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The kagome lattice, the most prominent structural motif in quantum physics, benefits from inherent nontrivial geometry to host diverse quantum phases, ranging from spin-liquid phases, topological matter to intertwined orders, and most rarely unconventional superconductivity. Recently, charge sensitive probes have suggested that the kagome superconductors AV_3Sb_5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) (A = K, Rb, Cs) exhibit unconventional chiral charge order, which is analogous to the long-sought-after quantum order in the Haldane model or Varma model. However, direct evidence for the time-reversal symmetry-breaking of the charge order remains elusive. Here we utilize muon spin relaxation to probe the kagome charge order and superconductivity in KV_3Sb_5. We observe a striking enhancement of the internal field width sensed by the muon ensemble, which takes place just below the charge ordering temperature and persists into the superconducting state. Remarkably, the muon spin relaxation rate below the charge ordering temperature is substantially enhanced by applying an external magnetic field. We further show the multigap nature of superconductivity in KV_3Sb_5 and that the T_c/lambda_{ab}^{-2} ratio is comparable to those of unconventional high-temperature superconductors. Our results point to time-reversal symmetry breaking charge order intertwining with unconventional superconductivity in the correlated kagome lattice., Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures

The kagome lattice

Aiming at the self-diagnosis and self-healing problems of composite materials, inspired by the self-healing mechanism of organisms, this paper proposes a damage self-healing method for composite structures based on bionic optical fiber. The paper introduces the designed structure and material composition of the bionic optical fiber, and the self-healing principle of the bionic optical fiber-composite structure. Finally, the three-point bending method is used to conduct damage self-healing experimental research on the composite material, and the influence of the embedding of the bionic optical fiber on the structural properties of the composite material is also analyzed. The repaired images of the composite structure obtained by the microscope can be seen that the physical structure repair is well. Moreover, the damage self-healing experimental results show that the self-repair efficiency of the flexural properties of the composite structure is 65.05%. The proposal of bionic optical fiber has important significance and practical application value for the research on the damage self-healing of composite materials.

分析1例以腰痛、反复蛋白尿为突出表现的汞中毒误诊病例。汞中毒临床表现及实验室检查示肾脏损害，无其他特异性临床表现时，易误诊为急性肾小球肾炎或其他肾病。在汞中毒诊断中，详细询问患者的发病经过及接触史，提高对以肾脏损害为突出表现的汞中毒的诊断及鉴别诊断。.

胰腺错构瘤是一种罕见的胰腺良性肿瘤，临床和影像诊断困难，主要依靠术后病理确诊，国内外相关报道甚少。现报道1例。患者男，63岁，因饮酒后上腹胀痛伴腹痛入院。消化系统超声见胰腺头部低回声，边界尚清；增强CT见胰腺钩突结节状异常强化，边缘延迟强化；增强MR提示胰腺钩突异常信号，考虑肿瘤可能大；送检标本中肿瘤部分呈单个结节状，与周围胰腺境界较清，镜下见腺泡细胞和导管分化成熟，但缺乏正常胰腺导管及腺泡的逐级分支排布结构，两者混杂一起并呈分叶、岛状排布，缺乏胰岛成分；免疫组织化学染色显示广谱细胞角蛋白及细胞角蛋白（CK）7、CK19阳性，β-连环蛋白膜阳性，神经细胞黏附分子、嗜铬素粒A、突触素阴性。患者预后较好。.

Positive-ion mass spectrometry (PIMS) is a positive-to-negative ion conversion metrology that just operated on the opposite of traditional accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) on high-precision radiocarbon dating. With a higher efficient simple structure plasma ion sources instead of AMS sputter ion sources, lower ion energy (tens keV) in place of MeV, and limited footprint facility, PIMS will be a powerful competitor to AMS in the future. To precisely measure 14C, interference of molecular isobars (such as 12CH2, 13CH) will be eliminated with higher charged ions (charge state ≥ 3; molecular cations 12CH2 2+ is metastable, can be eliminated by higher stripping pressure.), nitrogen will be eliminated inside the charge-exchange cell (CXC) through charge exchanging with target gas. To demonstrate the probability of PIMS with a 2.45 GHz ECR ion source, an experiment was launched at Peking University (PKU). A compact permanent magnet 2.45 GHz ECR ion source is designed to produce carbon ions from CO2. A CXC unit was installed after the extraction system and ethylene is chosen as charge exchange gas. Preliminary experiments prove that more than hundreds of microamp of C2+ beam can be produced with this ECR source. By injecting ethylene into CXC, several microamp C- beam was detected and the C2+ ions charge exchange efficiency to C- ions can reach close to 5%.

HZMMA is a zinc salt of unsaturated carboxylic acids with a single hydroxyl group. The chemical behavior and morphological changes of the HZMMA were investigated by Fourier Transformed Infra Red spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetry (TGA), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The experimental results showed that it was possible for HZMMA to be used as a reactive enhancer to prepare ionic polymers/polyurethane composites. A series of ionic polymer/polyurethane were prepared by poly (tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG), toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and self-made chain extenders which consisted of Dimethylthio toluene diamine (DMTDA), Dicumyl Peroxide (DCP) and HZMMA by prepolymerization. The effect of the content of HZMMA on the structure and properties of the composites were studied by DMA, TGA, XRD. The results indicated that HZMMA had formed poly-HZMMA particles by peroxide-induced dynamic vulcanization and the degree of micro phase separation of polyurethane were improved when the content of HZMMA was suitable. The poly-HZMMA particles improved the maximum decomposition temperature of the soft segment and the storage modulus of polyurethane. When the mass fraction of HZMMA and DCP were at 2 ‰, the maximum in the mechanical properties of the ionic polymers/polyether polyurethane composites was achieved.

Sulfur-containing prebaked anodes, mainly made from petroleum coke, can give rise to SO2 emission in the production of electrolytic aluminum. In order to study the correlation between the emission volume and desulfurization rate of the flue gas discharged from the calcination of petroleum coke, a traditional double hidden layer BP neural network model was established on the basis of BP neural network by taking the emission data of the petroleum coke calcination flue gas desulfurization system as input parameters. This model was used to predict the desulfurization rate of the petroleum coke calcination flue gas desulfurization system, with an aim to control the SO2 removal rate of flue gas through controlling the flue gas parameters of the desulfurization system, so as to reduce SO2 emission from the flue gas of the electrolytic aluminum industry. The study will be of practical significance for the SO2 removal of the petroleum coke calcination flue gas.

ICOS/ICOSL plays a crucial part in various disease-mediated immune responses. However, the exact role of ICOS/ICOSL in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the role of ICOS/ICOSL in the pathogenesis of T2DM.Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes (CD3) and umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with high-glucose (HG) or advanced glycation end products (AGEs). A portion of CD3 cells was co-cultured with HUVECs and treated with different mediums or anti-ICOS mAbs. The ICOS/ICOSL and caspase-3 protein expression was measured by Western blotting. ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide), and NOx production assays were respectively used to detect cytokines level, cell viability and the production of NOx.HG and AGEs significantly upregulated ICOS/ICOSL expressions in T cells and HUVECs. T cell contact with HUVECs secreted more IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 compared to non-contact cells, while cytokines from IL-6-, IL-1β-, and CM- (the conditioned medium) treated cells did not differ from the control. A significant increase of IL-8 and IL-6 was found in HUVECs under both contact and non-contact conditions vs. control cells. Similar results were also observed in the comparison between CM1- (T cell condition medium) or CM2- (co-culture condition medium) treated cells and control cells. However, CM1 and CM2 treatment significantly inhibited cell viability and increased caspase-3 and NOx production; blocking ICOS/ICOSL remarkably decreased cytokines secretion, enhanced cell viability and reduced caspase-3 and NOx production.HG and AGEs cause T cell inflammatory response and vascular endothelial dysfunction by upregulating ICOS/ICOSL, which may be one of the possible mechanisms of cardiovascular complications development in T2DM patients.

This article reviews electrocatalyst preparation by electrodeposition. The emphasis is put mainly upon tuning the surface and electronic structures of nanocrystal electrocatalysts by electrochemical methods, and discussing their structure–catalytic functionality and potential applications. Various polyhedra of metal (Pt, Pd, Rh, Au, etc.) and their alloy electrocatalysts of high surface energy (tetrahexahedron, trisoctahedron, trapezohedron, hexoctahedron, triambic icosahedron, concave-disdyakis triacontahedron, etc.), and those of low surface energy (cube, octahedron, icosahedron, decahedron, tetrahedron, etc.), as well as other nanostructures like one-dimensional (nanowire, nanorod, nanoneedle, nanotube), two-dimensional (nanoplate and nanosheet), and three-dimensional (flower-like and clusters), have been synthesized by electrochemical methods including square-wave potential, pulsed potential, cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic, and galvanostatic methods. Thanks to the high density of low-coordinated step, ledge, and kink atoms on high-index facets that enclosed the polyhedral nanocrystals of high surface energy, the electrocatalysts of high surface energy exhibit excellent properties in small organic molecules (methanol, ethanol, formic acid, etc.) electrooxidation, CO 2 and oxygen reduction reactions.

To investigate tumor microenvironment of metastasis (TMEM) and the expression of SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) in gastric cancer, and their relationships with hematogenous metastasis.Twenty-six pairs of cases with gastric cancer were enrolled, in which there were 26 cases with distant organ metastases and 26 cases of gastric cancer without organ metastases as controls. TMEM (by double-stained immunohistochemistry) and the expression of SPARC were determined in twenty-six pairs of cases. In addition, we selected 48 patients to detect the expression of SPARC, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and evaluated TAMs (tumor associated macrophages), MVD (the microvessel density), MPI (microvessel pericyte coverage index), and TMEM in gastric cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry.TMEM count was significantly higher in the metastatic gastric cancer tissues than that in non-metastatic cancer tissues in a case-control study (p0.01). On the contrary, SPARC expression was lower in the metastatic gastric cancer tissues than that in non-metastatic cancer tissues. TMEM count, TAMs, and MVD were significantly correlated with invasion depth, histological type and TNM stage (p0.05 or p0.01). Expression of SPARC and VEGF were significantly correlated with tumor histological types, invasion depth, differentiation and lymph node metastasis of patients (p0.05). SPARC and VEGF expression in stromal cells of gastric cancer tissues were significantly correlated with TAMs, MVD and MPI (p0.05). In addition, SPARC expression was significantly inversely correlated with VEGF expression in gastric cancer tissues (p0.05).TMEM was detected in initial gastric cancer resection and closely correlated with hematogenous metastasis. Furthermore, SPARC may be involved in gastric cancer metastasis by effecting on tumor microenvironment.

Genetic structure of 142 parent lines of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] was analyzed using model-based approach based on SSR markers. Forty-one selected from 103 SSR markers were used to analyze the parent lines, which generated 189 alleles revealed by each marker ranging from 2 to 11 with an average of 4.6 per marker. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value was 0.543 with a range of 0.089 to 0.850. All the parent lines were assigned to 7 subgroups, named Kafir, Kaoliang, Feterita, Shallu, Hegari, Milo and Durra. Parent lines without clear pedigree record were clustered into their corresponding groups, and genetic components of each line were estimated by Q-values. Information of this study would be useful for breeders to conclude their genetic background and select appropriate parents for germplasm improvement and hybrid breeding, and thus improve the efficiency of breeding programs.

Cathepsin S (CTSS) is a lysosomal cysteine protease and is predominantly expressed in antigen-presenting cells, which plays an important role in the allergic response. In this study, we explored the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promotor regions in CTSS and risk of asthma.A total of 591 cases and 621 controls were recruited for this study. Five SNPs in the CTSS were selected including rs7534124, rs16827671, rs34495036, rs3754212, and rs1136774. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was employed for genotyping.Logistic regression analysis showed that rs7534124 CT and CT + CC genotypes had significantly decreased risk of asthma (CT vs.0.576, 95% CI: 0.425-0.780, p0.001; CT + CC vs.0.638, 95% CI: 0.479-0.849, p0.001; respectively) compared to TT genotype. Similarly, the rs1136774 AG and AG + GG genotypes (AG vs.0.581, 95% CI: 0.426-0.793, p = 0.001; AG + GG vs.0.647, 95% CI: 0.483-0.867, p = 0.004, respectively) were also associated with a decreased risk of asthma. However, there was no significant association between genotypes of the remaining SNPs and the risk of asthma (p0.006). Moreover, the alleles in all SNPs are also not associated with the risk of asthma.Our study provided strong evidence that polymorphism of rs7534124 and rs1136774 in CTSS promoter may decrease the susceptibility of asthma in a Chinese Han population.

Background: The use of the pure blood pool ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue (Bracco, Italy) with specific ultrasound imaging software has enabled the dynamic visualization of tumor microcirculation. Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the washout time of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and correlate it with angiogenesis parameters. Methods: Thirty-one surgically confirmed HCC cases were prospectively evaluated with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and parameters such as wash-in time, peak enhancement time and washout time were determined offline. We also calculated microvessel density and the percentage of microvessel area (MVA) and compared CEUS parameters between a well differentiated group and a poorly to moderately differentiated group. The Spearman rank order correlation method was used to analyze the relationship between washout time and angiogenesis parameters. Results: The washout time was longer in well differentiated HCC patients compared to those with poorly to moderately differentiated HCC (p < 0.05). In addition, the washout time of HCC was positively correlated with the percentage of MVA (r = 0.510). Conclusions: Given that the percentage of MVA was positively correlated with tumor blood volume, washout time may be associated with HCC blood volume.

The focus of this review is to present the results of studies and articles about ways to prune fruit trees. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring so that the infection risk can be significantly decreased. This review will also offer an overview of methods to prevent infections and speed up recovery on the trees. The following is an interpretation of why high-power ultrasonic assisted pruning in the fruits trees is needed and will elaborate on the efficiency, labor costs, and safety, as well as space, location, and some environmental issues.

Consider the problem of minimizing the sum of p-norms, where p is a fixed real number in the interval [1,2]. This nondifferentiable problem arises in many applications, including the VLSI (very-large-scale-integration) layout problem, the facilities location problem and the Steiner minimum tree problem under a given topology. In this paper, we establish the optimality conditions, duality and uniqueness results for the problem. We then present a smoothing Newton method by the semismooth equations which are derived from the optimality conditions. The method is globally and superlinearly convergent, and moreover, it is quadratically convergent when p∈[1,3/2]∪{2}. Particularly, the quadratic convergence is proved for the case wherep∈(1,3/2]∪{2} without requiring strict complementarity. Preliminary numerical results are reported, which indicate that the method proposed is extremely promising.

Experiments were conducted to locate the plant tissue where resistance is expressed against silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), in alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae), genotypes previously shown to have high levels of resistance against this pest. Previous work demonstrated that resistance in the resistant alfalfa genotypes was expressed primarily as high first-instar mortality; consequently this study focused on first-instar nymphs. Examination of stylets in cleared leaf tissue indicated that first-instar nymphs located vascular bundles with equal success on resistant and susceptible alfalfa genotypes. Furthermore, direct current electrical penetration graphs (DC-EPG) indicated that sieve elements were penetrated and phloem ingestion behavior was initiated with equal success on resistant and susceptible genotypes. Thus, the mechanism of resistance does not reside in tissues encountered by the stylets prior to penetrating a phloem sieve element. Honeydew production (as a proxy for ingestion) was greatly reduced on two resistant genotypes compared to the two susceptible genotypes. The frequency distribution of honeydew production was bimodal, indicating that most individuals on the resistant genotypes produced little or no honeydew while some produced as much honeydew as whiteflies on the susceptible genotypes. This indicates that expression of resistance is an all-or-nothing phenomenon; an individual nymph either encounters resistance and cannot sustain ingestion or it does not encounter resistance and ingests just as well as on a susceptible plant. Intermediates are rare. DC-EPGs indicate that phloem ingestion behavior is significantly reduced on two of the resistant genotypes compared to the susceptible genotypes. The primary reason for this appears to be more frequent termination of phloem ingestion behavior on at least one of the resistant genotypes. On one of the resistant genotypes, the productivity of EPG-measured phloem ingestion behavior (honeydew produced per min of phloem ingestion behavior) was reduced compared to a susceptible control.

Thirty-eight plants were taken from a University of California alfalfa selection nursery for developing resistance to silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring. Seventeen of the plants had low whitefly infestation and were categorized as ‘potentially resistant’; 21 of the plants had high whitefly infestation and were categorized as ‘presumed susceptible’. Plants were propagated vegetatively so that replicated measurements of whitefly performance could be made on each genotype. Two colonies of silverleaf whiteflies were used: one reared on alfalfa (alfalfa-experienced whiteflies), and the other on cotton (alfalfa-naive whiteflies). The effect of variation among alfalfa genotypes on whitefly performance was similar for both whitefly sources, although on all genotypes, the alfalfa-experienced whiteflies generally performed better than their alfalfa-naive counterparts. In greenhouse tests, fecundity of newly eclosed adults (over a 5-day period) on the 17 potentially resistant genotypes was relatively consistent in being lower than fecundity on the presumed susceptible genotypes. However, in nymphal survival tests, the response on the 17 potentially resistant genotypes was not consistent. Nymphal survival (egg to adult) on some of these was very low, as expected, while nymphal survival on others was as high as on the presumed susceptible genotypes. Fecundity and nymphal survival data were not correlated for alfalfa-naive whiteflies, and were only weakly correlated (r2 = 0.13, d.f. = 32, P = 0.04) for alfalfa-experienced whiteflies. Thirteen genotypes then were examined in the greenhouse in stage-specific survival tests, where four genotypes demonstrated high resistance (

The tomato Mi gene confers resistance to nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., and to the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas). Previous greenhouse choice assays with Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) showed that tomato commercial varieties carrying this gene had significantly lower values of host suitability and whitefly reproduction than varieties lacking Mi. This indicated that Mi, or another gene in its region, could regulate partial resistance. In order to characterise this resistance, probing and feeding behaviour of Bemisia tabaci B-biotype was studied with DC Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) technique on the near-isogenic tomato lines Moneymaker (without Mi) and Motelle (carrying Mi). Significant differences (P < 0.05) between tomato lines were found in EPG parameters related to epidermis and/or mesophyll tissues. On Motelle, a lower percentage of whiteflies achieved phloem phase and they made more probes before attaining first phloem phase, had a higher ratio (number of probes before first phloem phase)/(total number of probes), had a longer total duration of non-probing time, and a longer time before making the first intracellular puncture and before making the first phloem phase. In contrast, most of the parameters related to phloem phase were found not to differ significantly between these near-isogenic lines. The behavioural data strongly suggest that the partial resistance in the variety Motelle is due to factors in the epidermis and/or mesophyll that inhibit the whiteflies from reaching phloem sieve elements. However, once the stylets reach a sieve element, whitefly behaviour did not differ between the two varieties. Thus, phloem sap of the two varieties appears to be equally acceptable to the whiteflies. Further studies are necessary to provide a better understanding of these mechanisms of resistance to whiteflies in tomatoes.

The feeding behavior of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) was monitored using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique during the transmission process of tomato yellow leaf curl geminivirus (TYLCV). The behavior of individual viruliferous whiteflies was recorded on two-leaf stage tomato test plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill ‘Riofuego’). A total of 213 whitefly individuals was recorded on single test plants during an inoculation access period that ranged from 3.5 to 14 h. Recordings were classified into 4 categories depending of the waveforms observed: group I, including only waveform C (pathway), was associated with a residual 2.4% TYLCV transmission efficiency; group II, showing stylet pathway and a single E(pd)1 waveform, was associated with a 7.4% transmission efficiency; group III, showing stylet pathway and a single E(pd)1 + E(pd)2 waveform, achieved a 23.4% transmission efficiency; and finally group IV, showing pathway followed by several E(pd)1 + E(pd)2 waveforms, was associated with the highest transmission efficiency (37.5%). A total of 16 different behavioral variables was introduced into a stepwise-backward logistic regression model to determine the variables most related to TYLCV inoculation. Among them, the total duration of E(pd)1 was the most significant variable associated with virus inoculation by B. tabaci (P = 0.002, positive relationship). In addition, the regression analysis indicated a strong positive relationship (P = 0.005) between transmission efficiency and total number of E(pd)1 (t = 4.39, β = 0.45 ± 0.10, r = 0.87), and total duration of waveform E(pd)1 (P = 0.05) (t = 4.00, β = 0.02 ± 0.004, r = 0.94). The minimum phloem contact E(pd)1 threshold period observed for successful inoculation of TYLCV by B. tabaci on tomato plants was 1.8 min. Implications of these results for persistent virus transmission by whiteflies are discussed.

J. Econ. Entomol. 92(2): 357—366 (1999) ABSTRACT The probing and feeding behavior of 2 biotypes (B and Q) of the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), were monitored using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) tech- nique on tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill) ('Riofuego'). Seven EPG waveform patterns were distinguished. B. tabaci (B biotype) showed a shorter duration of potential drop pattern (4.73 6 0.45 s (mean 6 SE), n 5 125),longertimetoreachthephloem(209 6 23.42min, n 5 22),andmorecomplex pathway patterns than the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood). Some differences were observed in feeding behavior of the 2 B. tabaci biotypes (B and Q) tested. Interestingly, significant differences (P , 0.05) were found in those parameters related with phloem events: total duration of the E(pd), E(pd)1, and E(pd)2 (P , 0.01), as well as mean duration of E(pd) and E(pd)2. In addition, there also were significant differences in the total number of probes (P , 0.05). The Q biotype showed fewer number of probes and a longer phloem ingestion time (pattern E(pd)2) than those from the B biotype. Hence, our results revealed a clear difference in the probing and feeding behavior between the B and the Q biotypes of B. tabaci on tomato plants.

The present study was conducted to investigate whether LBP had a protective effect on cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury and to determine the possible mechanisms.Male Kunming (KM) mice were used to make the model cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). The behavioral test was used to measure neurological deficit scores for evaluation of ischemic reperfusion damage of brain. The change of electroencephalograph (EEG) was monitored by Model SMUP-E Bio-electric Signals Processing System. The infarction area of brain was assessed in brain slices with 2% solution of 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC). Spectrophotometric assay was used to determine the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) of the brain.The results showed that LBP at doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg markedly decreased the neurological deficit scores and the infarction area in MCAO/R mice. At the same time, LBP significantly decreased MDA content, and increased SOD, GSH-Px, CAT, LDH activities in ischemic reperfusion brain.These suggest that LBP might act as a potential neuroprotective agent against the cerebral reperfusion-induced injury in the brain through reducing lipid peroxides, scavenging free radicals, and improving the energy metabolism.

Summary Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria (DSH) is a pigmentary genodermatosis of autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by a mixture of hyperpigmented and hypopigmented macules distributed on the dorsal aspects of the hands and feet. It is caused by mutations of the RNA-specific adenosine deaminase gene. We report the identification of a Chinese family with a three-generation pedigree of DSH, in whom a novel tyrosine substitution mutation in DSRAD was demonstrated: a heterozygous nucleotide AG transition at position 2879 in exon 10 of the DSRAD gene was detected.

Obesity has been associated with reflux esophagitis. However, the association of metabolic syndrome with reflux esophagitis remains unknown.A case-control study of 372 subjects undergoing upper endoscopy during health checkups was conducted (182 patients with reflux esophagitis vs 190 age and gender-matched controls). We further measured their height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, and fasting blood glucose. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with the presence of reflux esophagitis.Reflux esophagitis cases showed higher mean waist circumference (81.37 ± 0.68 vs 79.36 ± 0.70, P0.05), waist hip ratio (0.86 ± 0.01 vs 0.84 ± 0.01, P0.05) and fasting blood glucose (5.59 ± 0.10 vs 5.32 ± 0.08, P0.05) than those in controls. When adjusted for gender and age, multivariate analysis demonstrated that there was a positive dose-response relationship between reflux esophagitis and waist hip ratio (men: OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.52-7.62, women: OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.61-7.06), triglyceride (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.12-3.82), fasting blood glucose (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.12-2.94), and metabolic syndrome (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.15-3.50), there was an inverse dose-response relationship between reflux esophagitis and high-density lipoprotein for men (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.15-0.85).High waist hip ratio, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, and metabolic syndrome were associated with increased risk factors for reflux esophagitis while high high-density lipoprotein for men correlated with a reduced risk of reflux esophagitis.

To determine the features of the breast ultrasound image and its correlation with estrogen and progestogen level during different phases of menstrual cycle in normal women.Breast ultrasound was performed during luteal phase and late follicular phase in 50 women aged 25-45, with normal menstrual cycle and no distinct breast disease. Breast section thickness, ductal width, breast structure and blood flow were measured. Initial time and persistent days of the cyclic breast pain were recorded. Serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay on the day of ultrasound performed.Breast glandular section was thicker (increasing by 7.3%) in luteal phase than that in late follicular phase and breast ductal was wider (increasing by 13%) in late follicular phase than that in luteal phase. However, both of them had no significant difference. Thirty women (60%) experienced cyclic premenstrual mastalgia, lasting 4 days. Twenty four women (48%) had breast structure changes, nineteen (63.3%) of 30 women with cyclic mastalgia, but only 5 (25%) of 20 women without breast pain had breast structure change (chi 2, P0.01). Average serum E2 level of women with or without cyclic breast pain in luteal phase were 365.0 pmol/L and 335.3 pmol/L respectively (P0.05), serum progesterone level were 73.3 nmol/L and 66.1 nmol/L respectively (P0.05). Serum E2 levels of women with or without cyclic breast pain in late follicular phase were 299.9 pmol/L and 385.8 pmol/L respectively (P = 0.05). Average serum E2 levels of women with or without breast structure change in luteal phase were 368.1 pmol/L and 322.7 pmol/L respectively (P0.05). Serum P levels were 78.8 nmol/L and 62.2 nmol/L respectively (P = 0.05); Estradiol levels in late follicular phase were 301.9 pmol/L and 364.2 pmol/L respectively (P0.05).Image of breast ultrasound changed following menstrual cycle in normal menstrual women. Breast structure changes is related to breast pain. Breast pain and breast structure changes may be caused by higher E2 and P level in luteal phase and lower E2/P ratio in late follicular phase.

To observe the effects of repeated transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) with low frequency (2 Hz) and high frequency (100 Hz) on the chronic inflammatory pain.The complete Freund's adjuvant was used to make the monoadjuvant arthritis as a chronic inflammatory pain model. The model animals were divided into 3 groups, the 100 Hz TENS group, the 2 Hz TENS group and the control group. The percentage increase of body weight, circumference of ankle, score of flexion pain test and score of extension pain test were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of TENS.(1) Body weight increasing rate in the 100 Hz TENS group was markedly higher than that in the 2 Hz TENS group and the control group. (2) Circumference of rats' ankle in the 100 Hz TENS group was smaller than that in the 2 Hz TENS and the control group. (3) Repeated 100 Hz TENS showed more effective on pain relief than that of 2 Hz TENS.TENS has therapeutic effects on chronic inflammatory pain in rats, and different frequencies yielded different results.

To evaluate the vestibular's sensitivity to the stimulus of the cold and hot water.Forty volunteers are randomly divided into four groups, group one for maths calculation, group two for answering the questions (they are active alerting groups) and group three and four for listening to music and to stories respectively (they are passive alerting groups). Each group has ten volunteers, their left ears are separately stimulated with the cold and hot water, recording the nystagmus slow phase velocity for 20 s at the highest level with the nystagmography instrument of HB-3 ENG computer treatment system.There are significant differences between the two active alerting groups and the two passive ones (P0.01).In performing the vestibular's caloric test, it's more reasonable for clinic to use active alerting tasks.