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Yoga is effective in binge eating disorder (BED) treatment, but it does not seem effective enough to improve low physical fitness. In contrast, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is effective in improving physical fitness but has never been studied in the context of BED. In the study, 47 young inactive females with mild to moderate BED were recruited and randomly assigned to a HIIT group (HIIT), a Yoga group (YG), or a control group (CG; age, 19.47 ± 0.74, 19.69 ± 0.874, and 19.44 ± 0.63 years; BMI, 21.07 ± 1.66, 21.95 ± 2.67, and 20.68 ± 2.61 kg/m 2 , respectively). The intervention groups participated in 8-week specific exercises, while the CG maintained their usual daily activity. Before and after the training, participants were evaluated for BED using the binge eating scale (BES) and for physical fitness. The obtained data were compared within groups and between groups, and a correlation analysis between BES and physical fitness parameters was performed. After the training, the YG presented significant improvements in BES (- 20.25%, p = 0.006, η p 2  = 0.408), fat mass (FM, - 3.13%, p = 0.033, η p 2  = 0.269), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2 max, 11.51%, p = 0.000, η p 2  = 0.601), whereas the HIIT showed significant improvements in body weight (BW, - 1.78%, p = 0.006, η p 2  = 0.433), FM (- 3.94%, p = 0.033, η p 2  = 0.285), and BMI (- 1.80%, p = 0.006, η p 2  = 0.428), but not in BES. Comparisons between groups revealed that both HIIT and YG had significantly higher VO 2 max levels than CG (HIIT 12.82%, p = 0.006, η p 2  = 0.088; YG: 11.90%, p = 0.009, η p 2  = 0.088) with no difference between HIIT and YG. Additionally, YG presented significantly lower BES than both HIIT (15.45%, p = 0.02, η p 2  = 0.03) and CG (11.91%, p = 0.022, η p 2  = 0.03). In conclusion, Yoga is an effective treatment for BED, but HIIT is not, despite its high efficacy in improving physical fitness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background Coronary CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) has been used in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD); however, whether it decreases invasive coronary angiography (ICA) use and affects prognosis remains insufficiently evidenced. Purpose To explore the effectiveness of adding CT-FFR to routine coronary CT angiography (CCTA) on short-term ICA rate and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in a Chinese setting. Materials and Methods A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in 17 Chinese centers, with patient inclusion from May 2021 to September 2021. Eligible individuals with 25%-99% stenosis at CCTA were randomly assigned 1:1 to a strategy of CCTA plus automated CT-FFR or CCTA alone for guiding downstream care. The primary end point was the ICA rate 90 days after enrollment. Secondary end points included 90-day and 1-year MACE rates (comprised of all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization) and 1-year cardiac events (comprised of cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization). The Cox proportional hazards model with center effect adjustment was used for survival comparisons. Results A total of 5297 participants (mean age, 63.5 years ± 10.8 [SD]; 3178 male) were included. During the 90-day follow-up, ICA was performed in 263 of 2633 participants (10.0%) in the CCTA plus CT-FFR group and 327 of 2640 participants (12.4%) in the CCTA-alone group (absolute rate difference: -2.40%; 95% CI: -4.10, -0.70; P = .006). The MACE rates at 90 days (0.5% [12 of 2633 participants] vs 0.8% [21 of 2640 participants]; P = .12) and 1 year (2.9% [74 of 2546 participants] vs 2.8% [72 of 2531 participants]; P = .90) were similar for both groups. At 1-year follow-up, fewer cardiac events were observed in the CCTA plus CT-FFR group compared with the CCTA-alone group (0.5% vs 1.1%; adjusted hazard ratio: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.99; P = .047). Conclusion CT-FFR added to CCTA led to a lower 90-day ICA rate and similar 1-year MACE rate in a Chinese real-world setting. Further follow-up is warranted to demonstrate the long-term prognostic value of this management approach. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Pundziute-do Prado in this issue.

Background: Limited data is available regarding the weaning techniques employed for mechanical ventilation (MV) in elderly patients with dementia in China., Objective: The primary objective of this study is to investigate diverse weaning methods in relation to the prognostic outcomes of elderly patients with dementia undergoing MV in the intensive care unit (ICU). Specifically, we seek to compare the prognosis, likelihood of successful withdrawal from MV, and the length of stay (LOS) in the ICU., Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial, encompassing a group of 169 elderly patients aged ≥ 65 years with dementia who underwent MV. Three distinct weaning methods were used for MV cessation, namely, the tapering parameter, spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), and SmartCare (Dräger, Germany)., Results: In the tapering parameter group, the LOS in the ICU was notably prolonged compared to both the SBT and SmartCare groups. However, no statistically significant differences were observed among the groups with respect to demographic characteristics, such as age and sex, as well as factors including the rationale for ICU admission, cause of MV, MV mode, oxygenation index, hemoglobin levels, albumin levels, ejection fraction, sedation and analgesia practices, tracheotomy, duration of MV, successful extubation, successful weaning, incidences of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and overall prognosis., Conclusions: Both the SBT and SmartCare withdrawal methods demonstrated a reduction in the duration of MV and LOS in the ICU when compared to the tapering parameter method., Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900028449., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Clinical Respiratory Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To explore the effects of comprehensive nursing intervention on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and pregnancy outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)., Method: A total of 130 patients with PCOS admitted to our hospital from April 2021 to March 2023 were selected as the research subjects. They were evenly divided according to a random number table method. The control group received routine care for the patients, while the study group received comprehensive care for the patients. The IVF, pregnancy outcomes, negative emotional changes, serum and follicular fluid (FF) amyloid-related protein and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of the 2 groups of patients were compared., Result: The data on IVF rate and pregnancy rate in the study group were significantly better than those in the control group (P < .05). The SAS and SDS scores of the study group patients after intervention were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < .05). After intervention, the levels of serum and FF amyloid associated protein and CRP in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < .05)., Conclusion: Patients with PCOS who receive comprehensive care can increase their probability of IVF, improve their pregnancy outcomes, and have a positive significance in reducing negative emotions., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Purpose: Thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine is usually progressive and responds poorly to conservative therapy, making surgery the only effective treatment option. A variety of surgical procedures have been developed to treat thoracic OPLL. However, the optimal surgical approach for removal of thoracic OPLL remains unclear. In the present study, we described a newly modified posterior approach for the removal of OPLL: circular decompression via dural approach, and complete removal of OPLL can be achieved under direct vision and without neurological deficit., Materials and Methods: Three patients with beak-type thoracic OPLL presented with progressive thoracic myelopathy and leg weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the spinal cord severely compressed. The surgical management of the three patients involved the 'cave-in' circular decompression and transdural resection of OPLL., Results: Transdural circumferential decompression was successfully performed in all three patients. Clinical outcome measures, including pre- and postoperative radiographic parameters, were assessed. All of the patients were followed up for an average of 12 months (ranging from 10 to 15 months), and no surgery-related complications occurred. Weakness relief and neural function recovery were satisfactorily achieved in all patients by the final follow-up., Conclusions: Transdural circumferential decompression was an effective method for thoracic spinal stenosis caused by concurrent beak-type OPLL, by which OPLL could be safely removed. It is especially useful when there is a severe adhesion between the dura OPLL.

Background: To investigate the distribution and burden of monosodium urate (MSU) deposition in hyperuricemia and gout patients with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)., Methods: A total of 1,936 consecutive patients from January 1, 2009, to September 15, 2017, underwent DECT examinations in Jinling Hospital. Of these, 1,294 patients were excluded due to other clinical diagnoses (n=1,041), inappropriate locations (n=82), poor-quality images (n=105), training cases (n=30) and duplicated data (n=36). Finally, 642 patients were included in this study. We retrospectively analyzed 1,127 DECT examinations in 642 consecutive patients (hyperuricemia group, n=121; gout group, n=521) and recorded the volume and number of MSU deposits. For each anatomical location, we recorded MSU deposition in the soft tissue and joint cavity. MSU deposition was analyzed and compared between groups. For normally distributed data, independent sample t-tests were used for comparison between the two groups. The independent samples nonparametric test was used to analyze nonnormally distributed data., Results: (I) The burden of MSU deposition in the gout group {volume [0.14 (0.04-1.36)] and numbers [10.00 (5.00-19.00)]} was significantly higher than that {volume [0.08 (0.02-0.47), P=0.003] and numbers [9.50 (2.00-16.00), P=0.01]} in the hyperuricemia group. (II) The burden of MSU deposition in the knees {volume [0.24 (0.01-1.79), P=0.002] and quantity [6.00 (2.00-12.00), P=0.04]} and feet {volume [0.10 (0.04-0.66)] and number [9.00 (5.00-15.00)]} was significantly higher in the gout group than those {knees: the volume [0.03 (0.00-0.27), P=0.002] and the quantity [4.00 (0.00-9.00), P=0.04]; feet: the volume [0.07 (0.02-0.19), P=0.003)] and number [8.00 (2.25-12.00), P=0.04]} in the hyperuricemia group, respectively. (III) In the hyperuricemia group, the volume of MSU deposition was significantly higher in the soft tissues of the knee (0.022±0.042) and ankle (0.062±0.305) than in those (knee: 0.001±0.005, P=0.02; ankle: 0.027±0.234, P=0.02) in the joint cavity., Conclusions: Although subclinical urate deposition can occur in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia, the burden of urate deposition is greater in patients with symptomatic gout, and the distribution is more pronounced in the foot/knee. Thus, more effective patient management and monitoring can be achieved by measuring the burden of MSU deposits in the patient's feet/knees. These data suggest that a threshold for urate crystal volume at typical sites may be required before symptomatic disease develops., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://qims.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/qims-22-1208/coif). LJZ reports receiving grant from The National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2022YFC2010004 to LJZ). The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2023 Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the feasibility of using temporary permanent pacemaker (TPPM) in patients with high-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as bridging strategy to reduce avoidable permanent pacemaker implantation. Methods: This is a prospective observational study. Consecutive patients undergoing TAVR at Beijing Anzhen Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2021 to February 2022 were screened. Patients with high-degree AVB and TPPM were included. Patients were followed up for 4 weeks with pacemaker interrogation at every week. The endpoint was the success rate of TPPM removal and free from permanent pacemaker at 1 month after TPPM. The criteria of removing TPPM was no indication of permanent pacing and no pacing signal in 12 lead electrocardiogram (EGG) and 24 hours dynamic EGG, meanwhile the last pacemaker interrogation indicated that ventricular pacing rate was 0. Routinely follow-up ECG was extended to 6 months after removal of TPPM. Results: Ten patients met the inclusion criteria for TPPM, aged (77.0±11.1) years, wirh 7 females. There were 7 patients with third-degree AVB, 1 patient with second-degree AVB, 2 patients with first degree AVB with PR interval>240 ms and LBBB with QRS duration>150 ms. TPPM were applied on the 10 patients for (35±7) days. Among 8 patients with high-degree AVB, 3 recovered to sinus rhythm, and 3 recovered to sinus rhythm with bundle branch block. The other 2 patients with persistent third-degree AVB received permanent pacemaker implantation. For the 2 patients with first-degree AVB and LBBB, PR interval shortened to within 200 ms. TPPM was successfully removed in 8 patients (8/10) at 1 month without permanent pacemaker implantation, of which 2 patients recovered within 24 hours after TAVR and 6 patients recovered 24 hours later after TAVR. No aggravation of conduction block or permanent pacemaker indication were observed in 8 patients during follow-up at 6 months. No procedure-related adverse events occurred in all patients. Conclusion: TPPM is reliable and safe to provide certain buffer time to distinguish whether a permanent pacemaker is necessary in patients with high-degree conduction block after TAVR.

Objectives: To explore downstream management and outcomes of machine learning (ML)-based CT derived fractional flow reserve (FFR CT ) strategy compared with an anatomical coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) alone assessment in participants with intermediate coronary artery stenosis., Methods: In this prospective study conducted from April 2018 to March 2019, participants were assigned to either the CCTA or FFR CT group. The primary endpoint was the rate of invasive coronary angiography (ICA) that demonstrated non-obstructive disease at 90 days. Secondary endpoints included coronary revascularization and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 1-year follow-up., Results: In total, 567 participants were allocated to the CCTA group and 566 to the FFR CT group. At 90 days, the rate of ICA without obstructive disease was higher in the CCTA group (33.3%, 39/117) than that (19.8%, 19/96) in the FFR CT group (risk difference [RD] = 13.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.4%, 18.6%; p = 0.03). The ICA referral rate was higher in the CCTA group (27.5%, 156/567) than in the FFR CT group (20.3%, 115/566) (RD = 7.2%, 95% CI: 2.3%, 12.1%; p = 0.003). The revascularization-to-ICA ratio was lower in the CCTA group than that in the FFR CT group (RD = 19.8%, 95% CI: 14.1%, 25.5%, p = 0.002). MACE was more common in the CCTA group than that in the FFR CT group at 1 year (HR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.95; p = 0.04)., Conclusion: In patients with intermediate stenosis, the FFR CT strategy appears to be associated with a lower rate of referral for ICA, ICA without obstructive disease, and 1-year MACE when compared to the anatomical CCTA alone strategy., Key Points: • In stable patients with intermediate stenosis, ML-based FFR CT strategy was associated with a lower referral ICA rate, a lower normalcy rate of ICA, and higher revascularization-to-ICA ratio than the CCTA strategy. • Compared with the CCTA strategy, ML-based FFR CT shows superior outcome prediction value which appears to be associated with a lower rate of 1-year MACE. • ML-based FFR CT strategy as a non-invasive "one-stop-shop" modality may be the potential to change diagnostic workflows in patients with suspected coronary artery disease., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Society of Radiology.)

Background: To create an animal model for diabetic ulcers with semi-Yin and semi-Yang (SYSY) syndrome and to study the pathological and metabolic features of SYSY syndrome., Methods: Firstly, based on the clinical characteristics of the SYSY syndrome of diabetic ulcer, an animal model of diabetic ulcers with SYSY syndrome being full-thickness skin defects was created by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally, infecting with Staphylococcus aureus , and gastrically administering senna. Secondly, the content and distribution patterns of collagen fibers, the expression of neutrophils and macrophage markers, angiogenesis, and the expression of IL-1 β and IL-10 in the rats with Yang syndrome, Yin syndrome, and SYSY syndrome of diabetic ulcers at different time points were detected. Representative traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) ointment of Yang syndrome, Yin syndrome, and SYSY syndrome was used to treat this animal model. The above indexes in each treatment group were detected. Finally, metabonomics was used to detect and analyze the changes of differential metabolites related to macrophage metabolism in Yang, Yin, and SYSY syndromes at different time points., Results: An animal model of diabetic ulcers with SYSY syndrome was established. The pathological features of the SYSY syndrome group were chronic low-grade inflammatory reactions. On the third day, the SYSY syndrome group displayed lower expression of CD16, CD68, CD163, IL-1 β , and metabolites related to M1-type macrophages compared with other groups. On the seventh day, the SYSY syndrome group showed lower expression of CD31, IL-10, myeloperoxidase, and metabolites related to M2-type macrophages. Treatment with Chong He Ointment, a representative TCM ointment for SYSY syndrome, reversed the expression levels of these indexes and promoted wound healing in the SYSY group., Conclusion: SYSY syndrome presents a persistent pathological state of low inflammation, which may be caused by an insufficient activation of the M1-type metabolic pathway in macrophages in the early acute inflammatory stage, resulting in the incomplete clearance of pathogens and debris and continuous stimulation of macrophages to initiate the M1-type metabolic pathway. CD163, CD31, IL-10, and citric acid can be used as potential specific markers for the recovery and progression of SYSY syndrome., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2021 Yu Liu et al.)

Background: The open-door laminoplasty is an effective procedure for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. However, little information is available about the surgical results of open-door laminoplasty in the treatment of intraspinal tumors. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the clinical effect of open-door laminoplasty with ARCH plate fixation in the treatment of cervical intraspinal tumors., Methods: This was a retrospective study. From January 2013 to May 2018, 38 patients (13 males and 25 females, the average age of 44 ± 17 years) with cervical intraspinal tumors underwent open-door laminoplasty with ARCH plate fixation in our hospital. The operation time, blood loss, pre- and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were determined. To determine the radiographic outcomes, cervical X-ray film and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed before and after the operation, and cervical X-ray sagittal film was used to measure Cobb angle. The clinical data before and after the operation were compared by t-test., Results: A total of 38 patients underwent a successful operation and demonstrated primary healing. The average operation time was 113 ± 12 min. The average blood loss was 120 ± 19 mL. All patients were followed up for 26.1 ± 2.8 months, and the final follow-up time was more than 24 months. VAS scores were much better at 24 months after operation compared with those before the operation, which were decreased from 6.1 ± 1.1 to 1.4 ± 0.7 (t = 32.63, P < 0.01). The JOA score was improved from 9.9 ± 1.5 to 15.5 ± 0.6 (t = - 18.36, P < 0.01), and the mean JOA recovery rate was 79% ± 11% at 24 months after the operation. There was no significant difference in Cobb angle between pre-operation and 24 months after the operation, which was 9.8 ± 2.6 and 10.3 ± 3.1 respectively (t = - 0.61, P > 0.05). Neither spinal malalignment on the coronal plane nor displacement of the laminoplasty flap was observed on postoperative cervical X-ray and MRI examinations at the final follow-up., Conclusions: Open-door laminoplasty with ARCH plate fixation was a safe and effective surgical approach for the treatment of cervical intraspinal tumors.

Objective: To investigate the bone fusion and clinical effect of laminoplasty combined with ARCH plate fixation in the treatment of lumbar intraspinal tumors., Methods: This was a clinical study. From June 2017 to January 2019, 24 patients (seven males and 17 females, average age 40 ± 16 years) with lumbar intraspinal tumors underwent laminoplasty combined with ARCH plate fixation in our hospital. The bone fusion was evaluated by X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scans that were taken 15.2 ± 2.17 months postoperatively. Each segment showed a bone bridge on one side, which was classified as "segmental partial fusion." Each segment showed bilateral bone bridges, which were classified as "segmental complete fusion". When all segments of the patient showed bilateral bone bridging so that the replanted lamina and the host lamina became a unit on the CT scan, it was defined as "complete fusion". In addition, the operation time and blood loss were recorded. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the potential influencing factors of bone healing, including age (≤40 years vs >40 years), gender, number of operated levels (single vs two). Paired t-test was used to analyze pre- and postoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scale and low back and leg pain visual analog scale (VAS)., Results: A total of 33 segments of laminoplasty were successfully performed in 24 patients. The average operation time was 128 ± 18 minutes. The average blood loss was 110 ± 19 mL. All patients were followed up at least 12 months after operation (average, 15.2 ± 2.17 months). At the final follow-up, according to the definition of this study, the proportion of "segmental partial fusion" and "segmental complete fusion" were 30.3% (10/33) and 69.7% (23/33), respectively. And the proportion of patients with "complete fusion" was 70.8% (17/24). Age, gender, and number of operated levels were not associated with the fusion (P = 1.0, 0.37, and 0.06, respectively). ODI and VAS were much better at 1 month after operation and the final follow-up than those before the operation (P < 0.01). At 6 months after operation, the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the supraspinous ligament was repaired, and there were no complications, such as spinal epidural scar recompression., Conclusions: Laminoplasty combined with ARCH plate was a better surgical method, and 70.8% of the patients showed complete bone fusion and there was no case of bilateral nonunion., (© 2020 The Authors. Orthopaedic Surgery published by Chinese Orthopaedic Association and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: Revascularization for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD) is advancing rapidly and is used increasingly in old patients. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of revascularization with drug therapy in CAD patients aged over 80 years at a real-world clinical setting., Methods: A total of 501 CAD patients aged over 80 years were consecutively enrolled from January 2011 to January 2016 in Anzhen Hospital (Beijing, China), Capital Medical University. The patients were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (n=283), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (n=106), or drug therapy (n=112). All-cause mortality, cardiovascular-related mortality, readmission rate, and Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) score were compared between the three treatment methods., Results: A total of 411 patients (82.04%) were followed with a median duration of 25 months. All-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related mortality in the drug therapy group were significantly higher than the PCI and CABG groups (both P<0.05). Readmission rate for cardiovascular events in the CABG group was significantly lower than the PCI and drug therapy groups (both P<0.05). Scores of physical limitation, angina frequency, treatment satisfaction, and disease perception of the SAQ in the PCI and CABG groups were significantly higher than the drug therapy group (both P<0.05). Scores of angina stability did not differ significant between the three groups (P=0.127)., Conclusions: Revascularization is superior to drug therapy in efficacy and safety in the treatment of oldest-old patients with CAD., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/cdt-20-185). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2020 Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy. All rights reserved.)

CRISPR/Cas genome editing is a simple, cost effective, and highly specific technique for introducing genetic variations. In mammalian cells, CRISPR/Cas can facilitate non-homologous end joining, homology- directed repair, and single-base exchanges. Cas9/Cas12a nuclease, dCas9 transcriptional regulators, base editors, PRIME editors and RNA editing tools are widely used in basic research. Currently, a variety of CRISPR/Cas-based therapeutics are being investigated in clinical trials. Among many new findings that have advanced the field, we highlight a few recent advances that are relevant to CRISPR/Cas-based gene therapies for monogenic human genetic diseases., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) exist in various tumors including the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) as a minor subpopulation and are tightly associated with metastasis and therapeutic resistance. Better understanding of CSCs properties is essential for the novel therapeutic strategy targeted toward these cancers. The cSCC stem cells (cSCCSCs) were enriched from a cSCC cell line A431 by repeated sphere culture, and identified via the expression analysis of stemness marker genes and CD44 proteolysis. MiR-199a-5p was previously reported to be related with the proteolysis modulation of CD44, so the specific regulation mechanisms were verified by overexpression in vitro and in vivo . MiR-199a-5p is under-expressed in cSCCSCs and functions as a tumor suppressive molecule. Overexpression of miR-199a-5p reduced the stemness of cSCCSCs and inhibited cell proliferation. By targeting the deacetylase Sirt1, miR-199a-5p inhibited cellular proteolysis of CD44 and reduced the CD44 intracellular domain (CD44ICD) release and nuclear translocation. Overexpression of CD44ICD reversed the effects of miR-199a-5p overexpression or Sirt1 silencing, and increased the transcriptional expression of stemness genes. Our results revealed that the miR-199a-5p/Sirt1/CD44ICD signaling pathway regulates cSCCSCs progression by affecting its migration ability and tumorigenicity, therefore can be utilized to develop a curative approach for cSCC. Abbreviations : CSCs: cancer stem cells; cSCC cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma; cSCCSCs: cSCC stem cells; CD44ICD: CD44 intracellular domain; HA: hyaluronic acid; HNSCC: hand and neck squamous cell carcinoma; ESCC: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma;MMPs: matrix metalloproteinases; SFM: sphere formation medium; EGF: epidermal growth factor; bFGF: basic fibroblast growth factor; BSA: bovine serum albumin; CCK-8: cell counting kit-8.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) in octogenarians (age of ≥80 years) has a high risk of mortality and high medical expenses. Research shows that the prevalence of CAD is higher among octogenarians than that among younger people, but few such patients undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study aimed to evaluate different treatments with respect to their clinical effects and impacts on quality of life of octogenarians with CAD., Methods: Data of 519 octogenarians with CAD consecutively treated at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University (Beijing, China) from January 2010 to January 2016 were collected in this study. The patients were categorized into three groups based on the treatments they received: the PCI group (n = 292), CABG group (n = 110), and medical treatment group (n = 117). The followings were recorded during follow-up: clinical data, death (all-cause and cardiovascular-related), re-hospitalization time, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) score, and occurrence of hemorrhagic events (cerebral bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, and dermal ecchymosis)., Results: The median follow-up duration was 25.0 (25th, 75th percentile: 17.0, 55.5) months among 417 patients. The all-cause death rates (28.2% vs. 12.0% and 14.6%, respectively) and cardiovascular-related death rates (15.4% vs. 3.8% and 6.4%, respectively) were significantly higher in the medical treatment group than those in the PCI group and CABG group (all P < 0.05). The re-hospitalization rate for cardiovascular events was significantly lower in the CABG group than those in the PCI group and medical treatment group (3.8% vs. 12.8% and 14.9%, respectively) (χ = 8.238, P = 0.018). The SAQ scores of physical limitation, angina frequency, treatment satisfaction, and disease perception were significantly higher in the PCI group and CABG group than those in the medical treatment group (all P < 0.05). No significant difference in the angina stability score was observed among the three groups (F = 3.179, P = 0.204)., Conclusion: PCI and CABG result in reduced mortality and better quality of life in octogenarians with CAD.

Up to now, a nation-wide scale study of surface ozone (O 3 ) concentrations in China was limited due to scarce observation. Thanks to the establishment of national air quality monitoring network in 2013, surface O 3 data from 1402 stations during 2014-2017 were collected to investigate O 3 seasonality. Our analysis reveals that the variations of monthly O 3 averaged from daily mean concentration during a year show different temporal profiles depending on latitude. A unimodal structure (UMS) is generally found for latitudes over 35°N, whereas a bimodal structure (BMS) is in most of the cases identified south of 35°N. The peak of UMS is found in the period of May to July, whereas the first and second peaks of BMS are found from April to June, and from July to October, respectively. In addition, the seasonality of O 3 presents a strong dependence on pseudo-equivalent potential temperature and monsoonal clouds. The onset and retreat of warm and wet air are correlated to the summer minimum in BMS cases and to the sharp decrease of UMS in July. As far as the relationships between O 3 and carbon monoxide are concerned, the effects of clean maritime air masses on the summer trough of O 3 are not significant for inland sites. Overall, summer monsoon bringing warm and moist air and subsequent clouds leads to the suppression of photochemical production, thereby contributing directly to the geographical distribution of O 3 seasonality., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Based on ship visas, lockage data, and automatic identification system (AIS) data, vessel emission inventories for inland rivers of Jiangsu Province were established by using a vessel power-based approach, and the characteristics of vessel emissions were also discussed. The results showed that NO x , SO 2 , PM 2.5 , PM 10 , hydrocarbons (HC), CO, and CO 2 emissions of inland ships in 2014 were 1.87×10 5 , 5.13×10 4 , 8.2×10 3 , 1.1×10 4 , 6.4×10 3 , 1.67×10 4 , and 1.05×10 7 t, respectively, for inland vessels (excluding the Yangtze River), and dry cargo ships had the largest pollutant emissions. The highest pollutant emissions were found in the tonnage range of 200-600 t, and the highest pollutant emissions were found during the normal navigation conditions of ships. For the arrival of ships in the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River, the non-container cargo ships had the highest pollutant emissions, and the emissions of pollutants were the highest under loading and unloading conditions. Under a cruise state, the main engine and auxiliary engine were the main emission units for different power units; for transit ships in the Jiangsu section of the Yangtze River, non-container cargo ships had the highest pollutant emissions, followed by oil tankers. The highest emissions of all pollutants occurred under slow driving conditions, and for different power units, the emissions of SO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 from the main engine were higher than those from the auxiliary engine. The emissions of atmospheric pollutants along the channel length of the channel of the North Jiangsu section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal were relatively large, followed by those of the South Jiangsu Channel. The inland ship emissions in Jiangsu Province were less affected by time, except for the slightly smaller proportion of emissions in February, and the proportion of emissions in other months was basically uniform, where values ranged from 8% to 10%.

The typical photochemical pollution process in Guangzhou was analyzed from 2010 to 2016 by observing photochemical pollutants (ozone (O 3 ), peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and nitric oxide (NO)) and meteorological factors at the Guangzhou Panyu Atmospheric Composition Station (GPACS). The results showed that during this photochemical pollution process, the average O 3 and PAN concentrations were relatively high:O 3,max 1 h concentration was 140.6×10 -9 and PAN max 1 h concentration was 4.7×10 -9 . The average concentration of NO was low, which had little effect on O 3 titration and PAN elimination. The high NO 2 concentration, strong radiation, and low wind speed all led to the formulation and accumulation of O 3 and PAN. The linear relationship between O 3 and PAN ( R 2 =0.55) was affected by the fact that their precursor VOCs were not similar. Ethene, propane, isoprene, and toluene had a large influence in PAN formation, while isoprene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, propene, m,p -xylene, and toluene had a large influence on O 3 formation potential. When evaluating PA concentration, we found that its daily average concentration ranged from 0.11×10 -12 to 0.16×10 -12 , which were higher than many places around the world, indicating that this photochemical process was relatively intensive.

Background: Unfractionated heparin (UFH), despite its limitations, has been used as the primary anticoagulant alternative during the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Some studies indicated that intravenous enoxaparin could be an effective and safe option. Our team used enoxaparin alone at one time according to the guidelines (Class IIA) and found a little catheter thrombosis during PCI. We recommend a new anticoagulation strategy using enoxaparin in combination with UFH. Enoxaparin has a more predictable anticoagulant response with no need of repeatedly monitoring anticoagulation during PCI. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using enoxaparin in combination with UFH in PCI patients with complex coronary artery disease., Methods: Between January 2015 and April 2017, 600 PCI patients who received intravenous UFH at an initial dose of 3000 U plus intravenous enoxaparin at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg (observation group) and 600 PCI patients who received UFH at a dose of 100 U/kg (control group) were consecutively included in this retrospective study. The endpoints were postoperative 48-h thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) bleeding and transfusion and 30-day and 1-year major adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events (MACCE)., Results: Baseline clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics were similar between groups, except there was less stent implantation per patient in the observation group (2.13 vs. 2.25 in the control group, P = 0.002). TIMI bleeding (3.3% vs. 4.7%) showed no significant difference between the observation group and control group. During the 30-day follow-up, the rate of MACCE was 0.9% in the observation group and 1.5% in the control group. There was no significant difference in the rates of MACCE, death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, cerebrovascular event, and angina within 30 days and 1 year after PCI between groups as well as in the subgroup analysis of transfemoral approach., Conclusions: UFH with sequential enoxaparin has similar anticoagulant effect and safety as UFH in PCI of complex coronary artery disease., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest

BACKGROUND It is now widely acknowledged that chronic inflammation is closely associated with the process of cancer development. As a simple noninvasive blood-based test, hematological parameters in the routine blood test have been considered as inflammation markers. We aimed to evaluate platelet count (PC), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), white blood cell count (WBC), mean platelet volume (MPV), number of neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio (NLR), and platelet count/lymphocytes ratio (PLR) as surrogate inflammatory markers in breast cancer (BC) patients, and we compared these to those in healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective study was conducted in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from July 2014 to April 2015, including 110 cases of pathologically diagnosed BC patients and 78 cases of healthy females. Retrospective analysis of selected hematological parameters was performed between the 2 groups, as well as assessment of the correlation between these indexes and clinicopathological characteristics of the 110 breast cancer patients. RESULTS The mean values of RDW, MPV, NLR, and PLR were significantly higher in BC patients compared to the control group. The level of MPV exhibited positive correlations with lymph node metastasis and the Ki67 proliferation index in preoperative BC patients (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis further showed that MPV was independently associated with the risk of BC lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Hematological parameters of RDW, MPV, NLR, and PLR can be used as an adjuvant tool for the diagnosis of BC. More importantly, the value of MPV can reflect the Ki67 proliferation index before surgery and identify patients with positive lymph node metastasis.

An analysis was made by using historical observational data of Guangzhou Panyu Atmospheric Composition Station(GPACS). The results showed that typical haze processes accompanied with high ozone episodes happened during the period from September 2rd, 2011 to September 5th, 2011(P 1 ) and the period from June 12th, 2012 to June 15th, 2012(P 2 ) respectively. During the two combined pollution processes (P 1 and P 2 ), daily visibility ranged from 5.78 km to 6.91 km and from 5.60 km to 9.25 km, and the maximum 8 h O 3 reached 92.14×10 -9 and 91.29×10 -9 respectively. Among the 55 detected volatile organic compounds(VOCs), alkenes and aromatics had the highest reactivity with the 41%, 39% proportions of equivalent propylene concentration and the proportions of 28%, 54% in the aspect of ozone formation potential during P 1 . Alkenes and aromatics contributed 35% and 46% of equivalent propylene concentration, as well as 22% and 61% to ozone formation potential during P 2 . In terms of SOA formation potential by FAC estimation, alkanes, alkenes and aromatics accounted for 13.2%, 21.4%, 65.4% during P 1 and 4.6%, 13.8%, 81.6% during P 2 respectively. Toluene, isoprene, ethylbenzene and m,p -Xylene had large contributions to the ozone and SOA formation. Factors including pollutants transported from the downtown area, continuous gentle wind, high temperature, low humidity and strong radiation gave rise to the occurrence of high ozone episodes in these two haze processes.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) existing in miRNAs correlate with the susceptibility to urological cancers. However, a clear consensus still not reached due to the limited statistical power in individual study. Thus, we concluded a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association between microRNA SNPs and urological cancer risk. Eligible studies were collected from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI databases. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated to assess the strength of the relationships between three SNPs (miR-196a2, C>T rs11614913; miR-146a, G>C rs2910164; and miR-499, A>G rs3746444) and the risk of urological cancers. In addition, the stability of our analysis was evaluated by publication bias, sensitivity and heterogeneity analysis. Overall, a total of 17,019 subjects from 14 studies were included in this meta-analysis. We found that CT (miR-196a2, C>T rs11614913) was a risk factor for renal cell carcinoma (CT vs. CC: OR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.05-2.80, P = 0.03, I 2 = 66%), especially in Asian population (CT vs. CC: OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.04-1.32, P < 0.01, I 2 = 0%). miR-146a G>C rs2910164 was a protective factor of urological cancers (C vs. G: OR = 0.87, 95%CI = 0.81-0.93, P < 0.01, I 2 = 0%), especially for bladder cancer. miR-499 A>G rs3746444 was correlated with an increased risk of urological cancers, specifically in Asian population. In conclusion, our meta-analysis suggests that polymorphisms in microRNAs, miR-196a2, C>T rs11614913, miR-146a G>C rs2910164 and miR-499 A>G rs3746444, may be associated with the development of urological cancers and the risks mainly exist in Asian populations.

To evaluate the impact of emission control measures on the air quality in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of South China, statistic data including atmospheric observations, emissions and energy consumptions during 2006-2014 were analyzed, and a Weather Research and Forecasting - Community Multi-scale Air Quality (WRF-CMAQ) model was used for various scenario simulations. Although energy consumption doubled from 2004 to 2014 and vehicle number significantly increased from 2006 to 2014, ambient SO 2 , NO 2 and PM 10 were reduced by 66%, 20% and 24%, respectively, mainly due to emissions control efforts. In contrast, O 3 increased by 19%. Model simulations of three emission control scenarios, including a baseline (a case in 2010), a CAP (a case in 2020 assuming control strength followed past control tendency) and a REF (a case in 2020 referring to the strict control measures based on recent policy/plans) were conducted to investigate the variations of air pollutants to the changes in NO x , VOCs and NH 3 emissions. Although the area mean concentrations of NO x , nitrate and PM 2.5 decreased under both NO x CAP (reduced by 1.8%, 0.7% and 0.2%, respectively) and NO x REF (reduced by 7.2%, 1.8% and 0.3%, respectively), a rising of PM 2.5 was found in certain areas as reducing NO x emissions elevated the atmospheric oxidizability. Furthermore, scenarios with NH 3 emission reductions showed that nitrate was sensitive to NH 3 emissions, with decreasing percentages of 0-10.6% and 0-48% under CAP and REF, respectively. Controlling emissions of VOCs reduced PM 2.5 in the southwestern PRD where severe photochemical pollution frequently occurred. It was also found that O 3 formation in PRD was generally VOCs-limited while turned to be NO x -limited in the afternoon (13:00-17:00), suggesting that cutting VOCs emissions would reduce the overall O 3 concentrations while mitigating NO x emissions in the afternoon could reduce the peak O 3 levels., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Many miRNAs are associated with the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and some exhibit potential prognostic value. In this study, to further confirm the prognostic value of miRNAs in HCC, we employed miRNA-sequencing data of tumor tissues of 372 HCC patients released by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and identified 3 miRNAs including miR-22, miR-9-1 and miR-9-2 could be used as independent predictors for HCC prognostic evaluation. As a tumor-suppressive miRNA, miR-22 was down-regulated in HCC tissues. This down-regulation correlated with tumor vascular invasion, Edmondson-Steiner grade, TNM stage, and AFP level. Moreover, biofunctional investigations revealed that miR-22 significantly attenuated cellular proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Additionally, through gene expression profiles and bioinformatics analysis, YWHAZ was identified to be a direct target of miR-22 and its overexpression partially counteracted the inhibitory effects of miR-22 on HCC cells. Finally, molecular studies further confirmed that miR-22 promoted the accumulation of FOXO3a in nucleus and subsequently reversed invasive phenotype of HCC cells by repressing YWHAZ-mediated AKT phosphorylation. Taken together, these data demonstrate that miR-22 exhibits tumor-suppressive effects in HCC cells by regulating YWHAZ/AKT/FOXO3a signaling and might be used as an independent prognostic indicator for HCC patients.

Many long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be abnormally expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and may have the potential to serve as prognostic markers. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate the prognostic value of various lncRNAs in HCC. Eligible literatures were systematically collected from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (up to December 30, 2015). The main outcomes including overall survival, relapse-free survival, and disease-free survival were analyzed. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models. A total of 2,991 patients with HCC in People's Republic of China from 27 studies were included in the analysis. The level of lncRNAs showed a significant association with clinical outcomes. Abnormally elevated lncRNA transcription level predicted poor overall survival (HR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.20-2.34, P=0.002; I (2)=75.5%, P=0.000) and relapse-free survival (HR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.65-2.61, P<0.001; I (2)=24.0%, P=0.215), while no association was observed with disease-free survival of HCC patients (HR: 1.39, 95% CI: 0.51-3.78, P=0.524; I (2)=81.3%, P=0.005). Subgroup analysis further showed that lncRNA transcription level was significantly associated with tumor size (relative risk [RR]: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.01-1.39, P=0.035), microvascular invasion (RR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.10-1.89, P=0.009), and portal vein tumor thrombus (RR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.03-2.20, P=0.036). Publication bias and sensitivity analysis further confirmed the stability of our results. Our present meta-analysis indicates that abnormal lncRNA transcription level may serve as a promising indicator for prognostic evaluation of patients with HCC in People's Republic of China.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly human cancers due to its ability of invasion and metastasis. Thus, the approaches to identify potential compounds that inhibit invasion and metastasis of HCC are critical for treatment of this disease. In the present study, we used HCCLM9 cells with high metastatic potential and MHCC97L with low metastatic potential as a model system to study the molecular mechanisms of HCC metastasis. By applying cell- Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment (SELEX) against living cells, we used HCCLM9 as target cells and MHCC97L cells as control to screen a group of HCC metastasis- and cell-specific DNA aptamers. One of selected aptamers, LY-1, could specifically bind to metastatic HCC with a dissociation constant (Kd) in nanomolar range. In vitro studies demonstrated that LY-1 can recognize and bind to membrane protein of metastatic HCC cells. Furthermore, QD605 labeled LY-1 aptamer could recognize HCC cells in both local liver cancer tissues and pulmonary metastatic sites in a xenograft model of HCC with pulmonary metastasis. Further biochemical and immunostaining studies showed that LY-1 could selectively bind to a subpopulation of more metastatic cells in HCCLM9 cells, which express more CK19 and vimentin. Finally, treatment of highly metastatic cells with LY-1 led to reduced migration and invasiveness of HCCLM9 cells in vitro and suppression of xenograft growth in vivo. Taken together, the present study demonstrated the tumor targeting and tumor suppressive effects of LY-1, which could be a promising molecular probe for metastatic HCC and a potential candidate of chemotherapy for metastatic HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide due to latent liver disease, late diagnosis, and nonresponse to systemic treatments. Till now, surgical and/or biopsy specimens are still generally used as a gold standard by the clinicians for clinical decision-making. However, apart from their invasive characteristics, tumor biopsy only mirrors a single spot of the tumor, failing to reflect current cancer dynamics and progression. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new diagnostic strategies with significant effectiveness and reliability to monitor high-risk populations and detect HCC at an early stage. In the past decade, the potent utilities of "liquid biopsy" have attracted intense concern and were developed to evaluate cancer progression in several clinical trials. "Liquid biopsies" represent a series of noninvasive tests that detect cancer byproducts easily accessible in peripheral blood, mainly including circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) that are shed into the blood from the tumor sites. In this review, we focus on the recent developments in the field of "liquid biopsy" as well as the diagnostic and prognostic significance of CTCs and cfNAs in HCC patients.

Relapse and metastasis are two key risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis; thus, it is emergent to develop an early and accurate detection method for prognostic evaluation of HCC after surgery. In this study, we sought to acquire oligonucleotide DNA aptamers that specifically bind to HCC cells with high metastatic potential. Two HCC cell lines derived from the same genetic background but with different metastatic potential were employed: MHCC97L (low metastatic properties) as subtractive targets and HCCLM9 (high metastatic properties) as screening targets. To mimic a fluid combining environment, initial DNA aptamers library was firstly labelled with magnetic nanoparticles using biotin-streptavidin system and then applied for aptamers selection. Through 10-round selection with subtractive Cell-SELEX, six aptamers, LY-1, LY-13, LY-46, LY-32, LY-27/45, and LY-7/43, display high affinity to HCCLM9 cells and do not bind to MHCC97L cells, as well as other tumor cell lines, including breast cancer, lung cancer, colon adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, and cervical cancer, suggesting high specificity for HCCLM9 cells. Thus, the aptamers generated here will provide solid basis for identifying new diagnostic targets to detect HCC metastasis and also may provide valuable clues for developing new targeted therapeutics.

Background: Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is being increasingly recognized as a cause of thoracic myelopathy. This study was to describe a rare clinical entity of spinal cord kinking (SK) in thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF., Methods: The data of 95 patients with thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence and location of SK were determined using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical presentation and radiological characteristics in patients with SK were analyzed. Posterior en bloc laminectomy with OLF was performed, and the surgical results were evaluated., Results: SK was found in seven patients (7.4%) based on preoperative MRI. The patients included one male and six females with an average age of 55.6 years (range, 48-64 years). Five patients presented with radiculomyelopathy and two presented with typical thoracic myelopathy of spastic paraparesis. In all cases, the kinking was located just above the end of the spinal cord where the conus medullaris (CM) was compressed by the OLF. The degree of SK varied from mild to severe. The tip of the CM was located between the upper third of T11 to the lower third of L1, above the lower edge of L1. With an average follow-up of 30.4 months, the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score significantly improved from 5.7 ± 1.8 preoperatively to 8.9 ± 1.4 postoperatively (t = 12.05; P < 0.0001) with an improvement rate of 63.1 ± 12.3%., Conclusions: SK is a rare radiological phenomenon. It is typically located at the thoracolumbar junction, where the CM is compressed by the OLF. Our findings indicate that these patients may benefit from a posterior decompressive procedure.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of 3 molluscicides namely 5% niclosamide ethanolamine granules, 4% "Luowei" (Tea-seed distilled saponins, TDS) and 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPN) by spraying and poudrage methods in marshland and lake regions in dry season., Methods: An environment with a high snail density was chosen as the experimental field, then the spraying and poudrage experiments were carried out in the field to assess the molluscicidal effects of 5% niclosamide ethanolamine granules, TDS and WPN delivered by spraying and poudrage methods with a concentration of 30, 6 and 2 g/m2, respectively, and the molluscicidal effects of the 3 drugs by the two methods were evaluated and compared in different time., Results: After the delivery for 15 d, the adjusted snail death rates of the 5% niclosamide ethanolamine granules, TDS and WPN in the spraying experiment were 79.00%, 82.29% and 84.83%, respectively, and those in the poudrage experiments were 97.42%, 95.27% and 96.62%, respectively., Conclusion: The molluscicidal effect of poudrage method is better than the spraying method, and the former is worthy of further extension and application in the marshland in dry season.

This study was conducted with different additional carbon sources (such as: glucose, DL-malic acid, citrate, urea and ammonium acetate) to elucidate the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aged contaminated soil under an indoor simulation experiment. The results showed that the quantity of CO2 emission in different additional carbon sources treatments was obviously much more than that of check treatment in the first week, and the quantity of CO2 emission in DL-malic acid treatment was the largest. The average CO2 production decreased in an order urea > glucose approximately citrate approximately DL-malic acid approximately ammonium acetate > check. Meanwhile, the amount of volatized PAHs in applied carbon sources treatments was significantly less than that in check treatment. The amount of three volatized PAHs decreased in an order phenanthrene > fluoranthene > benzo(b)fluoranthene. Compared with the check treatment, the average degradation rates of the three PAHs were significantly augmented in the supplied carbon sources treatments, in which rates of the three PAHs were much higher in DL-malic acid and urea treatments than those in other treatments. The largest proportion of residual was benzo(b)fluoranthene (from 72% to 81%) among three PAHs compounds, followed by fluoranthene (from 53% to 70% ) and phenanthrene (from 27% to 44%).

The Shijiuyang ecological wetland for drinking water of Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province is one of the biggest constructed wetlands for water resource protection in China. To ensure a deep understanding of the present status of the wetland vegetation of Shijiuyang ecological wetland which has been run for 2.5 years and provide support for the vegetation management of ecological wetland, systematic investigation was carried out by using plot method and quadrat method in October to November, 2010. The species composition, dynamics of plant diversity and the biomass production during operation were analyzed. Altogether 70 species belonging to 28 families and 62 genera were recorded. Among them, there were 26 wetland plants, 20 mesophytes, 14 emergent, 4 submerged, 6 floating ones. Compared with the preliminary stage, the species numbers of wetland plants increased significantly from 15 species to 70 species. The spatial pattern of riparian species diversity was examined by adopting the Simpson index and Shannon-Wiener index as species diversity indices. The results showed that the riparian species diversity was higher in the west of the Beijiaohe river (Simpson index = 0.468 3, Shannon-Wiener index = 0.835 2) than that in the south of the Dongsheng Road (Simpson index = 0.357 6, Shannon-Wiener index = 0.660 4). The analyses of quantitative characteristics of wetland vegetation showed that the plants in the root-channel purification zone in the south of the Dongsheng Road grew better than those in the west of the Beijiaohe river. With regard to the riparian vegetation, the riparian plants in the west of the Beijiaohe river were more abundant. The mean biomass production (dry weight) in the root-channel purification zone was 1.73 kg x m(-2) and the total area was 9.12 x 10(4) m2, so the total biomass production was estimated to be 157.8 t. In the same way, the mean riparian vegetation biomass production(dry weight) was 0.83 kg x m(-2) and the total vegetation area was 3.75 x 10(4) m2, so the total riparian vegetation biomass production(dry weight) was estimated as 31.1 t.

The development characteristics and improvement measures of aquatic plants were studied in Shijiuyang Constructed Wetland (SCW) at its initial operation stage. SCW was a large-scale wetland aiming to help relieve the source water pollution in Jiaxing City. A checklist of vascular plants in SCW was built, and species composition, life forms, biomass and association distributions were examined. Our objectives were to examine the diversity and community structure of aquatic plants in SCW at its initial operation stage, and to find out the possible hydrophyte improvement measures. The survey results showed that there were 49 vascular plant species belonging to 41 genera, 25 families in SCW, which greatly exceeded the artificially transplanted 13 species. The life forms of present aquatic plants in SCW were dominated by hygrophilous plants (20 species) and emerged plants (17 species), which accounted for 75.5% of the total number of aquatic plants. The aquatic plants transplanted artificially were dominated by emerged plants (accounted for 69.2%), while those naturally developed were predominated by hygrophilous plants (accounted for 47.2%). The horizontal distribution of aquatic plant community in SCW was mixed in the form of mosaics, which made up typical association complex. Except association Aeschynomene indica L., the dominant species of other associations were all those transplanted artificially. The naturally grown species scattered throughout the SCW and only occupied a small percentage. A marked difference was detected on the species and species richness of aquatic plants in different regions of SCW. Biomass of aquatic plant associations in SCW was 167.7 t. SCW has shown a trend of succession heading for quick increase of plant diversity at the primary operation stage. This trend provides a good material base for the future stable community of aquatic plants in SCW. According to the current status of aquatic plants, some suggestions were put forward on the further optimization and utilization of aquatic plant systems in SCW.

Runoff samples were collected from 14 source areas in Hanyang district during four rain events in an attempt to investigate the spatial differentiation and influencing factors of urban stormwater runoff quality. The outcomes are expected to offer practical guidance in sources control of urban runoff pollution. The results revealed that particle-bound proportion of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in stormwater runoff were 58% +/- 17%, 65% +/- 13% and 92% +/- 6%, respectively. The fractions of ammonia, nitrate and dissolved organic nitrogen were homogeneous in dissolved nitrogen composition. Urban surface function, traffic volume, land use, population density, and street sweeping practice are the main factors determining spatial differentiation of urban surface runoff quality. The highest magnitude of urban stormwater runoff pollution was expected in the old urban residential area, followed by general residential with restaurants, commercial and transport area, new developments and green land. In addition, the magnitude of road stormwater runoff pollution is positively correlated to traffic volume, in the following order: the first trunk road > the second trunk road > minor road. Street sweeping and critical source areas controls should be implemented to mitigate the adverse effects of urban stormwater runoff on receive waters.

Endothelial lipase, which is a newly identified member of the lipase family, plays an important role in high-density lipoprotein metabolism, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of high-density lipoprotein phospholipids and facilitates the clearance of high-density lipoprotein from the circulation. In addition, inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), upregulate endothelial lipase expression, and endothelial lipase also affects the expression of cytokines, which in turn play an important role in atherogenesis. Endothelial lipase expression has been associated with macrophages within human atherosclerotic lesions. However, an important challenge is to determine how endothelial lipase alters the progression of atherosclerosis. Although few data are available from human studies, it seems that plasma endothelial lipase levels in individuals with atherosclerosis might be higher than that measured in healthy individuals. Therefore, we believe that endothelial lipase might be a promising marker for atherosclerosis in clinical settings in the future., (Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

In our recent work, a series of dendritic chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were synthesized, in which the chiral selector was L-2-(p-toluenesulfonamido)-3-phenylpropionyl chloride (selector I), and the CSP derived from three-generation dendrimer showed the best separation ability. To further investigate the influence of the structures of dendrimer and chiral selector on enantioseparation ability, in this work, another series CSPs (CSPs 1-4) were prepared by immobilizing (1S,2R)-1,2-diphenyl-2-(3-phenylureido)ethyl 4-isocyanatophenylcarbamate (selector II) on one- to four-generation dendrimers that were prepared in previous work. CSPs 1 and 4 demonstrated the equivalent enantioseparation ability. CSPs 2 and 3 showed the best and poorest enantioseparation ability respectively. Basically, these two series of CSPs exhibited the equivalent enantioseparation ability although the chiral selectors were different. Considering the enantioseparation ability of the CSP derived from aminated silica gel and selector II is much better than that of the one derived from aminated silica gel and selector I, it is believed that the dendrimer conformation essentially impacts enantioseparation., (Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

This study was conducted with amaranth as a representative leafy vegetable to elucidate the effects of application of different fertilizers such as inorganic nitrogen and organic fertilizers, which were widely used in agricultural production, on the extractable concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aged contaminated soil under a greenhouse incubation experiment. The results show that the extractable concentrations of phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Flt) and benzo (b) fluoranthene (BbF) decrease significantly in organic fertilizer treatments than those in inorganic nitrogen fertilizer treatments (p < 0.05). In the same sampling time and treatment, the ratios of extractable concentrations to primary concentrations in aged contaminated soil of three PAHs increase in an order, BbF < Flt < Phe (p < 0.05), showing that the adsorption of PAHs among soil components varies clearly with their physicochemical properties. The extractable concentrations of three PAHs are significantly higher in unvegetated soil than those in rhizosphere soil (p < 0.05).

In this study, an experimental rat ligated heart model was used to observe the effect of treatment with carvedilol, metoprolol and metoprolol plus a highly selective alpha(1)-adrenergic blocking agent, bunazosin, after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Compared with an untreated MI group, all drug-treated groups demonstrated attenuation of inflammatory mediators, activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and increased levels of mRNA and active protein for the collagenases matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-8 and MMP-13 in the non-infarct zone of the ventricle, as well as inhibition of the increase of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Supplementation of metoprolol with bunazosin did not add greatly to the effects of metoprolol alone. Of the three drug treatments, carvedilol showed a uniquely potent antioxidant activity that may strengthen its capacity to inhibit oxidative stress, the release of inflammatory mediators and activation of NF-kappaB. This study may help provide a mechanistic explanation for the greater benefits shown by carvedilol compared with metoprolol in treating heart failure.

A chiral selector was prepared through the reaction between (1S,2R)-(+)-2-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol and phenyl isocyanate. This selector was immobilized on aminated silica gel, respectively, with bifunctional group linkers of 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate, methylene-di-p-phenyl diisocyanate, and terephthaloyl chloride to produce corresponding three chiral stationary phases. The prepared compounds and chiral stationary phases were characterized by FT-IR, elemental analysis, (1)H NMR, and solid-state (1)H NMR. The enantioseparation ability of these chiral stationary phases was evaluated with structurally various chiral compounds. The chiral stationary phase prepared with 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate as linker showed excellent enantioseparation ability. The influence of different linkages on the enantioseparation was discussed.

Sampling and monitoring of runoff and sewage water in Wuhan urban area with combined sewer system were carried out during the period from 2003 to 2006, to study the transport and sources of runoff pollution at the catchment scale coupled with environmental geochemistry method. The results showed a change in quality between the runoff entering the sewer network and the combined storm water flow at the sewer's outlet. A significant increase was observed in the concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), COD, TN, and TP, and in the proportion of COD linked to particles. During the runoff production and transport, the concentrations of TSS and COD increased from 18.7 mg/L and 37.0 mg/L in roof runoff, to 225.3 mg/L and 176.5 mg/L in street runoff, and to 449.7 mg/L and 359.9 mg/L in combined storm water flow, respectively. The proportion of COD linked to particles was increased by 18%. In addition, the total phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) contents in urban ground dust, storm drain sediment, sewage sewer sediment and combined sewer sediment were measured to identify the potential sources of suspended solids in the combined flow. The urban ground dust andstorm drain sediment wererich in Fe, whereas the sewage sewer sediment was rich in P. The P/Fe ratios in these groups were significantly distinct and able to differentiate them. A calculation of the two storm events based on the P/Fe rations showed that 56% +/- 26% of suspended solids in combined flow came from urban ground and storm drain. The rest wer e originated from the sewage sewer sediments which deposited in combined sewer on the dry weather days and were eroded on the wet weather days. The combined sewer network not only acts as a transport system, but also constitutes a physicochemical reactor that degrades the quality of urban water. Reducing the in-sewer pollution stocks would effectively control urban runoff pollution.

The transfer and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from aged contaminated agricultural soil to vegetable was studied. The results show that the positive correlation between the PAHs concentrations in tested vegetables and those in the corresponding soils is present. The PAHs concentrations in contaminated soils are significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that in roots, stems and leaves of vegetables, and the PAHs concentrations in roots are also significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that in stems and leaves. The ratio of sum of low molecular weight PAHs to total PAHs concentrations (Sigma LMW-PAHs/Sigma PAHs) in polluted vegetable roots is higher than that in corresponding soils (p < 0.05), and LMW-PAHs are more easily accumulated in vegetable roots than HMW-PAHs (high molecular weitht PAHs). The distinction of PAHs concentrations among the four selected leafy vegetables in the same tested soils does not achieve the significant level.

Nitrogen loss characteristics via surface runoff from two typical agricultural catchments into Yuqiao Reservoir--the important drinking water source area for Tianjin city in semi-arid North China were investigated through two-year in-situ monitoring and indoor chemical analysis. The results showed that annual nitrogen export mainly concentrated in the rainy period between June to September. About 41% of the annual water output and 52% of the annual total nitrogen output took place in two rainfall events with rainfall> 60 mm in Taohuasi catchment (T catchment), while the distribution of water and nitrogen export among various rainfalls in Caogezhuang catchment (C catchment) was smooth. The rainfall thresholds for the appearance of water and nitrogen export from the outlet of T catchment and C catchment were 20 mm and 10 mm. The mean annual runoff coefficients of C and T catchments were 0.013 2 and 0.001 6, respectively. The mean annual total nitrogen exports from C catchment and T catchment were 1.048 kg x (hm2 x a)(-1) and 0.158 kg x (hm2 x a)(-1) respectively. The difference of micro-topography, landscape pattern and hydrological pathway between two catchments could explain the nitrogen export gap. Micro-topographical features created by long-term anthropological disturbance decrease the runoff generation ability. The distance between nitrogen source area and the outlet in T catchment was around 1 500 m, while such distance in C catchment was just around 200 m. The short distance added the nitrogen export risk via surface runoff. Road-type hydrological pathway in C catchment could transfer nitrogen into the receiving water via surface runoff directly, while nitrogen could be detained within the pathway by many sink structures such as small stones, vegetated buffer strip and dry ponds in T catchment.

The occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in vegetable soils from five vegetable fields (including: Liuhe, Xixia, Pukou, Jianye and Yuhua districts) in Nanjing outskirt were investigated with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with fluorescence detector. The total concentrations of 15 priority PAHs in 126 soil samples ranged from 21.91 to 533.84ng g(-1) dry weight, and the sum of seven carcinogenic PAHs concentrations varied from 1.48 to 236.19ng g(-1) dry weight. Statistical analysis of the PAHs concentrations showed that the highest PAHs concentration was observed in Liuhe, and the lowest PAHs concentrations were found in Xixia among the five districts. The ratios of fluoranthene to sum of fluoranthene and pyrene concentrations (Flt/(Flt+Pyr)) were more than 0.5 in 99% of vegetable soil samples, showing that the PAHs in soils were generally derived from straw and coal combustion sources. The results from principal component analysis (PCA) further indicated that extensive combustion activities affected the PAHs distribution in Nanjing vegetable soils.

Four dendrimers were synthesized on aminopropyl-modified silica gel using methyl acrylate and ethylene diamine as building blocks by divergent method. Four generations of chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were prepared by coupling of L-2-(p-toluenesulfonamido)-3-phenylpropionyl chloride to corresponding dendrimers. The derivatives prepared on silica gel were characterized by FT-IR, (1)H NMR, and elemental analysis. The selector loadings of these four generations of CSPs generally showed a decrease tendency with the increase of generation numbers of dendrimers. The enantioseparation properties of these CSPs were preliminarily investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The CSP derived from the three-generation dendrimer exhibited the best enantioseparation capability. Effects of the mobile phase composition and molecular structures of racemic mixtures on enantioseparation were further studied., (Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Objective: To investigate the influence of heat shock factor1 (HSF1) on gene expression of inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells induced by burn serum., Methods: Sera were separated from blood of normal rats and rats with severe burns, and the recombinant vector pcDNA3. 1/HSF1 was constructed. RAW264.7 macrophages were divided into non-transfection group, vacant vector group (with burn and normal sera stimulation, respectively after vacant vector transfection) and recombinant vector group (with burn and normal sera stimulation, respectively after recombinant vector transfection). Some recombinant vector transfected macrophages without serum stimulation were prepared for the determination of HSF 1 expression with Western blotting. The mRNA expressions of TNF-alpha, HMGB 1 and IL-10 were determined with RT-PCR., Results: The cell line attained after recombinant vector transfection was comparatively stable,with partial activation of HSF 1. Burn sera markedly upregulated TNF-alpha, HMGB1 mRNA expression (0.910 +/- 0.100, 0.860 +/- 0.020, respectively), but downregulated IL-10 expression (0.430 +/- 0.010, respectively) in normal macrophages, while these genes maintained in a very low level in normal macrophages with normal serum stimulation . macrophages with recombinant vector transfection and burn serum stimulation could obviously inhibit the expression of TNF-alpha and HMGB 1, but enhance the IL-10 gene expression (0.130 +/- 0.100, 0.450 +/- 0.020 , 0.450 +/- 0.020, respectively )when compared with that with vacant vector transfection and burn serum stimulation (0.800 +/- 0.050, 0.880 +/- 0.030, 0.420 +/- 0.010, respectively)., Conclusion: HSF1 can inhibit the expression of some pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophages after a severe burns, indicating that appropriate upregulation of anti-inflammatory mediators might exert protective effects on the organism.

Twelve storm events were surveyed at Shilipu catchment in Wuhan City through three-year monitoring regime. The flow discharges, total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in runoff were measured to study the mechanism of urban stormwater runoff pollution. The relationship between the event pollution load and the antecedent dry weather period was identified to discuss the influence of the urban surface sanitation management, operation of sewer pipe maintenance and rainfall characteristics on the urban stormwater runoff pollution. It was found that the antecedent dry weather period and runoff amount were the important determining factors in the generation of urban stormwater runoff pollution. The event pollution load was positively correlated to the antecedent dry weather period between two rainfall events (R2 = 0.95, p < 0.01). It was the most important hydrological factor influencing the events pollution loads. The best regression equation to estimate pollution load for storm events was developed based on the antecedent dry weather period and runoff depth. Source control including improving urban street sweeping activities and operation of sewer pipe maintenance should be made to reduce the amount of available pollutant over the dry days. It is important alternative to control urban stormwater runoff pollution for Hanyang District.

9 kinds of substrate materials (gravel, aluminite stone, sands, soil, zeolite, ceramic granule, limestone, steel slag and vermiculite) were selected to examine the phosphorus adsorption and removal capacities from runoff by adsorption, captive test and dynamic adsorption experiments. The results showed that these substrate materials had higher removal efficiency for PO4(3-) than those of other phosphorus forms. The adsorption characteristics of the substrates could be described by both Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of these substrates was in the following order: zeolite, soil and vermiculite > ceramic granule, steel slag and limestone > gravel, sands and aluminite stone. The dynamic adsorption capacity was zeolite, soil, limeramic granule, limestone > steel slag, gravel and sands > ceramic granule and vermiculite. In the meanwhile, the releasing phenomena of phosphorus also could be observed in the captive and dynamic test, particularly for vermiculite, ceramic granule and steel slag. In the dynamic adsorption experiment, the removal efficiency of P-pollutants was ranged from 30% to 87% for the substrate materials except vermiculite, ceramic granule and steel slag. The results suggest that zeolite, limestone and soil are appropriate substrates for removing P-pollutants from stormwater.

An off-line filtering ditch-pond system for controlling storm runoff pollution in urban tourist areas was developed, which could retain the first flush effectively, resulting in the decrease of pollutant concentration and suspended solid average grain size, and the improvement of pollutant retention in runoff. This system could be an effective treatment system for storm runoff pollution, particularly for the scarcity of available land use in urban areas. In 2005, the yearly retention rates of TSS, COD, TN and TP were 86.4%, 85.5%, 83.9% and 82.9%, and during a storm event on June 26, the retention rates of runoff volume, TSS, COD, TN and TP were 67.9%, 97.0%, 89.2%, 94.9% and 96.2%, respectively. This system could also retain most of the suspended solids in runoff.