Plastic properties affect the composition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and further regulate the ARGs in their surface biofilms.

Plastic wastes are ubiquitous in the offshore and oceans with an increasing quantity, and inevitably, microbial communities colonized the plastics to form biofilms, which have become dispersal vectors for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study focused on the impact of plastic properties including hardness, wettability, and zeta-potential on the biomass, prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities and ARGs in biofilms formed on specific plastics (polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) in an estuarine environment. The results showed that, in comparison to PP, more biomass characterized by more dry weight, chlorophyll a (Chl a) and total organic carbon (TOC) was found in biofilms formed on PE and PET, which may be related to their lower surface wettability.

Spontaneous Abdominal Bleeding from an Infundibulopelvic Ligament Tear in a Patient with Large Ovarian Fibroma.

Ovarian fibromas are rare benign solid tumors of the ovary which are often difficult to differentiate from uterine leiomyomas preoperatively. The symptoms usually include abdominal discomfort and may have ascites and/or an elevation in CA-125 levels. There have been no publications of associated abdominal bleeding to date.

Early medical abortion with self-administered low-dose mifepristone in combination with misoprostol.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of low-dose mifepristone combined with self-administered misoprostol for termination of early pregnancy.

Methods: A total of 533 women seeking medical abortion in early pregnancy (≤49 days since the last menstrual period) were divided randomly into hospital- (H-Mis, 250) and self- (S-Mis, 283) administered misoprostol groups. Women in two groups took 100 mg of oral mifepristone in hospital followed by 200 μg of sublingual misoprostol 24 h later in hospital or home.

Efficacy, Safety, and Acceptability of Low-Dose Mifepristone and Self-Administered Misoprostol for Ultra-Early Medical Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of low-dose mifepristone combined with self-administered misoprostol for ultra-early medical abortion. A total of 744 women with ultra-early pregnancy (amenorrhea ≤35 days) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Equal numbers of participants were allocated randomly to the hospital administration and self-administration groups.

Feasibility and effectiveness of unintended pregnancy prevention with low-dose mifepristone combined with misoprostol before expected menstruation.

Study Question: What is the efficacy of maintaining or restoring non-pregnant status with low-dose mifepristone combined with misoprostol administered before expected menstruation?

Summary Answer: Low-dose mifepristone and misoprostol administered at the time of expected menstruation was effective and safe in maintaining or restoring non-pregnant status, with no obvious menstrual disturbance.

What Is Known Already: Menstrual regulation involves the medical or mechanical stimulation of uterine sloughing in women with up to 2-3 weeks of menstrual delay. Low-dose mifepristone plus misoprostol is efficacious for termination of ultra-early pregnancy (≤ 35 days of amenorrhoea) with no obvious menstrual disturbance.

Action mechanism of corticosteroids to aggravate Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Corticosteroids have been proved to be ineffective for Guillain-Barré syndrome, but the mechanism remains unknown. In a rabbit model of axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome, treatment with corticosteroids significantly reduced macrophage infiltration in the spinal ventral roots and the survival rate as well as clinical improvement. On 30(th) day after onset, there was significantly higher frequency of axonal degeneration in the corticosteroids-treated rabbits than saline-treated rabbits.

The effectiveness of Tai Chi for patients with Parkinson's disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common degenerative neurological disorder that causes loss of independence and decreased quality of life. The prevalence of PD tends to increase with age. In China, the morbidity rate of PD among people aged more than 65 years old is 1.

Effectiveness and Safety of Lower Doses of Mifepristone Combined With Misoprostol for the Termination of Ultra-Early Pregnancy: A Dose-Ranging Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of lower doses of mifepristone combined with misoprostol for the termination of ultra-early pregnancy. A total of 2500 women with ultra-early pregnancy (amenorrhea ≤ 35 days) were randomly divided into 5 groups with gradually decreased dose of oral mifepristone from 150 to 50 mg followed by 200 µg of oral misoprostol 24 hours later. The primary end point was complete abortion without surgical intervention.

[Effect of the smoking cessation services in the out-patient department for patients with coronary heart disease].

Objective: To evaluate the effects and clinical prognosis of out-patient department-based smoking cessation services for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.

Methods: A total of 140 smoking patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease in our cardiovascular department were randomly divided into the intensive smoking cessation clinic follow-up group (intervention group, patients were informed on the importance and methods to quit smoking at the first visit and reminded for that at months interval for 6 months, n = 70) and the conventional treatment group (control group, n = 70). After 6 months, the smoking status, cardiovascular event rates, drug usage, out-patient medical costs and quality of life were compared between the two groups.

[Types and risk factors of arrhythmia on young patients with acute coronary syndrome in Henan province].

Objective: The types and risk factors of arrhythmia were analyzed on acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients under the age of 44 years who were hospitalized in Henan province between September 2009 to June 2012.

Methods: Medical records of eligible patients were obtained from the information system of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University teleconsultation information center. Middle aged and elderly ACS patients who were hospitalized at the same period served as controls.

[Population characteristics and impact on heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure of passive smoking].

Objective: To investigate the basic characteristics of passive smoking population, and the impact of passive smoking on heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure.

Methods: Eighty-six passive smokers [mean age: (52.4 ± 7.

[The lowest dosages of mifepristone and misoprostol to terminate ultra-early pregnancy].

Objective: To explore the lowest effective dosage of mifepristone combined with misoprostol in terminating ultra-early pregnancy.

Methods: All the cases of ultra-early pregnancy classified by amenorrhea days, β-hCG and vaginal B-ultrasonic were randomly divided into two groups. One hundred cases in G1 group (minimized dosage) were orally administered 25 mg mifepristone once a day for 2 days and combined with 200 µg misoprostol 48 hours later, while 150 mg mifepristone combined with 600 µg misoprostol 48 hours later were given to 100 cases in G2 group (normal dosage).

[Effects of long-term fertilization on organic carbon functional groups in black soil as revealed by synchrotron radiation soft X-ray near-edge absorption spectroscopy].

A 20 years (1984-2004) stationary field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of long-term application of chemical fertilizers (N or NPK) alone or in combination with low (0.125 kg x hm(-2)) or high dose of corn stalk (0.25 kg x hm(-2)) on organic carbon functional groups in black soil using synchrotron radiation soft X-ray near-edge absorption spectroscopy (C-1s NEXAFS).

[Quality of life change and its influencing factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome after drug-eluting stent implantation].

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the change of quality of life in patients with acute coronary syndrome following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents and explore the influencing factors of quality of life.

Methods: There hundred and thirty four consecutive patients with acute coronary syndrome receiving drug-eluting stents implantation between September 2008 and December 2009 were enrolled. Of them, two hundred and ninety three patients completed 36-item short form health survey at baseline and 6 months after PCI procedure.

[Novel mutations of cardiac troponin T in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To screen the cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) mutations in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to analyze the potential link between the genotype and the phenotype.

Methods: Clinical features of 100 probands with HCM and some family members were evaluated, 200 unrelated normal subjects served as control. The exons and flanking introns of TNNT2 were amplified with PCR and direct sequencing was used to screen TNNT2 mutations/polymorphisms.

[Relationship between polymorphism of interleukin-8 and silicosis susceptibility].

Objective: To explore the relationship between the polymorphisms of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and the silicosis susceptibility.

Methods: The case group consisted of 101 male patients with stage I silicosis diagnosed by the Pneumoconiosis Diagnosis Expert Panel according to the Chinese National Diagnosis Criteria of Pneumoconiosis (GBZ 70-2009). The control group consisted of 121 workers without silicosis exposed to same dusts.

[FTIR spectroscopic analysis of Cu2+ adsorption on hematite and bayerite].

The changes in surface hydroxyl structures and their absorption peaks after the adsorption of Cu2+ on the hematite and bayerite were studied by FTIR spectroscopy under the different pH values and Cu2+ concentrations. The result indicated that: (1) with the increase of Cu2+ concentrations, the H-O-H and OH deformation vibration of the hematite participated in the adsorption and Cu2+ combined with the Fe-O structure strongly, then Fe-O-(Cu) had been formed on the hematite surface. (2) In acid conditions, H+ in the solution destroyed the O-H structure of hematite surface and the existence of NO3- prompted the production of a new peak (1 131 cm(-1)).

[Novel MYBPC3 mutations in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To screen the MYBPC3 gene mutations in Han Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Sixty-six patients with HCM were enrolled for the study. The exons in the functional regions of MYBPC3 were amplified with PCR and the products were sequenced.

[Relationship between gene polymorphism of fibronectin and pneumoconiosis].

Objective: To explore the relationship between the genetic polymorphism of fibronectin (FN) (4 genetic locus) and pneumoconiosis.

Methods: 128 male I-period pneumoconiosis were selected as cases who were examined with radiography and diagnosed by the Pneumoconiosis Diagnosis Expert Panel, based on the Chinese National Diagnosis Criteria of Pneumoconiosis (GBZ 70 - 2002). According to 1:1 paired matching method, 128 dust exposure workers were selected as control who were exposed to same dust as cases.

[The mechanistic rote of KCNH2 gene L413P and L559H mutations in long QT syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the molecular pathogenesis for two novel mutations L413P and L559H of KCNH2 found in Chinese patients with long QT syndrome.

Methods: L413P and L559H mutant constructs were generated by site-directed mutagenesis using human wild-type (WT) pcDNA3-HERG cDNA as a template. WT and mutant constructs were transiently transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 cells using lipofectamine method.

[Comparative study of gene mutation between Chinese patients with familial and sporadic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To compare the gene mutation between Chinese patients with familial and sporadic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 36 patients with familial HCM (FHCM) and 50 patients with sporadic HCM (SHCM), all un-related and from different provinces of China. PCR was used to amplify the 26 protein-coding axons of beta-myosin heavy chain (MYH7), 16 exons for cardiac troponin T (TNNT2), and 38 exons for cardiac myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3).

[Novel SCN5A gene mutations associated with Brugada syndrome: V95I, A1649V and delF1617].

Objective: Brugada syndrome is an inherited channelopathy that characterized by ST-segment elevation in the right precordial lead (V(1)-V(3)) on the electrocardiogram with or without right bundle branch block and related with high risk of sudden cardiac death and structurally normal hearts. The first and only gene linked to this disease is SCN5A, a gene encodes for alpha subunit of the cardiac sodium channel. The objective of this study is to explore SCN5A gene mutations in Chinese patients with Brugada syndrome.