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Objective. The mechanism of enhanced radiosensitivity induced by mitochondrial uncoupling protein UCP2 was investigated in HeLa cells to provide a theoretical basis as a novel target for cervical cancer treatment. Methods. HeLa cells were irradiated with 4 Gy X-radiation at 1.0 Gy/min. The expression of UCP2 mRNA and protein was assayed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. UCP2 siRNA and negative control siRNA fragments were constructed and transfected into HeLa cells 24 h after irradiation. The effect of UCP2 silencing and irradiation on HeLa cells was determined by colony formation, CCK-8 cell viability, γH2AX immunofluorescence assay of DNA damage, Annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis assay, and propidium iodide cell cycle assay. The effects on mitochondrial structure and function were investigated with fluorescent probes including dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay of reactive oxygen species (ROS), rhodamine 123, and MitoTracker Green assay of mitochondrial structure and function. Results. Irradiation upregulated UCP2 expression, and UCP2 knockdown decreased the survival of irradiated HeLa cells. UCP2 silencing sensitized HeLa cells to irradiation-induced DNA damage and led to increased apoptosis, cell cycle arrest in G2/M, and increased mitochondrial ROS. Increased radiosensitivity was associated with an activation of P53, decreased Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, cyclin B, CDC2, Ku70, and Rad51 expression, and increased Apaf-1, cytochrome c, caspase-3, and caspase-9 expression. Conclusions. UCP2 inhibition augmented the radiosensitivity of cervical cancer cells, and it may be a potential target of radiotherapy of advanced cervical cancer.

To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer, and to determine the factors affecting prognosis.Clinical data of 211 patients with cervical cancer, treated at our institution between June 2014 and February 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy and received external irradiation of 45-50.4 Gy. High-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) of 24-36 Gy was prescribed to a high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) as a local boost. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 19.0 using Kaplan-Meier survival test and Cox regression analysis. Additionally, dose parameters of patients with IIIB stage treated with combined intracavitary/interstitial (IC/IS) implants were compared with IC only.With a median follow-up time of 69 months, local control (LC), overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and nodal control (NC) at 5 years were 89%, 78%, 67%, and 88%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the major determinant of LC was the level of pre-treatment squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag). The predictors of shorter OS were adenocarcinoma, pre-treatment SCC-Ag, and FIGO stage. Worse DFS was associated with adenocarcinoma, pre-treatment SCC-Ag, and involved lymph nodes. The predictors for nodal failure were positive pelvic lymph nodes. Patients with IIIB treated with IC/IS brachytherapy tended to improve DFS compared with IC alone, and obtained similar HR-CTV DRadiation therapy carried out in our institution results in good survival, with acceptable toxicity in locally advanced cervical cancer. Different individualized therapeutic strategies should be considered for patients with high-risk factors.

Study design Questionnaire translation and validation. Objective The aim of this study was to translate the Early-Onset Scoliosis 24-Item Questionnaire (EOSQ-24) into simplified Chinese and to evaluate the reliability and validity of this questionnaire in children with early-onset scoliosis (EOS) in mainland China. Summary of background data The EOSQ-24 is a validated quality of life questionnaire in children with EOS and has been translated into multiple languages and used worldwide. However, there is currently no simplified Chinese version available for use in mainland China. Methods The English version of the EOSQ-24 questionnaire was translated into simplified Chinese based on the recommendations of the International Quality of Life Assessment (IQoLA) group. The reliability of the scale was evaluated using test-retest reliability and internal consistency, and construct validity was examined through factor analysis. Hundred childrenwith EOS were enrolled in the study. To assess the test-retest reliability of the scale, the parents or caregivers of 38 of participants repeated the questionnaire after 2 weeks. Results Test-retest reliability was excellent overall (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.935) and ranged from moderate to excellent for each domain (ICC = 0.681-0.945). The overall internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach α = 0.893) and had a variable range for each domain (Cronbach α = 0.560-0.889). Factor analysis was performed, and seven principal components were extracted that accounted for 70.1% of the variance. Conclusion The simplified Chinese version of the EOSQ-24 scale has acceptable reliability and construct validity, and it can be used for the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQL), caretaker burden, and satisfaction for children with EOS in mainland China.Level of Evidence: 3.

Background The therapeutic efficacy of serial casting on idiopathic scoliosis has been gradually documented. However, literatures on serial casting for congenital scoliosis (CS) remain extremely rare. This paper aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of serial casting between CS and non-CS patients to comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic characteristics of serial casting on CS patients. Methods A total of 23 early-onset scoliosis cases were included and divided into congenital scoliosis (CS, n = 8) and non-congenital group (non-CS, n = 15). Therapeutic outcomes including the major curve Cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis angle, lumbar lodosis angle, and thoracic spine growing rate were compared between groups at precast, after the first cast, and at the latest follow-up, respectively. Results All patients received the first cast at the age of 3.25 ± 1.20 years and 5.70 ± 1.18 times of cast corrections. The average casting time was 17.17 ± 3.38 months, and the mean follow-up time was 23.91 ± 12.28 months. Both CS and non-CS groups had significant decrease in Cobb angle after the first cast and at the latest follow-up (all P

This is a retrospective cohort study.To investigate surgical outcomes and instrumentation-related complications (IRCs) of dystrophic scoliosis associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1).Surgical management, including the growing rod technique and early definitive fusion, has been recommended to avoid progression of NF-1 scoliosis. However, no study has investigated the outcomes and complications of different surgical interventions.We performed a retrospective review of a cohort of 59 patients diagnosed with NF-1 dystrophic scoliosis and treated surgically. All clinical and radiographic data within a 3-year follow-up period were collected. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the surgical procedure used: those who underwent initial fusion surgery were assigned to group A (n=32) and those who underwent growing rod surgery to group B (n=27).Patients in group A were older than those in group B at the initial surgery (10.4 vs. 5.8 y; P0.001). There was no difference in the sex ratio, preoperative Cobb angle, or preoperative kyphosis angle between the 2 groups (P0.05). The correction rate of the main curve Cobb angle was higher in group A than B (55.1% vs. 42.4%; P0.05). The incidence of IRC was higher in group B than A (48.1% vs. 12.5%; P0.05). Complications in group A comprised 1 case of screw pullout, 1 case of rod breakage, 1 case of adding-on phenomenon, and 1 case of proximal junctional kyphosis. Complications in group B comprised 5 cases of adding-on phenomenon, 4 cases of trunk shift, 3 cases of curve progression, 1 case of rod breakage, and 1 case of cap loosening.The use of growing rod effectively controls the spinal deformity and facilitates growth of the spine. Compared with fusion surgery, however, growing rod surgery yields a higher incidence of IRCs and lower corrective rate for scoliosis associated with NF-1.

Metallogenic circumstances spatial of the same category mineral deposit structure had defined commonality in a certain region. The important was that studied mineral deposit informations and determine the nature or a segment quantitative investigation, integrated experts’ experience to make sure the weight of dominate mineral factors, and constructed metallogenic prognosis model, and then proceed metallogenic prognosis and mineral resource evaluation use in other regions. To overcome geologic investigation problem which not unity and manifold explanation about geology、geophysics、geochemistry、remote geology at present.

Gene-radiotherapy, a combination of gene therapy and radiotherapy, is a new paradigm for cancer treatment, with the potential to simultaneously improve local and systemic breast cancer control. The aim of this study was to evaluate antitumor effect of interferon (IFN)-gamma-endostatin-based gene-radiotherapy in a murine metastatic breast tumor model, and to elucidate possible mechanisms involved.Murine mammary adenocarcinoma 4T1 cells transfected with pEgr-IFN-gamma and pEgr-endostatin plasmids were irradiated (2-20 Gy). IFN-gamma and endostatin levels in the culture supernatants were measured. In vivo female BALB/c mice were inoculated with 1 x 10(5) 4T1 cells by mammary fat pad injection and divided into control, empty vector, gene therapy (pEgr-IFN-gamma and pEgr-endostatin), radiotherapy, and combined gene-radiotherapy groups. Tumor growth, tumor/body weight ratio, lung metastases, and survival of the tumor-bearing mice were observed. Splenic cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cell activity and intratumor microvessel density were also assessed.Irradiation significantly enhanced IFN-gamma and endostatin secretion from the transfected 4T1 cells. In vivo mice that received combined gene-radiotherapy showed maximal attenuation in tumor growth rate and lung metastases with increased survival compared with mice that received gene therapy or radiotherapy alone. This was associated with significantly enhanced CTL and NK cell activity and reduced intratumor microvessel density.These results demonstrate that IFN-gamma-endostatin-based gene-radiotherapy provide a potent antitumor effect in a murine metastatic breast tumor model, which may relate to IFN-gamma-stimulated CTL and NK cell activation, and endostatin-induced antiangiogenic activity. Thus, gene-radiotherapy may represent a useful addition to neoadjuvant management of locally advanced breast cancer.

The behavior of soluble microbial products (SMP) and effects of SMP on membrane fouling under starvation of an activated sludge were studied. During a 16-day period, the experiment was investigated without nutrient addition to the closed system. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and molecular weight (MW) distributions of bulk solution were periodically monitored. The dead-end filtration tests were used to indicate the SMP effect on membrane fouling. Furthermore, the modified fouling index (MFI) was used to investigate the gel layer resistance of bulk solution closely related with the SMP. At last, an important increase in the concentrations of SMP with MW >10 kDa in the reactor was observed, which may be related to the cellular component degradation from endogenous metabolism. The gel layer resistance was observed to make the highest contribution to flux decline. Specially, the MFI is directly related to the concentration of high MW fraction. The SMP with MW >10 kDa was found to being strongly correlated wit...

Membrane fouling has been the main obstacle to the wide application of membrane bioreactors (MBRs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ferric chloride on retarding membrane fouling in MBRs. Changes in the modified fouling index (MFI) and the zeta potential of sludge flocs were used to determine the optimal concentration of Fe(III). The optimal Fe(III) concentration of 1.2 mM significantly improved the filterability of mixed liquor. Fe(III) supplied positive charges for soluble macromolecular substances and sludge flocs, and enhanced the function of charge neutralization. The effects of the optimal concentration of Fe(III) on the molecular weight (MW) distributions of soluble microbial products (SMP) and the particle size distributions of the flocs in the hybrid MBR (HMBR) were also tested. The addition of Fe(III) at the optimal concentration reduced both SMP with MW > 10 kDa in the supernatant and the fraction of small particles in the range 1–10 μm in the flocs. Elemental analysis of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the activated sludge indicated that Fe(III) added to the HMBR system interacted with the negatively charged groups on the EPS and enhanced the bioflocculation of small particles in the activated sludge. The cleaning efficiency achieved by physically and chemically washing the membrane in the HMBR was compared with that in the conventional MBR. Cleaning with deionized water followed by a metal-chelating agent (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) was highly effective for the fouled membrane of the HMBR.

Background This study evaluates whether taurolidine, a novel antibiotic agent, induces murine melanoma cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Methods Murine melanoma cells (B16 4A5 and B16 F10) were treated with taurolidine (0–100 µM) for 12 and 24 hr. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by MTT assay and FACScan analysis. Expression of the Bcl-2 family proteins was detected by Western blot analysis. In vivo, taurolidine-induced anti-tumor cytotoxicity was assessed in C57BL/6 mice. Therapeutic effectiveness, by intraperitoneal injection of taurolidine (15 mg/mouse) on alternate days for 2 weeks, was evaluated in mice bearing B16 4A5 tumor xenografts. Primary and metastatic tumor growth and intra-tumor apoptotic index were measured. Results Taurolidine induced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability in murine melanoma cells. The pro-apoptotic protein Bax was enhanced, whereas the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was inhibited by taurolidine treatment. In vivo, systemic injection of 15-mg taurolidine was identified as the maximally tolerated dose. Administration of taurolidine at 15 mg/mouse significantly inhibited primary and metastatic tumor growth, which was mirrored by a significantly increased intra-tumor apoptotic index. Conclusions These results demonstrate that taurolidine significantly attenuated melanoma tumor growth, which may result from taurolidine-induced apoptosis by modulation of the Bcl-2 family proteins. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;96: 241–248. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Eastern Tianshan, a cardinal part of Northern Xinjiang compound continental crustoblock, is located in the east of Tianshan Diwa region. By analysis of regional geological and geophysical data, and by using crustobody theory and researching methods, this region can be divided into three sectors of different crustal structure. During Proterozoic to Eopaleozoic, the spreading and closing of Northern Tianshan Sea, on the foundation of disparate continental basements of each sectors, the transversal heterogeneity of tectonic movement and evolution resulted in the diversity of crustal structure and material formations. The metallogenic evolution indicated that different geotectonic evolution periods had not only different characteristics of mineralization commodity and mineral deposit types, but also the progressive mineralization feature. In Neopaleozoic, the closing of Northern Tianshan Sea from north to south and the difference of transmeridional tectonic deformation and magmation formed in the movement constituted the different metallogenic environment in shallow crust. Furthermore, it brought on the diverse Cu-Au-polymetal mineral deposit types and metallogenetic epoch from north to south and from west to east.

To investigate the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of bone lymphangioma associated with spinal deformity in children.Eight cases of children with bone lymphangioma associated with spinal deformity at our hospital from 1983 to 2010 were reviewed and analyzed with the following criteria: clinical manifestations, imaging features, histopathological characteristics and therapeutic options. The outcomes of early intervention treatment were assessed. The key diagnostic points and therapeutic principles were summarized on the basis of our own as well as international and domestic experiences.Paraplegia developed in 2 cases because of delayed treatment. The remaining 6 cases were followed up for 10 months to 2 years with satisfactory effects. By curettage lesions, bone grafts, intralesional injection of bleomycin and pedicle screw-stick system maintaining the spinal stability, bone lymphangioma became smaller or disappeared and spinal deformity was effectively controlled. The mean scoliosis and kyphosis correction rates were 57.0% and 58.4% respectively.Bone lymphangioma in children is rare. If costa and vertebrae are involved, spinal deformity will progressively develop and lead eventually to paraplegia. With an early diagnosis and the administration of proper drugs, bone lymphangioma can be effectively controlled. Surgery for the stability of spinal deformity will effectively prevent the occurrence of paraplegia.

In order to investigate the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), soluble microbial product (SMP) and microbial biodiversity of the sludge lacking of nutrition, to provide evidence for optimizing MBR's operation and lessening membrane fouling, a series of experiments were undertaken under the oligotrophic environment using the sludge from the MBR of Tianjin University. The contents of EPS and SMP were determined, and microbial biodiversity was analyzed by PCR-DGGE technology and cloning-sequencing. Furthermore, the sequences were used for homology analysis and then the phylogenetic tree was constructed. In the initial stage, the EPS and SMP contents raised from 15.04 mg/g and 0 mg/g to 17.99 mg/g and 3.29 mg/g, respectively. Along with the experiment progress, the EPS content dropped to 2.40 mg/g; but the SMP content varied around 3.5 mg/g. This indicates that the EPS and SMP possess the buffer action towards the variation of the environment, and the microorganism can utilize the EPS and SMP under the condition of oligotrophic. Because of the utilization of the EPS and SMP, the Shannon index of the sludge raised from 0.81 to 1.09. Then, it began to decline and stabilized at 0.95 finally. The clone and sequence results reflect that the microbial structure is very rich, and most of the dominant species are uncultured bacterium. Some of the bacterium, which are mostly belong to Bacteroidetes, Flavobacterium, Saprospiraceae and Firmicutes, can degrade the EPS and SMP by secreting protein and polysaccharide hydrolyzing enzymes.

The influence of aeration intensity on membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBR) was to investigate. Two lab-scale MBR with aeration intensity of 500 and 100 L/h were operated for 60 days at a constant permeate flux. The dead-end filtration tests were conducted to confirm the mixed sludge filterability under each condition. The effect of aeration intensity on relative molecular mass distributions of SMP, the particle size distributions (PSD) of flocs and the quantity of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in MBRs were also tested. The results show that large aeration intensity has a negative influence on the filterability of mixed sludge in MBR. Further research finds that the large aeration intensity results in the increase of soluble microbial products (SMP) with a relative molecular mass (M(r))10 000 in supernatant, which obviously affects the filtration of mixed sludge. It is also found that small particles in the range of 1-10 microm and the concentration of EPS in flocs remarkably increase under high aeration intensity of 500 L/h.

In order to investigate the microbial community structures in different membrane bioreactors, total bacterial genomic DNA was extracted from biomass in four MBRs treating different wastewater. The microbial community structures were studied by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and cloning-sequencing. Furthermore, and the sequences were used for homology analysis and then two phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results indicate that each MBR owns its specific ecological community after a long-term of operation. Influent wastewater composition has a significant impact on total bacterial community structures. Population diversity, which is in the bioreactor fed with more complex components wastewater, is higher than those of other MBRs. The Shannon Index are 0.77 and 0.78. Proteobacteria and Bacillus, which contain 8 OUTs and 2 OUTs, are the climax communities in the investigable MBRs. The profiles of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial community in the four reactors are very similar. There may exist several modes of nitrification and denitrification in MBR because sequences revealed that there exist multitude nitrifying organisms, in which Nitrosomonas are the most predominant, and two denitrifying bacterium (uncultured Achromobacter sp. and uncultured denitrifying bacterium)in reactors.

The behaviors of soluble microbial products (SMP) and SMP effects on an operational process of submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) were studied. Within 90 days performance period, total organic carbon (TOC), molecular weight distributions (MWDs), specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR)were periodically monitored. The dead-end filtration tests were used to indicate the SMP effect on membrane fouling. Experiment results showed that the concentration of SMP in SMBR supernatant obviously accumulated. As the operation time was prolonged, the concentrations of SMP with MW10,000 remarkably increased in SMBR supernatant. Compared with the SMP of MW1,000, the SMP with MW10,000 obviously affected sludge activity and membrane fouling, but did not significantly influence the SMBR effluent.

According to the filtration characteristics of sludge, a comparison between a membrane bioreactor (MBR) and a conventional activated sludge process(CAS) was carried out under similar conditions. Experiment results show that the filtration resistance in MBR was 2 to approximately 3 times of that in CAS. The contribution of supernatant resistance to filtration resistance was about 90% both in CAS and in MBR. The test on resistance distribution showed the cake resistance made up 87.30% and 94.18% of total resistance in CAS and MBR, respectively.