Supply chain carbon emission reductions and coordination when consumers have a strong preference for low-carbon products.

Owing to the rising concerns about environmental degradation worldwide, firms in several developed and developing countries are pursuing carbon emission reduction targets. In addition, in recent years, there is evidence of a shift in consumer preferences in favour of low-carbon products. Using a theoretical model, where the shift in consumer preferences is explicitly incorporated, we evaluate the impact of carbon emission reduction cost-sharing on supply chain profit.

[Correlation of CD4CD29 regulatory T cells with recurrence and survival time in patients with non-small cell lung cancer].

Objective: To investigate the correlation of CD4CD29 regulatory T cells (Treg) with tumor recurrence and survival time in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Fifty-nine patients with NSCLC treated with radical surgery were followed up for 5 years. Blood Treg cells were examined during the follow-up using flow cytometry (FCM).

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma : A matched-pair multicenter analysis of outcomes.

Purpose: The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is controversial. This study compared concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus AC (CCRT/AC) with CCRT.

Methods: Pair-matched analysis based on eight clinicopathological features of 244 patients treated with platinum-based CCRT/AC or CCRT alone was performed.

Positive effect of high RKIP expression on reduced distant metastasis by chemotherapy when combined with radiotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a prospective study.

The purpose of this prospective study is to investigate the predictive and prognostic significance of the Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Immunohistochemical assays were performed to detect the RKIP protein expression of samples from 212 patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. All patients were assigned randomly into the inductive chemotherapy plus radiation therapy (IC + RT) group, the concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) group, the inductive chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (IC + CCRT) group, and the radiation therapy alone (RT) group.

Effects of ovariectomy and 17beta-estradiol treatment on the renin-angiotensin system, blood pressure, and endothelial ultrastructure.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), nitric oxide (NO), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), blood pressure (BP), ultrastructural characteristics, and endothelium-dependent relaxation of thoracic aorta were modulated by the estrogen level. Rats were divided into 3 groups: ovariectomized (OVX); not ovariectomized (sham); and ovariectomized and treated with subcutaneous 17beta-estradiol (15 microg/kg/day, OVX+E(2)) (n=15-17 per group). For 13 weeks after surgery, blood pressure, serum estrogen, NO, plasma angiotensin II (Ang II), ANP, and renin activity levels were monitored.

Adult islets cultured in collagen gel transdifferentiate into duct-like cells.

Aim: To establish a model of islet-ductal cell transdifferentiation to identify the transdifferentiated cells.

Methods: Collagen was extracted from rat tail at first. Purified rat islets were divided into three groups, embedded in collagen gel and incubated respectively in DMEM/F12 alone (control group), DMEM/F12 plus epidermal growth factor (EGF), DMEM/F12 plus EGF and cholera toxin (CT).

[Effects of long-term estrogen replacement treatment on the expression of bcl-2 and H-ras in rat endometrium].

Objective: To investigate the effects of long-term estrogen replacement treatment (ERT) on the expression of bcl-2 and H-ras in rat endometrium.

Methods: Thirty 5-month-old SD female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Control group ( sham operated and vehicle injected, n 10) , OVX group (OVX operated and vehicle injected, n = 10) , and ERT group (OVX operated and 17 beta-estradiol injected, n = 10). The rats were killed in the 13th week and the uteri were isolated and weighed, pathologically analyzed, and we measured the thickness of the endometrium.

[Effects of long-term estrogen replacement treatment on the blood pressure and expression of IR and IRS-1 in myocardium].

Objective: To determine the effects of long-term estrogen replacement treatment on blood pressure and expressions of insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate-1 ( IRS-1) in myocardium.

Methods: Fifty female SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. And then sham ( n = 16), ovariectomy (OVX, n = 17), and estrogen replacement treatment group (OVX + E2, n = 17) were established.

Influence of ovariectomy and 17beta-estradiol treatment on insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism and post-ischemic cardiac function.

The purpose of this study was to test whether the insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism and the susceptibility of the heart to ischemia/reperfusion injury are modulated by the chronic estrogen status. Rats were ovariectomized (OVX), not ovariectomized (sham) or ovariectomized and treated with subcutaneous 17 -estradiol (30 mug/kg/day, OVX+E2) (n=14-17 per group). Within 3 months after operation, body weight, the serum levels of estrogen, glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (T-chol), HDL-chol, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-chol), triglycerides (TG) and lipoprotein a (Lp(a)) were monitored.

[Variation of insulin receptor substrate-2 gene 3'-untranslated region in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Insulin receptor substrate-2(IRS-2) belongs to a family of cytoplasmic adaptor proteins, which link insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1), and cytokine receptor tyrosine kinases to signaling pathways regulating metabolism, growth, differentiation, reproduction, and homestasis. Deficiency of IRS-2 in mice causes type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), suggesting that abnormal structure and dysfunction of the IRS-2 gene may contribute to the pathogenesis of T2DM. Variations in the open reading frame (ORF) and promoter region of IRS-2 gene in patients with T2DM have been reported over the past few years.

Effect of a novel mutation in 5'-regulatory region of aldose reductase gene on its expression.

To study the genetic variation in 5'-regulatory region of aldose reductase (AR) gene that might influence expression and the relationship between variations and diabetic complication (DC), PCR-single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) was used to screen the 5'-regulatory region of AR gene in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A novel mutation, C(-167) --> A substitution which created a new CCAAT box was found only in two diabetic patients. These two patients have no retinopathy, and the AR activity of their erythrocytes was within low range in patients without DC.

Oestrogen improves glucose metabolism and insulin signal transduction in HepG2 cells.

1. Many clinical studies have suggested a relationship between oestrogen and insulin sensitivity. In the present study, HepG2 cells were divided into four groups: (i) control, incubated with 1 nmol/L insulin; (ii) the HI group, which was incubated with 100 nmol/L insulin to induce insulin resistance; (iii) the E2 group, in which control cells were incubated with 1 nmol/L insulin plus 1 nmol/L oestradiol; and (iv) the HI + E2 group, in which insulin-resistant cells were incubated with 100 nmol/L insulin + 1 nmol/L oestradiol.