Ex vivo localization and immunohistochemical detection of sentinel lymph node micrometastasis in patients with colorectal cancer can upgrade tumor staging.

Background: It is not clear if sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping can improve outcomes in patients with colorectal cancers. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic values of ex vivo sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of SLN micrometastasis in colorectal cancers.

Methods: Colorectal cancer specimens were obtained during radical resections and the SLN was identified by injecting a 1% isosulfan blue solution submucosally and circumferentially around the tumor within 30 min after surgery.

DFT functional benchmarking on the energy splitting of chromium spin states and mechanistic study of acetylene cyclotrimerization over the Phillips Cr(II)/silica catalyst.

In this work, a two-state reaction mechanism for the acetylene cyclotrimerization over a cluster model for the Phillips Cr(II)/silica catalyst were systematically investigated using density functional theory (DFT). Since spin crossover phenomenon was confirmed in the catalytic cycle, an accurate prediction of the energy gap between low- and high-spin states is crucial for the description of a reaction involving a two-state reactivity. Therefore, a massive DFT functional benchmarking test has been conducted on the cluster model by taking a CASPT2 energy gap as a reference.

Upregulation of astrocytic leptin receptor in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

The detrimental role of leptin in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is opposite to its neuroprotective role in other neuropathologies. We hypothesize that a shifted cellular distribution of leptin receptors underlies the differential effects of leptin. A robust increase of ObR immunoreactivity was seen along glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)(+) intermediate filaments in reactive astrocytes in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of mice with EAE.

Leptin action on nonneuronal cells in the CNS: potential clinical applications.

Leptin, an adipocyte-derived cytokine, crosses the blood-brain barrier to act on many regions of the central nervous system (CNS). It participates in the regulation of energy balance, inflammatory processes, immune regulation, synaptic formation, memory condensation, and neurotrophic activities. This review focuses on the newly identified actions of leptin on astrocytes.

Band-gap engineering via tailored line defects in boron-nitride nanoribbons, sheets, and nanotubes.

We perform a comprehensive study of the effects of line defects on electronic and magnetic properties of monolayer boron-nitride (BN) sheets, nanoribbons, and single-walled BN nanotubes using first-principles calculations and Born-Oppenheimer quantum molecular dynamic simulation. Although line defects divide the BN sheet (or nanotube) into domains, we show that certain line defects can lead to tailor-made edges on BN sheets (or imperfect nanotube) that can significantly reduce the band gap of the BN sheet or nanotube. In particular, we find that the line-defect-embedded zigzag BN nanoribbons (LD-zBNNRs) with chemically homogeneous edges such as B- or N-terminated edges can be realized by introducing a B(2), N(2), or C(2) pentagon-octagon-pentagon (5-8-5) line defect or through the creation of the antisite line defect.

Glycotope sharing between snail hemolymph and larval schistosomes: larval transformation products alter shared glycan patterns of plasma proteins.

Recent evidence supports the involvement of inducible, highly diverse lectin-like recognition molecules in snail hemocyte-mediated responses to larval Schistosoma mansoni. Because host lectins likely are involved in initial parasite recognition, we sought to identify specific carbohydrate structures (glycans) shared between larval S. mansoni and its host Biomphalaria glabrata to address possible mechanisms of immune avoidance through mimicry of elements associated with the host immunoreactivity.

Oxidation of a two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride monolayer: a first-principles study.

Two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron-nitride oxide (h-BNO) is a structural analogue of graphene oxide. Motivated by recent experimental studies of graphene oxide, we have investigated the chemical oxidation of 2D h-BN sheet and the associated electronic properties of h-BNO. Particular emphasis has been placed on the most favorable site(s) for chemisorption of atomic oxygen, and on the migration barrier for an oxygen atom hopping to the top, bridge, or hollow site on the h-BN surface, as well as the most likely pathway for the dissociation of an oxygen molecule on the h-BN surface.

[Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in tissue of colon carcinoma and its clinical prognostic significance].

Objective: To explore the expression patterns of matrix metalloproteinase1 (MMP-1) in colon carcinoma and evaluate its clinical significance.

Methods: The expression of MMP-1 was detected by SP immunohistochemical method. The tissue microarray samples of 620 colon carcinoma patients were collected and the clinical data reviewed.

Endothelial leptin receptor mutation provides partial resistance to diet-induced obesity.

Leptin, a polypeptide hormone produced mainly by adipocytes, has diverse effects in both the brain and peripheral organs, including suppression of feeding. Other than mediating leptin transport across the blood-brain barrier, the role of the endothelial leptin receptor remains unclear. We recently generated a mutant mouse strain lacking endothelial leptin receptor signaling, and showed that there is an increased uptake of leptin by brain parenchyma after its delivery by in situ brain perfusion.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase transfection reduces apoptosis in human penile smooth muscle cells and slows down cellular aging.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common diseases in male urology that greatly affects the quality of life in senior people. Relaxation of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle is the key to penile erection.

Aim: To explore effects of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene transfection on biological behaviors of human penile smooth muscle cells.

[Evaluation on cost-effectiveness of snail control project by environmental modification in hilly regions].

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the snail control project by environmental modification in order to provide the evidence for quickly interrupting the transmission of schistosomiasis in hilly regions.

Methods: Field investigations were carried out. The changes of the snail habitat areas were compared before and after the snail control project.

A study of UbcH10 expression and its association with recurrence of meningiomas.

Background: UbcH10 is an important regulator for the mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint pathway that regulates cell-cycle progression. Overexpression of UbcH10 significantly correlated with advanced tumor grade and high cell proliferation.

Methods: The expression of UbcH10 and Ki-67 in meningioma tissues were evaluated immunohistochemically in 47 patients with meningiomas.

[Surgical treatment and prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor].

Objective: To investigate the outcome of surgical treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) and the associated factors.

Methods: A total of 277 patients with GIST underwent primary surgical treatment from January 1990 to February 2010 at the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University. The clinical data were retrospectively reviewed and the pathological examination was reviewed.

A multivariate analysis of prognostic determinants for stages II and III colorectal cancer in 141 patients.

Background: Previous prognosis analyses of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with stage II and III disease were done as separate categories. The purpose of this study was to analyze prognostic factors associated with survival in a group of patients who underwent radical resection of stages II and III CRC.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed for 141 consecutive stages II and III patients who had undergone radical resection of colorectal adenocarcinoma between May 2003 and November 2003.

Quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization: analysis of individual particle behavior and parameter selection.

Quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization (QPSO), motivated by concepts from quantum mechanics and particle swarm optimization (PSO), is a probabilistic optimization algorithm belonging to the bare-bones PSO family. Although it has been shown to perform well in finding the optimal solutions for many optimization problems, there has so far been little analysis on how it works in detail. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the QPSO algorithm.

Predicting two-dimensional boron-carbon compounds by the global optimization method.

We adopt a global optimization method to predict two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures through the particle-swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. By performing PSO simulations, we predict new stable structures of 2D boron-carbon (B-C) compounds for a wide range of boron concentrations. Our calculations show that: (1) All 2D B-C compounds are metallic except for BC(3) which is a magic case where the isolation of carbon six-membered ring by boron atoms results in a semi-conducting behavior.

Site-selected doping in silicon nanowires by an external electric field.

The properties of dopant-related defects in silicon nanowires are key characteristics in semiconductive devices. Our first-principles calculations predicted that the preferred doping sites of B and P atoms in hydrogen-passivated silicon nanowires have opposite distribution behavior under electric field, suggesting a steady intrinsic p-n junction can be spontaneously formed in (B and P) codoped silicon nanowires.

Is there a role for fatty acid synthase in the diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma?: A comparison with AMACR.

Our aim was to compare the usefulness of fatty acid synthase (FASn) with that of α-methylacyl coenzyme-A racemase (AMACR) in the diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma. The expression of these 2 markers was compared in a tissue microarray containing 62 foci of benign glands and 36 foci of prostatic adenocarcinoma. Similar to AMACR, there was significantly higher FASn expression in adenocarcinoma compared with that in benign glands.

Aggregate of nanoparticles: rheological and mechanical properties.

The understanding of the rheological and mechanical properties of nanoparticle aggregates is important for the application of nanofillers in nanocompoistes. In this work, we report a rheological study on the rheological and mechanical properties of nano-silica agglomerates in the form of gel network mainly constructed by hydrogen bonds. The elastic model for rubber is modified to analyze the elastic behavior of the agglomerates.

Expression of COX-2, MMP-2 and VEGF in stage II and III colorectal cancer and the clinical significance.

Objectives: To investigate the expression of COX-2, MMP-2 and VEGF in colorectal cancer and the clinical/pathological significance.

Methods: Stage II and III colorectal cancer patients (149 cases) that received radical resection between May 2003 and November 2008 and who had complete clinical and pathological data, were recruited in this study. Expression of COX-2, MMP-2 and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemistry.

No relationship between the distribution of mast cells and the survival of stage IIIB colon cancer patients.

Background: Mast cells promote the progression of experimental tumors and might be a valuable therapeutic target. However, the relevant clinical evidence is still controversial. This study analyzed the relationship between the distribution of mast cells and the survival of patients with colon cancer to study whether mast cells contribute to tumor progression.

Ab initio theoretical study of non-covalent adsorption of aromatic molecules on boron nitride nanotubes.

We have studied non-covalent functionalization of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with benzene molecule and with seven other different heterocyclic aromatic rings (furan, thiophene, pyrrole, pyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, and pyridazine, respectively). A hybrid density functional theory (DFT) method with the inclusion of dispersion correction is employed. The structural and electronic properties of the functionalized BNNTs are obtained.

Blind image quality assessment using a general regression neural network.

We develop a no-reference image quality assessment (QA) algorithm that deploys a general regression neural network (GRNN). The new algorithm is trained on and successfully assesses image quality, relative to human subjectivity, across a range of distortion types. The features deployed for QA include the mean value of phase congruency image, the entropy of phase congruency image, the entropy of the distorted image, and the gradient of the distorted image.

Optimal use of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colorectal cancer.

Background And Objective: The prognosis of stage II colorectal cancer varies. Whether or not to perform adjuvant chemotherapy on patients with stage II colorectal cancer is a controversial issue. The aims of this study were to identify relevant risk factors for the prognosis of stage II colorectal cancer and to evaluate the need for adjuvant chemotherapy.