge). The breakdown threshold for irreversible changes of the optical characteristics was determined as well as the evaporation threshold of Na atoms from NaCl samples by CO2 laser irradiation; the latter value was about 2.8×107 W/cm2. The time profiles of the ejected Na atoms and the propagation of the atoms in front of the sample was measured with the laser fluorescence method.

Complete and reliable data of mortality rate of malignant tumors from 1973 to 1982 in Yangzhong County, Jiangsu Province, China are reported. The annual mortality rate was 271.38/100,000 which is the highest of all counties in China. Among the malignant tumors, the mortality rates of esophageal, stomach, liver and intestinal cancers are 100.77/100,000, 90.25/100,000, 31.25/100,000 and 11.95/100,000, respectively. Moreover, the mortality rates of lung, cervical cancers and leukemia are also rather high. The mortality rate of esophageal cancer in the female is higher than that in the male. There have been no obvious changes in the mortality rates of some chief malignant tumors in the past ten years. For the high mortality rates of various malignancies in Yangzhong county, epidemiological factors should be further investigated.

Al and ln cylindrical targets were irradiated by a homemade UV excited CO2 laser beam. A ground-state populated neutral atomic beam was generated, and the time profile and absolute densities at different positions from the target surface were measured by laser resonance fluorescence. Compared with atomic beams which are generated by ordinary methods such as oven or gasdynamic, this atomic beam has the following properties

From Dec. 1979 to Dec. 1984, 171 patients suspicious of primary liver cancer (PLC) were examined by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). In this series, 148 patients were finally diagnosed as PLC. By FNAC, 133 of 148 patients showed positive cytology and 4 suspiciously positive cytology. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 92.6% There was no false positive. Neither spreading or bleeding were observed. The results show that FNAC examination, being simple, rapid and safe, could serve as a reliable way of diagnosing the suspected PLC.