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Abstract Positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been proposed as a means to enhance the pretreatment evaluation of cervical lymph node status in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We conducted a [...]

Acupuncture is used to relieve symptoms, reducing recurrence, and improve the lives of patients with skin diseases.

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In this study, a high-throughput screening method was established through the 24-square deep-well microliter plate (MTP) fermentation and micro-plate detection for large-scale screening of the mutants. It was suitable for screening a large number of mutants and improving the breeding efficiency after heavy-ion beam irradiation. Seventeen strains showed higher cellulase activity compared with the initial strain after the screening of plate and MTP fermentation. The filter paper activity and β-glucosidase activity of Aspergillus nigerH11201 had increased 38.74 and 63.23 % separately compared with A. nigerH11 by shaking flask fermentation, and it was genetically stable after being passaged to nine generations. The results indicate that the high-throughput screening method can be used for the quick breeding of A. nigerwith high cellulase activity.

Under investigation in this paper are the coupled complex short pulse equations, which describe the propagation of ultra-short optical pulses in cubic nonlinear media. Through the Hirota method, bright–dark one- and two-soliton solutions are obtained. Interactions between two bright or two dark solitons are verified to be elastic through the asymptotic analysis. With different parameter conditions, the oblique interactions, bound states of solitons and parallel solitons are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under investigation in this paper are the N -coupled higher-order nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation, which describes the simultaneous N nonlinear wave propagation in a fiber medium with higher order effects. Through the Hirota method, mixed-type one- and two-soliton solutions are obtained. Elastic and inelastic interactions between m -bright- n -dark ( m + n = N ) solitons are derived through the asymptotic analysis. As an example, the oblique interactions and the bound states of the two-bright-one-dark and one-bright-two-dark solitons for 3-NLS equations are analyzed graphically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advancements in early detection and treatment, cancer continues to pose a threat to human health and is the leading cause of death worldwide. According to recent research, the fibronectin type-III domain-containing (FNDC) protein family has been implicated in several different human disorders. However, little is known regarding their expression and prognostic significance in most human malignancies. We carried out a thorough cancer vs. normal expression study using the Oncomine and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) databases, as well as a prognostic evaluation using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter and PrognoScan databases. Oncomine revealed that the mRNA expression levels of FNDC1, FNDC3A, and FNDC3B were higher in most malignancies than in normal tissues, but the mRNA expression levels of FNDC4, FNDC5, FNDC7, and FNDC8 were downregulated in most cancers when compared with normal tissues. In survival analyses based on KM Plotter and PrognoScan, all members of the FNDC family displayed significant correlations with survival outcomes in breast, gastric, and ovarian cancers. Furthermore, the whole FNDC family, except for FNDC7 and FNDC8, was found to have substantial predictive effects in lung adenocarcinoma, but not in squamous cell lung cancer. In addition, potential connections between several FNDC family members and survival results in liver and colorectal malignancies were discovered in this study. One or more members of the FNDC family demonstrated statistically significant differences in expression between cancer and normal tissues, suggesting that they could be used as prognostic biomarkers for specific cancers.

This paper deals with the asymptotic behavior of solutions for the nonlinear Sobolev-Galpern equations. We first show the existence of the global weak attractor in $$ H^{2} {\left( \Omega \right)} \cap H^{1}_{0} {\left( \Omega \right)} $$for the equations. And then by an energy equation we prove that the global weak attractor is actually the global strong attractor. The finite-dimensionality of the global attractor is also established.

In the present paper, we construct two approximate inertial manifolds for the generalized symmetric regularized long wave equations with damping term. The orders of approximations of these manifolds to the global attractor are derived.In the present paper, we construct two approximate inertial manifolds for the generalized symmetric regularized long wave equations with damping term. The orders of approximations of these manifolds to the global attractor are derived.

Abstract: In this paper we consider the Burger-Ginzburg-Landau equations, and prove the existence of the global attractor in , ∀n≥0 with finite Hausdorff and fractal dimensions.

Abstract: In this paper, a dissipative Zakharov equations are discretized by difference method. We make prior estimates for the algebric system of equations. It is proved that for each mesh size, there exist attractors for the discretized system. The bounds of the Hausdorff dimensions of the discrete attractors are obtained, and the various bounds are dependent of the mesh size.

The Zulinqi acupuncture point (GB.41), on the dorsal surface of the foot, is reported traditionally to be effective for treating disorders that occur along the course of the Gall bladder channel. The authors describe its beneficial use in five, widely differing indications and give supporting case histories. The indications discussed are: metatarsal fracture, bruised finger, headache, pain in the hypochondrium, and abdominal Herpes zoster. Its use in these cases is shown to illustrate four important principles of treatment: select lower points for upper diseases, use points on the right for symptoms on the left and vice versa, restrict needling to few but effective points, and apply one point to many purposes.

Recombinant human transforming growth factor soluble receptor Type II (rhTGF-βsRII) corresponding to the 159 amino acid extracellular domain of hTGF-βRII has been expressed in insect cells using the baculovirus expression system or in a mouse myeloma cell line. N-terminal sequence analysis of the purified protein revealed the removal of the 23 amino acid signal peptide. In SDS-PAGE, the rhTGF-βsRII resolves into multiple bands due to N-linked glycosylation. Recombinant hTGF-βsRII is a TGF-β antagonist and will inhibit the biological activities of TGF-β1, TGF-β3, and TGF-β5 on TGF-β-responsive cell lines, such as murine HT-2 or human TF-1 with an ED50of approximately 0.3 μg/mL. However, hTGF-βsRII does not inhibit TGF-β2 bioactivities in these cell lines, suggesting that hTGF-βRII has low affinity for TGF-β2. Polyclonal antibodies to hTGF-βsRII have been produced in goats and purified on Protein-G affinity columns. This antibody can inhibit TGF-β1,2,3,5-dependent bioactivities on human cell lines such as TF-1. Additionally, this antibody has species cross-reactivity and will also inhibit TGF-β-dependent bioactivities on murine cells. These results, taken together, suggest that hTGF-βRII is required for signal-transduction of all TGF-β isoforms, including TGF-β2. rhTGF-βsRII has been used as a capture reagent in conjunction with a TGF-β1-specific polyclonal antibody as the detection antibody in a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the specific measurement of TGF-β1 in complex biological fluids with a minimum detectable dose of approximately 10 pg/mL. Latent TGF-β1 and other TGF-β isoforms do not cross-react in this assay. rhTGF-βsRII can also sandwich effectively with anti-TGF-β3 and TGF-β5 antibodies to detect TGF-β3 and TGF-β5, respectively. Consistent with the bioassay results, rhTGF-βsRII is not suitable for use either as a capture or as a detection reagent in TGF-β2-specific ELlSAs because the sensitivity is much lower than for the other isoforms of TGF-β.

Many furan-containing natural products that induce increased activity of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme system have been found to inhibit tumorigenesis in laboratory animals. 2-n-Heptylfuran (HF) and 2-n-butylthiophene (BT), a sulfur analogue of furan, are two of the many furans and thiophenes formed during the roasting process of meat. BT and HF, when administered by gavage at doses that ranged from 11 to 90 μmol, induced increased GST activity in various tissues of A/J mice. At 90 μmol/dose, BT induced increased GST in the liver, small bowel mucosa, and lung. No increase in enzyme activity was found in the forestomach. HF was an enzyme inducer in the liver, small bowel mucosa, and forestomach but was inactive in the lung. The acid-soluble sulfhydryl level, a good measure of glutathione contents in tissues, was examined in tissue homogenates from mice treated with BT and HF. BT induced significant increase of GSH in the liver and lung at the higher doses. No change was observed in either the small bowel mucosa or the forestomach. A 50-μmol dose of HF was found to increase GSH level in all four tissues studied. The inhibition of lung and forestomach tumorigenesis was carried out with A/J mice using benzo[a]pyrene as the carcinogen. BT treatment resulted in a reduction of tumor multiplicity in the lung and forestomach. The tumor incidence in the forestomach was reduced significantly. The potency of HF as inhibitor of carcinogenesis was similar to that of BT in the forestomach of mice. In the lung, HF was found to be ineffective as an inhibitor of pulmonary adenoma formation. These results suggest that furan- and thiophene-containing compounds may be effective inhibitors of chemical carcinogenesis.

Gout is a disorder of purine metabolism in which a high serum uric acid is found and there is deposit of urate crystals within joints causing exquisite pain and tenderness. The pharmacological treatment relies upon non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the acute stage, and prophylactic drugs in the chronic state to control the level of circulating uric acid.In traditional Chinese medicine an over-rich diet is thought to cause a build-up of damp and heat internally that causes phlegm to stagnate. There is also disturbance of the Spleen and Kidney. Treatment thus involves Spleen and Stomach acupuncture points (SP.3 and 6, and ST.36 and 40) to control heat and damp and reduce phlegm. Other local points are used according to the joint involved.A case history is discussed illustrating the treatment and a series of 10 patients is reported in which there is a 70% success in reducing the chronic level of serum uric acid and the frequency of acute attacks.

A conservative difference scheme is presented for the initial-boundary value problem for generalized Zakharov equations. The scheme can be implicit or semiexplicit depending on the choice of a parameter. On the basis of a priori estimates and an inequality about norms, convergence of the difference solution is proved in order , which is better than previous results.