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Red sandstone with a strong water softening can cause difficulties of construction projects, especially for slope excavation and support engineering. Therefore, the study on the engineering properties of saturated red sandstone has a important meaning. The mechanical parameters of saturated red sandstone are obtained by the triaxial compression tests. The test results indicate that the ralations between peak strength, elasticity modulus and confining pressure for the saturated specimens are similar with the natural specimens, that is, with the increasing of confining pressure, the peak strength and the elasticity modulus will increase, but the growth rate becomes slowly. Under the same confining pressure, the peak strength and the elasticity modulus of saturated specimen are more smaller than the natural one. The mechanical damage caused by water recedes when the confining pressure increases, so for the geotechnical engineering with larger influence of water, the increasement of confining pressure by the supporting structures is conducive to the stability of rock mass. The research results will provide a theoretical basis for the red sandstone engineering.

Based on the analysis of a new type of air spring and the nonlinear finite element theory, this paper, taking the mechanical properties of the new type air spring into consideration, put forward an assessment method: the Mooney-Rivlin model with higher order term simulates rubber layer, the rebar model represents the cord thread layer, the stiffness of the listrium and the controllable damping shock absorber is rigid body, the gas flow and the pneumatophore are in coupling. In addition, the method has been tested and verified by applying to a new type vehicle air spring. This paper offers a new assessment method for the development of air springs in vehicle suspension.

Considering the tradeoff between efficiency and output ripple over a wide load range, a monolithic dc-dc buck converter with switch-on-demand modulation (SODM) and switch size control (SSC) is presented in this paper. SODM achieves a hybrid mode of pulse skip and pulse width modulation (PWM) without mode detection circuit. The converter's on time is adaptively adjusted with the load demand, achieving low output voltage ripple. Detecting the output of the error amplifier by a comparator, the SSC circuit can select appropriate switch size according to load current for reducing switching loss in a light load. The threshold level of the comparator varies with respect to the amount of slope compensation, which maintains a substantially constant switch size changing point. Experimental results show that the fabricated converter with the proposed scheme achieves high efficiency from 83% to 96% over a wide load range from 10 mA to 5 A. The switch size is 1/4 of the maximum value when load current is below 1 A with 0.5-A hysteresis. Also, the measured maximum output ripple is less than 10 mV.

In the quality assessment and classification of engineering rockmass, the elastic wave velocity of rockmass has already become an important parameter. But the valve of the elastic wave velocity has obvious anisotropy which is resulted from the non-uniformity characteristics of the rockmass. Therefore, if the measured elastic wave velocity is directly applied to the quality assessment of engineering rockmass, it will not can reflect the actual engineering properties of the rockmass. In order to solve the above problem, the energy variation of elastic wave propagating in the rockmass is studied. According to the field tests of the rockmasses with different weathering degrees, the dynamic characteristics of the elastic wave such as the attenuation and the dominating vibration frequency are analysed. The relationship between the kinetic parameters and the elastic wave velocities is researched. The results show that there is a good correlation between the kinetic parameters of the wave and the weathered rockmass, which can be applied to the rockmass quality classification and the engineering geology assessment.

Procontarinia robusta Li, Bu & Zhang (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) induces distinctive brown conical galls on the upper side of mango leaves. Here, we describe the larva and pupa and illustrate the gall of P. robusta collected at type locality in China and use gall morphology to identify galls reported previously from India and Indonesia. Analyses of the cytochrome oxidase unit I mitochondrial gene segment showed significant differ- ences between P. robusta and two other pests of mango, P. mangicola (Shi) and P. pustulata Kolesik, and confirmed the identification of P. robusta specimens from East Timor.Asummary of the biology of P. robusta is provided.

Our preliminary results show that huperzine A, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in China, exhibits different pharmacokinetic features in elderly and young healthy subjects. However, its pharmacokinetic data in elderly subjects remains unavailable to date. Thus, we developed a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model of huperzine A in elderly Chinese people, and identified the covariate affecting its pharmacokinetics for optimal individual administration.A total of 341 serum huperzine A concentration records was obtained from 2 completed clinical trials (14 elderly healthy subjects in a phase I pharmacokinetic study; 35 elderly AD patients in a phase II study). Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using the non-linear mixed-effect modeling software Phoenix NLME1.1.1. The effects of age, gender, body weight, height, creatinine, endogenous creatinine clearance rate as well as drugs administered concomitantly were analyzed. Bootstrap and visual predictive checks were used simultaneously to validate the final population pharmacokinetics models.The plasma concentration-time profile of huperzine A was best described by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination. Age was identified as the covariate having significant influence on huperzine A clearance. The final PPK model of huperzine A was: CL (L/h)=2.4649(*)(age/86)((-3.3856)), Ka=0.6750 h(-1), V (L)=104.216. The final PPK model was demonstrated to be suitable and effective by the bootstrap and visual predictive checks.A PPK model of huperzine A in elderly Chinese subjects is established, which can be used to predict PPK parameters of huperzine A in the treatment of elderly AD patients.

The diffusion coefficient is one of the basic physical parameters of reflecting the property of wooden building materials, and it is the indispensable datum to calculate the dehydration time, estimate qualitatively the corrosion extent, provide the theoretical parameters for the protection technoiogy of the wooden building materials. The method of measuring diffusion coefficient of the wooden building materials is provided on the basis of Fick’s second law in this paper. The diffusion coefficient can be calculated using the given method by measuring the dehydration time, the initial water content and the stable water content after dehydration. The testing method is simple and feasible. Take a wooden materials for example, the experimental result is analyzed which indicates that the measurement method is reasonable.

Based on the test results, the wave velocity and the attenuation rule of elastic wave of weathered zone in Longmen Grottoes are studied. The wave velocity decreases with the increasing of the attenuation coefficient in a certain range. When wave velocity decreases to a certain value, there is not a relationship between wave velocity and attenuation coefficient. The attenuation coefficient thresholds of P-wave 0.01and S-wave 0.1 separate good rockmass quality from poor rockmass quality. The test results show that the elastic wave velocities of the surrounding rocks are generally high, which indicates that the rockmass skeleton is solid. But the rockmass anisotropy is obvious, which indicates that the structure planes are more developed. The results of the study are important for the protection of historical relics.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), physiologically expressed only by certain neural cells, becomes highly oncogenic, when aberrantly expressed in nonneural tissues as a fusion protein with nucleophosphin (NPM) and other partners. The reason why NPM-ALK succeeds in transforming specifically CD4 + T lymphocytes remains unknown. The IL-2R common γ-chain (IL-2Rγ) is shared by receptors for several cytokines that play key roles in the maturation and growth of normal CD4 + T lymphocytes and other immune cells. We show that IL-2Rγ expression is inhibited in T-cell lymphoma cells expressing NPM-ALK kinase as a result of DNA methylation of the IL-2Rγ gene promoter. IL-2Rγ promoter methylation is induced in malignant T cells by NPM-ALK. NPM-ALK acts through STAT3, a transcription factor that binds to the IL-2Rγ gene promoter and enhances binding of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) to the promoter. In addition, STAT3 suppresses expression of miR-21, which selectively inhibits DNMT1 mRNA expression. Reconstitution of IL-2Rγ expression leads to loss of the NPM-ALK protein and, consequently, apoptotic cell death of the lymphoma cells. These results demonstrate that the oncogenic tyrosine kinase NPM-ALK induces epigenetic silencing of the IL-2Rγ gene and that IL-2Rγ acts as a tumor suppressor by reciprocally inhibiting expression of NPM-ALK.

Polyimide (PI) nanocomposites with different proportions of Al2O3 were prepared via two-step reaction. Silicon nitride (Si3N4) was deposited on PI composite films by a RF magnetron sputtering system and used as a gas barrier to investigate the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). The thermal stability and mechanical properties of a pure PI film can be improved obviously by adding adequate content of Al2O3. At lower sputtering pressure (4 mTorr), the PI/Al2O3 hybrid film deposited with Si3N4 barrier film exhibits denser structure and lower root mean square (RMS) surface roughness (0.494 nm) as well as performs better in preventing the transmission of water vapor. The lowest WVTR value was obtained from the sample, 4 wt.%Al2O3–PI hybrid film deposited with Si3N4 barrier film with the thickness of 100 nm, before and after bending test. The interface bonding, Al–N and Al–O–Si, was confirmed with the XPS composition-depth profile.

The physiological indices of Chinese cabbage(Brassica chinensis L.) grown under different intercropping systems used for this study included total soluble protein content, soluble sugar content, reducing sugar content, nitrate content, and pigment concentration. The objective of the present study is to discover the physiological level changes in Chinese cabbage in intercropping systems. The intercropping systems studied involved Chinese cabbage- garlic (Allium sativum L.) (CG), and Chinese cabbage-lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) (CL). Chinese cabbage monoculture served as control (CK). Overall, higher mean soluble protein content and nitrate content were found in Chinese cabbage grown in the intercropping systems than those in CK. Significantly higher chlorophyll a content was found in cabbages from CL than CK during the latter half of the growing season. No significant difference in soluble sugar concentrations was found in CG and CL, as compared with CK. Reducing sugar content varied over the growing period of the Chinese cabbage in CG and CL. These results suggest that Chinese cabbage intercropped with noncrucifer plants increase the plant nutrient content.

The reduction of benzylidenemalononitrile by 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide undergoes via a one-step hydride transfer mechanism rather than a multistep mechanism involving initial electron transfer.

In this study, we demonstrate that malignant mature CD4+ T lymphocytes derived from cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCL) variably display some aspects of the T regulatory phenotype. Whereas seven cell lines representing a spectrum of primary cutaneous T cell lymphoproliferative disorders expressed CD25 and TGF-β, the expression of FOXP3 and, to a lesser degree, IL-10 was restricted to two CTCL cell lines that are dependent on exogeneous IL-2. IL-2, IL-15, and IL-21, all of which signals through receptors containing the common γ chain, induced expression of IL-10 in the IL-2-dependent cell lines as well as primary leukemic CTCL cells. However, only IL-2 and IL-15, but not IL-21, induced expression of FOXP3. The IL-2-triggered induction of IL-10 and FOXP3 expression occurred by signaling through STAT3 and STAT5, respectively. Immunohistochemical analysis of the CTCL tissues revealed that FOXP3-expressing cells were common among the CD7-negative enlarged atypical and small lymphocytes at the early skin patch and plaque stages. Their frequency was profoundly diminished at the tumor stage and in the CTCL lymph node lesions with or without large cell transformation. These results indicate that the T regulatory cell features are induced in CTCL T cells by common γ chain signaling cytokines such as IL-2 and do not represent a fully predetermined, constitutive phenotype independent of the local environmental stimuli to which these malignant mature CD4+ T cells become exposed.

Objectives. To understand the current risk of HIV infection and transmission and further elucidate the underlying risk factors among men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) in China.Methods. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of searching through Chinese and English available literature databases between January 2000 and June 2014 to identify articles.Results. Thirty-six articles (including 19,730 MSMW and 53,536 MSMO) met the selection criteria and the aggregated results found that MSMW have significantly higher HIV prevalence than MSMO (6.6% versus 5.4%, OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.01–1.58). A higher proportion of MSMW had commercial male partners in the past 6 months (18.3% versus 12.2%, OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.01–2.42). Additionally, substance use in the past 6 months was significantly more frequent among MSMW than MSMO (alcohol use: 27.1% versus 13.1%, OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 2.14–2.99; illicit drug use: 5.3% versus 2.5%, OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.48–2.95).Conclusion. A higher proportion of commercial sex and substance use among MSMW may be a potentially indicative factor for significantly higher HIV prevalence compared to MSMO. Targeted interventions should aim at increasing the frequency of HIV/STIs screening and preventing high risk commercial sex and substance use among MSMW to decrease their HIV transmission to the general population.

Surgeons often can contribute failure of sphincter-preserving procedure to a limitation of pelvis anatomy; however, they cannot determine definitely which anatomic diameter or spatial factor actually affected the success of the procedure. Colorectal surgeons, radiologists, and research fellows collaborated closely to establish a three-dimensional digital model of the pelvis with spiral computerized tomography scanning data of patients with rectal cancer. Retrospective analysis on data of 97 patients with low rectal cancer was performed with this model to identify geometric factors that might affect a successful sphincter preservation procedure for low rectal cancer. A digital pelvic model was established. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that distance from the anal verge, body mass index, and pelvic factors affected the success of sphincter preservation. Sphincter preservation was more likely to succeed when the distance from anal verge was ≥5 cm and body mass index was

Objective: To establish a method to improve the detection of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow and peripheral blood samples of neuroblastoma patients and analysis of cytogenetic aberration. Methods: Immunofluorescent staining was performed using a cocktail of primary monoclonal neuroblastoma antibodies (14.G2a, 5.1H11). Fluorescence in situ hybridization was applied with fluorescent probes specific for Nmyc genes afterwards. A novel computer assisted scanning system for automatic search, image analysis and repositioning of these positive cells was developed. Fifty-six bone marrow and peripheral blood samples from 7 patients were evaluated by this method. Results: Fluorescence in situ hybridization can be combined with immunofluorescent staining in detecting Nmyc amplification in neuroblastoma patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization results correlated well with data obtained by conventional cytogenetic procedures. Conclusion: The technique described allows search of tumor cells in the bone marrow as well as detection of Nmyc amplification in interphase nuclei.

Human cytokine induced killer cells (CIK) have shown potent non-major histocompatibility (MHC)-restricted antitumor activity in vitro in recent years. Using a similar protocol, we generated murine cytokine activated T lymphocytes (CAT) from splenocytes with the sequential addition of IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, anti-CD3 and IL-2. The NK depleted CATs did not possess significant antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. However, after cocultured with dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with whole tumor lysates, significant specific antitumor activity was observed both in vitro and in vivo. Our data demonstrated that the CATs cocultured with dendritic cells pulsed with whole tumor lysates have potent specific antitumor effects and might be useful in the treatment of malignancies.

To analyze the specific mechanism of Jinxueyuan granules, the relationship between the Jinxueyuan granules increased the saliva secretion of xerostomia model SD rats and excitement of receptors were studied in this experiment. In the study, three groups of xerostomia model rats were successfully established by using M-receptor blockers-4-diphenyl-acetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine (4-DAMP) and atropine, or adrenergic receptor blocker phentolamine; after the modeling, the medicine Jinxueyuan granules were gavaged. According to the clinical dose of Jinxueyuan granules and SD rats body surface area, the rats in atropine group were divided three dose groups respectively, namely low, medium and high dose of Jinxueyuan granules groups. The 4-DAMP group and phentolamine group were gavaged medium dose of Jinxueyuan granules. And the amount of salivary secretion for 150 minutes in all groups continuously were measured, and the effect of Jinxueyuan granules increased salivation and the relationship between characteristics and the receptors were observed; and submandibular gland tissue of the rats was isolated, then the effect of Jinxueyuan Granules for expression of the water channel protein aquaporin-5 (AQP5) in submandibular gland cells was analyzed by the Western blot technology. It was found that the saliva secretion of Jinxueyuan Granules groups was increased significantly, and compared with the saline control group, phentolamine group, 4-DAMP group and atropine group, difference was significant, P0.05. There was no significant difference between the low-dose of Jinxueyuan granules group and the saline group, but the medium dose of Jinxueyuan granules group had a significant difference, compared with the saline group (P0.05). In the time distribution of increasing saliva secretion, there was a significant difference between the saline and Jinxueyuan granules group in the saliva secretion (P0.05). After administration of Jinxueyuan granules, the expression of AQP5 protein in the submandibular gland cells expressing of treatment groups was increased, and compared with the blocker groups, there was a significant difference, P0.05. Except the atropine group, there was no significant difference in Jinxueyuan granules relieving the inhibition induced by blocks in phentolamine group and 4-DAMP group, compared with the saline group. Compared the AQP5 expression in three blockers groups, there was no significant difference in the efficacy of Jinxueyuan granules between phentolamine group and 4-DAMP group; but there was a significant difference between the atropine group and other groups (P0.05). Therefore, it was considered that the mechanism of Jinxueyuan granules increasing saliva secretion (effectiveness of nourishing Yin and generating body fluid ) possibly through the pathway mediated by muscarinic M receptor, especially M3 receptor, or adrenergic receptor, and increased expression of salivary gland AQP5 membrane, and then stimulate saliva production.

The use of magnetic micro- and nanoparticles for the removal of pollutants from wastewater is gaining increasing attention. Here, amine-functionalized magnetic microparticles (AFMMs) and carboxylic-functionalized magnetic microparticles (CFMMs) were synthesized by modifying the surface of Fe3O4 with amino and carboxyl groups for fast and efficient removal of textile dyes from aqueous solution. The functionalized magnetic microparticles were characterized by TEM, SEM, FTIR, and VSM. The adsorption experiments were carried out by varying the regulating parameters like solution pH and adsorbent dosage and analyzed in terms of kinetic and isotherm models. It was demonstrated that simple electrostatic interactions between functionalized magnetic microparticles and adsorbates played a dominating role in the adsorption of textile dyes. The positively charged AFMMs adsorbed the negatively charged dyes vat blue (VB) and direct violet (DV) at pH 6 with the maximum removal percentages of 95.72 and 97.29 %, respectively. The maximum removal percentages of cationic dyes methylene blue (MB) and azure A chloride (AA) on the negatively charged CFMMs were 92.28 and 92.22 % at pH 11, respectively. Moreover, the adsorbed dyes could be desorbed completely from the surface of CFMMs at a lower pH, and AFMMs also allowed rapid removal of VB and DV in different water samples. All the results in the present work demonstrated that the functionalized magnetic microparticles as efficient, magnetically separable adsorbents are attractive for the removal of dye pollutants.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between flow cytometric DNA ploidy, biological features and prognosis in patients with Stage II colorectal cancer. Methods: Nuclear DNA content, proliferation index and S-phase fraction were measured in a prospective series of 45 patients with curatively resected Stage II colorectal adenocarcinomas by means of flow cytometry using frozen tumor samples. Results: Of the 45 samples examined, 17 tumors (38%) were diploid and 28 (62%) aneuploid. The diploid tumors were significantly more common in the proximal colon than in the distal colon (67% vs. 23%; P 0.05). The proliferation index and S-phase fraction in the distal tumors were higher than those in the proximal tumors, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). When the 5-year survival rate of patients with Stage II colorectal cancer was compared by the log rank test, a significant relationship between DNA ploidy status and disease free survival was observed in the group of all patients. Patients with DNA diploid tumors had a better disease free survival than those with DNA aneuploid tumors (P

The mechanism of reduction of 1,1-diphenyl-2,2-dinitroethylene (DPDN) by 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) in acetonitrile has been investigated. Based on product analysis, isotopic tracing and electrochemical analysis, the reaction takes place by a hydride transfer mechanism giving 1,1-diphenyl-2,2-dinitroethane (DPDNH). Single crystal X-ray analysis shows that DPDN conforms to idealized C2 symmetry, but steric repulsions between the bulky substituents result in an appreciable twist about the central bond, such that the phenyl rings make a dihedral angle of 77.7°and the planar C–NO2 fragments make a dihedral angle of 68.5°. A small kinetic H/D isotope effect was obtained, that we propose is due to steric hindrance. Reaction in oxygen-saturated acetonitrile produced DPDNH and benzophenone in the ratio of 59.2∶22.0 as the final products with a total yield of 68.6% by GC. Control experiments were performed, by stirring a solution of DPDN or DPDNH alone in oxygen-saturated acetonitrile, or by stirring a solution of DPDN or DPDNH alone in aqueous acetonitrile containing a small amount of hydrochloric acid or in acetonitrile containing triethylamine. These produced no benzophenone. The results clearly indicate the trapping of a radical species by oxygen in the reaction. A curve-crossing model for the reaction projects that the transition state has partial diradical and partial covalent bonding character. As DPDN has a low-lying π* orbital (LUMO), the radical anion DPDN−· is a stabilized radical. It is known that the reaction of alkyl and benzyl radicals with oxygen is exothermic with a rate close to the diffusion-controlled limit. Thus, with use of More O’Ferrall’s two-dimensional potential energy diagram, the results are rationalized by a mechanistic change induced by steric hindrance so that the transition state collapses in two directions leading to the formation of DPDNH (polar pathway) and benzophenone (ET pathway), respectively.

In this article, we report that cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) cells and tissues ubiquitously express the immunosuppressive cell surface protein CD80 (B7-1). CD80 expression in CTCL cells is strictly dependent on the expression of both members of the STAT5 family, STAT5a and STAT5b, as well as their joint ability to transcriptionally activate the CD80 gene. In IL-2–dependent CTCL cells, CD80 expression is induced by the cytokine in a Jak1/3- and STAT5a/b-dependent manner, whereas in the CTCL cells with constitutive STAT5 activation, CD80 expression is also STAT5a/b dependent but is independent of Jak activity. Although depletion of CD80 expression does not affect the proliferation rate and viability of CTCL cells, induced expression of the cell-inhibitory receptor of CD80, CD152 (CTLA-4), impairs growth of the cells. Coculture of CTCL cells with normal T lymphocytes consisting of both CD4+ and CD8+ populations or the CD4+ subset alone, transfected with CD152 mRNA, inhibits proliferation of normal T cells in a CD152- and CD80-dependent manner. These data identify a new mechanism of immune evasion in CTCL and suggest that the CD80–CD152 axis may become a therapeutic target in this type of lymphoma.

With this study we have demonstrated that in vitro transduction of normal human CD4(+) T lymphocytes with NPM-ALK results in their malignant transformation. The transformed cells become immortalized and display morphology and immunophenotype characteristic of patient-derived anaplastic large-cell lymphomas. These unique features, which are strictly dependent on NPM-ALK activity and expression, include perpetual cell growth, proliferation, and survival; activation of the key signal transduction pathways STAT3 and mTORC1; and expression of CD30 (the hallmark of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma) and of immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10 and cell-surface protein PD-L1/CD274. Implantation of NPM-ALK-transformed CD4(+) T lymphocytes into immunodeficient mice resulted in formation of tumors indistinguishable from patients' anaplastic large-cell lymphomas. Our findings demonstrate that the key aspects of human carcinogenesis closely recapitulating the features of the native tumors can be faithfully reproduced in vitro when an appropriate oncogene is used to transform its natural target cells; this in turn points to the fundamental role in malignant cell transformation of potent oncogenes expressed in the relevant target cells. Such transformed cells should permit study of the early stages of carcinogenesis, and in particular the initial oncogene-host cell interactions. This experimental design could also be useful for studies of the effects of early therapeutic intervention and likely also the mechanisms of malignant progression.

Copyright: © 2013 Wang H. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Plasma insulin must traverse the vascular endothelium to reach its major sites of action on myocytes and adipocytes. In study simultaneously measuring plasma and lymphatic insulin concentrations in normal, conscious dogs during euglycemic insulin clamps it was found that the steady-state plasma insulin concentration was consistently higher than lymph with a rough ratio of 3:2 during the basal period. In addition, while plasma insulin concentration rose quickly to reach the steady-state during the insulin clamp, the lymph insulin concentration rose very slowly indicating a barrier function of the vascular endothelium. Most importantly, this study showed that the dynamics of glucose disposal correlated very strikingly with the insulin concentration in lymph but not plasma, suggesting that trans-capillary insulin transport is a rate limiting step for peripheral insulin action [1]. Consistent with this, direct injection of insulin into canine skeletal muscle in vivo was recently noted to significantly hasten the onset of muscle glucose utilization compared with intravenously delivered insulin [2]. Multiple other studies also support such an important role of vascular endothelium during insulin clamp by measurement of the insulin concentration within skeletal muscle interstitium in humans and animals using either lymphatic sampling or microdialysis methods [3-7]. Results obtained using either method indicate that even after several hours of steady state hyperinsulinemia, muscle interstitial insulin concentration is only 40-50% of that in plasma and the time course for insulin-mediated glucose disposal during the euglycemic clamp correlates strongly with interstitial but not plasma insulin concentrations. Based on these findings, it has been estimated that slow trans-endothelial insulin transport may account for 30-40% of insulin resistance seen with human obesity or type-2 diabetes [3,8,9].

Thermal and photoinduced reduction of ethyl (Z)-α-cyano-β-bromomethylcinnamate (1) by coenzyme NAD(P)H model 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH, 2) gives ethyl (E)-1-cyano-2-phenylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate (3) in the former case, and the (E)-4 and (Z)-5 isomers of ethyl α-cyano-β-methylcinnamate with the (E)-isomer as the major product in the latter case. The results are rationalized in terms of direct hydride transfer and electron transfer–debromination–hydrogen abstraction mechanism, respectively.

To explore the effects of different antihypertensive strategies on blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion in patients with hypertension and microalbuminuria.For this multi-center, randomized, positively controlled clinical trial, a total of 531 patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension and microalbuminuria were enrolled. They were divided randomly into calcium channel blocker (CCB), angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARB) and CCB+ARB groups. The whole treatment period was 6 months.According to ANOVA analysis, the post-therapeutic urinary albumin level decreased 20.6, 27.6 and 30.9 mg/L in CCB, ARB and CCB+ARB groups respectively (P = 0.067). And the extents of urinary albumin reduction were 31.1 and 6.6 mg/L in patients with controlled and uncontrolled blood pressure respectively (P0.001).Effective antihypertensive therapy is a key for decreasing urinary albumin excretion in hypertensive patients. As compared with calcium antagonists, ARB-containing regimens appear to be better in reducing urinary albumin.

The management of patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is challenging, as there is no standard treatment option. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in combination with cyclosporin A (CsA) for the management of patients with corticosteroid-resistant primary ITP.Thirty-six patients with corticosteroid-resistant ITP were randomly divided into an observation group and control group. In the observation group, 19 patients received subcutaneous injection of rhTPO at a dose of 1 µg/kg (300 U/kg) once daily up to day 14. Simultaneously they also received oral CsA at a dose of 1.5-2.0 mg/kg twice daily for three months. In the control group, rhTPO alone was administered subcutaneously at 1 µg/kg once daily in the other 17 ITP patients for 14 consecutive days and then the treatment was withdrawn.There was no significant difference in the response rate at the end of the first week after treatment initiation between the observation group and the control group (63.2% vs. 58.8%, P0.05), neither was there at the end of the second week (89.5% vs. 94.1%, P0.05). However, the relapse rate in the observation group was significantly lower than that in control group at the end of the first (17.7% vs. 50.0%, P0.05), second (29.4% vs. 68.8%, P0.05) and the third month (29.4% vs. 87.5%, P0.01). In addition, rhTPO plus CsA were well tolerated and adverse events recorded were mild.Combination therapy with rhTPO and CsA was effective in the management of patients with corticosteroidresistant ITP, with a relatively short time to response and low recurrence rate. It might be considered as a potential secondline treatment regimen for ITP.

To investigate blood pressure control the glucose metabolism, cardiovascular risk factors of patients who were regularly followed up at professional hypertension clinics in China.A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 32 004 patients from 127 professional hypertension clinics across China. The questionnaires included case history and related treatment physical examination and laboratory biochemical tests were also taken at the same time.The mean blood pressure of overall population was (151 ± 13)/(92 ± 10) mm Hg(1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa). Totally 3424 patients (10.7%) had never taken any anti-hypertension medicine. Among patients treated with anti-hypertension drugs, 19 818 were of mono-therapy (69.3%) and 8762 were of combination therapy. The most frequently used drug was renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, followed by calcium-channel blocker. Fixed compound preparations accounted for 15.6%. The overall blood pressure control rate (140/90 mm Hg ) was 26.8%, among them, 27.7%, 30.0%, 25.4% and 21.3% patients were complicated with coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases and cerebral stroke respectively. About 70.3% hypertensive patients had abnormal glucose metabolism whose mean glycosylated hemoglobin (GHbA1c) was 7.84%, which was significantly higher than 7.0% , the target value defined by ADA.Even among them, 20.2% patients have never received any anti-diabetic drugs.Low-risk and medium-risk patients accounted for 16.0%. Totally 48.0% patients were classified in high-risk group and 36.0% in very high risk group. About half of all patients had different target organ dysfunction. About 49.0% patients had associated comorbidities.Co-existence of hypertension and abnormal glucose metabolism is common in Chinese population. Among these patients, target organ dysfunction and comorbidities are prevalent, but blood pressure is only effectively controlled in less than 30% patients. Low proportion of combination therapy is one of the reasons for unsatisfied control of blood pressure.It indicates that effective management of hypertension is urgent.

To investigate glucose metabolism status and its relationship with blood pressure, obesity, renal function and cardio-cerebral vascular events in Chinese essential hypertensive patients.Essential hypertensive patients without diabetic history were enrolled in this cross-sectional survey. All patients filled in questionnaires and received physical examination and laboratory tests. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT, fasting and 2 hours glucose level after drinking the 75 g glucose solution) was performed in patients who signed the informed consent.(1) The control rate of systolic BP was lower in patients with dysglycemia than in patients without dysglycemia (41.0% vs. 46.4%, P = 0.000). (2) The albuminuria detection rate and the abnormal rate of estimated glumerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased significantly with the deterioration of glucose metabolism. (3) Multifactor-analysis showed that abnormal waist circumference, decreased eGFR and presence of albuminuria were independent risk factors for abnormal glucose metabolism. Cardiovascular events was significantly higher in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism than patients with normal glucose metabolism.Abnormal glucose metabolism is common in Chinese essential hypertensive patients. When complicated with abnormal glucose metabolism, essential hypertensive patients had poor blood pressure control rate and were related to higher cardiovascular risk.

To explore the characteristics and related risk factors of arterial elasticity in persons with prehypertension, high-normal blood lipid and(or) impaired glucose regulation(impaired fasting glucose and(or) impaired glucose tolerance).After receiving physical and biochemical examinations, a total of 1238 persons were enrolled. Among them, the etiologies were prehypertension (n = 65), high-normal blood lipid (n = 156), impaired glucose regulation (n = 159), prehypertension and high-normal blood lipid (n = 85), prehypertension and impaired glucose regulation (n = 77), high-normal blood lipid and impaired glucose regulation (n = 55) and prehypertension, high-normal blood lipid and impaired glucose regulation (n = 9). Also 332 healthy subjects, 113 hypertensive patients, 150 hyperlipidemics and 37 diabetics were enrolled as controls. Systemic vascular compliance (SVC), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), brachial artery distensibility (BAD) were measured with Dynapulse 200 M (Pulse Metric, Inc., USA).In persons with prehypertension, SVC was lower than healty group ((1.14 ± 0.20) ml vs (1.26 ± 0.23) ml, P0.01)and higher than hypertensive group ((1.11 ± 0.18) ml, P = 0.011), SVR higher than healty group (157 ± 29) kPa×s×L(-1) vs (148 ± 25) kPa×s×L(-1), P = 0.012) and lower than hypertensive group ((166 ± 36) kPa×s×L(-1), P0.01)and BAD lower than healty group(5.93% ± 1.14% vs 6.50% ± 1.30%, P0.01). Among different groups with prehypertension, high-normal blood lipid and(or) impaired glucose regulation, SVC, SVR and BAD had significant differences. As indicated by multiple linear regression analysis, blood pressure was an independent risk factor of arterial elasticity.Vascular function becomes damaged in prehypertensive stage. As an independent risk factor, blood pressure had more potent effect than lipid and blood glucose. Multiple cardiovascular risk factors with high-normal value may affect vascular function more strongly.

Aliskiren is a novel blood pressure-lowering agent acting as an oral direct renin inhibitor. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of aliskiren on arterial stiffness, compared with that of ramipril in mild to moderate essential hypertensive patients.Following a two week placebo run-in period, patients with a mean sitting diastolic blood pressure (ms-DBP) ≥ 95 and110 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), and a mean sitting systolic blood pressure (ms-SBP)180 mmHg were randomly allocated to treatment with aliskiren (150 mg/d, n = 20) or ramipril (5 mg/d, n = 20) for eight weeks. Blood pressure, plasma renin activity, and the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) were measured before and after eight weeks of treatment.Eight weeks of treatment significantly decreased systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in both the aliskiren group and ramipril group. The hypotensive effect did not differ between the two groups. Plasma renin activity decreased after aliskiren treatment and increased after ramipril treatment. There was no significant difference in baseline ba-PWV between the aliskiren and ramipril groups (P = 0.892). The ba-PWV was significantly reduced in both the aliskiren group (1535 (1405 - 1666) vs. 1464 (1360 - 1506) cm/s) (P0.01) and the ramipril group (1544 (1433 - 1673) vs. 1447 (1327 - 1549) cm/s) (P0.01). No statistically significant difference was found in the decline of ba-PWV between the two groups (P = 0.766).The current study revealed that aliskiren (150 mg/d) could ameliorate arterial stiffness and its effect was similar to ramipril (5 mg/d) in mild to moderate hypertensive patients, indicating that in addition to lowering blood pressure, aliskiren had beneficial effect on vascular protection.

To establish a three-dimensional image of the penile suspensory ligament, and explore a stereoscopic and multi angle observation method of patient' s penile suspensory ligament.This study selected the patients with small penis from our hospital as subjects. The participants were conducted on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination before operation. Afterwards, the results of MRI were imported into 3D reconstruction software (MIMICS 10.0), and the suspensory ligament of penis, the pubic symphysis and other related structures were reconstructed for observation.The pubic symphysis, penis and corpus spongiosum can be quite clearly displayed in the thin-section MRI images. In addition, penile suspensory with patchy distribution can be visible between lower part of ligament pubic symphysis and corpus cavernosum. Finally, we can reconstruct the three-dimensional structures through MIMICS 10.0, and then precisely describe the suspensory ligament's start-stop point, the angle with cavernous body of penis and the attached area in the corpus cavernosum penis.Based on the MRI 3D reconstruction of deep penile suspensory ligament and adjacent structures, we can carry out dynamic, three-dimensional multi angle observation of patients deep penile suspensory ligament, and can use the reconstructed image to provide certain theory basis for the judgement of the corpus cavernosum penis extension length and penile suspensory ligament depth before penis extension operation.

This study was aimed to investigate the changes of the platelet particle membrane protein (GMP-140), platelet activating factor (PAF) and platelet parametes in the patients with hyperuricemia (HUA), ELISA was used to detect the levels of GMP-140 and PAF in 55 patients with HUA and 30 healthy individuals. Platelet parameters were measured with automatic blood cell analyzer, and the biochemical indexes were detected at the same time. The results showed that the levels of serum uric acid, triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in HUA patients were higher than that in the normal group (P0.01). Serum uric acid level of HUA group was higher in men than that in women. The levels of GMP-140 and PAF in HUA patients were much higher than that in the normal group (P0.01), the indexes of platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) in HUA patients were higher than that in the normal group (P0.01), there was no statistically significant difference in platelet count, plateletcrit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV) between the two groups. There was positive correlation between serum uric acid and levels of GMP-140, PAF, P-LCR and PDW, respectively (r = 0.667, 0.879, 0.310, 0.460, P0.01 or P0.05). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that serum uric acid, creatinine, P-LCR, urea nitrogen contributed to GMP-140 level (adjusted R(2) = 0.822). Serum uric acid and LDL-C also contributed to PAF level (adjusted R(2) = 0.451). It is concluded that a close relationship exists between HUA and the change of platelet function, and HUA plays a certain role in cardiovascular disease thrombosis complications.

To establish a model of individually forecasting the penile length gained after penis lengthening.A total of 322 patients were diagnosed congenital penile shortness and received partial suspensory ligament release in our department from Oct. 1988 to Apr. 2011. The patients were divide into two groups as Modeling Group (n = 200) and Checking Group (n = 122). Then a two-dimensional model of the suspensory-ligament-release penis lengthening is established. In the Modeling Group, a statistical analysis of the penile length in flaccid and erectile state before and after penis lengthening was carried out, and a forecasting predictive function of increased penile length was derived. Then the predictive accurate rate was tested in the Checking Group.There was a significant linear correlation between the increased length in flaccid and erectile state (correlation coefficient = 0.921, P0.01), there was also a similar relationship between the extension rate of erection before and after the operation (correlation coefficient = 0.803, P0.01). According to the significant linear correlations showing above, two regression forecasting models were established. A predictive function of increased flaccid length was derived from the two regression forecasting models. The effectively forecasting rates were 84.5% (169/200, the Modeling Group) and 87.7% (107/122, the Checking Group) when the absolute value of forecasting error was less than 1.5 cm.The discovered significant correlation and the established forecasting function provide us a model of roughly and individually forecasting the penile length gained after penis lengthening.

To investigate the efficacy and safety of a schedule of 2 cycles' high-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) as an initial therapy in adults immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and compare with conventional dose prednisone therapy.A total of 59 newly diagnosed ITP patients were divided into 2 groups randomly. In 30 patients (Dexamethasone group), oral HD-DXM was administered at 40 mg/d for 4 consecutive days, repeated one week later, and then failed to maintain. In the remaining 29 patients (Prednisone group), prednisone was administered orally at 1.0 - 1.5 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) for 4 weeks, and then gradually tapered.For short-term efficacy, after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment, the response rate in Dexamethasone group was significantly higher than that in Prednisone group (50.0% vs 24.1%, P0.01; 73.3% vs 55.2%, P0.05), while 3 weeks later, there was no remarkable difference between the two groups (83.3% vs 68.9%, P0.05), though the response rate in Dexamethasone group remained higher. For long-term effect, at the end of the 2nd and 3rd months of follow-up, the relapse rate in Dexamethasone group was significantly lower than that in Prednisone group (24.0% vs 40.0%, P0.05; 32.0% vs 65.0%, P0.01), while at the end of the 1(st) month of follow-up, there was no significant difference (16.0% vs 20.0%, P0.05). In addition, it's well tolerated and no complications such as severe infection or Cushing syndrome were complained in Dexamethasone group.HD-DXM possesses an advantage over conventional dose prednisone therapy in efficacy and safety.

This paper defines the vulnerability of regional social and economic system. According to the principles of establishing evaluation indices, this paper attempts to construct a set of synthetic evaluation indices, including the most important causes of vulnerability produced by natural resources, population and artificial causes, and the results of vulnerability showing the economic, social and natural disaster results. The weights of the various indices are calculated by the analytic hierarchy process(AHP). It is the foundation to study the vulnerability of regional social and economic system.

Based on defining the vulnerability of regional social and economic system, this paper attempts to construct a set of synthetic evaluation indices. The weights of the various indices are calculated by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The synthetic evaluation of vulnerability of regional social and economic system is evaluated by means of grey clustering. The evaluation results is scientific and objective.

This study was aimed to explore the expression of erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) on acute leukemia cells and its clinical significance. Bone marrow of 40 patients with acute leukemia (AL) and 24 patients with normal bone marrow as control group were collected. Samples came from outpatients and inpatients in our hospital. EPOR mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-PCR. The results showed that there was EPOR expression on AL cells, the expression rate was 57.5%, and the average expression level (Gray value) was 0.3549 ± 0.2800, but both were lower than that in control group (p0.05). There was no significant statistic difference of expression rate between acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (p0.05), and expression level of AML EPOR was higher than that of ALL (p0.05). It is concluded that there is EPOR expression on AL cells, while the expression rate and expression level are lower than those in control group (p0.05). There is no significant statistic difference of the expression rate between AML and ALL (p0.05), and the expression level of AML EPOR is higher than that of ALL (p0.05).

1-Benzyl-1, 4-dihydronicotinamide (1) and KCN reacted with 2-(o-bromomethyl)-benzylidene-1, 3-indandione (2) to give 7, 12-dihydro-1-oxoindeno[3, 2-c][2]benzooxepine (3) and 1′-cyano-3′-hydro-2, 2′-spirobi[2H-indene]-1, 3-dione (4), respectively, and the selectivity of O-alkylation and C-alkylation is discussed.

Objective: To study the association of DNA ploidy abnormality and p53 overexpression with the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer. Methods: DNA ploidy and p53 expression were measured in a series of 42 colorectal adenocarcinomas by means of flow cytometry and immunohistochemical test. Results: 17 tumors (40%) were diploid and 25 (60%) aneuploid. The aneuploid tumors were significantly more common in the distal colon than in the proximal colon (P

To investigate whether S100A14 and S100A4 expression correlates with metastatic potential and prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC), we firstly used RT-PCR analysis to detect mRNA expression of S100A14 and S100A4 in 40 pairs of fresh tumor samples matched with adjacent normal tissues. We then evaluated the clinical significance of our findings with immunohistochemistry on 115 samples of formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumors on tissue microarrays. Typically, we identified decreased S100A14 mRNA levels (52.5%, 21/40), and increased S100A4 mRNA levels (70.0%, 28/40) in primary CRC samples. In addition, down-regulated or absent S100A14 expression was detected in 56.5% of samples (65/115) and was correlated with poor differentiation (P=0.010). In contrast, overexpressed S100A4 was detected in 57.4% of samples (66/115) and was associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.001). Simultaneous S100A14 low-expression and S100A4 high-expression was correlated with high CRC metastatic potential (P0.001). Taken together, the signature derived from the combined expression status of S100A14 and S100A4 could be a valuable prognostic indicator in CRC.

Among the many oncogenic variants of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), nucleophosmin 1 (NPM)/ALK fusion protein expressed in the subset of T-cell lymphoma (ALK(+)TCL) is currently the best characterized. NPM/ALK activates several signal transduction pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MEK/ERK, mTORC1, STAT3, and STAT5b. In turn, the pathways modulate expression and function of many genes and proteins involved in the key cellular functions such as proliferation, growth, survival, metabolism, and angiogenesis. Recent data indicate that NPM/ALK also promotes immune evasion of the ALK(+)TCL by inducing through STAT3 activation the expression of immunosuppressive cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFss) and cell surface protein CD274 (PD-L1, B7-H1). In addition, NPM/ALK protects its own expression by mediating via STAT3 and at least one member of the DNA methyltransferase family DNMT1 epigenetic silencing of the SHP-1 and STAT5a genes. In ALK+TCL cells, SHP-1 and STAT5a proteins act as potent tumor suppressors by promoting degradation of the NPM/ALK protein and inhibiting expression of the NPM/ALK gene, respectively. These findings provide further rationale to therapeutically target ALK and its effector proteins, foremost STAT3. They also suggest that immunotherapeutic approaches to ALK(+)TCL and, possibly, other ALK-driven malignancies may require inhibition of ALK and STAT3 to achieve the optimal clinical efficacy.

Grammar based test generation (GBTG) has seen extensive study and considerable practical use since the 1970s. GBTG was introduced to generate source code for testing compilers from context-free grammars specifying language syntax. More recently, GBTG has been applied to many other testing problems, including the generation of eXtensible Markup Language (XML) documents. Recent research has shown how to integrate covering-array generation into GBTG tools. While the integration offers considerable power to the tester, there are few practical demonstrations in the literature. We present a case study showing how to use grammars and covering arrays for effective input generation. The generated tests have been used to systematically evaluate an RSS feed parser for HTML injection vulnerabilities.