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The traditional production model development assumed that all products are perfect quality and did not consider maintenance, which is far from reality. In practice, the production process may shift randomly from an in-control state to an out-of-control state during a production run, i.e. process deterioration. This paper considers both preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance which are used to increase the system reliability. The objective of this paper is to determine the optimal production run time and maintenance frequency while minimising the total cost under process deterioration and trade credit. This paper develops a theorem and an algorithm to solve the problem described, provides numerical analysis to illustrate the proposed solution procedure, and discusses the impact of various system parameters. A real case of hi-tech manufacturer is used to verify the model. It predicts a 10.36% decrease in total cost if the preventive maintenance decision is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: A better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms in treatment failure of bevacizumab (BEV) for malignant glioma would contribute to overcome therapeutic resistance. Methods: Here, we used a quantitative proteomic method to identify molecular signatures of glioblastoma cell after BEV treatment by two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis and 6-plex iTRAQ quantification. Next, the function of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP), one of the most significantly affected proteins by drug treatment, was evaluated in drug resistance of glioma cells by invasion assays and animal xenograft assays. Target molecules bound by CIRP were determined using RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and microarray analysis. Then, these mRNAs were identified by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Eighty-seven proteins were identified with significant fold changes. The biological functional analysis indicated that most of the proteins were involved in the process of cellular signal transduction, cell adhesion, and protein transport. The expression of CIRP greatly decreased after BEV treatment, and ectopic expression of CIRP abolished cell migration in BEV-treated glioma cells. In addition, CIRP could bind mRNA of CXCL12 and inhibit BEV-induced increase of CXCL12 in glioma cells. Conclusion: These data suggested that CIRP may take part in BEV-induced migration of gliomas by binding of migration-relative RNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of acupuncture has been suggested for the treatment of acute neck pain caused by stiff neck in China. However, current evidence is insufficient to draw any conclusions about its efficacy. Therefore this pilot study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of acupuncture at the Houxi (SI3) acupoint for treatment of acute neck pain., Methods/analysis: This pilot study will be a two-parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Thirty-six stiff neck participants with acute neck pain will be recruited and randomly divided into two groups in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the control group will receive massage on the local neck region (5 min each session, three times a day for 3 days). In addition to massage, patients in the treatment group will receive acupuncture (one session a day for 3 days). Measures will be taken at 0, 3 and 15 days. The primary outcome is the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ). The secondary outcome is the Short Form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ)., Ethics/dissemination: The protocol for this pilot randomised clinical trial has undergone ethics scrutiny and been approved by the ethics review boards of the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Permission number: HZYLL201303502). The findings of this study will provide important clinical evidence on the feasibility and efficacy of acupuncture treatment for stiff neck patients with acute neck pain. In addition, it will explore the feasibility of further acupuncture research., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR-TRC-13003911., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)

Objective: To explore the effect and action mechanism of moxibustion on healing of cutaneous wound in rats., Methods: Twenty-four SD rats were selected and made into linear full-thickness skin injury model. With randomized digital table, rats were randomly divided into a treatment group and a model group, 12 cases in each one. Then according to treatment time, each group was again divided into a 1d group, a 3d group and a 7d group, 4 cases in each one. The moxibustion at injured skin was applied in the treatment group, 30 min per time, once a day. Hematoxylineosin (HE) staining method was adapted to measure growth status of capillary and number of vascular endothelial cell; immunohistochemical method was used to measure the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)., Results: The wound healing indices in the treatment 7d group were higher than those in the model 7d group on both the 4th day and 8th day after treatment (both P < 0.05). The number of capillary in the treatment 1d group and 3d group was higher than that in the model 1 d and 3 d groups (both 1 < 0.05). The number of capillary in the treatment 7d group was lower than that in the model 7d group (P < 0.05). The number of vascular endothelial cell in the treatment 3d group was higher than that in the model 3d group (P < 0.05). The number of vascular endothelial cell in the treatment 7d group was lower than that in the model 7d group (P < 0.05). The difference of number of vascular endothelial cell between the treatment 1d group and model 1d group was not significant (P > 0.05). Positive cells accumulated score of V EGF expression in the treatment 3d group was higher than that in the model 3d group (P < 0.05). Positive cells accumulated score of VEGF expression in the treatment 7d group was lower than that in the model 7d group (P < 0.05). The difference of positive cells accumulated score of VEGF expression between the treatment 1d group and model 1d group was not significant (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Moxibustion could improve the healing of skin wound in rats, which could be related with regulating vascular endothelial cell and VEGF in wound tissue at different time.

Aim: To identify the antigenic epitopes of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease monoclonal antibodies (hAPE1 mAb) and to establish a one-step ELISA for quantitative measurement of hAPE1., Methods: APE1-15 polypeptide array was used to identify the antigenic epitopes of hAPE1 mAb. Molsoft. ICM-Pro software was used to display the three dimensions of antigenic epitopes of hAPE1 mAbs. hAPE1 mAb was labeled with HRP by modified method of sodium periodate oxidization. A one-step ELISA was established by using two hAPE1 mAbs as a capture antibody and a detection antibody, respectively., Results: The antigenic epitopes of 2-G1 mAb were localized within amino acids (aa) 76-90 and 109-123 in APE1 redox domain, belonging to the conformational epitope category. The antigenic epitope of 4-F6 mAb was within aa 109-147 in DNA repair endonuclease domain. In the range of 8.0 microg/L to 200 microg/L, the hAPE1 antigen showed a good linearity in the standard curve. The minimum detection threshold of this assay was 2.0 microg/L. The average of intra-assay precision and inter-assay precision were 8.67% and 12.45%, respectively. The average recovery rate was 105.47%., Conclusion: hAPE1 2-G1 mAb and 4-F6 mAb have different antigenic epitopes, and the one-step ELISA is established successfully to detect the serum hAPE1 level easily, quickly and accurately.

Objective: The overexpression of N-methylpurine DNA glycosylase (MPG) may imbalance the DNA base excision repair (BER) to sensitize tumor cells to current DNA damage chemotherapy. In an effort to improve the efficacy of cancer chemotherapy, we have constructed adenoviral vector of MPG, to study its ability to sensitize human osteosarcoma cell HOS to DNA damage agents., Methods: The adenoviral infection and MPG expression, as well as enzyme activity were determined by flow cytometry, Western blot, and HEX labeled oligonucleotide-based assay respectively. The cell survival/proliferation was measured using MTS, SRB, and [(3)H] thymidine incorporation assay. Apoptosis cell death was assayed by flow cytometry after treatment using phycoerythin (PE)-conjugated Annexin V and 7-amino-actinomycin (7-AAD)., Results: A 10 MOI of recombinant nonreplicating adenovirus was found to infect more than 90% of HOS cells within 24 hours by EGFP fluorescence, in which the MPG overexpression and MPG enzyme activity were also detected. The MPG overexpression HOS cells were significantly more sensitive to the DNA damage agents, including MMS, MNNG, and TMZ, with changes in the IC50 of 6.0, 4.5, and 2.5 fold respectively., Conclusions: These data establish transient MPG overexpression as a potential therapeutic approach for increasing HOS cellular sensitivity to DNA damage agent chemotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the distribution patterns and proliferative activity of lymphatic vessels in colorectal carcinomas (CRC) and their relationship with tumor metastasis and disease prognosis., Methods: The microlymphatic density (MLD) and microvascular density in tumoral and non-tumoral areas of 96 cases of CRC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies for podoplanin and CD34 respectively. The Ki-67 expression of the lymphatic and blood vessels was detected by double-labeling immunohistochemistry. The relationship between MLD and clinicopathologic features and prognosis was analyzed., Results: The lymph vessels at central and superficia1 portions of CRC often had a reticular architecture with numerous tiny and ill-defined lumina, while those at the tumor borders had large and open lumina. The MLD at tumor borders (51.2 +/- 25.5) was significantly higher than that in normal colorectal mucosa (29.4 +/- 9.0) and other portions of CRC (P < 0.01). The Ki-67 labeling index of the lymphatic lining cells at tumor borders (0.23 +/- 0.17) was significantly higher than that in other portions of CRC (P < 0.05). The MLD significantly correlated with lymphatic involvement by tumor cells, regional lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis (P < 0.01). The 5-year survival rate was also significantly lower in patients with high MLD (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Neolymphatic vessels are commonly seen in CRC, especially at tumor borders. High MLD at tumor borders is associated with metastasis. The detection of MLD at tumor borders may thus be useful in predicting lymph node metastasis and prognosis in patients with CPC.