[Surgical treatment of sternal tumors: resection of the tumors and reconstruction of the chest wall defects].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of surgical treatment of sternal tumors and repairing methods of the chest wall defects.

Methods: Fifteen patients with sternal tumors were diagnosed and underwent resection of the sternal tumors according to the en-bolck principle and repair of the chest wall defects using various materials from January 1968 to December 2010 in our hospital.

Results: Of 6 patients with sternal manubrim tumors, one patient had reconstruction only with steel wire, other 5 patients healed completely after repair with soft materials.

WRAP53 is an independent prognostic factor in rectal cancer- a study of Swedish clinical trial of preoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer patients.

Background: Expression of WRAP53 protein has oncogenic properties and it is up regulated in several types of tumors.

Methods: We examined expression of WRAP53 protein in rectal cancers and analyzed its relationship to the response to preoperative radiotherapy and patient survival. The WRAP53 protein was examined by immunohistochemistry in normal mucosa, primary tumors and lymph node metastases from 143 rectal cancer patients participated in a Swedish clinical trial of preoperative radiotherapy.

Curcumin inhibits suppressive capacity of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in mice in vitro.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for maintenance of immunological tolerance and have been shown to be important in regulating the immune responses in many diseases. Curcumin, a phytochemical obtained from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa, has achieved the potential therapeutic interest to numerous immune-related disorders. However, the effect and mechanism of curcumin on Tregs remain largely elusive.

A microporous-mesoporous carbon with graphitic structure for a high-rate stable sulfur cathode in carbonate solvent-based Li-S batteries.

A microporous-mesoporous carbon with graphitic structure was developed as a matrix for the sulfur cathode of a Li-S cell using a mixed carbonate electrolyte. Sulfur was selectively introduced into the carbon micropores by a melt adsorption-solvent extraction strategy. The micropores act as solvent-restricted reactors for sulfur lithiation that promise long cycle stability.

Up-regulation of mitofusin-2 protects CD4+ T cells from HMGB1-mediated immune dysfunction partly through Ca(2+)-NFAT signaling pathway.

High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) was recently discovered to be a critical late-acting cytokine and innate immune-modulating factor in sepsis, but the potential role and mechanism of HMGB1 in adaptive immunity remains elusive. The present study demonstrated that HMGB1 had a dual influence on immune function of CD4(+) T lymphocytes. Low dose of HMGB1 had no effect on the proliferation activity of CD4(+) T lymphocytes, but the Th1 cytokines production was increased.

Oxygen bridges between NiO nanosheets and graphene for improvement of lithium storage.

Graphene has been widely used to dramatically improve the capacity, rate capability, and cycling performance of nearly any electrode material for batteries. However, the binding between graphene and these electrode materials has not been clearly elucidated. Here we report oxygen bridges between graphene with oxygen functional groups and NiO from analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy and confirm the conformation of oxygen bridges by the first-principles calculations.

Nitrogen-doped carbon monolith for alkaline supercapacitors and understanding nitrogen-induced redox transitions.

A nitrogen-doped porous carbon monolith was synthesized as a pseudo-capacitive electrode for use in alkaline supercapacitors. Ammonia-assisted carbonization was used to dope the surface with nitrogen heteroatoms in a way that replaced carbon atoms but kept the oxygen content constant. Ammonia treatment expanded the micropore size-distributions and increased the specific surface area from 383 m(2) g(-1) to 679 m(2) g(-1).

Enhanced cellular uptake of aminosilane-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in mammalian cell lines.

Purpose: To compare the cellular uptake efficiency and cytotoxicity of aminosilane (SiO(2)-NH(2))-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO@SiO(2)-NH(2)) nanoparticles with three other types of SPIO nanoparticles coated with SiO(2) (SPIO@SiO(2)), dextran (SPIO@dextran), or bare SPIO in mammalian cell lines.

Materials And Methods: Four types of monodispersed SPIO nanoparticles with a SPIO core size of 7 nm and an overall size in a range of 7-15 nm were synthesized. The mammalian cell lines of MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HT-29, RAW264.

[Consistency of the subjective evaluation of malocclusion severity by the Chinese orthodontic experts].

Objective: To assess the consistency of the subjective evaluation of malocclusion severity by the Chinese orthodontic experts.

Methods: Sixty-nine Chinese orthodontic experts subjectively evaluated the malocclusion severity for 120 cases which were selected randomly from 6 University orthodontic clinics by checking each case's pretreatment records including study cast, lateral head film, panoramic radiograph, facial photographs and patient chart. Each orthodontist was asked to independently rate the severity of every case into five grades: mild, mildly moderate, moderate, severely moderate and severe.

[Species composition and point pattern analysis of standing trees in secondary Betula albosinensis forest in Xiaolongshan of west Qinling Mountains].

An investigation was conducted on the species composition and population diameter-class structure of a typical secondary Betula albo-sinensis forest in Xiaolongshan of west Qinling Mountains, and the spatial distribution pattern and interspecific correlations of the main populations were analyzed at multiple scales by the O-ring functions of single variable and double variables. In the test forest, B. albo-sinensis was obviously dominant, but from the analysis of DBH class distribution, the B.

[Three-dimensional finite element analysis of maxillary incisor retraction with step-shaped vertical closing loop].

Objective: To investigate the displacement and stress distribution of upper incisors in three-dimensional (3D) space controlled by step-shaped vertical closing loop.

Methods: The maxillary teeth and alveolar bone of a volunteer with normal occlusion were scanned with 3D spiral CT. Modeling and calculation were only carried out on right upper central incisor, lateral incisor and their alveolar bone in order to simplify the procedures.

Improved blood compatibility of Mg-1.0Zn-1.0Ca alloy by micro-arc oxidation.

Magnesium and its alloys have been used in the recent development of lightweight, biodegradeable implant materials. However, the corrosion properties of magnesium limit its usefulness. In a previous study, a micro-arc oxidation (MAO) method was used to modify a Mg-1.

SPARCL1: a potential molecule associated with tumor diagnosis, progression and prognosis of colorectal cancer.

We investigated whether SPARCL1 played an essential role in tumor initiation, formation and progression of colorectal carcinomas. In this study, we examined expression of SPARCL1 protein in the normal colorectal mucosa, adjacent normal mucosa and primary and lymph node metastases from colorectal cancer patients. In matched patients, we found that SPARCL1 was negative in the distant normal colorectal mucosa, weakly expressed in the adjacent normal mucosa, strongly expressed in primary colorectal adenocarcinomas and slightly expressed in their lymph node metastases.

[The preparation, characterization and ultraviolet photodegradation of LNG-HP-beta-CD].

The characteristics of levonorgestrel (LNG), low solubility and the quick degradation under ultraviolet, limited its study and application in rodent contraception. The inclusion complex of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) with LNG was investigated in present study. The inclusion complex was prepared by solution method and characterized by ultraviolet absorption spectrum and infrared spectrum spectra.

Identification of a male-specific Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and a Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) marker in Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. is a dioecious species. Currently, there is no method to identify the sex during the juvenile stage that lasts a relatively long time.

Identification of multiple constituents in the traditional Chinese medicine formula Sheng-Mai San and rat plasma after oral administration by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS.

Sheng-Mai San (SMS), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease in Asia over long period of time. While its effectiveness has been confirmed by clinical use, its active chemical constituents remain unclear. In this paper, an HPLC-DAD-MS/MS method is described for the efficient and rapid identification of the chemical constituents in SMS extract.

Efficient simulation of the spatial transmission dynamics of influenza.

Early data from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic (H1N1pdm) suggest that previous studies over-estimated the within-country rate of spatial spread of pandemic influenza. As large spatially resolved data sets are constructed, the need for efficient simulation code with which to investigate the spatial patterns of the pandemic becomes clear. Here, we present a significant improvement to the efficiency of an individual-based stochastic disease simulation framework commonly used in multiple previous studies.

Overexpression of MAC30 in the cytoplasm of oral squamous cell carcinoma predicts nodal metastasis and poor differentiation.

Background: Expression of the meningioma-associated protein (MAC30) was increased in several types of tumors, including esophageal, gastric and colon tumors, compared to normal tissue. MAC30 expression levels gradually increased from normal colorectal mucosa to primary colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer spreading to the lymph nodes. MAC30 expression was related to survival in patients with colorectal cancer.

High-energy MnO2 nanowire/graphene and graphene asymmetric electrochemical capacitors.

In order to achieve high energy and power densities, we developed a high-voltage asymmetric electrochemical capacitor (EC) based on graphene as negative electrode and a MnO(2) nanowire/graphene composite (MGC) as positive electrode in a neutral aqueous Na(2)SO(4) solution as electrolyte. MGC was prepared by solution-phase assembly of graphene sheets and α-MnO(2) nanowires. Such aqueous electrolyte-based asymmetric ECs can be cycled reversibly in the high-voltage region of 0-2.

Stimulation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor by nicotine increases suppressive capacity of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in mice in vitro.

α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) has been found in several non-neuronal cells and is described as an important regulator of cellular function. Naturally occurring CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for the active suppression of autoimmunity. The present study investigated whether naturally occurring Tregs expressed α7 nAChR and investigated the functionary role of this receptor in controlling suppressive activity of these cells.

Time evolution of the Lamb shift.

The time evolution of the Lamb shift that accompanies the real photon emission is studied for the first time (to our knowledge). The investigation of the explicit time dependence of the Lamb shift becomes possible because the self-energy of the free electron, which is divergent, is subtracted from the Hamiltonian after a unitary transformation. The Lamb shift can then be separated into two parts: one is the time-independent shift due to the virtual photon exchange, and the other is the time-dependent shift due to the real photon emission.

Cephalometric analysis of craniofacial malformations in newborn mice with cleft palate induced by retinoic acid.

Objective: To determine changes on craniofacial growth morphometrically in newborn mice with cleft palate induced by retinoic acid. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS: Gestation day 10 or 12 pregnant female C57BL/6N mice were given a single dose of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) by gastric intubations via oral gavage. Sixty newborn mice with cleft palate (CP), 52 without CP from the experimental group, and 30 without CP from the control group were collected, and lateral cephalograms were taken of all of the mice.

The genetic association of vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and cervical spondylotic myelopathy in Chinese subjects.

Background: The association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms to the lumbar degenerative disc disease has been previously studied; however, the role of VDR gene polymorphisms in cervical spondylosis remains unknown.

Methods: One hundred fifty four patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and 156 controls were enrolled. The clinical characteristics were collected and the severity of cervical spondylotic myelopathy was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Efficient simulation of the spatial transmission dynamics of influenza.

Early data from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic (H1N1pdm) suggest that previous studies over-estimated the within-country rate of spatial spread of pandemic influenza. As large spatially-resolved data sets are constructed, the need for efficient simulation code with which to investigate the spatial patterns of the pandemic becomes clear. Here, we describe a significant improvement in the efficiency of an individual-based stochastic disease simulation framework that has been used for multiple previous studies.