[Distribution of pollutants and redox sensitive substrates in landfill leachate pollution plume].

A box filled with sandy soil was constructed to investigate the redox zones of landfill leachate pollution plume and the distribution and varying characteristics of contaminants and redox sensitive substrates. Results indicated that the distribution and variation of pollutants and redox sensitive substrates were influenced by redox environment; Eh of water in methanogenic/sulfate reduction zone, iron reduction zone, nitrate reduction zone and oxygen reduction zone is -148.2, -95.

[Study on the determinants of prevalence in persons with overweight and obesity in rural areas of Kunming].

Objective: This study was to explore the prevalence of overweight and obesity,and the effects of contextual and individual level determinants on them in the rural areas of Kunming city, China.

Methods: Shilin County was selected as the study site. Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling method was used to select representative sample of 6006 residents aged 45 years and over from Shilin.

Validation of a simplified method to determine left atrial volume by computed tomography in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The success of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly dependent on a preprocedural assessment of the size and shape of the left atrium. The most precise method to determine left atrial (LA) volume using computed tomography requires manually tracing the LA area of each cross-sectional image. This is a labor-intensive and time-consuming technique.

Incidence and predictors of left atrial thrombus prior to catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is commonly used prior to catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in order to exclude left atrial (LA) thrombus. However, the incidence and predictors of LA thrombus detected with TEE have not been systematically examined in this setting.

Methods: This study included 732 cases (mean age 57 +/- 11 years; 23% female; 353 persistent AF) in 585 consecutive patients referred for catheter ablation of AF.

Preferential gene expression in the limbus of the vervet monkey.

Purpose: To elucidate the unique molecular factors and biological processes that are differentially expressed in the limbal stem cell microenvironment by comparing directly to that of its immediate adjacent structures, the cornea and conjunctiva.

Methods: Total RNA was isolated and amplified from the limbus, cornea, and conjunctiva. A gene expression profile of each tissue type was obtained by using microarray technique.

Glioma stem cells are more aggressive in recurrent tumors with malignant progression than in the primary tumor, and both can be maintained long-term in vitro.

Background: Despite the advances made during decades of research, the mechanisms by which glioma is initiated and established remain elusive. The discovery of glioma stem cells (GSCs) may help to elucidate the processes of gliomagenesis with respect to their phenotype, differentiation and tumorigenic capacity during initiation and progression. Research on GSCs is still in its infancy, so no definitive conclusions about their role can yet be drawn.

Gene expression analysis of glioblastomas identifies the major molecular basis for the prognostic benefit of younger age.

Background: Glioblastomas are the most common primary brain tumour in adults. While the prognosis for patients is poor, gene expression profiling has detected signatures that can sub-classify GBMs relative to histopathology and clinical variables. One category of GBM defined by a gene expression signature is termed ProNeural (PN), and has substantially longer patient survival relative to other gene expression-based subtypes of GBMs.

Nitroglycerin- and nicardipine-induced hypotension does not affect cerebral oxygen saturation and postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of nitroglycerin- and nicardipine-induced hypotension on regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) and postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.

Patients And Methods: Sixty adult patients scheduled for orthognathic surgery were randomly assigned to either the nitroglycerin group (group 1) or nicardipine group (group 2). After induction of anesthesia, hypotension was induced with continuous infusion of nitroglycerin or nicardipine.

Genetically defined EWS/FLI1 model system suggests mesenchymal origin of Ewing's family tumors.

Ewing's family tumors (EFTs) are characterized by recurrent chromosomal translocations that produce chimeric fusions between the EWS gene and one of five ETS transcription factors. The expression of EWS/FLI1, the predominant fusion product in EFTs, is believed to deregulate downstream target genes in an undefined tissue type and leads to development of EFTs. Attempts to generate model systems that represent EFTs have been hampered by an unexpected toxicity of the fusion gene.

[pH buffering capacity of geological media on landfill leachate].

The one-dimensional breakthrough soil column experiment and static experiment were constructed to investigate the spacial and temporal pH buffering capacity of the four natural geological media. Experimental results indicate that the background pH buffering capacity of fine sand, silt sand and clay is 79.9 x pH(-1) mmol/kg, 207.

[Dynamitic development and evolution of redox zones in pollution plume].

A box filled with sandy soil was constructed to investigate dynamitic development and evolution of redox zones in landfill leachate-polluted plume. The results indicated that with time elapsing and pollution aggravating, redox zones moved ahead slowly; Methanogenic zone/ sulfate reduction zone extended gradually, and then inert zone appeared with further pollution. During the whole course of the dynamitic development and evolvement of redox zones, concentrations of TOC, sulfide, NH4(+) -N, HCO3-, CO2 and Fe2+ increased with time and decreased with distance; concentrations of NO3- and DO decreased with time and increased with distance; SO4(2-) concentration decreased first and then increased over time; but decreased with distance.

Relationship between gene expression and enhancement in glioblastoma multiforme: exploratory DNA microarray analysis.

Purpose: To determine the difference in gene expression between completely versus incompletely enhancing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Materials And Methods: Gene expression was determined for 52 newly diagnosed GBMs by using DNA microarrays, and the relationship to enhancement pattern and survival was analyzed. This study was approved by the institutional review board and was HIPAA compliant; informed consent was obtained.

Long- and short-term temporal stability of complex fractionated atrial electrograms in human left atrium during atrial fibrillation.

Background: Complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) have been reported as targets for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the temporal stability of CFAE sites remains poorly defined.

Methods And Results: The study consisted of two phases.

Influence of alkalinity on the stabilization of municipal solid waste in anaerobic simulated bioreactor.

Four simulated landfill anaerobic bioreactors were performed to investigate the influence of alkalinity on the anaerobic treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW). Leachate was recirculated in all the four reactors. One reactor was operated without alkalinization.

Geometric interpretation of gene coexpression network analysis.

THE MERGING OF NETWORK THEORY AND MICROARRAY DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES HAS SPAWNED A NEW FIELD: gene coexpression network analysis. While network methods are increasingly used in biology, the network vocabulary of computational biologists tends to be far more limited than that of, say, social network theorists. Here we review and propose several potentially useful network concepts.

Curcumin improves learning and memory ability and its neuroprotective mechanism in mice.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that many neurons may die through apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in this process of neuronal cell death. One promising approach for preventing AD is based upon anti-apoptosis to decrease death of nerve cells.

[Terminal electron acceptor process in landfill leachate pollution plume].

A soil column filled with sandy soil was constructed to investigate changes of terminal electron acceptors (TEA) and TOC in redox zones of landfill leachate pollution plume, and their models were established, respectively. Results indicated that the time of peak-concentration appearance of different reducing products was related to the ability of terminal electron acceptors to compete for terminal electrons. The most competitive ones showed sharp concentration increased earlier.

A fast method to identify renal vessels during retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Purpose: To evaluate a fast method to identify renal vessels during retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Methods: One hundred fifty retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomies were performed from October 2003 to June 2006. The renal arteries were identified by following five steps: location, pulling, apophysis, pulsation,and fibrin.

Continuous-wave and Q-switched microchip laser performance of Yb:Y3Sc2Al3O12 crystals.

Optical properties of Yb:Y(3)Sc(2)Al(3)O(12) crystal were investigated and compared with those from Yb:YAG crystals. The broad absorption and emission spectra of Yb:Y(3)Sc(2)Al(3)O(12) show that this crystal is very suitable for laser-diode pumping and ultrafast laser pulse generation. Laser-diode pumped continuous-wave and passively Q-switched Yb:Y(3)Sc(2)Al(3)O(12) lasers with Cr(4+):YAG crystals as saturable absorber have been demonstrated for the first time.

Abnormal sympathetic innervation of viable myocardium and the substrate of ventricular tachycardia after myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between impaired sympathetic innervation and arrhythmia with noninvasive biologic imaging in an animal model of post-infarct ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Background: Innervation might be abnormal in the normally perfused borderzone of myocardial infarction, contributing to myocardial catecholamine overexposure and arrhythmogenic risk.

Methods: Myocardial infarction was induced by mid-left anterior descending coronary artery balloon occlusion in 11 pigs.

Laboratory study on sequenced permeable reactive barrier remediation for landfill leachate-contaminated groundwater.

Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) was a promising technology for groundwater remediation. Landfill leachate-polluted groundwater riches in various hazardous contaminants. Two lab-scale reactors (reactors A and B) were designed for studying the feasibility of PRB to remedy the landfill leachate-polluted groundwater.

Complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: incidence and predictors.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation by catheter ablation is an increasingly used strategy to treat atrial fibrillation (AF). Complication rates from AF ablation reported in different case series vary widely. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 641 consecutive ablation procedures to assess complication rates, temporal trends, and clinical predictors of adverse outcomes.

[Effect and mechanism of curcumin on learning and memory dysfunction induced by gp120 in rats].

Aim: To explore the effect and mechanisms of curcumin on learning and memory dysfunction induced by HIV-1 enveloped protein gp120.

Methods: The SD rats were treated with gp120 by intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion imitating the HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD) animal model. Subsequently, we applied the water maze test to evaluate the effect of gp120 on the learning and memory dysfunction in rats.

[ECG recognition and classification: approaches, problems and new method].

How to recognize and diagnose heart diseases, as one of the most frequent issues, is a serious problem. ECG automation recognition is not only the target of medicine, but also the work of computer science. In this paper, the approaches to ECG recognition are reviewed, and their characters are analyzed.

Overexpression of CDC2/CyclinB1 in gliomas, and CDC2 depletion inhibits proliferation of human glioma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Gliomas are the most common and aggressive primary brain tumors for which unfortunately no effective treatment modalities exist despite advances in molecular biology as the knowledge base to unravel the extremely complex molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis is limited. In this study an attempt has been made to understand the molecular pathological basis of tumorigenesis which led to an identification of an oncogene, CDC2, and an epigenetic strategy has been evaluated to control the tumorigensis by downregulating this oncogene.

Methods: Tissue microarrays were utilized to investigate the expression of genes in a large number of tumor samples and to identify overexpressed genes which could be potentially causing tumorigenesis.