Nitric oxide (NO) involved in Cd tolerance in NHX1 transgenic duckweed during Cd stress.

Anthropogenic activities cause heavy metal pollution, such as cadmium (Cd). Na/H antiporter (NHX1) transgenic duckweed showed Cd tolerance in our previous study, and the signal mechanism needs to be explored. As an important signal molecule, nitric oxide (NO) is involved in a number of functions under abiotic stress response.

Prognostic impact of sterilized lymph nodes in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The prognostic importance of sterilized lymph nodes (SLN) remains unclear in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). This study aimed to determine whether SLN predicted disease-free survival (DFS) in ESCC.

Methods: We enrolled 246 eligible patients who were divided into SLN (+) and SLN (-) group according to the presence or absence of fibrosis, necrosis, calcifications and/or foreign body giant cell reactions in the negative lymph nodes specimens.

A study of entity-linking methods for normalizing Chinese diagnosis and procedure terms to ICD codes.

Objective: This study aims to develop and evaluate effective methods that can normalize diagnosis and procedure terms written by physicians to standard concepts in International Classification of Diseases(ICD) in Chinese, with the goal to facilitate automated medical coding in China.

Methods: We applied the entity-linking framework to normalize Chinese diagnosis and procedure terms, which consists of two steps - candidate concept generation and candidate concept ranking. For candidate concept generation, we implemented both the traditional BM25 algorithm and an extended version that integrates a synonym knowledgebase.

Prognostic value of epithelial-mesenchymal transition related genes: SLUG and QKI in breast cancer patients.

Snail family zinc finger 2 (SLUG) is related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Quaking (QKI) is an RNA binding protein and has been indicated to have a relationship with EMT by recent studies. The prognostic value of SLUG and QKI in breast cancer patients still needs exploration.

The role of ultrasound in women with a positive NIPT result for trisomy 18 and 13.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound in pregnancies with a positive non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) result for trisomy 18/13.

Materials And Methods: During a four-year period, the pregnant women who were referred for invasive genetic testing because of positive NIPT results for trisomy 18/13 were included in this study. An in-depth ultrasound was done for these patients before invasive procedures.

Electrically Controlled Diffraction Grating in Azo Dye-Doped Liquid Crystals.

This research applies the non-linear effect of azo dye-doped liquid crystal materials to develop a small, simple, and adjustable beam-splitting component with grating-like electrodes. Due to the dielectric anisotropy and optical birefringence of nematic liquid crystals, the director of the liquid crystal molecules can be reoriented by applying external electric fields, causing a periodic distribution of refractive indices and resulting in a diffraction phenomenon when a linearly polarized light is introduced. The study also discusses the difference in the refractive index (), the concentration of azo dye, and the rising constant depending on the diffraction signals.

miR-431-5p alters the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers by targeting in hepatoma cells.

Objective: MicroRNA (miR)-431 plays an essential role in various human cancer types, particularly in the process of invasion. However, the function and mechanism of miR-431-5p in the invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain undefined.

Methods: The expression levels of miR-431-5p and its potential target protein in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tissues were detected, and the levels of EMT markers in vivo and in vitro were also detected.

Proximity Ligation-Based Fluorogenic Imaging Agents for Neuraminidases.

Reagents to visualize and localize neuraminidase activity would be valuable probes to study the role of neuraminidases in normal cellular processes as well as during viral infections or cancer development. Herein, a new class of neuraminidase-imaging probes that function as proximity ligation reagents by releasing a highly reactive fluorophore that tags nearby cellular material is described. It is further demonstrated that it is possible to create an influenza virus-specific reagent, which can specifically detect influenza virus infections in mammalian cells.

POEMS syndrome presentation with progressive weakness in upper and lower limbs: A case report.

Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M proteins, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is a rare variant of plasma cell disorders with multiple systemic manifestations. A 50-year-old female patient presented with progressive weakness in her upper and lower limbs; tingling, numbness and burning in her feet; polyneuropathy (demyelinating in the majority of cases of POEMS syndrome); monoclonal plasma cell disorder (typicallyλ-restricted in cases of POEMS syndrome); sclerotic lesions on the spine and pelvis; organomegaly, including hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy; edema; pleural effusion; adrenal, thyroidal, pituitary, gonadal and pancreatic endocrinopathy; skin changes, including hyperpigmentation, dry skin and hypertrichosis; thrombocytosis; pulmonary hypertension; low vitamin B and weight loss. Following the diagnosis of POEMS syndrome, the patient was treated only with pain-alleviating corticosteroids.

Methylation status of the estrogen receptor 1 promoter predicts poor prognosis of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.

Background: Acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) is an acute deteriorating liver disease and rapidly progresses to multiple organ failure. There is currently no adequate accurate predictive models of ACHBLF prognosis.

Aims: To identify the methylation frequency of the estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) promoter in ACHBLF and analyze the associated prognostic significance.

Sera DNA Methylation of CDH1, DNMT3b and ESR1 Promoters as Biomarker for the Early Diagnosis of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: DNA methylation mainly affects tumor suppressor genes in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, sera methylation of specific genes in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC remains unknown.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to identify methylation frequencies of sera E-cadherin (CDH1), DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b) and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) promoter in HBV-related HCC and analyze the associated clinical significance.

Definition and initial validation of a Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS).

Aims: Treating to low disease activity is routine in rheumatoid arthritis, but no comparable goal has been defined for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We sought to define and validate a Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS).

Methods: A consensus definition of LLDAS was generated using Delphi and nominal group techniques.

Birth-related retinal hemorrhages in healthy full-term newborns and their relationship to maternal, obstetric, and neonatal risk factors.

Purpose: The purpose was to explore underlying maternal, obstetric, and neonatal risk factors of retinal hemorrhages (RH) in healthy full-term newborns.

Methods: A total of 1199 full-term infants, with gestational age more than 37 weeks and Apgar score of 7 or above, were included in this study. Infants with severe systemic diseases or any other eye diseases were excluded.

siRNA suppression of hTERT using activatable cell-penetrating peptides in hepatoma cells.

Activatable cell-penetrating peptides (aCPPs) allow non-viral, low cytotoxic and selective delivery of compounds into target cells for cancer therapy. In tumour cells, up-regulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) frequently occurs and is being considered as a target in cancer diagnosis and treatment. siRNA sequence that target hTERT mRNA can silence the gene and reduce hTERT protein expression to reduce cell proliferation and inhibit cell growth.

Seasonal variability in the biophysical properties of forehead skin in women in Guangzhou City, China.

Background: Skin appearance is influenced by biophysical parameters. Seasonal changes affect the condition of normal skin and may trigger cutaneous disorders.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to measure the effects of seasonal changes on biophysical parameters in the skin of female subjects living in Guangzhou City in southern China.

[Macrolide therapy on nasal mucosal persistent refractory inflammation after endoscopic sinus surgery].

Objective: To examine the clinical effect of low-dose (250 mg/d), long-term (12 - 28 weeks) macrolide Klacid on the persistent refractory inflammation of paranasal sinus mucosa following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Methods: Thirteen patients from a consecutive series of 141 patients undergoing ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) during 2004 - 2006 for the first time were recruited for persistent refractory inflammation over 2 years postoperatively. All patients were given Klacid 250 mg/d orally for 12 - 28 weeks and simultaneously maintained the usual treatment including intranasal corticosteroid, mucolytics, and nasal douche.

Increased level of soluble syndecan-1 in serum correlates with myocardial expression in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

A candidate marker for ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI), syndecan-1 (Sdc1), has been shown to be upregulated in myocardial tissues. However, the clinical potential of this marker depends on the ability to obtain samples safely and noninvasively. Therefore, we investigated the expression of soluble Sdc1 in the serum of rats after MI.

Bioaccumulation of trace metals in the submarine hydrothermal vent crab Xenograpsus testudinatus off Kueishan Island, Taiwan.

The concentrations of ten trace metals were determined in the gills, muscles, hepatopancreas, and exoskeleton tissues of Xenograpsus testudinatus that lives around shallow and acidic hydrothermal vents off Kueishan Island, northeastern Taiwan. The analytical results demonstrate that the metal concentrations vary significantly with the type of crab tissue. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn are highest in the gills, whereas the concentration of Mn is highest in the exoskeleton.

[Treatment of tibial avulsion fracture of the posterior cruciate ligament with open reduction and steel-wire internal fixation].

Objective: To study the curative effects of the treatment of tibial avulsion fracture of the posterior cruciate ligament with open reduction and steel-wire internal fixation.

Methods: From January 2003 to June 2009, 28 patients of tibial avulsion fracture of the posterior cruciate ligament were treated with open reduction and steel-wire internal fixation through posteromedial inverted "L" approach. There were 19 males and 9 females with an average age of 35.

[Expression of transforming growth factor-β(1) and Ki-67 nuclear antigen in salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the expression and significance of transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) and Ki-67 nuclear antigen in salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Methods: The expression of TGF-β(1) and Ki-67 nuclear antigen in 20 cases of salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma and 45 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma were detected by the streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method.

Results: Expression of TGF-β(1) (39/45) and Ki-67 nuclear antigen (43/45) in mucoepidermoid carcinoma was significantly higher than in pleomorphic adenoma (P < 0.

Aortic arch reconstruction with an autologous pulmonary arterial-roll tube in an interrupted aortic arch.

We report a case of aortic arch reconstruction with an autologous pulmonary arterial-roll tube in a 4-year-old child with a type A interrupted aortic arch. The autologous pulmonary arterial-roll tube dilated progressively after the operation, and some severe complications occurred, including formation of an aneurysm. A second operation was performed to resect the aortic aneurysm and to interpose a Dacron tube graft.

[Ophthalmic complication and management of endoscopic sinus surgery].

Objective: To investigate the possible reasons and the treating experiences of ophthalmic complications in order to elevate the attention of the nasal endoscopic surgeon.

Methods: This study was involved 8 categories in 22 cases which had typical characteristic of ophthalmic complications of endoscopic sinus surgery, including injury of lamina papyracea, obstructive cyst of frontal and ethmoid sinuses, orbital infection, injuries of lacrimal passages, injury of extraocular muscles, orbital hemorrhage, optic nerve injury and arterial embolism of optic fundi. The patients were given corresponding treatment.

A 26-year clinical observation of splenic auto-transplantation and oesophageal transection anastomosis: a new treatment strategy in patients with portal hypertension.

Background: Surgical treatment options for patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension are complicated. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a new treatment strategy, splenic auto-transplantation and oesophageal transection anastomosis. We report results from clinical observations, splenic immune function and portal dynamics in 274 patients.

[Analysis of 216 cases of total laparoscopic hysterectomy].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).

Methods: A retrospective study of laparoscopic hysterectomy was conducted in this setting. From March 2002 through March 2004, 216 women were subjected to TLH.