Search

Meiqing Qiu,1– 3 Ying Meng,3 Huijun Wang,3 Li Sun,3 Zhen Liu,3 Shifeng Kan,2 Tao Wang,2 Shu Zhang3 1Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Oncology, Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital, Zaozhuang, 277100, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shu ZhangDepartment of Gastroenterology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/ Fax +86-531-67626836Email zhangshu@csco.org.cnObjective: Cancer is well known as the most important risk factor for the emergence of pulmonary embolism (PE). The incidence of incidental PE (IPE) has increased with widely use of multi-detector-row computed tomography (CT) technology. Simultaneously, more new cancer patients diagnosed concomitantly with IPE are found. No study has examined the presentation and prognosis of incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE) in gastric cancer patients. The aim of this study was to analyse prognostic factors in patients with advanced gastric cancer complicated with IPE.Patients and Methods: Ninety patients with histologically confirmed advanced gastric adenocarcinoma diagnosed with IPE were enrolled. Continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test or the Mann–Whitney U-test if non-normally distributed. The Chi-squared test (or Fisher’s exact test where appropriate) was used to compare categorical variables. The Kaplan–Meier method and the Log rank test were used for survival analysis. Independent prognostic factors for survival were determined using a Cox proportional hazards model. A two-sided P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Nineteen patients were diagnosed with IPE concomitantly with gastric cancer. Concurrence of gastric cancer and IPE, lack of anticoagulation therapy, and location of IPE were associated with survival. After adjusting for age and sex, the concurrence of gastric cancer and IPE, lack of anticoagulation, and central IPE independently influenced the survival of advanced gastric cancer patients with IPE. Subgroup analysis of patients with peripheral pulmonary embolisms confirmed that anticoagulant therapy provided a survival benefit.Conclusion: Concurrence of gastric cancer and IPE may be a prognostic factor for advanced gastric cancer patients with IPE.Keywords: incidental pulmonary embolism, gastric cancer, anticoagulation therapy

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is the most common infectious disease of cattle and is registered in many countries of the world. The disease causes significant economic damage to livestock, primarily due to a decrease in the reproductive capacity of infected animals. Infection of cattle during pregnancy results in transmission of the infection to the fetus, which can lead to embryonic death or the birth of persistently infected (PI) calves. PI-animals excrete BVDV in their feces and secretions throughout their lives, which is why they are the main pathway of transmission of the virus. Moreover, acute BVDV infection leads to transient viremia and immunosuppression, resulting in an increase in secondary infections. In recent years, outbreaks of BVD cattle have been reported in several regions of Russia and China bordering Kazakhstan, indicating a high risk of introducing the infection into the country. Although Kazakhstan is officially considered free from BVD cattle, there is ample evidence that this infection is present in many regions of the country. However, the lack of a clear understanding of the epizootic situation in the country in terms of BVD cattle does not allow the full use of effective control measures, such as total vaccination of livestock in regions at risk of infection. This article provides data on the epizootic situation in Kazakhstan on BVD cattle, as well as an epidemiological analysis of the risks of the spread of BVD cattle in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Song Chai,1,* Shifeng Kan,1,* Ran Sun,1 Ruijuan Zhou,1 Yi Sun,2 Wenhua Chen,1 Bo Yu1,3 1Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China; 2Department of Rehabilitation, Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center, Yangzhi Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 201209, China; 3Department of Rehabilitation Therapy, School of International Medical Technology, Shanghai Sanda University, Shanghai 201209, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Integration of several types of therapeutic agents into one nanoplatform to enhance treatment efficacy is being more widely used for cancer therapy. Methods: Herein, a biocompatible polydopamine (PDA)-coated MoSe2-wrapped doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) nanoplatform (PM@HMSNs-DOX) was fabricated for dual-sensitive drug release and chemo-photothermal therapy for enhancing the therapeutic effects on breast cancer. The HMSNs were obtained by a “structural difference-based selective etching” strategy and served as the drug carrier, exhibiting a high DOX loading capacity of 427 mg/g HMSNs-NH2, and then wrapped with PDA-coated MoSe2 layer to form PM@HMSNs-DOX. Various techniques proved the successful fabrication of the nanocomposites. Results: The formed PM@HMSNs-DOX nanocomposites exhibited good biocompatibility, good stability, and super-additive photothermal conversion efficiency due to the cooperation of MoSe2 and PDA. Simultaneously, the pH/near-infrared-responsive drug release profile was observed, which could enhance the synergistic therapeutic anticancer effect. The antitumor effects of PM@HMSNs-DOX were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that the synergistic therapeutic efficacy was significantly superior to any monotherapy. Also, in vivo pharmacokinetics studies showed that PM@HMSNs-DOX had a much longer circulation time than free DOX. In addition, in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies certified that PM@HMSNs are suitable as biocompatible agents. Conclusion: Our nanoplatform loaded with DOX displays pH/near-infrared-induced chemotherapy and excellent photothermal therapy, which hold great potential for cancer treatment. Keywords: hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles, MoSe2, polydopamine, chemo-photothermal therapy

Gaofeng Liang,1,2,* Shu Kan,2,* Yanliang Zhu,3 Shuying Feng,1 Wenpo Feng,1 Shegan Gao1,4 1Medical College, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China; 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Berkeley, California, CA, USA; 3State Key laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 4Henan Key Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Introduction: Exosomes are closed-membrane nanovesicles that are secreted by a variety of cells and exist in most body fluids. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of exosomes as natural vehicles that target delivery of functional small RNA and chemotherapeutics to diseased cells. Methods: In this study, we introduce a new approach for the targeted delivery of exosomes loaded with functional miR-26a to scavenger receptor class B type 1-expressing liver cancer cells. The tumor cell-targeting function of these engineered exosomes was introduced by expressing in 293T cell hosts, the gene fusion between the transmembrane protein of CD63 and a sequence from Apo-A1. The exosomes harvested from these 293T cells were loaded with miR-26a via electroporation. Results: The engineered exosomes were shown to bind selectively to HepG2 cells via the scavenger receptor class B type 1–Apo-A1 complex and then internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis. The release of miR-26a in exosome-treated HepG2 cells upregulated miR-26a expression and decreased the rates of cell migration and proliferation. We also presented evidence that suggest cell growth was inhibited by miR-26a-mediated decreases in the amounts of key proteins that regulate the cell cycle. Conclusion: Our gene delivery strategy can be adapted to treat a broad spectrum of cancers by expressing proteins on the surface of miRNA-loaded exosomes that recognize specific biomarkers on the tumor cell. Keywords: exosome, gene delivery, miR-26a, HepG2 cells

Selvihan Beysel,1,2 Muhammed Kizilgul,3 Mustafa Ozbek,4 Mustafa Caliskan,5 Seyfullah Kan,6 Mahmut Apaydin,7 Ozgur Ozcelik,8 Erman Cakal4 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Eskisehir State Hospital, Eskisehir, 2Department of Medical Biology, Baskent University, Ankara, 3Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kilis State Hospital, Kilis, 4Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, 5Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Düzce Ataturk State Hospital, Duzce, 6Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Denizli State Hospital, Denizlim, 7Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yozgat State Hospital, Yozgat, 8Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Igdir State Hospital, Igdir, Turkey Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is reported to be higher in elderly diabetics. Serum heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is a serum marker of myocardial ischemia. We aimed to investigate the association between serum H-FABP level and conventional cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory markers and subclinical atherosclerosis in elderly diabetics without overt CVD. Patients and methods: A total of 50 elderly diabetic patients without overt CVD and 30 age-, sex- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, serum H-FABP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were measured. Logistic regression analyses (adjustments for age, sex, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, BMI, blood pressure, lipid, blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, hs-CRP and fibrinogen) were performed to evaluate the association between H-FABP and cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis indices. Results: Serum fibrinogen (421.50±85.52 mg/dL vs 319.17±30.77 mg/dL, p=0.023), CIMT (0.70±0.12 mm vs 0.59±0.06 mm, p

Sheep and goat pox (SGP) disease is a highly contagious and dangerous viral infection, characterized by fever, formation of papular-pustular lesions in the epithelium of the skin and respiratory tract of small ruminants. This disease causes enormous damage to sheep breeding due to the death of animals, forced slaughter, loss of productivity, costs for veterinary and sanitary and quarantine measures. The causative agents are two closely related viruses: sheep pox virus and goat pox virus, belonging to the family Poxviridae, the genus Capripoxvirus. SGP is considered an endemic in Kazakhstan and SGP outbreaks have been registered in a number of regions both in our country and bordering states. The uncontrolled spread of this infection can be associated with colossal economic losses and significant damage of the image of our country as an exporter of lamb. Thus, it is important to monitore the epizootological situation of SGP in the country, control outbreaks of infection, and develop veterinary and sanitary measurements to adequately anticipate of the disease spread. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to perform risk analyses of SGP transmission in Kazakhstan. As a result of the research, the SGP risk factors, epizootological characteristics of this infection in Kazakhstan in the last 10 years, and the districts with high risks regarding the possible occurrence of large outbreaks of SGP were identified and the epizootic visualization map was created. This work provides valuable information on the importance of SGP control and prevention programs in Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern knowledge economy, higher educational institutions are being required to deal with commercialising the results of their research, spinning out knowledge-based enterprises and facilitating technology transfer between their research centres and industrial firms. The universities are undergoing changes in institutional and organisational structures, which attempt to turn research outcomes into commercial outcomes through various university technology transfer mechanisms. This paper aims to examine the technology transfer process between the universities and the industrial firms in Hong Kong. It also attempts to examine the roles of University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO) and the changes in organisation structure due to the activities of university technology transfer. In-depth interviews were conducted with the senior managers or the heads of the UILOs of five universities in Hong Kong. Results show that there have been changes in the universities' organisation structures in order to cope with the University-Industry Technology Transfer activities. A higher degree of freedom in organisation structure is perceived as an incentive and would result in better technology transfer outcomes. Moreover, better supporting services would result in better transfer outcomes as well. Managerial implications for university technology transfer are discussed. (Contains 4 tables.)

Author(s): S. B. Jennifer Kan [1]; Xiongyi Huang [1]; Yosephine Gumulya [1]; Kai Chen [1]; Frances H. Arnold (corresponding author) [1] Recent advances in enzyme engineering and design have expanded [...]

One of the many ecosystem services provided by dung beetles is that of secondary seed dispersal. This paper experimentally evaluates the effectiveness of this service using the chimpanzee–dung beetle seed dispersal system in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. The study focussed on the germination rate and success of four species of seeds contained in the faeces of Pan troglodytes verus: Dacryodes klaineana (Pierre) H.J. Lam, Diospyros mannii Hiern, Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb., and Uapaca guineensis Muell. Arg. For each species, 600 seeds, half from chimpanzee faeces and half from mother trees, were sown in nurseries at depths of 0, 2, 5, 10, and 15 cm (i.e. 120 seeds per depth; 60 from chimp and 60 from mother trees). After germination, only the seeds of Uapaca guineensis and Diospyros mannii sown at 2 and 5 cm had a >14% rate (between 14.2 and 30.8%) of germination and seedling establishment, regardless of seed origin. An increase in the depth of seed burial appears to negatively affect the probability of seedling emergence and establishment. This study shows that dung beetles have positive impacts on seed fate. However, for these plant species, the chimpanzee's role is limited to that of primary seed dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is frequent in women of reproductive age, but very limited data are available on the epidemiology in cases of VVC in China. Objectives: The current study has been conducted to reveal the prevalence, species distribution of yeast causing VVC and molecular genetics of Candida albicans in China. Methods: Vaginal swabs were collected from 543 VVC outpatients recruited in 12 hospitals in China between September 2017 and March 2018. They were preliminarily incubated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and then positive subjects of which were then transmitted to our institute for further identification. CHROMagar™ was used to isolate Candida species, and all isolates were finally identified by DNA sequencing. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to analyse phylogenetic relationships of the various C. albicans isolates. Results: Eleven different yeast species were identified in 543 isolates, among which C. albicans (84.7%) was the most frequent, followed by C. glabrata (8.7%). We obtained 117 unique diploid sequence types from 451 clinical C. albicans isolates and 92 isolates (20.4%) belonged to a New Clade. All the strains appearing in the New Clade were from northern China and they were isolated from non‐recurrent VVC. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that C. albicans are still the main cause of VVC in China and the majority of C. albicans isolates belongs to Clade 1 with DST 79 and DST 45 being two most common. Moreover, the New Clade revealed in our study seems to be specific to northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]