[Serrated lesions of colon and their malignant potential].

Objective: To study the serrated lesions of colon and to compare the malignant potential between traditional serrated adenomas (TSA) and conventional adenomas (CAD).

Methods: A total of 5347 cases of colorectal polyps encountered in five regional hospitals during a five-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The serrated lesions were classified on the basis of histologic examination.

Lack of association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene A1298C polymorphism and breast cancer susceptibility.

Published data on the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) A1298C polymorphism and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched.

External monitoring of buried radial forearm free flaps in hypopharyngeal reconstruction.

Conclusion: The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is one of the optimal choices for hypopharyngeal reconstruction. Our series demonstrates that the technique of an indicator flap for the monitoring of the buried flap is simple, reliable, and inexpensive. The condition of the indicator flap can be easily interpreted by the physicians and the nursing staff.

[Analysis on clinical characteristics of rectal neuroendocrine tumors].

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) so as to improve their understanding and diagnosis.

Methods: The data of 62 rectal NETs patients were retrospectively analyzed to summarize their clinical characteristics. They were categorized into 3 types based on the level of histological differentiation.

[Associations of triple-phase enhancement multi-slice CT scan with histological differentiation and lymphovascular invasion in gastric cancer].

Objective: To explore the associations of triple-phase enhancement multi-slice CT scan with histological differentiation and lymphovascular invasion in advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: Patients with gastric cancer undergoing surgical resection between January 2006 and December 2009 were included, all of whom underwent routine and two-phase contrast enhancement multi-slice CT examinations of the upper abdomen before surgery. Patients with incomplete data were excluded.

Interaction between behavioral despair and addictive behaviors in rats.

It has been suggested that depression can be either a cause or a consequence of drug abuse, providing a possible explanation for the fact that the prevalence of depression is almost 3-fold higher in drug abusers than in the general population. However, the interaction between depression and drug abuse has not been fully elucidated. To examine the interaction between behavioral despair and addictive behaviors, we used the Porsolt's forced swim test (FST) as a model of behavioral despair, and we used morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) and repeated morphine exposure as models of addictive behaviors.

[Effects of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on Pharmacokinetics of paracetamol in rates].

Objective: To investigate influence of electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on pharmacokinetics after oral administration of Paracetamol in rats and explore the effect and mechanism of acupuncture combined with medicinal drugs.

Methods: Forty-eight SD rats, in half respectively male and female, were randomly divided into 6 groups: Paracetamol groups of low, moderate, and high doses (oral dose of Paracetamol 300, 600 or 1200 mg/kg, respectively), and electroacupuncture plus Paracetamol groups of low, moderate, and high doses (electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) acupoint for 20 min after oral dose of Paracetamol 300, 600 or 1 200 mg/kg, respectively). Serum specimens of rats in each group were obtained at different time points to determine the concentrations of Paracetamol by RP-HPLC after oral administration of Paracetamol at different dosage, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by software 3P87, so as to observe the influence of electroacupuncture on absorption and metabolism of Paracetamol.

[Comments on the thickness of abdominal acupuncture needles].

In the present paper, the authors make a summary about the development of acupuncture needles in Chinese ancient times recorded in the literature, and have a discussion on the effect of the thickness of acupuncture needles on clinical therapeutic efficacy in accordance with modern medical theories, the development of its clinical application and by combining their own experience in acupuncture practice. They conclude that the thickness of the abdominal needle is a negligible factor influencing the therapeutic efficacy of the reinforcing-reducing manipulations. In the treatment of deficiency pattern disorders, a thinner acupuncture needle is suitable, while for excess syndrome, a thicker acupuncture needle is recommended.

[Study on the early detection of Sclerotinia of Brassica napus based on combinational-stimulated bands].

The combinational-stimulated bands were used to develop linear and nonlinear calibrations for the early detection of sclerotinia of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Eighty healthy and 100 Sclerotinia leaf samples were scanned, and different preprocessing methods combined with successive projections algorithm (SPA) were applied to develop partial least squares (PLS) discriminant models, multiple linear regression (MLR) and least squares-support vector machine (LS-SVM) models.

GISH characterization of Erianthus arundinaceus chromosomes in three generations of sugarcane intergeneric hybrids.

Within Erianthus, a genus close to Saccharum, the species E. arundinaceus has the potential to contribute valuable traits to sugarcane, including adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses and ratooning ability. Sugarcane breeders have tried for a long time to use Erianthus species in their breeding programs but until recently were constrained by a lack of fertile Saccharum x Erianthus hybrids.

Protein adsorption under electrical stimulation of neural probe coated with polyaniline.

Polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles were successfully polymerized on the surface of Pt electrode to form nanostructured films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) micrographs showed that the just-synthesized films were compact with diameter of nanoparticles on films about 50 and 30nm for HClO(4) and citric acid doped PANI films, respectively. And the surface of the electrode was coated completely with PANI films.

Evidence for mesenchymal-like sub-populations within squamous cell carcinomas possessing chemoresistance and phenotypic plasticity.

Variable drug responses among malignant cells within individual tumors may represent a barrier to their eradication using chemotherapy. Carcinoma cells expressing mesenchymal markers resist conventional and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated whether mesenchymal-like sub-populations within human squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) with predominantly epithelial features contribute to overall therapy resistance.

Calorie control increased vaspin levels of serum and periepididymal adipose tissue in diet-induced obese rats in association with serum free fatty acid and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Background: Vaspin was recently identified as a novel adipokine that is predominantly secreted from adipose tissue and exerts insulin-sensitizing effects. This study was undertaken to elucidate the regulative effects of calorie control on the expression of vaspin and its potential mechanism.

Methods: Diet-induced obese Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were adopted as experimental models and accepted interventions of various ingestions and pioglitazone.

[Application of pragmatic randomized controlled trial's design in clinical research of acupuncture].

Currently, the randomized controlled trial (RCT) becomes the generally accepted golden standard for clinical trials. It can be classified into two types based on different design, that is, the explanatory randomized controlled trial (ERCT) and the pragmatic randomized controlled trial (PRCT). In designing a clinical trial, researcher may select either of them according to the goal of research.

Electronic properties of disordered organic semiconductors via QM/MM simulations.

Organic semiconductors (OSCs) have recently received significant attention for their potential use in photovoltaic, light emitting diode, and field effect transistor devices. Part of the appeal of OSCs is the disordered, amorphous nature of these materials, which makes them more flexible and easier to process than their inorganic counterparts. In addition to their technological applications, OSCs provide an attractive laboratory for examining the chemistry of heterogeneous systems.

Distinct expression levels and patterns of stem cell marker, aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1), in human epithelial cancers.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1) has been proved useful for the identification of cancer stem cells. However, our knowledge of the expression and activity of ALDH1 in common epithelial cancers and their corresponding normal tissues is still largely absent. Therefore, we characterized ALDH1 expression in 24 types of normal tissues and a large collection of epithelial tumor specimens (six cancer types, n = 792) by immunohistochemical staining.

Acid-base mechanism for ruthenium water oxidation catalysts.

We present a detailed theoretical study of the pathway for water oxidation in synthetic ruthenium-based catalysts. As a first step, we consider a recently discovered single center catalyst, where experimental observations suggest a purely single-center mechanism. We find low activation energies (<5 kcal/mol) for each rearrangement in the catalytic cycle.

[Research on the fourth generation of radix isatidis by FTIR].

FTIR spectra of fourth-generation space bred radix isatidis and FTIR spectra of radix isatidis in a ground group were determined on the whole. Comparative analysis was conducted on main constituents (components) to accumulate data for comprehensively understanding and thoroughly studying the inherent property, and to explore a method of evaluating the quality of space bred radix isatidis. The results showed that slight difference existed in the positions and shapes of the absorption peaks in FTIR spectra of samples between the two groups.

Annexin A1 expression and its prognostic significance in human breast cancer.

Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is a calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein and is considered to play an important role in tumorigenesis. However, the correlation between ANXA1 expression and tumor clinicopathological features in patients with breast cancer remains unclear. This study investigated the prognostic value of ANXA1 protein as breast cancer marker.

The p21 Ser31Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis involving 51,236 subjects.

Published data on the association between p21 Ser31Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Crude ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association between the p21 Ser31Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk.

[A novel single nucleotide polymorphism-based method for quantitative assessment of chimerism after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.].

Objective: To develop a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-PCR based method for quantitative detection of chimerism after allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and to explore its feasibility, accuracy and superiority.

Methods: 18 SNP loci were sereened to identify informative markers for detecting chimerism in each donor/recipient pair before transplantation. Then the chimerism rate of each informative marker was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR).

[Relaxation laryngoplasty in the management of mutational falsetto].

Objective: To observe the result of relaxation laryngoplasty in the management of mutational falsetto.

Methods: The thyroplasty type 3 was applied and improved (the saturation was improved in the traditional operation, which the thyroid cartilage stick was cut off and overlapped without saturation in improved group 1, while the thyroid cartilage stick was not cut off and overlapped inward without saturation in improved group 2) in 30 adult patients who failed in voice modification. Preoperative and postoperative fundamental frequency (F0), normalised noise energy (NNE) and reading essay were compared.

[Responses of primary photochemical reactions in apple fruit peel to the changes of incident PFD and air temperature in sunny days].

Taking Malus domestica Borkh as test object, this paper studied the primary photochemical reactions and xanthophyll cycle in its fruit peel in response to the diurnal changes of incident photon flux density (PFD) and air temperature in sunny days. With the increase of PFD and air temperature in a daily cycle, a severe photo-inhibition of the primary photochemical reactions in M. domestica fruit peel occurred from 12:00 to 14:00.