Treatment of gastric epithelial tumours by endoscopic submucosal dissection using an insulated-tip diathermic knife.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a promising technique for the treatment of large, pre- and early malignant gastrointestinal lesions.

Objective: To assess the rates of en bloc resection, incidence of complications, procedure times and therapeutic outcomes of ESD using an insulated-tip diathermic knife; and to investigate predictors of these outcomes based on the final pathological features of biopsy specimens.

Methods: One hundred twenty patients with endoscopically suspected gastric epithelial tumours who were treated with ESD from January 2006 to December 2009 were evaluated.

Preliminary report on methane emissions from the Three Gorges Reservoir in the summer drainage period.

Recently reported summertime methane (CH4) emissions (6.7 +/- 13.3 mg CH4/(m2 x hr)) from newly created marshes in the drawdown area of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), China have triggered broad concern in academic circles and among the public.

Catheter ablation of cardiac fat pads attenuates Bezold-Jarisch reflex in dogs.

Background: Bezold-Jarisch reflex (BJR) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of several cardiovascular disorders. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of the vagal ganglia in cardiac fat pads (FPs) may attenuate BJR. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of RFCA of the cardiac FPs on veratridine-induced BJR in dogs.

Modeling the greenhouse gas budget of straw returning in China: feasibility of mitigation and countermeasures.

Straw returning is considered to be one of the most promising carbon sequestration measures in China's cropland. A compound model, namely "Straw Returning and Burning Model-Expansion" (SRBME), was built to estimate the net mitigation potential, economic benefits, and air pollutant reduction of straw returning. Three scenarios, that is, baseline, "full popularization of straw returning (FP)," and "full popularization of straw returning and precision fertilization (FP + P)," were set to reflect popularization of straw returning.

Orthologous comparisons of the Hd1 region across genera reveal Hd1 gene lability within diploid Oryza species and disruptions to microsynteny in Sorghum.

Heading date is one of the most important quantitative traits responsible for the domestication of rice. We compared a 155-kb reference segment of the Oryza sativa ssp. japonica cv.

[Synergistic effect of DNA methylation inhibitor and histone deacetylase inhibitor on RASSF1A gene expression in U266 cells.].

Objective: To investigate the effect of DNA methylation in combination with histone deacetylase inhibitor on transcription regulation of Ras associated domain family gene 1(RASSF1A) tumor suppressor gene and the molecular biological behaviors in U266 cells.

Methods: The U266 cells were treated with different doses of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) and Valproate (VPA) each alone or in combination. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect CpG island methylation in RASSF1A promoter.

Spatio-temporal patterns of genome evolution in allotetraploid species of the genus Oryza.

Despite knowledge that polyploidy is widespread and a major evolutionary force in flowering plant diversification, detailed comparative molecular studies on polyploidy have been confined to only a few species and families. The genus Oryza is composed of 23 species that are classified into ten distinct 'genome types' (six diploid and four polyploid), and is emerging as a powerful new model system to study polyploidy. Here we report the identification, sequence and comprehensive comparative annotation of eight homoeologous genomes from a single orthologous region (Adh1-Adh2) from four allopolyploid species representing each of the known Oryza genome types (BC, CD, HJ and KL).

Synergistic enhancement of immunogenicity and protection in mice against Schistosoma japonicum with codon optimization and electroporation delivery of SjTPI DNA vaccines.

Schistosomiasis is an endemic, zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma japonicum that remains a public health concern and an effective vaccine is needed. Triose-phosphate isomerase from S. japonicum is a promising schistosome vaccine antigen shown to be immunogenic when delivered as a DNA vaccine, however, the previous S.

Net mitigation potential of straw return to Chinese cropland: estimation with a full greenhouse gas budget model.

Based on the carbon-nitrogen cycles and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and emission processes related to straw return and burning, a compound greenhouse gas budget model, the "Straw Return and Burning Model" (SRBM), was constructed to estimate the net mitigation potential of straw return to the soil in China. As a full GHG budget model, the SRBM addressed the following five processes: (1) soil carbon sequestration, (2) mitigation of synthetic N fertilizer substitution, (3) methane emission from rice paddies, (4) additional fossil fuel use for straw return, and (5) CH4 and N2O emissions from straw burning in the fields. Two comparable scenarios were created to reflect different degrees of implementation for straw return and straw burning.

H-reflex to S1-root stimulation improves utility for diagnosing S1 radiculopathy.

Objective: The H-reflex on stimulation of the tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa is routinely used in the diagnosis of first sacral (S1) nerve-root radiculopathy. The H-reflex latency, however, is considered to lack sensitivity since a small change from the focal root pathology can be diluted in a relatively long reflex latency. We have studied the soleus H-reflex elicited by stimulation of the S1 nerve root at the S1 foramen.

[Effect of CD44 gene silence on multi-drug resistance reversal and biologic activity in K562/A02 cells].

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of CD44 gene silence on the drug resistance and biologic activity of human multidrug resistant leukemia cell line K562/A02. The oligonucleotides of CD44 gene were designed according to related data of GenBank, double-stranded DNA was produced by annealing, and was inserted into pGCsilencerU6/Neo/GFP vector. The resultant recombinant plasmid pGCsiRNA-CD44 was transfected into K562/A02 cell line.

Comparison of exercise electrocardiography, technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography, and dobutamine and dipyridamole echocardiography for detection of coronary artery disease in hypertensive women.

To assess the performance of currently used stress tests for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a series of female hypertensive patients. We performed exercise electrocardiography (ECG), technetium-99m sestamibi (MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography, dobutamine and dipyridamole echocardiography, and coronary angiography in 76 hypertensive women. Of the 76 study patients, 31 (41%) had significant CAD.

[Straw return to rice paddy: soil carbon sequestration and increased methane emission].

Based on the long-term datasets of soil organic matter content and the observation data of rice paddies' methane (CH4) emission collected from the agricultural experiment stations across the country, the rice paddies in China were divided into single cropping and double cropping regions. The soil carbon sequestration potential of straw return in three types of rice paddies in the two regions, i. e.

Assessment of residual viability by enoximone echocardiography in patients with previous myocardial infarction correlation with positron emission tomographic studies and functional follow-up.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate enoximone echocardiography (EE) for the identification of residual myocardial viability in postinfarction patients. Findings obtained during EE were compared with those acquired by myocardial uptake of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and functional follow-up results.

Methods: Twenty-five patients underwent EE and PET (18)F-FDG studies.

Antioxidant properties of cap and stipe from Coprinus comatus.

Coprinus comatus, also called chicken drumstick mushroom, is currently commercially available in China. Hot water and ethanolic extracts were prepared from cap and stipe of C. comatus fruit bodies and their antioxidant properties were studied.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1-induced scattered liver metastasis is mediated by host-derived urokinase-type plasminogen activator.

Paradoxically, not only proteinases but also their inhibitors can correlate with bad prognosis of cancer patients, underlining the evolving concept of the protease web as the complex interplay between proteinases, their inhibitors and effector molecules. Elevated levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) render the liver more susceptible to metastasis by triggering urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) expression as well as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signalling, thereby leading to the fatal scattered infiltration of metastasizing tumour cells throughout the parenchyma of the target organ. Here, we investigated whether host uPA is a crucial protagonist for the TIMP-1-induced modulation of a pro-metastatic microenvironment in the liver.

[Enhancing protective immunity effects of TPI DNA vaccine against Schistosoma japonicum through codon optimization].

Objective: To study the protective effect of codon optimized TPI DNA vaccine against Schistosoma japonicum infection.

Methods: Sixty female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups. The mice were injected through musculus quadriceps femoris with 100 microg pcDNA 3.

Relationship of paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmias to volume overload: assessment by implanted transpulmonary impedance monitoring.

Background: Clinical experience suggests that atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) are a frequent comorbidity in heart failure patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and that volume overload may increase AT susceptibility. However, substantiating this apparent relationship in free-living patients is difficult. Recently, certain implantable cardioverter-defibrillators provide, by measuring transpulmonary electric bioimpedance, an index of intrathoracic fluid status (OptiVol index [OI]).

DNA vaccination by electroporation and boosting with recombinant proteins enhances the efficacy of DNA vaccines for Schistosomiasis japonica.

Schistosomiasis japonica is an endemic, zoonotic disease of major public health importance in China. Control programs combining chemotherapy and snail killing have not been able to block transmission of infection in lakes and marsh regions. Vaccination is needed as a complementary approach to the ongoing control programs.

The CXXC finger 5 protein is required for DNA damage-induced p53 activation.

The tumor suppressor p53 is a critical component of the DNA damage response pathway that induces a set of genes responsible for cell cycle arrest, senescence, apoptosis, and DNA repair. The ataxia telangiectasia mutated protein kinase (ATM) responds to DNA-damage stimuli and signals p53 stabilization and activation, thereby facilitating transactivation of p53 inducible genes and maintainence of genome integrity. In this study, we identified a CXXC zinc finger domain containing protein termed CF5 as a critical component in the DNA damage signaling pathway.

Single-catheter technique for pulmonary vein antrum isolation: is it sufficient to identify and close the residual gaps without a circular mapping catheter?

Objectives: The present study was designed to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of single ablation catheter for complete circumferential pulmonary vein antrum (PVA) isolation.

Background: Complete isolation of pulmonary veins is the mainstay for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. This is usually performed under the guidance of a circular catheter.

Comparative sequence analysis of MONOCULM1-orthologous regions in 14 Oryza genomes.

Comparative genomics is a powerful tool to decipher gene and genome evolution. Placing multiple genome comparisons in a phylogenetic context improves the sensitivity of evolutionary inferences. In the genus Oryza, this comparative approach can be used to investigate gene function, genome evolution, domestication, polyploidy, and ecological adaptation.

[Assessment on the availability of nitrogen fertilization in improving carbon sequestration potential of China's cropland soil].

With reference to the situation of nitrogen fertilization in 2003 and the recommendations from agricultural experts on fertilization to different crops, two scenarios, namely, 'current situation' and 'fertilization as recommended', were set for estimating the current and potential carbon sequestration of China's cropland soil under nitrogen fertilization. After collecting and analyzing the typical data from the long-term agricultural experiment stations all over China, and based on the recent studies of soil organic matter and nutrient dynamics, we plotted China into four agricultural regions, and estimated the carbon sequestration rate and potential of cropland soil under the two scenarios in each province of China. Meanwhile, with the data concerning fossil fuel consumption for fertilizer production and nitrogen fertilization, the greenhouse gas leakage caused by nitrogen fertilizer production and application was estimated with the help of the parameters given by domestic studies and IPCC.

Dynamic evolution of oryza genomes is revealed by comparative genomic analysis of a genus-wide vertical data set.

Oryza (23 species; 10 genome types) contains the world's most important food crop - rice. Although the rice genome serves as an essential tool for biological research, little is known about the evolution of the other Oryza genome types. They contain a historical record of genomic changes that led to diversification of this genus around the world as well as an untapped reservoir of agriculturally important traits.

Geminin is partially localized to the centrosome and plays a role in proper centrosome duplication.

Background Information: Centrosome duplication normally parallels with DNA replication and is responsible for correct segregation of replicated DNA into the daughter cells. Although geminin interacts with Cdt1 to prevent loading of MCMs (minichromosome maintenance proteins) on to the replication origins, inactivation of geminin nevertheless causes centrosome over-duplication in addition to the re-replication of the genome, suggesting that geminin may play a role in centrosome duplication. However, the exact mechanism by which loss of geminin affects centrosomal duplication remains unclear and the possible direct interaction of geminin with centrosomal-localized proteins is still unidentified.