A scoring system based on inflammatory and nutritional indicators to predict the long-term survival of patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

To develop a simple scoring system based on baseline inflammatory and nutritional markers to predict the long-term prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 1024 newly diagnosed non-metastatic NPC patients. A total of 15 pre-treatment inflammatory and nutritional markers were collected as candidate variables.

Multiplex fluorescent amplification-refractory mutation system PCR method for the detection of 10 genetic defects in Holstein cattle and its comparison with the KASP genotyping assay.

The common deleterious genetic defects in Holstein cattle include haplotypes 1-6 (HH1-HH6), haplotypes for cholesterol deficiency (HCD), bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD), complex vertebral malformation (CVM) and brachyspina syndrome (BS). Recessive inheritance patterns of these genetic defects permit the carriers to function normally, but homozygous recessive genotypes cause embryo loss or neonatal death. Therefore, rapid detection of the carriers is essential to manage these genetic defects.

Genetic parameters for health traits and their association with fertility and milk production in Chinese Holsteins.

Herd health is one of the key problems influencing the efficiency of the dairy industry. Genetic selection, with a focus on animal health, is important for herd improvement. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for health traits and their correlations with fertility and milk production traits in dairy cattle.

Sulfosuccinimidyl oleate ameliorates the high-fat diet-induced obesity syndrome by reducing intestinal and hepatic absorption.

A high-fat Western diet is a risk factor for obesity and steatosis. Reducing intestinal absorption of a high-fat diet (HFD) is a feasible strategy to control obesity. Sulfosuccinimidyl oleate (SSO) inhibits intestinal fatty acid transport.

Which evaluation criteria of the short-term efficacy can better reflect the long-term outcomes for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Purpose: To compare the consistency of one-dimensional Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (1D-RECIST), two-dimensional WHO criteria (2D-WHO), and three-dimensional (3D) measurement for therapeutic response assessment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective data of 288 newly diagnosed NPC patients were reviewed. Tumor size was assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) according to the 1D-RECIST, 2D-WHO, and 3D measurement criteria.

Is it necessary for clinical tumor volume including neck muscles in target volume delineation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Objectives: To calculate the shrinkage of the neck muscles and dosimetric changes and to clarify the necessity of covering part of the muscle in neck node region delineation for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Methods: In total, 44 patients with NPC were enrolled. Distances between the lateral border of the neck muscles and longitudinal midline were measured on every selected slice.

Application of a treatment planning system-assisted large-aperture computed tomography simulator to percutaneous biopsy: initial experience of a radiation therapist.

Objective: To evaluate the application of treatment planning system (TPS)-assisted large-aperture computed tomography (CT) simulator to percutaneous biopsy.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients that underwent TPS-assisted large-aperture CT simulator-guided percutaneous biopsy from November 2018 to December 2019. Retrospective analyses of puncture accuracy were compared using paired -test and a Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Outcomes and Experiences of Child-Bearing Women with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Purpose: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is more common among women in Southeast Asia. An important issue is whether it is safe for them to bear children after treatment and when it is safe to do so. We conducted this study to explore the relation between fertility and prognosis in child-bearing women with NPC.

Effects of oral maintenance chemotherapy and predictive value of circulating EBV DNA in metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background/objectives: Oral maintenance chemotherapy can effectively prolong overall survival (OS) in many types of metastatic cancer, but its role in metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) is unclear. In this study, the efficacy of oral maintenance chemotherapy in mNPC and the effectiveness of circulating tumor EBV-DNA for screening patients were evaluated.

Methods: Between June 2016 and December 2017, 141 patients with mNPC who received platinum-based systemic chemotherapy were included (median follow-up time, 21 months).

Increased Duodenal Eosinophil Degranulation in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia: A Prospective Study.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder diagnosed by symptom-based criteria. It has been said that duodenal immune activation plays a role in the pathogenesis of FD. The primary aims of the study were to compare the total number of duodenal eosinophil and evaluate the eosinophil degranulation rate, number of duodenal degranulated eosinophil and mast cell between patients with FD and healthy subjects.

[Nitric oxide mediated TNF-α, IL-1β gene expression in liver induced by crush injury of rat's soft tissues].

Objective: To explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the gene expression of hepatic TNF-α and IL-1β by crush injury of rat's soft tissues.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into sham group, crush group, crush+aminoguanidine (AG) group, and crush+L-arginine (L-Arg) group. Activities of ALT and AST as well as NO level in serum were measured.

Evaluation of specific marker CK13 and CK10/13 combined with APM staining for the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism and aspiration.

Objective: To explore the value of CK13 (Rab) and CK10/13(Mab) as objective and specific biomarkers combined with Alcian-Phloxine-Martius yellow (APM) staining for the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) and amniotic fluid aspiration (AFA).

Methods: A retrospective study of forensic autopsy cases of 148 neonatal deaths and 19 maternal deaths in the perinatal stage was conducted at the Institute of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Zhejiang University. Medical records were reviewed and monoclonal antibody for CK13 (Rab) and CK10/13 (Mab) as immunostaining of amniotic fluid squamous cells, APM staining, and Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining were used to diagnose the AFE and AFA.

The correlation between the comprehensive nutrition index and quality of life of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to compare the changing tendency of nutrition with 54 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and to investigate the correlation between comprehensive nutritional status and quality of life (QoL), which was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality-of-Life Questionnaire. The nutritional index, including body mass index, ideal body weight percentage, usual body weight percentage, albumin, hemoglobin, and total lymphocyte count (TLC), was evaluated at 2 time points: within 48 h after admission (T1) and at the end of treatment with IMRT (T2). A statistically significant downgrade of every index was observed during IMRT.

[DNA extraction from bones and teeth using AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system].

Objective: To explore a new method in order to extract DNA from bones and teeth automatically.

Methods: Samples of 33 bones and 15 teeth were acquired by freeze-mill method and manual method, respectively. DNA materials were extracted and quantified from the triturated samples by AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system.

[Risk factors of contrast-induced nephropathy after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary heart disease and the countermeasures].

Objective: To identify the risk factors of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after coronary interventional therapy (PCI) in patients with coronary heart disease and analyze the clinical outcomes and the preventive measures of CIN.

Methods: Ninety-one patients who developed CIN after PCI were retrospectively analyzed to identify the risk factors and explore the preventive measures.

Results: CIN was strongly associated with pre-procedural chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus and administration of large-dose contrast.

Increased calcium deposits and decreased Ca2+ -ATPase in erythrocytes of ascitic broiler chickens.

The decrease of erythrocyte deformability may be one of the predisposing factors for pulmonary hypertension and ascites in broiler chickens. In mammals, the cytoplasmic calcium is a major regulator of erythrocyte deformability. In this study, the erythrocyte deformability was measured, and the precise locations of Ca2+ and Ca2+ -ATPase in the erythrocytes were investigated in chickens with ascites syndrome induced by low ambient temperature.

Validation of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genotypes on interindividual warfarin maintenance dose: a prospective study in Chinese patients.

Objectives: To develop a warfarin-dosing algorithm that could be combined with pharmacogenomic and demographic factors, and to evaluate its effectiveness in a randomized prospective controlled clinical trial.

Methods: A pharmacogenetics-based dosing model was derived using retrospective data from 266 Chinese patients and multiple linear regression analysis. To prospectively validate this model, 156 patients with an operation of heart valve replacement were enrolled and randomly assigned to the group of pharmacogenetics-guided or traditional dosing for warfarin therapy.

[Levels of C-reactive protein and antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein in patients with different types of coronary heart disease].

Objective: To investigate the relation of the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and antibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (anti-oxLDL) to with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: The levels of CRP, anti-oxLDL and anti-LDL were measured and compared in 96 subjects including 26 with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 29 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 20 with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 21 control subjects to evaluate the relationship between CRP and anti-oxLDL.

Results: Both CRP and anti-oxLDL levels in patients with ACS, including AMI and UAP, were significantly higher than those in SAP patients and the control subjects (P<0.

[Receptor mechanisms underlying the modulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced nuclear factor-kappaB expression in vascular endothelial cells by cholecystokinin octapeptide].

Objective: To elucidate the receptor mechanisms underlying the modulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cell line ECV-304 cells by cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8).

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cell line ECV-304 cells were stimulated with vehicle, LPS, CCK-8 (10(-9)-10(-7) mol/L), CCK receptor non-specific antagonist proglumide, CCK-A receptor (CCK-AR) specific antagonist CR-1409 or CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR) specific antagonist CR-2945 singularly or in combination. The NF-kappaB p65 protein level was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemistry technique.