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Aim. To investigate the mRNA expression and clinical significance of structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 4 (SMC4) in breast cancer. Methods. A total of 23 paired samples were sequenced, and data from the Cancer Genome Atlas were analyzed. Results. SMC4 mRNA level was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues (P<0.001). Patients with high mRNA expression of SMC4 had significantly poor survival (P=0.012). Subgroup analyses show that in nontriple negative breast cancer (non-TNBC) patients, the high SMC4 mRNA expression, older age (>65), negative progesterone receptor, and advanced stages (III-IV) were independent risk factors (HR=3.293, 95% CI 1.257-8.625, P=0.015). In patients with TNBC, high mRNA expression of SMC4 correlated with better survival rate (P<0.046). Conclusion. SMC4 mRNA level is a good prognostic biomarker for patients with breast cancer.

Background We previously reported that maternal alcohol use significantly increases the risk of sepsis in premature and term newborns. In the mouse, fetal ethanol exposure results in an immunosuppressed phenotype for the alveolar macrophage (AM) and decreases bacterial phagocytosis. In pregnant mice, ethanol decreased AM zinc homeostasis, which contributed to immunosuppression and impaired AM phagocytosis. In this study, we explored whether ethanol-induced zinc insufficiency extended to the pup AMs and contributed to immunosuppression and exacerbated viral lung infections. Methods C57BL/6 female mice were fed a liquid diet with 25% ethanol-derived calories or pair-fed a control diet with 25% of calories as maltose-dextrin. Some pup AMs were treated in vitro with zinc acetate before measuring zinc pools or transporter expression and bacteria phagocytosis. Some dams were fed additional zinc supplements in the ethanol or control diets, and then we assessed pup AM zinc pools, zinc transporters, and the immunosuppressant TGFβ1. On postnatal day 10, some pups were given intranasal saline or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and then AM RSV phagocytosis and the RSV burden in the airway lining fluid were assessed. Results Fetal ethanol exposure decreased pup AM zinc pools, zinc transporter expression, and bacterial clearance, but in vitro zinc treatments reversed these alterations. In addition, the expected ethanol-induced increase in TGFβ1 and immunosuppression were associated with decreased RSV phagocytosis and exacerbated RSV infections. However, additional maternal zinc supplements blocked the ethanol-induced perturbations in the pup AM zinc homeostasis and TGFβ1 immunosuppression, thereby improving RSV phagocytosis and attenuating the RSV burden in the lung. Conclusion These studies suggest that, despite normal maternal dietary zinc intake, in utero alcohol exposure results in zinc insufficiency, which contributes to compromised neonatal AM immune functions, thereby increasing the risk of bacterial and viral infections.

Background Determining the prevalence of pre-treatment HIV drug resistance (PDR) is important to assess the effectiveness of first-line therapies. To determine PDR prevalence in Papua New Guinea (PNG), we conducted a nationally representative survey. Methods We used a two-stage cluster sampling method to recruit HIV treatment initiators with and without prior exposure to antiretroviral therapies (ART) in selected clinics. Dried blood spots were collected and tested for PDR. Results A total of 315 sequences were available for analysis. The overall PDR prevalence rate was 18.4% (95% CI 13.8–24.3%). The prevalence of PDR to non-nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) was 17.8% (95% CI 13.6–23.0%) and of PDR to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) was 6.3% (95% CI 1.6–17.1%). The PDR prevalence rate among people reinitiating ART was 42.4% (95% CI 29.1–56.4%). Conclusions PNG has a high PDR prevalence rate, especially to NNRTI-based first-line therapies. Our findings suggest that removing NNRTIs as part of first-line treatment is warranted and will lead to improving viral suppression rates in PNG.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of peripherally inserted central catheter–related deep venous thrombosis (PRDVT) and their associated risk factors of PRDVT in the oncological patients who received peripherally inserted central catheters. Methods: This is a prospective and interventional cohort study; enrolled cancer patients had ultrasound-guided peripherally inserted central catheters and followed up by an intensive ultrasound monitoring protocol for 24 weeks. Vascular color Doppler ultrasound was applicated to the prospective evaluation of thrombus every 2 weeks for each patient. Results: Of all 406 patients (37,490 catheter days), 30.05% of patients (122/406) developed peripherally inserted central catheter–related deep vein thrombosis, with an incidence of 3.25 per 1000 catheter days. Only 1.23% (5/406) peripherally inserted central catheters were removed because of central line associated blood stream infection or accident. The incidence of asymptomatic PRDVT and symptomatic PRDVT were 26.85% (109/406) and 3.2% (13/406) respectively. Conclusion: The incidence of PRDVT in our hospital was considerable to the published data. Catheter in right upper extremity, tip at subclavian or T 2-4, more than 1 attempt for peripherally inserted central catheter insertion, and radiotherapy were independent predictors of PRDVT in cancer patients. Proactive ultrasound monitoring protocol from insertion to follow-up visits to investigate the incidence of PRDVT in oncological patients should be a routine examination.

TGF-β1 is a pleiotropic cytokine with an established role in fibrosis; however, the immunosuppressive effects of TGF-β1 are less characterized. Elevated levels of TGF-β1 are found in patients with acute and chronic lung diseases, and the underlying disease processes are exacerbated by respiratory viral infections. The alveolar macrophage is the first line of cellular defense against respiratory viral infections, and its response to infections is dependent on environmental cues. Using the mouse alveolar macrophage line, MH-S, and human CD14+ monocyte-derived macrophages, we examined the effects of TGF-β1 on the type I IFN antiviral response, macrophage polarization, and mitochondrial bioenergetics following a challenge with human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Our results showed that TGF-β1 treatment of macrophages decreased the antiviral and proinflammatory response, and suppressed basal, maximal, spare mitochondrial respiration, and mitochondrial ATP production. Challenge with RSV following TGF-β1 treatment further exacerbated mitochondrial dysfunction. The TGF-β1 and TGF-β1+RSV–treated macrophages had a higher frequency of apoptosis and diminished phagocytic capacity, potentially through mitochondrial stress. Disruption of TGF-β1 signaling or rescue of mitochondrial respiration may be novel therapeutically targetable pathways to improve macrophage function and prevent secondary bacterial infections that complicate viral respiratory infections.

Background In contrast to the excellent prognosis for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the high incidence of lymph node metastasis (LNM) markedly increases the risk of recurrence and secondary surgery. Thus, novel biomarkers must be urgently identified to assess LNM for patients with PTC. NCOA5 is deeply involved in the progression of human cancer; however, its role in thyroid cancer remains unknown. Patients and methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted to investigate the expression of NCOA5 in PTC. RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were downloaded to further understand the role of NCOA5 in PTC and its relationship with LNM. Results NCOA5 was significantly downregulated in PTC tissues when compared with that in adjacent noncancerous thyroid tissues both in our local cohort and TCGA database. Reduced expression of NCOA5 was significantly associated with aggressive clinicopathological features, including histological type, tumor stage, BRAF-V600E mutation, LNM, extrathyroid extension, and clinical stage. Moreover, logistic analysis indicated that reduced expression of NCOA5, age, histological type, and clinical stage are independent high-risk factors for LNM in PTC. Conclusion Our study provides new insights and evidence that NOCA5 was significantly correlated with the progression of PTC and was particularly involved in LNM.

Myeloid leukemia factor 1-interacting protein (MLF1IP) has been found to be involved in the progression of several malignancies. The potential correlation between MLF1IP and clinical outcome in patients with luminal breast cancer, however, remains unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated that MLF1IP was significantly upregulated in luminal breast cancer tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue both in validated cohort and TCGA cohort. Upregulated expression of MLF1IP was correlated with more often lymph node metastasis and negative progesterone receptor expression in TCGA cohorts. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients with high MLF1IP expression had significantly lower overall survival. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that high MLF1IP expression was independent high risk factor as well as old age (>60) and distant metastasis. This study provides new insights and evidences that MLF1IP over-expression plays important roles in progression of luminal breast cancer. However, the precise cellular mechanisms for MLF1IP in luminal breast cancer need to be further explored.

Background: Minority drug resistance mutations (DRMs) that are often missed by Sanger sequencing are clinically significant, as they can cause virologic failure in individuals treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of minor DRMs among patients enrolled in a Malawi HIV drug resistance monitoring survey at baseline and at one year after initiation of ART. Methods: Forty-one plasma specimens collected from HIV-1 subtype C-positive patients and seven clonal control samples were analysed using ultra-deep sequencing technology. Results: Deep sequencing identified all 72 DRMs detected by Sanger sequencing at the level of ≥20% and 79 additional minority DRMs at the level of < 20% from the 41 Malawian clinical specimens. Overall, DRMs were detected in 85% of pre-ART and 90.5% of virologic failure patients by deep sequencing. Among pre-ART patients, deep sequencing identified a statistically significant higher prevalence of DRMs to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) compared with Sanger sequencing. The difference was mainly due to the high prevalence of minority K65R and M184I mutations. Most virologic failure patients harboured DRMs against both NRTIs and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). These minority DRMs contributed to the increased or enhanced virologic failures in these patients. Conclusion: The results revealed the presence of minority DRMs to NRTIs and NNRTIs in specimens collected at baseline and virologic failure time points. These minority DRMs not only increased resistance levels to NRTIs and NNRTIs for the prescribed ART, but also expanded resistance to additional major first-line ART drugs. This study suggested that drug resistance testing that uses more sensitive technologies, is needed in this setting.

Despite great advances in lipid-lowering therapy, the gender-based disparities in lipid goal success among Chinese coronary heart disease (CHD) patients receiving lipid-lowering treatment remained uncharacterized. Furthermore, little is known about potential causes for this gender imbalance. This cross-sectional trial included 25 697 patients treated with lipid-lowering agents from 122 centres between April 2012 and October 2012; data for 9420 participants with CHD were analysed in the present study; all underwent clinical examination and had their latest fasting lipid profiles while on lipid-lowering therapy recorded. Logistic regression was used to explore possible factors associated with gender disparity in goal attainment rates, and to what extent each factor contributes. Of 9420 CHD patients (42.5% women) evaluated, women had a significantly lower overall low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) success rate than men (46.2 vs. 62.7%, P < 0.0001). Among CHD patients with diabetes, only 31.5% of women and 46.4% of men ( P < 0.0001) attained the optional LDL-C target of

Background In 2014–2015, 242 individuals aged 2–89 years were newly diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Roka, a rural commune in Cambodia. A case-control study attributed the outbreak to unsafe injections. We aimed to reconstruct the likely transmission history of the outbreak. Methods We assessed in 209 (86.4%) HIV-infected cases the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). We identified recent infections using antibody (Ab) avidity testing for HIV and HCV. We performed amplification, sequencing, and evolutionary phylogenetic analyses of viral strains. Geographical coordinates and parenteral exposure through medical services provided by an unlicensed healthcare practitioner were obtained from 193 cases and 1499 controls during interviews. Results Cases were coinfected with HCV (78.5%) and HBV (12.9%). We identified 79 (37.8%) recent ( Conclusions Unsafe injections in Cambodia most likely led to an explosive iatrogenic spreading of HIV, associated with a long-standing and more genetically diverse HCV propagation.

Background Alterations in inflammatory mediators are an important finding in neonates who develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); however, there is a lack of research examining the relationship between multiple inflammatory mediators in premature neonates and the development of BPD. Objective This study investigated whether the distribution of 12 inflammatory mediators detected in the tracheal aspirate (TA) of neonates within 24 hours of birth could differentiate between neonates who did and did not develop BPD. Study Design TA samples were collected from 27 very low birth weight neonates (BPD+ =11) and the concentrations of 12 biomarkers associated with BPD were determined. Linear discriminate analysis (LDA) was used to classify neonates into two outcome groups. Result LDA based on the 12 measured biomarkers displayed a significant level of discriminant function (p=0.007). Conclusion Using linear discriminant analysis, predictive models of BPD can be generated. Our results suggest that multiple inflammatory mediators collected within 24 hours of birth may be used to classify neonates into who will and will not develop BPD.

The self-start ability is the precondition for storage-based wind farm to be the black-start power source in local power grid. To avoid the strike to battery energy storage system which caused by energization of transformers, the no-load transformer energization control strategy during self-start process of storage-based wind farm is researched in this paper. The optimal starting control strategy for BESS is proposed by analyzing generation mechanism of magnetizing inrush current. Then equivalent model is established according to actual wind farm, simulation of proposed three different energization strategies has been made. Finally by comparison of simulation results, the energization control strategy applied for storage-based wind farm self-start is proposed.

A novel control strategy based on the optimization of transfer trajectory at operation points for DFIG is proposed. Aim of this control strategy is to reduce the mechanical fatigue of DFIG caused by the frequent adjustment of rotating speed and pitch angle when operating in the islanded power system. Firstly, the stability of DFIG at different operation points is analyzed. Then an optimization model of transfer trajectory at operation points is established, with the minimum synthetic adjustment amount of rotating speed and pitch angle as the objective function and with the balance of active power and the stability of operation points as the constraint conditions. Secondly, the wind speed estimator is designed, and the control strategy of pitch system is improved to cooperate with the indirect stator flux orientation control technology for rotor-side inverter control. Then by the coordination control of its rotating speed and pitch angle, an operation trajectory controller is established to ensure the islanded operation of DFIG along the optimal transfer trajectory. Finally, the simulation results show that the proposed control strategy is technical feasibility with good performance.

Background Maternal smoking in utero has been associated with adverse health outcomes including lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children, but the mechanisms underlying these associations continue to be investigated. We hypothesized that nicotine plays a significant role in mediating the effects of maternal tobacco smoke on the function of the neonatal alveolar macrophage (AM), the resident immune cell in the neonatal lung. Methods Primary AMs were isolated at postnatal day 7 from a murine model of in utero nicotine exposure. The murine AM cell line MH-S was used for additional in vitro studies. Results In utero nicotine increased interleukin-13 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) in the neonatal lung. Nicotine-exposed AMs demonstrated increased TGFβ1 and increased markers of alternative activation with diminished phagocytic function. However, AMs from mice deficient in the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) had less TGFβ1, reduced alternative activation, and improved phagocytic functioning despite similar in utero nicotine exposure. Conclusion In utero nicotine exposure, mediated in part via the α7 nAChR, may increase the risk of lower respiratory tract infections in neonates by changing the resting state of AM toward alternative activation. These findings have important implications for immune responses in the nicotine-exposed neonatal lung.

Introduction Surveillance of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) is crucial to ensuring the continued success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs. With the concern of reduced genotyping sensitivity of HIV on dried blood spots (DBS), DBS for HIVDR surveillance have been limited to ART-naive populations. To investigate if DBS under certain conditions may also be a feasible sample type for HIVDR testing in ART patients, we piloted nationwide surveys for HIVDR among ART patients using DBS in two African countries with rapid scale-up of ART. Methods EDTA-venous blood was collected to prepare DBS from adult and pediatric ART patients receiving treatment during the previous 12–36 months. DBS were stored at ambient temperature for two weeks and then at -80°C until shipment at ambient temperature to the WHO-designated Specialized HIVDR Laboratory at CDC in Atlanta. Viral load (VL) was determined using NucliSENS EasyQ® HIV-1 v2.0 kits; HIVDR genotyping was performed using the ATCC HIV-1 Drug Resistance Genotyping kits. Results DBS were collected from 1,368 and 1,202 ART patients; 244 and 255 these specimens had VL ≥1,000 copies/mL in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively. The overall genotyping rate of those DBS with VL ≥1,000 copies/mL was 93.0% (95% CI: 89.1%-95.6%) in Kenya and 91.8% (87.7%-94.6%) in Tanzania. The turnaround times for the HIVDR surveys from the time of collecting DBS to completing laboratory testing were 6.5 months and 9.3 months for the Kenya and Tanzania surveys, respectively. Conclusions The study demonstrates a favorable outcome of using DBS for nationwide surveillance of HIVDR in ART patients. Our results confirm that DBS collected and stored at ambient temperature for two weeks, and shipped with routine courier services are a reliable sample type for large-scale surveillance of acquired HIVDR.

In order to achieve automatic monitor the seepage of dam,a monitoring structure with fiber Bragg grating sensors using spectral imaging technique and the multi-point sensing network system is proposed. The fiber grating sensor system structure with linear InGaAs array and diffraction grating is designed. With the analysis results from laboratory of precision and reliability in seepage monitoring,the 0.0091 nm/℃wavelength-temperature response sensitivity of the Fiber Bragg Grating sensors used for temperature field monitoring of dam is presented.By analyzing the signal resolution factor of the multipoint sensor,the multiple sensors multiplexing of the testing system determined by dominated optical source bandwidth are researched.By using multiple fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors embedded into dam,the multi-point measurement of temperature differences is achieved to realize seepage monitoring of dam.Engineering practice shows that the system of seepage monitoring of dam has good performance in resistance to thunderbolts and disturbances as compared with conventional instruments.

By probing into the relationship of senior students’ demand for “internationalization”, students’ expected economic returns in future careers, and their individual concept of modernity, this study attempts to explore several factors that are influencing the demand for overseas higher education.

Background Ectopic substernal thyroid is a rare symptom of thyroid disease that entirely results from the developmental defects at early stages of thyroid embryogenesis and during its descent. Cases were seldom reported as primary ectopic substernal thyroid cancer, especially those with severe local invasion and tracheal relapse. Case Presentation In this report, the patient presented odynophagia and a sense of progressing swallowing obstruction. She underwent total thyroidectomy and lump resection. However, she refused to use postoperative radioactive iodine or take adjuvant external-beam radiotherapy, except for thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Tracheal relapse was observed after 6 months. Tracheal stent was used to reconstruct the airway twice. Conclusions Trachea invasion might be a worse independent predictor of prognosis than any others and should be given particular attention. Furthermore, tracheal stent might be a palliative option for patients with tracheal relapse.

The data, measured by a three-wavelength Integrating Nephelometer over Lanzhou City during the winters of 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 respectively, have been analyzed for investigating the scattering properties of atmospheric aerosols and exploring their relationship and the status of air pollution. The aerosol particle volume distribution is inverted with the measured spectral scattering coefficients. The results show that the daily variation of the aerosol scattering coefficients is in a tri-peak shape. The average ratio of backscattering coefficient to total scattering coefficient at 550 nm is 0.158; there exists an excellent correlation between the scattering coefficients and the concentration of PM10. The average ratio of the concentration of PM10 to the scattering coefficients is 0.37 g m−2, which is contingent on the optical parameters of aerosol particles such as the size distribution, etc.; an algorithm is developed for inverting the volume distribution of aerosol particles by using the histogram and Monte-Carlo techniques, and the test results show that the inversion is reasonable.

The present study was to evaluate the value of miRNA-30a in plasma as potential tumor marker in detecting breast cancer (BC). Using a novel approach to extract miRNA-30a from the plasma followed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) analysis, levels of miRNA-30a were quantified in plasma specimens of 100 BCs and 64 age-matched and disease-free healthy controls (HC). And we compared the diagnostic value of plasma miRNA-30a with conventional circulating tumor markers CA153 and CEA. The median levels of miRNA-30a were significantly lower in preoperative BC than those in HC (P < 0.001). The levels of CEA and CA153 were all significantly higher in preoperative BC compared with those in HC (P = 0.008 and P = 0.001, respectively), and only the level of CA153 decreased in postoperative BC compared with preoperative BC (P = 0.015). ROC analysis showed the sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-30a for BC diagnosis at 74.0 and 65.6 %, respectively, whereas the sensitivities of CEA and CA153 were 12.0 and 14.0 %, respectively. The status of ER and triple-negative BC was significantly associated with miRNA-30a level (P = 0.007 and P = 0.005, respectively). And no other clinicopathological features were found to had significant difference. Our findings suggest that plasma miRNA-30a decreased in patients with BC and has great potential to use as novel biomarkers for BC diagnosis.

Senventy nine advanced cancer patients in a clinical trial were treated with LAK/IL-2 combining with Lycium Barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). Initial results of the treatment from 75 evaluable patients indicated that objective regression of cancer was achieved in patients with malignant melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, malignant hydrothorax. The response rate of patients treated with LAK/IL-2 plus LBP was 40.9% while that of patients treated with LAK/IL-2 was 16.1% (P

The prognosis of breast cancer occurs in young women is usually poor. Red cell distribution width (RDW), 1 of many routinely examined parameters, has recently been proposed as a prognostic marker in solid tumors. The aim of our study was to assess the predictive value of RDW for survival in young women with breast cancer. We reviewed 203 consecutive young female patients (under 40) with invasive breast cancer diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2008 and December 2012. Preoperational RDW, clinicopathological information, and prognostic data were collected. RDW levels were divided into 2 groups: 161 patients with low RDW (≤13.75%) and 42 patients with high RDW (>13.75%). Clinicopathological differences between the 2 groups were calculated by chi-squared test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to examine the effect of RDW on survival. We found that high RDW was significantly associated with larger tumor size (P = 0.002), positive lymph node metastases (P = 0.011), and advanced stages (P = 0.004). Patients with high RDW showed significantly lower disease-free survival (DFS; P

Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) was the most apparent side effects of bone marrow suppression with adjuvant chemotherapy. Recently, several studies revealed that CIN may predict better outcomes. However, the researches upon breast cancer were still indefinite. We reviewed the female patients with pathologically diagnosed invasive breast cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, between Jan 2008 and Dec 2010. The lowest neutrophil counts in the second week after the first cycle of chemotherapy were collected. Clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates were compared and analyzed between the CIN group and non-CIN group. The median follow-up time was 62 months. The differences of over-all survival and local recurrence-free survival between the 2 groups were nonsense (P = 0.938, P = 0.695, respectively). But the disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival of the CIN group were statically significantly better (HR = 0.391, P = 0.009, and HR = 0.315, P = 0.005, respectively). The bone metastasis-free survival may be responsible for the differences (HR = 0.469, P = 0.005). Subgroup analyses showed the CIN may predict lower bone metastases rates with ER positive status, premenopause or younger age (≤ 40) (P = 0.002, P = 0.004, and P = 0.0001, respectively). Cox analysis showed younger ages, N staging, and the presence of CIN were associated with bone metastasis-free survival independently adjusting to peritumoral vascular invasion (P

University Science Park has played an important role in training innovative talents, establishing high-tech businesses, promoting development of high-tech industries over the past 20 years. However, there is big difference between current status and the expected one. The article aims to discuss interested relationships between University Science Park and other related subjects: universities, enterprises in the park, local governments, country, technology and education departments at all levels of province from the perspective of New Institutional Economics, conduct related theoretical explanation for the cooperation efficiency of interested parties of Production, Education & Research in the development of University Science Park, explore internal cooperation mechanism and external system, which mainly includes dynamic mechanism, incentive mechanism, interest distribution mechanism, communication & coordination mechanism and so on, in the hope of promoting the sound development of University Science Park.

Background Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been used to assess patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). To achieve its full potential the rate of SLN identification must be as close to 100 percent as possible. In the present study we compared the combination of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy scanning by sulfur colloid labeled with 99 m Technetium, gamma-probe guided surgery, and methylene blue with methylene blue, alone, for sentinel node identification in younger women with unilateral low-risk PTC. Methods From January 2004 to January 2007, 90 female patients, ages 23 to 44 (mean = 35), with unilateral low-risk PTC (T1-2N0M0) were prospectively studied. Mean tumor size was 1.3 cm (range, 0.8-3.7 cm). All patients underwent unilateral modified neck dissection. Prior to surgery, patients had, by random assignment, identification and biopsy of SLNs by methylene blue, alone (Group 1), or by sulfur colloid labeled with 99 m Technetium, gamma-probe guided surgery and methylene blue (Group 2). Results In the methylene blue group, SLNs were identified in 39 of 45 patients (86.7%). Of the 39 patients, 28 (71.8%) had positive cervical lymph nodes (pN+), and 21 patients (53.8%) had pSLN+. In 7 of the 28 pN+ patients (25%), metastases were also detected in non-SLN, thus giving a false-negative rate (FNR of 38.9% (7/18), a negative predictive value (NPV) of 61.1% (11/18), and an accuracy of 82.1% (32/39). In the combined technique group, the identification rate (IR) of SLN was 100% (45/45). Of the 45 patients, 27 (60.0%) had pN+, 24 (53.3%) had pSLN+. There was a FNR of 14.3% (3/21), a NPV of 85.7% (18/21), and an accuracy of 93.3% (42/45). The combined techniques group was significantly superior to the methylene blue group in IR (p = 0.035). There were no significant differences between two groups in sensitivity, specificity, NPV, or accuracy. Location of pN+ (55 patients) in 84 patients was: level I and V, no patients; level II, 1 patient (1.2%); level III, 6 patients (7.2%); level III and IV, 8 patients (9.5%); level IV, alone, 8 patients (9.5%); level VI, 32 patients (38.1%). In all 90 patients, IR of SLN was 93.3%, FNR, 25.6%, NPV, 74.4%, and accuracy rate, 88.1 percent. Conclusions Compared to a single technique, there was a significantly higher SLN identification rate for the combined technique in younger female with ipsilateral, low-risk PTC (T1-2N0M0). Thus, a combined SLN biopsy technique seems to more accurately stage lymph nodes, with better identification of SLN located out of the central compartment. Regardless of the procedure used, the high FNR renders the current SLN techniques unsuitable for routine practice. Based on these results, prophylactic node dissection of level VI might be considered because 38.1% of our patients had such node metastases.

A new image indexing based on the color-spatial distribution feature is presented in this paper. The generalized image model that combining the original image with its smoothed image be used in the retrieval algorithm. In order to describe the spatial distribution of color, the annular color segmentation algorithm is introduced. According to the annular color segmentation algorithm, equidistance annular color-spatial moments be calculated as the features of color that can denote the color-spatial information of the generalized images to a certain extent. However the annular color segmentation algorithm can not distinguish the visual attention of the different segmentation region. Therefore we design the weight for different segmentation regions that can express the visual attention of the different segmentation region in the retrieval algorithm. Thus the weighted color-spatial distribution moments can be used to describe the color-spatial feature of generalized image and consistent with human vision. Finally, the character vectors are normalized using Gaussian model and L1-norm distance be used to measure the similarity between the different images. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm in this paper outperforms Geostatic algorithm in the color image retrieval.

In order to improve the efficiency of distance learning evaluation, this paper proposes Chinese word segmentation method to process electronic text documents recorded students' information in distance learning, from which students' information can be extracted knowledgably by text mining technology and thus can be compared with their study goal using Association analysis. Through record mining method, mode analysis and evaluation on the students’ learning behaviors can be done. Moreover, on the basis of evaluation data, study feedbacks can be provided and the evaluation results of students' learning can be obtained under the guidance of the index system and evaluation standard of evaluation rubric.

In the distance education environment, students and amateur decentralized learning-based learning, learning process it is difficult to monitor, study the effect of inconvenience to the diagnosis, therefore, the prevalence of distance learning quality assessment problems. In order to improve the efficiency of evaluation of distance learning the paper proposes Chinese word segmentation method to process electronic text documents recorded students' information in distance learning, from which students' information can be extracted knowledgably by text mining technology and thus can be compared with their study goal using Association analysis. Through record mining method, mode analysis and evaluation on the students' learning behaviors can be done. Evaluation data as a basis for learning feedback, Reference to the rules of evaluation index system and evaluation criteria to draw on the results of the evaluation of student learning, in order to achieve the purpose of study and evaluation of efficiency.

Most state-of-the-art gazetteers have many limitations when they are utilized as background knowledge in geographic information retrieval (GIR). Considering that people often use place names in GIR instead of geographic coordinates, in this paper we propose to build a place name ontology (PNO) and implement PNO knowledge base (PNOKB) to take the place of gazetteers. PNO, which is made up of places and spatial relationships, can be viewed as the direct model of geographically named locations. It is based on mereology, topology, and location theory and it is built with OWL DL. This paper sets out GIR and gazetteers’ limitations, describes from ontology, geo-ontology to PNO, introduces OWL and three theoretical tools, and then explores how to design PNO’s concept model and how to implement PNOKB in detail.

The article describes the theory, characters and performance of the linear array of photodetectors includes CCD, PDA, CMOS and InGaAs, presents fiber grating sensor demodulation technique using linear InGaAs array and designs the demodulation system based on this technique. Furthermore, the system is used to measure the strain and temperature respectively, and prove the system have a good practicability. The demodulation system has a high resolution and measurement precision, changes the size of traditional Fiber Grating Sensors demodulation system essentially, and realizes basically the intelligence of the FBG sensors and lays a foundation for the industrialization of the FBG sensors.

In this paper, a parallel coordinative visual model-the revised plate parallel retrieval model (Wang Tianzhen et al, 1994) is presented based on the analysis of the global effect of Chinese characters and the recent neurobiological research on the function of neuroglia in learning and memory. The theory assumes that visual neurons possess the function of memory and retrieval in addition to the commonly recognised function of signal transformation. It supposes all the pixels in the array of a Chinese character are encoded, stored and retrieved simultaneously and synchronously by each neuron separately. In the model, neuroglia cells play an important role in the integration of the visual signal. The model cannot only satisfactorily explain both the global effect and strokes effect, but can also explain the implicit memory of Chinese characters as well. We have experimented on an SIMD array processor to prove the viability of the PPR algorithm. The results are satisfactory. The model can be extended to general shape vision with some conditions.

In view of the need of the electromagnetic compatibility analysis in the design process of the electronic equipment, an equivalent method of modeling the characteristics of electromagnetic radiation from printed circuit board interference source is proposed by using magnetic dipole array. According to the characteristics of the electromagnetic boundary value problems, the radiating source and the structures affecting the radiation are modeled separately. At first, the actual source is modeled in detail. Then the effect of surrounding structures on the overall radiation is incorporated into the model. Moreover, the basic ideas of equivalent modeling are introduced, and the derivation of the formulas to obtain the magnetic dipole array is given. Finally, a patch antenna is used to demonstrate the validity of the method. The results show that the equivalent modeling method significantly reduces the complexity of the model, the modeling time, and the computational burden.

In order to reduce the number of numerical meshes and simplify aperture array modeling, an equivalent method of modeling aperture array in which the size effect of apertures is taken into account, is presented in the paper. In this method, the aperture array is replaced by a single aperture which has the same area as the original aperture array, then the scaling factor of the aperture is obtained according to the number of apertures. The empirical relations between the number of apertures and scaling factor are proposed based on theoretical derivation and curve fitting method respectively. The comparison with the commercial software HFSS indicates that the formula based on curve fitting method has a higher accuracy. The applicability of the method is verified by varying the interference source, monitoring point, total area and position of aperture array, shape of aperture and cavity size. As shown by the numerical results, the equivalent modeling approach can significantly reduce the number of meshes, which can serve as a simplified approach to numerical simulation of shielding characteristics of complex cavity.

Seventy-two patients with bile reflux gastritis were treated with metoclopramide injection into Zusanli (ST 36), compared with oral Metoclopramide in 45 cases. The total effective rate were 93.1% and 77.8%, respectively. There was a significant difference (P

We report a case of continued twitching of the latissimus dorsi muscle following breast conservation therapy, along with immediate reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi miniflap, which continued despite several attempts at control including BTX-A percutaneous local injection, and was finally cured by delayed division of the thoracodorsal nerve via a small well-tolerated axillary incision.

Background Lymphangiogenesis has become a new research frontier in tumor metastasis since the discovery of reliable lymphatic markers that have allowed observation and isolation of lymphatic endothelium. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been reported to be involved in the critical steps in carcinogenesis. However, possible role of COX-2 in lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis is still poorly understood. In present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) and COX-2 in human breast cancer, and correlations with lymphangiogenesis and prognosis. Methods Tissue samples of primary tumors from 70 patients undergoing intentionally curative surgical resections for breast cancer were immunohistochemically examined for VEGF-C, COX-2, and D2-40 expressions. The association between COX-2 and VEGF-C expressions and clinicopathological parameters as well as prognosis were analysised. To demonstrate the presence of proliferating lymphatic endothelial cells, 10 random cases with high LVD counts were selected for D2-40/Ki-67 double immunostaining. Results A significant correlation was found between the expression of VEGF-C and COX-2 (r = 0.529, P < 0.001), and both elevated VEGF-C expression and elevated COX-2 expression were associated with higher lymph vessel density (LVD), lymph node metastasis and D2-40 positive lymphatic invasion (LVI) as well as worse disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in a univariate analysis. In the double immunostain for the lymph vessel marker D2-40 and the proliferation marker Ki-67, the results confirmed Ki-67-positive nuclei in a proportion of lymph vessel endothelial cells. Conclusion There is indeed lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer, the most compelling evidence being the presence of proliferating lymphatic endothelial cells. VEGF-C and COX-2 are coexpressed and significantly associated with lymphangiogenesis and prognosis in invasive breast cancer. Suggesting COX-2 may up-regulate VEGF-C expression and thus promote lymph node metastasis via lymphangiogenesis pathway in human breast cancer.

Background Maternal alcohol abuse remains a significant problem for our society and ˜ 35% of women consume alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol-induced injury is augmented in females compared to males. Although in utero alcohol exposure is known to increase oxidative stress in the developing fetus, the effects of alcohol use on the gravid female have not been thoroughly explored. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that in utero ethanol (ETOH) exposure increased fetal oxidative stress in part via a decrease in the availability of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). We hypothesize that alcohol used during pregnancy increases oxidative stress and alters cytokines in the gravid female. Objective To 1) evaluate the effects of ETOH consumption on maternal markers of oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines and 2) evaluate the effects of GSH supplementation during ETOH ingestion in the gravid female. Methods Using a guinea pig model of fetal ETOH exposure, timed-pregnant guinea pigs were randomly assigned on ˜ d32 (term d70) to ± ETOH in drinking water up to 4% (25% calories + 8 mg/100 mL saccharin) by d40 gestation. Where appropriate the GSH donors SAM or NAC were added to the water containing the ETOH. Cesarean section was performed on d55 of gestation and maternal blood obtained. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) a marker of oxidative stress, and the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 were measured with commercially available ELISAs with values normalized to plasma protein. Values are mean (pg/μg protein) ± SEM. Results MDA was significantly increased with ETOH consumption (control 0.0142 ± 0.001, ETOH 0.0285 ± 0.00329, p Conclusions ETOH consumption during pregnancy increases systemic oxidative stress in the female dam. The addition of GSH donors during ETOH ingestion protects the dam from ETOH-induced oxidant stress. We speculate that alcohol ingestion during pregnancy increases the risk of oxidant and proinflammatory mediated injury in the female. Funded by NIH RO1 AA013972-02 (to T.W.G.).

In the information times, comprehending and monitoring the development of science and technology are one of the most important activities. But the fast increasing in technologic information of the network makes people lose their way who finds that it is difficult to comprehend and master the trend of the technologic development. Visualization technology and its open source tools provide a new vision for people to understand the complex structural and unstructured information. In this paper a method of 3D modeling and visualization of coal bed methane index system is proposed. This method integrates basic coal-bed methane index data, borehole discharging data and interpretation section data of geophysical exploration from a view of multi-source data fusion. The 3D spatial data field model is established by using the spatial interpolation technique and drawing technique of the 3D texture hardware assisted volume rendering direct volume is used to realize the volume visualization, and then the spatial distribution characteristics and inner attribute of strata structures are reflected by true 3D model. The method which uses direct volume rendering techniques in 3D modeling of coal bed methane structure can more accurately reflect the coal gas structures and rapidly establish the data field, thus, it possesses good applied prospects. It also stresses the visualization tools used in dynamic monitoring and analyzing the scientific and technologic hot spot of coal bed methane and monitoring the science data of important coal bed methane research based on network database.

Background Analysis of exhaled breath condensates (EBC) is a non-invasive technique to evaluate biomarkers such as antioxidants in the pediatric population, but limited data exists of its use in intubated patients, particularly newborns. Currently, tracheal aspirate (TA) serves as the gold standard collection modality in critically ill newborns, but this method remains invasive. We tested the hypothesis that glutathione status would positively correlate between EBC and TA collections in intubated newborns in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We also hypothesized that these measurements would be associated with alveolar macrophage (AM) glutathione status in the newborn lung. Methods Reduced glutathione (rGSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and total GSH (rGSH + (2 X GSSG)) were measured in sequential EBC and TA samples from 26 intubated newborns via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, AM glutathione was evaluated via immunofluorescence. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and associated 95% confidence intervals were used to quantify the associations between raw and urea-corrected concentrations in EBC and TA samples and AM staining. Statistical significance was defined as p ≤ 0.05 using two-tailed tests. The sample size was projected to allow for a correlation coefficient of 0.5, with 0.8 power and alpha of 0.05. Results EBC was obtainable from intubated newborns without adverse clinical events. EBC samples demonstrated moderate to strong positive correlations with TA samples in terms of rGSH, GSSG and total GSH. Positive correlations between the two sampling sites were observed in both raw and urea-corrected concentrations of rGSH, GSSG and total GSH. AM glutathione staining moderately correlated with GSSG and total GSH status in both the TA and EBC. Conclusions GSH status in EBC samples of intubated newborns significantly correlated with the GSH status of the TA sample and was reflective of cellular GSH status in this cohort of neonatal patients. Non-invasive EBC sampling of intubated newborns holds promise for monitoring antioxidant status such as GSH in the premature lung. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the potential relationships between EBC biomarkers in the intubated premature newborn and respiratory morbidities.