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In this paper, the problem we investigate is that the inverse problem of identifying the initial value for fractional pseudo-parabolic equation. This problem is ill-posed, i.e. the solution (if exists) does not depend on the measurable data. We give the estimate of conditional stability under an a-priori bound assumption for exact solution. Two regularization methods are used to solve this problem, and under an a-priori and an a-posteriori selection rule for the regularization parameter, the error estimates for these methods are obtained. Finally, several numerical examples are given to prove the effectiveness of these regularization methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) root waste and soybean meal co-fermented protein (CFP) on growth performance, feed utilization, immune status, hepatic and intestinal health of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Largemouth bass (12.33 ± 0.18 g) were divided into five groups, fed with diets containing 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % CFP respectively for 7 weeks. The growth performance and dietary utilization were slightly improved by the supplementation of CFP. In addition, improved immunoglobulin M (IgM) content and lysozyme activity in treatments confirm the enhancement of immunity in fish by the addition of CFP, especially in fish fed 20 % CFP (P < 0.05). Furthermore, CFP significantly improved liver GSH (glutathione) content in groups D10 and D15 (P < 0.05), and slightly improved total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity while slightly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Simultaneously, the upregulation of lipolysis-related genes (PPARα , CPT1 and ACO) expression and downregulation of lipid synthesis-related genes (ACC and DGAT1) expression was recorded in the group D20 compared with the control (P < 0.05), which were consistent with the decreased liver lipid contents, suggests that lipid metabolism was improved by CFP. In terms of intestinal structural integrity, ameliorated intestinal morphology in treatments were consistent with the upregulated Occludin , Claudin-1 and ZO-1 genes expression. The intestinal pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-8) expression were suppressed while the anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β) were activated in treatments. The expression of antimicrobial peptides (Hepcidin-1 , Piscidin-2 and Piscidin-3) and intestinal immune effectors (IgM and LYZ) were slightly up-regulated in treatments. Additionally, the relative abundance of intestinal beneficial bacteria (Firmicutes) increased while the relative abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria (Fusobacterium and Proteobacteria) decreased, which indicated that the intestinal microbial community was well-reorganized by CFP. In conclusion, dietary CFP improves growth, immunity, hepatic and intestinal health of largemouth bass, these data provided a theoretical basis for the application of this novel functional protein ingredient in fish. • Co-fermented protein (CFP) improves growth, immunity, hepatic and intestinal health of largemouth bass. • CFP alleviates lipid accumulation by modulating the liver lipid metabolism. • The 20 % supplementary level of CFP showed the best potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of esophageal varices. Trans-abdominal ultrasound, as a noninvasive routine examination for the follow-up of cirrhosis patient, is safe, cheap, easy to perform, and plays an important role. In this study, we attempt to design a practical classification analysis model to predict esophageal varices via ultrasound. Methods Compared with endoscopy, the ultrasound qualitative signs (lower esophageal Doppler signals, left gastric vein hepatofugal flow, and paraumbilical vein recanalization) and quantitative parameters (spleen diameter, spleen vein diameter, portal vein diameter, and portal vein velocity) have been evaluated in 286 cirrhosis patients. Results The classification analysis model is designed as that: the patients are defined with esophageal varices high risk, who with any ultrasound qualitative signs or who with spleen diameter greater than 162 mm without qualitative parameters. The sensitivity for detecting esophageal varices is 97.5% and the specificity is 82.6%, while the positive predictive value is 96.7%, negative predictive value is 83.4%, and the omission diagnostic rate is 2.5%. Conclusions This classification analysis model design includes ultrasound qualitative signs and spleen diameter, which can be detected easily via routine ultrasound without other auxiliary. The classification analysis model is useful in detecting esophageal varices, which may be a supplement for predicting of esophageal varices, and reducing the frequency of endoscopy in the follow-up of cirrhosis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Patients with severe ulcerative colitis (SUC) have a high risk of requiring colectomy or resorting to a second-line treatment. However, neither clinical outcomes nor factors predictive of poor response have been clearly established in the treatment of SUC. Objective. To assess prospectively the effects and predictors of corticosteroids (CS) use in clinical outcomes of SUC during 1 year of follow-up. Material and methods. Consecutive inpatients with SUC, who had been treated with intravenous CS, were enrolled. Patients were monitored by clinical, laboratory, and endoscopic examinations, and the data were recorded for 1 year. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed at 1 week. Results. There were 22.6% (14/62) nonresponders at 7 days. Several predictors were associated with nonresponse to CS. These included Mayo Score at baseline ( p = 0.007), partial Mayo Score, number of bowel movements, blood presence in stool, abdominal pain, and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin (Hgb), platelet count (PLT), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) on day 3 ( p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the Partial Mayo Score at day 3 as an independent predictor of outcome ( p = 0.012). A total of 12 patients underwent colectomy within 1 year. The short-term response rates to intravenous cyclosporin (CsA) and infliximab (IFX) in SUC were 71.4% (5/7) and 77.8% (7/9), respectively. Conclusions. Many patients with SUC eventually became refractory to or dependent on CS. The Mayo score and laboratory characteristics were factors useful in predicting short-term outcome of CS treatment. Secondary medical therapy can help avoid emergency surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Regioselective Michael addition of purine derivatives to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds could be catalyzed by d-aminoacylase amano (DA) in DMSO. The influence of reaction conditions on the Michael addition, including solvent, temperature, and enzyme concentration was systematically investigated. Then we extended this methodology to six structurally diverse purine derivatives and a variety of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. 21 Michael adducts were selectively synthesized in moderate to high yields. It is the first report on enzyme-catalyzed Michael addition for the preparation of purine derivatives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A simple and efficient method for selective construction of morphlin-2-one and morphlin-3-one heterocyclic derivatives has been developed from N-substituted aminoethanols and divinyl fumarate. The selectivity of this catalyst-free reaction was easily controlled by different solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A simple and efficient protocol for the anti-Markovnikov addition of thiols to vinyl ethers under solvent- and catalyst-free conditions has been established. A series of thiol ethers containing oxygen atom were obtained with good to excellent yields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel strategy to perform Michael additions between 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and α,β-unsaturated compounds was developed by the catalysis of hydrolase. We found that 11 hydrolase could catalyze the enzymatic Michael addition reaction to form the carbon–carbon bond. In 2-methyl-2-butanol d-aminoacylase showed high Michael addition activity. The influence of substrate and Michael acceptor structure on Michael addition was evaluated systematically. Some control experiments demonstrated that the active site of d-aminoacylase was responsible for the enzymatic Michael addition reaction. This novel Michael addition activity of hydrolase is of practical significance in expanding the application of enzymes and in the evolution of new biocatalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A facile and efficient strategy to prepare drug derivatives with saccharides was developed, and 12 drug–saccharide conjugates were obtained by selective enzymatic synthesis methods. When the transesterification of chlorphenesin vinyl esters with glucose was chosen as a model reaction, the influence of reaction conditions was optimized. Then, we successfully prepared a series of chlorphenesin–saccharide derivatives of three monosaccharides (glucose, mannose and galactose) and three disaccharides (maltose, lactose and sucrose). In order to study the relationship between the solubility of drug–saccharide conjugates and the structure of parent drugs, five hydrophobic drugs (chlorphenesin, mephenesin, guaifenesin, propranolol and clorprenaline) were chosen as substrates to synthesize drug–saccharide conjugates. The results indicated that the aqueous solublity of drug–saccharide derivatives was greatly improved, which was changed by different saccharides and the structure of parent drugs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of 1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-[(4-substitutedphenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-propan-2-ols have been designed and synthesized on the basis of the structure–activity relationships and antimycotic mechanism of azole antifungal agents. Their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, MS and 1H NMR. Results of preliminary antifungal tests against eight human pathogenic fungi (Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton rubrum, Fonsecaea compacta, and Microsporum gypseum) in vitro showed that all title compounds exhibited activity against fungi tested to some extent. Among the compounds tested, all compounds showed higher activity against C. albicans than fluconazole in vitro. Compounds 3, 6–8, 28, 29, and 32 exhibited the same activities against C. albicans as voriconazole (with the MIC value of 0.0152μg/mL). Compounds 3, 6, and 7 showed higher activity against C. parapsilosis than all five positive controls. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel and efficient enzymatic promiscuous protocol for aza-Michael addition of aromatic N-heterocycles to α,β-unsaturated compounds has been described. The reactions were catalyzed by promiscuous zinc-active-site acylase in organic solvent at 50°C. The strategy works with a broad range of N-heterocycles to afford the corresponding Michael adduct with good yields in several hours (0.5–6h). This catalytic promiscuity is the first example of metal-active-site enzyme-catalyzed aza-Michael addition for aromatic N-heterocycles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A fast and green protocol for the Michael addition of N-heterocycles to α,β-unsaturated compounds at room temperature was developed using a basic ionic liquid, 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium hydroxide, [bmIm]OH, as a catalyst and a reaction medium. The reactions were performed at room temperature with good yields in short reaction times (0.5–3h). This strategy is quite general and it works with a broad range of N-heterocycles, including five-membered N-heterocycles, pyrimidines and purines. The recovered ionic liquid could be reused for several cycles with consistent activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel and highly efficient protocol for Markovnikov’s addition using ionic liquid as a catalytic green solvent is described. The strategy is especially useful in the synthesis of N-heterocycle derivatives with biological activity. This reaction widens largely the applicability of ionic liquid in organic synthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A cDNA fragment coding for domains I and II of mouse macrophage metalloelastase (MME) was transfected into murine CT-26 colon cancer cells that are MME deficient. An orthotopic implantation model was established by using MME-transfected cells. In MME-transfected primary tumors, it demonstrated that tumor growth and microvessel formation were significantly inhibited compared with the controls. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein was significantly lower in MME-transfected group compared with those in the controls. Our data show that both MME and VEGF gene expression is highly associated with the vascularity of tumors, which may depend on a balance between MME and VEGF expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new strategy for the enzymatic synthesis of pyrimidine derivatives containing a sugar branch was developed via combining of Michael addition and acylation. The first-step reaction of pyrimidines and vinyl 3-propionyloxy propionate was catalyzed by Amano lipase M from Mucor javanicus in DMSO. The initial reaction rates of different pyrimidines decreased in the order of fluorouracil, uracil, thymine, in agreement with their nucleophilicity. The succeeding regioselective acylation of d-glucose and d-mannose with the Michael adducts was catalyzed by alkaline protease from Bacillus subtilis in pyridine. The d-glucose and d-mannose were all acylated at C-6 position. Moderate yield was obtained for each step. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted to appraise the hazards of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil at six levels (0, 0.050, 0.089, 0.158, 0.281, and 0.500mgkg−1) to the growth of four rice varieties (Xiushui 63, Eryou 810, Liangyoupeijiu, and Zhenong 952). The morphological characteristics of rice roots like root number, total length, surface area of rice roots, and rice biomass were determined. The results showed that the bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil impacted the growth of rice. Root number, total length of roots, surface area of roots, and biomass were restrained by bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil. The inhibition rate of root growth increased from 69.46–81.32% to 85.18–95.97% with the increasing of levels of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl from 0.05mgkg−1 to 0.50mgkg−1. The number of rice roots could be taken as a sensitive index to screen the rice varieties endurable to bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil and to predict the potential hazards of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil to rice. The level of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil causing the root numbers decreased by 50% (IC50) followed the order of Xiushui 63

The combination of the topoisomerase I (Topo I) inhibitor CPT-11 with the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agent Gefitinib (Iressa™, ZD1839) represents a promising medical approach for colorectal cancer patients. In this report, we provide pre-clinical evidences for their optimal combination schedule in HT-29 and LoVo human colon cancer cell lines. We analyzed the different effects that three different combination schedules of SN-38 (the active CPT-11 metabolite) and Gefitinib (Gefitinib before; Gefitinib simultaneously; Gefitinib after SN-38) have on cell growth, cell cycle, apoptosis, and expression/phosphorylation of EGFR, Topo I and some steps of the signal transduction pathway. We first determined the IC50 of each drug choosing the 5 days exposure for Gefitinib (0.6 and 3.8 μM for LoVo and HT-29 cells, respectively) and 1 day exposure for SN-38 (0.31 and 0.5 μM for LoVo and HT-29 cells, respectively). The different drug combination schedules were tested in various concentrations by using equiactive concentrations of the two drugs. The cytotoxicity of Gefitinib and SN-38 combination was schedule- and concentration-dependent but not cell line-specific. The most synergistic schedule was Gefitinib given after SN-38, with combination indexes (CI) of 0.007 and 0.454 in HT-29 and LoVo, respectively. Analysis of bio-molecular targets showed that Gefitinib was able to modulate SN-38 ability to inhibit Topo I, to accumulate cells in S-phase, and to induce apoptosis. Interestingly, SN-38 was able to activate EGFR and its signal transduction pathway. Confirming preliminary clinical experience of Gefitinib with other cytotoxic drugs, it seems that Gefitinib after SN-38 represents the best cytotoxic combination schedule but the biomolecular basis for this synergism remain to be completely elucidated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background. Clinical trials of gefitinib (Iressa, ZD1839) in combination with cytotoxic agents have been carried out or are ongoing in several varieties of tumor. To provide a rationale for future clinical trials, the effects of combining gefitinib with oxaliplatin in different sequences of administration and different dose ratios in two colon cancer cell lines were evaluated. Materials and methods. The colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and LoVo were used. The methods consisted of median effect and combination index analysis, Western blot, mass spectrometry, and a cell death ELISA. Results. In vitro analysis demonstrated that the combination effects of the two agents were sequence-dependent. Changing the sequence of administration from gefitinib first to gefitinib last changed the combination effect from antagonism to synergy. The dose ratio between the two agents affected the combination effects. When equiactive doses of the two agents were used with the sequence gefitinib following oxaliplatin, the greatest level of synergism was obtained (CI=0.6±0.2, P=0.032). Further evaluation revealed that gefitinib significantly inhibited removal of Pt-DNA adducts (P<0.05), providing a potential explanation for the sequence-dependent synergy observed with gefitinib following oxaliplatin. However, this effect was not dose-dependent. Additional studies demonstrated that gefitinib enhanced the effects of oxaliplatin by maintaining oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis, and equiactive dose of gefitinib following oxaliplatin induced prominent enhancement of apoptosis. Conclusions. Oxaliplatin followed by an equiactive relative dose of gefitinib is an appropriate combination for evaluation in colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZD1839 (‘Iressa’), a selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), is currently undergoing preclinical and clinical evaluation in several solid tumors. The present study aimed to assess the effect of ZD1839 in combination with oxaliplatin in the colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and LoVo. For in vitro chemosensitivity testing, cells were treated with serial dilutions of each drug sequentially at a fixed ratio of doses that corresponded to 1/20, 1/10, 1/5, 1/2, 1, 1.5 and 2 times the individual ic50 values. Oxaliplatin followed by ZD1839 produced a synergistic effect. In contrast, oxaliplatin following ZD1839 exhibited an additive effect at best. Mass spectrometry examination revealed that ZD1839 modestly enhanced cellular oxaliplatin accumulation and platinum-DNA (Pt-DNA) adducts (P>0.05). In additional studies, high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that oxaliplatin had no effect on ZD1839 accumulation. In contrast, ZD1839 markedly inhibited removal of Pt-DNA adducts (P<0.05). With oxaliplatin treatment (1 day) followed by ZD1839 (1 day), then incubation with drug-free medium (1 day), 90% of Pt-DNA adducts remained. Apoptosis examination revealed that oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis was prolonged by sequential oxaliplatin followed by ZD1839 treatment compared with oxaliplatin alone. Further experiments revealed that ZD1839 decreased cellular γ-glutamyltransferase activity.Conclusions: The above observations provide a mechanistic explanation for the synergy of oxaliplatin followed by ZD1839, and suggest that this treatment combination warrants further preclinical and clinical investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The interaction effect of two sulfonylurea herbicides, bensulfuron-methyl (B) and metsulfuron-methyl(M), were tested on microbial biomass C, N, N-mineralization and C/N ratio in a loamy sand soil. The herbicides were applied at various levels of: control (B0M0), 0.01 and 0.01 (B1M1), 0.01 and 0.1 (B1M2), and 0.01 and 1.0 (B1M3) micro g/g soil. Determinations of soil microbial biomass-C, N and N-mineralization contents were carried out at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 25 and 45 days after herbicides application. The results showed that the soil microbial biomass-C (C[sub mic]) and microbial biomass-N (N[sub mic]) decreased consistently with the increasing rates of herbicides. The results further indicated that B1M1 and B1M2 caused a significant reduction in C[sub mic] and N[sub mic] within first 10 and 7 days of incubation, respectively, as compared with the control. These reductions in C[sub mic] and N[sub mic] were also significant (P = 0.05) with B1M3 application especially within first 15 days of incubation. A significant reduction in N-mineralization (N-min) was observed with high doses (B1M2, B1M3) of herbicides within first 5 days of incubation, while low rate (B1M1) failed to produce any significant effect. An increase in the soil microbial biomass C:N ratio was also noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the inverse problem for identifying the initial value problem of the time–space fractional nonlinear diffusion equation. The uniqueness of the solution is proved by taking the fixed point theorem of Banach compression, and the ill-posedness of the problem is analyzed through the exact solution. The quasi-boundary regularization method is chosen to solve the ill-posed problem, and the error estimate between the regularization solution and the exact solution is given. Moreover, several numerical examples are chosen to prove the effectiveness of the quasi-boundary regularization method. Finally, our method can be used to solve high dimensional time–space fractional nonlinear diffusion equation, especially in cylindrical and spherical symmetric regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymic neuroendocrine neoplasms are rare tumours, but their management can often be highly problematic. While previously assumed to be essentially variants of bronchopulmonary (lung) carcinoids, they are generally more aggressive and more difficult to treat. Some 25% are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia-1, while a higher proportion are associated with the ectopic ACTH syndrome, and occasionally both. We discuss the classification of these tumours, their biology as far as is known, and their clinical, biochemical and imaging features. We also review possible management options and suggest stratagems to optimise their treatment, which even today is far from optimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithology and genesis of a dark grey clastic interlayer first encountered within the deepest potassium-rich salt body in the Simao Basin, southwestern China, were analysed. Analyses of the petrography, mineralogy, and element geochemistry of the layer revealed that (1) the layer contains quartz crystals with gulf corrosion edges and explosion cracks and angular volcanic ash-sized glasses; (2) the main mineral components of the crystal fragments are chlorite, illite, biotite, quartz, anhydrite, gypsum, magnesite, pyrite, molybdenite, clinopyroxene, and zircon; (3) the rare earth element patterns, Zr/TiO2 and Nb/Y diagrams as well as boron content all indicate a volcanic origin for the layer. Based on these observations, the layer is suggested to be an altered tuff associated with various volcanic fragments dominated by chlorite and formed after alteration of a parent tuff in an alkaline, salty, and low-temperature water body. Discovery of the layer indicates that the potash-bearing salt rocks could have taken in volcanic materials during these volcanic activities and provides the possibility of reliable zircon U‒Pb dating to determine the absolute age of the host rock, which is fundamental in studying the genetic mechanism of this deeply buried salt body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of window settings on measurement of colon polyps with CT virtual colonoscopy with experiment. Twenty-four artificial polyps'' diameter were measured and scanned 10 times with identical scan parameters using a 64-multidetector computed tomographic scanner. The diameter of each polyp was measured using lung window and abdominal soft tissue window settings and compared with the actual diameter. The lung window setting offers accurate measurement of colon polyps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effect of trastuzumab on patients with HER-2/neu (HER2)-positive gastric cancer has been confirmed in a phase III clinical trial (ToGA study). However, the optimized sequence and synergic mechanism of trastuzumab and chemotherapy are not clear. Our study investigated the effects and mechanisms of trastuzumab in combination with 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) or cisplatin (DDP) on gastric cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry was used to determine HER2 expression and cell cycle. MTT assay was performed to evaluate cytotoxicity. Western blotting and RT-PCR were used to analyze signaling transduction and mRNA expression. Sequential 5-Fu followed by trastuzumab and trastuzumab plus DDP followed by trastuzumab produced the best inhibitory effects. Inhibition of HER2-PI3K-AKT signal transduction, downregulation of nucleotide excision repair cross-complementation 1 (ERCC1), and interference with cell cycle distribution may elucidate the synergism between trastuzumab and chemotherapy. These results provide some evidence for designing a rational regime when trastuzumab is being considered to be used in patients with gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of 1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-[(4-substitutedphenyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-propan-2-ols have been designed and synthesized on the basis of the structure–activity relationships and antimycotic mechanism of azole antifungal agents. Their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. Results of preliminary antifungal tests against six human pathogenic fungi (Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida tropicalis, inherently fluconazole-resistant Candida krusei, Candida glabrata) in vitro showed that all title compounds exhibited activity against fungi tested to some extent except against C. tropicalis. Compound 5b showed higher activity against C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei than fluconazole, and its MIC values were determined to be 0.5μg/mL, 1μg/mL and 4μg/mL, respectively. Compound 5k showed higher activities against Torulopsis glabrata than fluconazole (with the MIC value of 2μg/mL). Compounds 5a, 5c, 5f, 5g, 5i exhibited higher activities against C. parapsilosis than fluconazole (with the MIC values of 2μg/mL, 2μg/mL, 2μg/mL, 1μg/mL and 2μg/mL, respectively). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The dissolved organic matter (DOM), water soluble organic matter derived from sewage sludge was separated into hydrophobic fraction (Ho) and hydrophilic fraction (Hi). The sorption of DOM and its fractions on soils and the effects of DOM sorption on a nonionic pesticide (atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-trazine)) distribution between soil and water were investigated using a batch equilibrium technique. The total DOM sorption on soils described by the Langmuir equation reached saturation as the DOMconcentration increased. The sorption of Ho fit the Freundlich model. In contrast, a negative retention evidently occurred as adding Hi at higher level in tested soils. The sorption of Ho dominated the total DOM sorption and the release of soil organic matter (SOM). Effects of DOM on the atrazine sorption by soils were DOM-concentration dependent and dominated by the interaction of atrazine, DOM, and soil solids. Generally, the presence of DOM with lower concentration promoted atrazine sorption on soils, namely the apparent partitioning constant (K^*_d) for atrazine sorption in the presence of DOM was larger than the distribution constant (K_d) without DOM; whereas the presence of DOM with higher concentration inhibited atrazine sorption (i. e., K^*_d

Objective: Lactulose is effective in the treatment and prevention of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), but there are limited data on its use on microbiota in relations to minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) recovery. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of lactulose in recovery of MHE in aspects of cognitive function, quality of life, and impact on intestinal microbiota. Methods: This multicenter, open‐label randomized controlled trial was conducted in 11 teaching hospitals in China. Participants were randomly allocated on a 2:1 basis to receive lactulose (Gp‐L) or no therapy as control (Gp‐NL) for 60 days. The primary endpoint was the MHE reversal rate. Gut microbiota were compared between MHE patients and healthy volunteers, as well as lactulose‐responders and non‐responders. Results: A total of 98 cirrhotic patients were included in the study, with 31 patients in the Gp‐NL group and 67 patients in the Gp‐L group. At day 60, the MHE reversal rate in Gp‐L (64.18%) was significantly higher than that in Gp‐NL (22.58%) (P =.0002) with a relative risk of 0.46 (95% confidence interval 0.32‐0.67). Number needed to treat was 2.4. Further, there was significantly more improvement in physical functioning in Gp‐L (4.62 ± 6.16) than in Gp‐NL (1.50 ± 5.34) (P =.0212). Proteobacteria was significantly higher in MHE patients compared with healthy volunteers (12.27% vs 4.65%, P < .05). Significant differences were found between lactulose responders and non‐responders in Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Conclusions: Treatment with lactulose significantly improves MHE recovery rate, and gut microbiota change in MHE patients can modulate the effectiveness of this therapy. Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR) (ID: ChiCTR‐TRC‐12002342). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We developed a computer-assisted diagnosis model to evaluate the feasibility of automated classification of intrapapillary capillary loops (IPCLs) to improve the detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods: We recruited patients who underwent magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging for evaluation of a suspicious esophageal condition. Case images were evaluated to establish a gold standard IPCL classification according to the endoscopic diagnosis and histological findings. A double-labeling fully convolutional network (FCN) was developed for image segmentation. Diagnostic performance of the model was compared with that of endoscopists grouped according to years of experience (senior > 15 years; mid level 10 - 15 years; junior 5 - 10 years).Results: Of the 1383 lesions in the study, the mean accuracies of IPCL classification were 92.0 %, 82.0 %, and 73.3 %, for the senior, mid level, and junior groups, respectively. The mean diagnostic accuracy of the model was 89.2 % and 93.0 % at the lesion and pixel levels, respectively. The interobserver agreement between the model and the gold standard was substantial (kappa value, 0.719). The accuracy of the model for inflammatory lesions (92.5 %) was superior to that of the mid level (88.1 %) and junior (86.3 %) groups (P < 0.001). For malignant lesions, the accuracy of the model (B1, 87.6 %; B2, 93.9 %) was significantly higher than that of the mid level (B1, 79.1 %; B2, 90.0 %) and junior (B1, 69.2 %; B2, 79.3 %) groups (P < 0.001).Conclusions: Double-labeling FCN automated IPCL recognition was feasible and could facilitate early detection of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a phase III study, sunitinib led to a significant increase in progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (panNETs). This study was a post-marketing commitment to support the phase III data. Methods: In this ongoing, open-label, phase IV trial (NCT01525550), patients with progressive, advanced unresectable/metastatic, well-differentiated panNETs received continuous sunitinib 37.5 mg once daily. Eligibility criteria were similar to those of the phase III study. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed PFS per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours v1.0 (RECIST). Other endpoints included PFS per Choi criteria, overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs). Results: Sixty-one treatment-naive and 45 previously treated patients received sunitinib. By March 19, 2016, 82 (77%) patients had discontinued treatment, mainly due to disease progression. Median treatment duration was 11.7 months. Investigator-assessed median PFS per RECIST (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 13.2 months (10.9–16.7): 13.2 (7.4–16.8) and 13.0 (9.2–20.4) in treatment-naive and previously treated patients, respectively. ORR (95% CI) per RECIST was 24.5% (16.7–33.8) in the total population: 21.3% (11.9–33.7) in treatment-naive and 28.9% (16.4–44.3) in previously treated patients. Median OS, although not yet mature, was 37.8 months (95% CI, 33.0–not estimable). The most common treatment-related AEs were neutropenia (53.8%), diarrhoea (46.2%), and leukopenia (43.4%). Conclusions: This phase IV trial confirms sunitinib as an efficacious and safe treatment option in patients with advanced/metastatic, well-differentiated, unresectable panNETs, and supports the phase III study outcomes. AEs were consistent with the known safety profile of sunitinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to assess the influence of meteorological conditions on the variability of haze in Shanghai during 1981-2013. Based on the observational data of haze and air quality in Shanghai during this period and on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction final analysis data, the long-term variability and the spatial distribution of the haze was analyzed as well as with relationship between haze and atmospheric variables, including visibility, relative humidity, and air quality. Temporal evolution showed that the annual number of haze days in Shanghai represented a rapid decline in the last decade, which was caused by the direct effects of relative humidity and visibility. Global warming-induced changes, such as a warmer temperature, lower relative humidity, and wind speed in winter, were other important factors in the decline. Spatial distribution showed that the annual number of haze days in mid-western Shanghai was higher than those in the southeastern suburbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors have developed endoscopic fibre-optic pressure sensor to detect variceal pressure and presented the validation of in vivo and in vitro studies, because the HVPG requires catheterization of hepatic veins, which is invasive and inconvenient. Compared with HVPG, it is better to measure directly the variceal pressure without puncturing the varices in a noninvasive way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Previous studies have revealed significantly increased levels of plasma and mucosal homocysteine (Hcy) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD); however, whether Hcy is involved in intestinal fibrosis of CD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Hcy on intestinal fibrosis in TNBS/ethanol-induced colitis and to elucidate its potential mechanisms. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: normal control, normal + Hcy injection, TNBS model and TNBS model + Hcy injection. Hyperhomocysteinemia was induced by subcutaneous injection of Hcy. DAI, CMDI and HI were calculated to evaluate the severity of colitis. Masson trichrome staining was performed to assess the severity of fibrosis. The plasma and mucosal levels of Hcy were measured by HPLC-FD. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β1, CTGF, MMP-2,9 and collagen I, III in the colon were determined by ELISA, and the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, MMP-2,9 and TIMP-1 were detected by RT-PCR. Results: Hcy was found to increase the scores of DAI, CMDI and HI; levels of IL-1β, Il-6, TNF-α, TGF-β1, CTGF, MMP-2,9 and collagen I, III; and mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, MMP-2,9 and TIMP-1 in colonic tissue of rats with TNBS/ethanol-induced colitis. Conclusions: Hcy promotes intestinal fibrosis in rats with TNBS/ethanol-induced colitis, the underlying mechanisms of which may be attributed to its effects of increasing inflammatory damage, promoting the expression of profibrogenic cytokines and influencing MMPs/TIMPs balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Numerous studies have shown that administered nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce the incidence of acute pancreatitis after ERCP. Little is known, however, about the mechanism of NSAIDs in preventing pancreatitis (PEP). Methods: In this study, we assigned patients to receive a single dose of intramuscular diclofenac 75 mg immediately after ERCP (diclofenac group) or without (control group). The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of PEP. The serum amylase levels were measured before ERCP and at 3 and 24 h post-procedure in all patients. The Lipoxin A4 (LXA4), Resolvin D1 (Rvd1), and Resolvin E1 (RvE1) levels were measured before ERCP, and 3 and 24 h after the procedure in 30 patients from the diclofenac group and 30 patients from the control group. Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled and completed the follow-up. The overall incidence of PEP was 13.3 % (16/120). It occurred in four of 60 patients (6.67 %) in the diclofenac group and in 12 of 60 patients (20.00 %) in the control group ( p = 0.032). The LxA4, RvD1, and RvE1 levels in the diclofenac group at 3 h after ERCP were significantly increased compared with before ERCP ( p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the LxA4, RvD1, and RvE1 levels in the diclofenac group at 3 and 24 h after ERCP were significantly increased ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: Intramuscular diclofenac after ERCP can reduce the incidence of PEP. This may be related to the fact that diclofenac can increase the levels of LxA4, RvD1, and RvE1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MDPE- g-MAH copolymers were prepared with MDPE (medium density polyethylene) and MAH (maleic anhydride) under different irradiation doses of high-energy electron accelerator, and FTIR spectra confirmed their structure. The effect of the different contents of MDPE- g-MAH copolymers on properties of MDPE/CaCO system is studied intensively. By adding 4 Phr (parts per hundred of resin) MDPE- g-MAH in MDPE/CaCO system under irradiation dose of 0.7 MGy, the tensile strength increases from 16.3 MPa to 19.9 MPa, and elongation at break increases from 437% to 518%. SEM images show the domain size of CaCO in MDPE- g-MAH systems becomes small. Definitely, MDPE- g-MAH copolymer could improve the compatibility of MDPE/CaCO system effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fourteen low-molecular-weight organic acids (organic acids) and eight neutral monosaccharides (monosaccharides) were used to investigate the intrinsic link between ferrous iron [Fe(II)] accumulation and pentachlorophenol (PCP) degradation at the paddy soil–floodwater interface. Using logistic curve fitting, significant differences were observed between Fe(II) accumulation with organic acids and monosaccharides. These differences were attributed to large variations in the dissociation constants and the number of carbon atoms per molecule. A significant relationship was observed between the maximum capacity of Fe(II) accumulation and PCP degradation. Correlations were established between environmental variables including PCP, NaOAc-/HCl-extractable Fe(II), water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), anodic peak oxidation potential (Ep ) of Fe(II) species, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), and pH. The increase in pH combined with WSOC consumption caused a decrease in Ep , which greatly enhanced the HCl-extractable Fe(II) accumulation and subsequently contributed to PCP degradation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background and Purpose: Recently, we invented a computerized endoscopic balloon manometry (CEBM) to measure variceal pressure (VP) in cirrhotic patient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of this method, and whether this technique provided further information to pharmacological therapy. Patients and Methods: VP measurements were performed in 83 cirrhotic patients and compared with HVPG as well as endoscopic bleeding risk parameters. Furthermore, VP was assessed before and during propranolol therapy in 30 patients without previous bleeding. Results: VP measurements were successful in 96% (83/86) of all patients. Of the 83 patients, the VP correlated closely with the HVPG (P<0.001). The presence of red colour signs and the size of varices were strongly associated with VP. Patients with previous bleeding had higher VP than those who had not yet experienced bleeding. In univariate analysis, the level of VP, the size of varices, and red color signs predicted a higher risk of bleeding. The multiple logistic regression model revealed that VP was the major risk factor for bleeding. In 30 patients receiving propranolol, VP significantly decreased from 21.1±3.5 mmHg before therapy to 18.1±3.3 mmHg after 3 months and to 16.3±4.0 mmHg after 6 months. Comparing the mean decrease in VP with that in hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), the decrease in VP was more obvious than HVPG response to propranolol. Conclusions: This study showed that CEBM is safe and practical to assess VP in cirrhotic patient. It has the potential to be used as a clinical method to assess the risk of variceal bleeding and the effects of pharmacological therapy. Trial registration: Effect of vasoactive drugs on esophageal variceal hemodynamics in patients with portal hypertension. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry –TRC-08000252. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No prediction rule is currently available for advanced colorectal neoplasms, defined as invasive cancer, an adenoma of 10 mm or more, a villous adenoma, or an adenoma with high-grade dysplasia, in average-risk Chinese. In this study between 2006 and 2008, a total of 7,541 average-risk Chinese persons aged 40 years or older who had complete colonoscopy were included. The derivation and validation cohorts consisted of 5,229 and 2,312 persons, respectively. A prediction rule was developed from a logistic regression model and then internally and externally validated. The prediction rule comprised 8 variables (age, sex, smoking, diabetes mellitus, green vegetables, pickled food, fried food, and white meat), with scores ranging from 0 to 14. Among the participants with low-risk (≤3) or high-risk (>3) scores in the validation cohort, the risks of advanced neoplasms were 2.6% and 10.0% (P < 0.001), respectively. If colonoscopy was used only for persons with high risk, 80.3% of persons with advanced neoplasms would be detected while the number of colonoscopies would be reduced by 49.2%. The prediction rule had good discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.70, 0.78) and calibration (P = 0.77) and, thus, provides accurate risk stratification for advanced neoplasms in average-risk Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: We conducted this study to evaluate the role of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in diagnosing and differential diagnosis hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD), and as well as assessing the clinical therapeutic effects. Methods: From 2007 to 2010, 10 inpatients with weight increasing, liver pains, ascites, jaundice and history of taking gynura rhizome before hospitalization were scanned with a 64-MDCT. The data were reconstructed every 0.625 mm and reviewed using multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and liver CT angiography (CTA) on a GE AW4.2 workstation. Patients were re-scanned with MDCT after medication so that the clinical therapeutic effect could be evaluated before the patients discharging from hospital. Results: In 10 HVOD patients, the diagnoses of MDCT were coincident with clinical results. All patients had ascites and pleural fluid, hepatomegaly except the caudate lobe in MDCT. Failure to view hepatic veins in hepatic 3 phase scans, but portal veins and inferior vena cava were unobstructed. In portal-phase, hepatic enhancements were non-uniform. Three patients were incorrectly diagnosed before hospital admission. All patients improved significantly after hepato-protection and supporting therapy. No ascites, hydrothorax, hepatomegaly and obstruction of hepatic veins were observed by MDCT before patients were discharged from hospital. Conclusion: Multidetector computed tomography combined with MPR and liver CTA images are helpful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of HVOD and in the evaluation of clinical therapeutic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Collagen type IV and hyaluronic acid (HA) are the major components of basement membrane and extracellular matrix, respectively. Cathepsin D is an aspartyl lysosomal protease involved in the degradation of the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical significance of collagen type IV and hyaluronic acid in gastric juice and serum in diagnosis of gastric cancer and the degrading effect of cathepsin D on collagen type IV and HA.Methods: Fifty gastric cancer patients were enrolled in our study compared with 41 patients with precancerous lesion and 30 control subjects. Collagen type IV and HA in gastric juice and serum were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Expression of cathepsin D and collagen type IV in tissue were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies.Results: The contents of collagen type IV and HA in gastric juice and HA in serum were significantly higher in patients with gastric cancer than those in patients with precancerous lesion and control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.0001). Gastric cancer patients with lymph node metastasis had a higher level of collagen type IV and HA in gastric juice than those in patients without metastasis (p = 0.049, p = 0.043). The expression of cathepsin D had significantly increased in patients with gastric cancer compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). The continuous expression of collagen type IV in basement membrane in gastric cancer group was lower than that in the precancerous lesion group and control group (p < 0.0001).Conclusions: The analysis of collagen type IV and HA in gastric juice and serum may provide a simple aid in diagnosing gastric cancer and evaluating whether metastasis is occurring or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Antitubercular drugs have been known to be potentially hepatotoxic and may lead to drug-induced liver injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on liver injury caused by co-administration with isoniazid and rifampicin, two famous antitubercular drugs. Liver injury was induced by co-treatment with isoniazid (75mg/kg) and rifampicin (150mg/kg) for one week. Mice were orally administered with UDCA (15, 50 and 150mg/kg) 30min before isoniazid and rifampicin. We show that serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly increased in mice treated with isoniazid plus rifampicin. An obvious fatty accumulation, accompanied by mild necrosis and inflammation, was observed in liver of mice treated with rifampicin plus isoniazid. In addition, isoniazid plus rifampicin resulted in hepatic apoptosis, as determined by terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining and caspase-3 activation. Additional experiment showed that isoniazid plus rifampicin significantly increased the level of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and caused glutathione (GSH) depletion and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) residues in liver. UDCA pretreatment significantly attenuated isoniazid plus rifampicin induced oxidative stress in liver. Importantly, UDCA pretreatment significantly alleviated isoniazid plus rifampicin induced hepatic apoptosis. Moreover, UDCA-mediated anti-apoptotic effect seemed to be associated with its regulation of Bcl-2 and Bax gene expression in liver. These findings suggest that UDCA might protect against isoniazid and rifampicin induced liver injury through its anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative values of 2D plane view and 3D intracavity view of CT virtual colonoscopy in displaying colon excavated lesions. Cleaned porcine colon with ulcerative lesion was scanned with multidetector CT. The data were reconstructed and reviewed using 2D plane view and 3D volume-rendered images on a GE AW4.2 workstation. The 3D volume-rendered images showed superiority in displaying excavated lesions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Rifampicin is a well-known hepatotoxicant, but little is known about the mechanism of rifampicin-induced hepatotoxicity. The aim of this study was to characterize the expression and localization of hepatocyte tight junctions in rifampicin-induced cholestasis in mice. Cholestasis was induced by administration of rifampicin (200 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days or treatment with a single dose of rifampicin (200 mg/kg) by gastric intubation. The expression of mRNA for hepatic zonula occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2, ZO-3, occludin and claudin-1 was determined using RT-PCR. Localization of ZO-1 and occludin was detected using immunofluorescence. Results showed that there was an 82-fold increase in the conjugated bilirubin in serum in rifampicin-treated mice. In addition, an 8-fold increase in total bile acid in serum was observed after a seven-day administration of rifampicin. The integrity of hepatocyte ZO-1 and occludin was altered by a seven-day administration of rifampicin. Importantly, the integrity and intensity of hepatocyte tight junctions were altered as early as 30 min after a single dose of rifampicin. The expression of hepatic ZO-1 and ZO-2 mRNA was significantly decreased, beginning as early as 30 min and remaining a lower level 12 h after a single dose of rifampicin. Taken together, these results suggest that the altered integrity and internalization of hepatocyte tight junctions are associated with rifampicin-induced cholestasis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in combination with T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) for the detection of rectal cancer as compared with T2WI alone. Materials and methods: Forty-five patients with rectal cancer and 20 without rectal cancer underwent DWI with parallel imaging and T2WI on a 1.5T scanner. Images were independently reviewed by two readers blinded to the results to determine the detectability of rectal cancer. The detectability of T2W imaging without and with DW imaging was assessed by means of receiver operating characteristic analysis. The interobserver agreement between the two readers was calculated with kappa statistics. Results: The ROC analysis showed that each of two readers achieved more accurate results with T2W imaging combined with DW imaging than with T2W imaging alone significantly. The A z values for the two readers for each T2WI and T2WI combined with DWI were 0.918 versus 0.991 (p =0.0494), 0.934 versus 0.997 (p =0.0475), respectively. The values of kappa were 0.934 for T2WI and 0.948 for T2WI combined with DWI between the two readers. Conclusion: The addition of DW imaging to conventional T2W imaging provides better detection of rectal cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oncogene alterations have been clearly demonstrated to be related to the carcinogenesis and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the analysis of these alterations for screening and early diagnostic purposes generally requires invasive techniques for surgical removal of pathological epithelium. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of HER-2/neu amplification in oral mucosa brushings and to compare the HER-2/neu status with the history and smoking and drinking habits of healthy subjects. Cells obtained by centrifugation of oral brushings from 21 subjects (overall no. of cells: 5125) were suspended in physiological saline and fixed onto two slides for cytological evaluation and FISH analysis (dual-target, dual-color fluorescence assay) of the HER-2/neu gene and CEP17 centromere. A mean of 89.8% of the cells showed two HER-2/neu signals and a mean of 94% had two CEP17 signals at fluorescent microscopy. Finally, a mean of 96% of cells with HER-2/neu / CEP17 had a ratio equal to 1. No association between smoking and drinking habits, age and the HER-2/neu and CEP17 characteristics evaluated by FISH was found. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the industrial multi-agent systems, the effect of the faults occurring on any subsystem may diffuse to the whole system through network topology and cause the control performance degradation. This paper aims to solve the issue of fault identification for uncertain multi-agent systems with sensor faults. Firstly, a randomized cooperative fault detection system composed by a group of decoupled filters is presented, where a joint fault detection performance assessment scheme is designed. On this basis, a novel topology reconstruction-based fault isolation strategy is proposed. Finally, two case studies on the multi-axis motion control system are conducted, and the results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feature of wireless and self-organizing makes Ad hoc network very vulnerable to DoS attacks. On the basis of existing research results of DSR-BCA protocol, this paper added a mechanism to deal with DoS attacks. Nodes participate in routing were involved with a verification algorithm of performs routing. When the network data transmission packet loss rate exceeded a preset threshold, the isolation algorithm was used to identify the node which had been DoS attacked and isolated it, so as to maximize the effectiveness of the network nodes. Simulation results show that when Ad hoc network is under DoS attacks, this method has obvious effects on improving two aspects of performance of the average transmission delay and packet delivery ratio. This method can play a very good role in boycotting DoS attacks and enhancing the robustness of the network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly malignant and deadly tumor. Radiation therapy is one of the primary treatments for locally advanced ESCC. However, the biomarkers for prognosis of definitive radiation remain undefined. Peripheral blood circulating tumor (ct)DNA provides information of tumor genetic alterations and has been confirmed as a potential non-invasive biomarker for several types of cancer. The present study investigated the clinical implications of ctDNA detection in patients with ESCC and receiving definitive radiation therapy. Patients with locally advanced ESCC were retrospectively recruited. Plasma samples were collected before, during and following radiation therapy. Next-generation sequencing was performed to identify somatic mutations in 180 genes. A total of 69 baseline and post-radiation plasma samples were collected from 25 patients. A total of 59 non-silent single nucleotide variants were present in 33 genes. All pre-radiation and 58.3% (14/24) of post-radiation samples had at least one mutation. Patients with lymph node metastases (LNM) exhibited a higher number of pre-radiation mutations compared with those without LNM. The variables, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the patients with one baseline mutation were not significantly different compared with that in patients with more than one baseline mutation. Patients with initial ctDNA-positive post-radiation samples exhibited significantly reduced PFS (P=0.047) and OS (P=0.005) compared with that in patients with ctDNA-negative samples. The post-radiation plasma ctDNA status was an independent prognostic factor from univariate and multivariate analyses. Dynamic monitoring of ctDNA during follow-up was examined. The results indicated that ctDNA was a predictive and prognostic marker in patients with ESCC and receiving definitive radiation therapy, which may guide subsequent treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]