Geometric heat flux for classical thermal transport in interacting open systems.

We study classical heat conduction in a dissipative open system composed of interacting oscillators. By exactly solving a twisted Fokker-Planck equation which describes the full counting statistics of heat flux flowing through the system, we identify the geometric-phase-like effect and examine its impact on the classical heat transport. We find that the nonlinear interaction as well as the closely related temperature dependence of system parameters are crucial in manifesting the geometric-phase contribution of heat flux.

[Effect of age at cochlear implantation on auditory performance at the early stage after surgery in infants].

Objective: To evaluate the auditory performance of infants with cochlear implants at the early stage after surgery, summarize the development of auditory ability, investigate the effect of age at cochlear implantation on auditory performance within the first year after surgery and provide a reference for their habilitation program.

Method: A total of 272 infants with prelingually profound hearing loss participated in this study, ranging in age at cochlear implantation from 18 to 36 months. The mean age was 21 months with a standard deviation of 7 months.

[Vibration perception threshold in diagnosing diabetic peripheral neuropathy by receiver operating characteristic curve].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of vibration perception threshold (VPT) in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) by the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and to establish its cut-off threshold.

Methods: All patients had the VPT examination and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) examination. NCV examination showed that 283 patients with Type 2 diabetes were divided into a DPN group (n=151) and an NDPN group (n=132).

[NK cell surface receptors and their research progress - review].

Natural killer (NK) cells are important immune cells in human body, which occupy an important place in adoptive immunotherapy for patients with malignancies due to their capacity of killing tumor cells without MHC limitation, as well as separating graft versus leukemia (GVL) and graft versus host disease (GVHD). Recent studies showed that different kinds of NK cell-surface receptors have been found, which transmit inhibiting signals or activating signals, the balance between them determines the functional status of NK cells. Researchers have focused on the study of NK cell-surface receptors recently in order to improve application of NK cells for adoptive immunotherapy.

[Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for detecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus].

Objective: This study aimed to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus).

Methods: The specificity of this assay was evaluated by using a panel of 33 strains of V.

[Secondary productivity of macrobenthos in mangrove and salt marsh in Gaoqiao of Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province of South China].

In order to understand the secondary productivity of macrobenthos in different botanic habitats in intertidal zone in Gaoqiao of Zhanjiang, the Brey's empirical formula was applied to calculate the secondary productivity based on the investigations in the habitats of Sonneratia apetala, Aegiceras corniculatum, Sporobolus virginicus, and Bruguiera conjugate in four seasons, 2010. The secondary productivity of the macrobenthos in the habitats in four seasons was averagely 11.77 g AFDM x m(-2) x a(-1), being the highest in S.

[Polychaete community in mangrove and salt marsh in Zhangjiang River Estuary, Fujian Province of East China].

In order to understand the community structure of polychaete in different botanic habitats in Zhangjiang River Estuary, an investigation was conducted in the habitats of Kandelia candel, Aegiceras corniculatum, Spartina alterniflora, and Avicennia marina in four seasons, 2010. A total of 15 polychaete species were recorded, and 6 species including Eteone delta, Namalycastis abiuma, Paraleonnates uschakovi, Polydora ciliata, Capitella capitata, and Mediomastus californiensis were found in the four habitats and four seasons. The density, biomass, richness index, evenness index, and diversity index of the polychaete had no significant differences among seasons but significant differences among habitats, and the dominant species of polychaete in S.

An investigation of the anti-diabetic effects of an extract from Cladonia humilis.

The effect of Cladonia humilis on glycaemic metabolism was researched in this studied. The blood glucose, insulin secretion and glycogen synthesis of the hyperglycemic mice induced by alloxan were analyzed respectively. The gluconeogenesis and the sugar tolerance of the normal mice were also analyzed in this paper.

Simultaneous determination of lercanidipine, benazepril and benazeprilat in plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application to a toxicokinetics study.

We aim to develop a rapid, simple, sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of lercanidipine, benazepril and benazeprilat in plasma. It is performed on the Agilent 6410 LC-MS/MS under the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with electrospray ionization. Gliclazide was used as the internal standard (IS).

Association between VEGF receptors and baseline peritoneal transport status in new peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Peritoneal transport status is important not only for prescription, but also as a prognostic index. Flt-1 and Flk-1, the major vascular endothelial growth factor receptors involved in angiogenesis and hyperpermeability, may play a potent role in determining peritoneal transport characteristics. However, the relationship between them has not been studied to date.

[Clinical analysis of invasive fungal infections in patients with hematologic malignancies].

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical situation of invasive fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies, and discuss the susceptible factors and precautions. 541 patients with hematological malignancies from 2008 Jan to 2011 Dec in hospital 307 of Chinese PLA were statistically retrospectively analyzed in term of clinical manifestation, image examination, culture results of secretions, therapy and so on. The results showed that 63 out of 541 patients got invasive fungal infections.

The protective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 against hypertension target-organ damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: Although a number of medicines are available for the management of hypertension, the organ damage induced by hypertension is not resolved. The aim of this study was to investigate the protection of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) against vascular remodeling and organ damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods: Male SHR were treated with 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg Rg1 through intraperitoneal injection per day for 1 month.

Left ventricular mass index and aortic arch calcification score are independent mortality predictors of maintenance hemodialysis patients.

To analyze predictive factors for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular (CV) mortality, nonfatal CV events (CVE) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, and to compare the effects of standard hemodialysis (HD) and online hemodiafiltration (HDF) on these factors and outcomes. A total of 333 MHD patients were prospectively followed up for 50 ± 15 months and all-cause death, CV death and CVE were registered. At the baseline, demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of the whole population were recorded.

99mTc-3PRGD2 for integrin receptor imaging of lung cancer: a multicenter study.

Unlabelled: (99m)Tc-3PRGD2 is a new SPECT tracer targeting integrin α(V)β(3) receptor for detecting tumors, imaging angiogenesis, and evaluating tumor response to therapy. A multicenter study was designed to investigate the efficacy of (99m)Tc-3PRGD2 for the evaluation of patients with lung cancer.

Methods: Seventy patients (51 men, 19 women; mean age ± SD, 63 ± 9 y) with a suspected lung lesion and for whom definite pathologic diagnosis was finally obtained (malignant, n = 58; benign, n = 12) were recruited from 6 centers.

Core/shell NaGdF4:Nd(3+)/NaGdF4 nanocrystals with efficient near-infrared to near-infrared downconversion photoluminescence for bioimaging applications.

We have synthesized core/shell NaGdF(4):Nd(3+)/NaGdF(4) nanocrystals with an average size of 15 nm and exceptionally high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield. When excited at 740 nm, the nanocrystals manifest spectrally distinguished, near-infrared to near-infrared (NIR-to-NIR) downconversion PL peaked at ∼900, ∼1050, and ∼1300 nm. The absolute quantum yield of NIR-to-NIR PL reached 40% for core-shell nanoparticles dispersed in hexane.

Multiple Slits regulate the development of midline glial populations and the corpus callosum.

The Slit molecules are chemorepulsive ligands that regulate axon guidance at the midline of both vertebrates and invertebrates. In mammals, there are three Slit genes, but only Slit2 has been studied in any detail with regard to mammalian brain commissure formation. Here, we sought to understand the relative contributions that Slit proteins make to the formation of the largest brain commissure, the corpus callosum.

[Assessment of cochlear implant performance with Mandarin Hearing In Noise Test].

Objective: To evaluate the abilities speech perception of post-lingual cochlear implant patients by Mandarin Hearing In Noise Test(MHINT), get the performance-intensity function (P-I function).

Method: The material was MHINT adults' version, including 12 lists, 20 sentences per list. Twenty-two cochlear implant patients were the subjects, age from 14 to 56.

Determination of salbutamol in human plasma and urine using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry and its pharmacokinetic study.

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination of salbutamol in human plasma and urine, and successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of salbutamol in Chinese healthy volunteers after inhalation of salbutamol sulfate aerosol. Salbutamol and the internal standard (IS) acetaminophen in plasma and urine were extracted with ethyl acetate, separated on a C(18) reversed-phase column, eluted with mobile phase of acetonitrile-ammonium acetate (5 m m; 30:70, v/v), ionized by positive ion pneumatically assisted electrospray and detected in the multi-reaction monitoring mode using precursor → product ions of m/z 240.2 → 148.

Human ovarian cancer stem-like cells can be efficiently killed by γδ T lymphocytes.

Ovarian cancer comprises a small population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are responsible for tumor maintenance and resistant to cancer therapies, it would be desirable to develop a therapy that could selectively target ovarian CSCs. Recently, cellular immune-based therapies have improved the prognosis of cancer patients clinically. In this study, we isolated a subset of ovarian cancer sphere cells that possess CSC properties and explored the cell cytotoxicity of γδ T cells to ovarian cancer sphere cells using a transwell cocultured cell system.

Cortical thickness analysis and optimized voxel-based morphometry in children and adolescents with prelingually profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Crossmodal neuroplastic changes following auditory deprivation in individuals with profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) have been well documented in previous literature. However, previous studies have shown very little evidence of structural brain changes in individuals with prelingually profound SNHL and no studies have reported significant differences of gray matter (GM) in deaf subjects. Therefore, it is essential to employ a more specific and sensitive technique to detect subtle structural brain differences in deaf individuals.

Flunarizine inhibits sensory neuron excitability by blocking voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ currents in trigeminal ganglion neurons.

Background: Although flunarizine has been widely used for migraine prophylaxis with clear success, the mechanisms of its actions in migraine prophylaxis are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of flunarizine on tetrodotoxin-resistant Na(+) channels and high-voltage activated Ca(2+) channels of acutely isolated mouse trigeminal ganglion neurons.

Methods: Sodium currents and calcium currents in trigeminal ganglion neurons were monitored using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings.

International outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA): results from the Chinese version.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to present normative data on the Chinese version of the international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA) and examine the effectiveness of the hearing aid service.

Design: Cross-sectional study. The IOI-HA was administered in a paper and pencil format.

[Effects of spraying uniconazole on plant morphology and total alkaloid content of Aconitum carmichaeli].

Objective: To study the effects of spraying uniconazole on plant morphology and total alkaloid content of Aconitum carmichaeli for providing theory base for establishment of planting measure.

Methods: The mainly morphological character and total alkaloid content of Radix Aconiti Lateralis Praeparata were studied under different uniconazole spraying time and density.

Results: Unieonazole could decrease plant height and leaf area, increase stem diameter, leaves and fibril roots, and the amount of dry matter.

[The contribution of different cochlear insertion region to Mandarin speech perception in users of cochlear implant].

Objective: To study the effect of cochlear electrode coverage and different insertion region on speech recognition, especially tone perception of cochlear implant users whose native language is Mandarin Chinese.

Method: Setting seven test conditions by fitting software. All conditions were created by switching on/off respective channels in order to simulate different insertion position.

PVA hydrogel properties for biomedical application.

PVA has been proposed as a promising biomaterial suitable for tissue mimicking, vascular cell culturing and vascular implanting. In this research, a kind of transparent PVA hydrogel has been investigated in order to mimic the creatural soft tissue deformation during mini-invasive surgery with needle intervention, such as brachytherapy. Three kinds of samples with the same composition of 3 g PVA, 17 g de-ionized water, 80 g dimethyl-sulfoxide but different freeze/thaw cycles have been prepared.