Abstract The electrochemical corrosion behaviour of pipeline steel in a sulphuric acid environment, in the absence and presence of commercial Rutin (CR), was studied using electrochemical techniques. The polarization and impedance curves showed an excellent corrosion inhibition characteristic of Rutin, which was more cathodically controlled. Temperature increase slightly improved CR corrosion inhibition capacity. CR was able to increase the charge transfer resistance up to four days, and showed a smoother corrosion surface morphology in the study environment. Analysis of the corrosion surface film showed that Rutin was chemically adsorbed onto the pipeline steel surface.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyse the incidence of long and short corrected QT (QTc) in a healthy sample of the population of Changsha in China. Methods: Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were performed on 4025 subjects in Changsha of China, whose age ranged from 6 minutes after birth to 83 years, between January 1993 and December 2012. Heart rate and QT interval were measured and recorded. Corrected QT was calculated with Bazett´s formula (QTc = QT/RR0.5). All recruited individuals had taken healthy examination, ruling out general health issue, in The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 16.0 software (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The incidence of short QTc was 7.13% (287/4025 cases). The peak values of the incidence were in the 30–40 years group (15.71%). The low values were in the 1–3 months group and 3–6 months group (0%, 0.76%), respectively. The incidence of long QTc was 3.16% (127/4025 cases). The values diminished significantly after adulthood. The low values were in the age groups of 18–30 years (0.86%) and 30–40 years (0.71%), respectively. After the age of 50 years, the incidence of long QTc increased with age 50–60 years and 60–70 years and 70–83 years (7.89%, 9.06%, 14.06%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the genders (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The peak incidences of long and short QTc existed in two separate age groups in the healthy sample. The peak incidence of short QTc was in the age group of 18–40 years, and the peak incidence of long QTc was in the age group beyond the 50 years. For these two age groups, it was recommended to pay close attention to the changes in their QTc in order to prevent cardiovascular events.

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) has caused foodborne infections over decades. It is transmitted mainly from contaminated eggs to humans. SE is commonly present in layer houses, and closely interacts with environmental factors. The objective of the present study was to develop a viable PCR method to identify SE in environmental samples collected in layer farms of different sizes, and to evaluate SE contamination status in four main egg-production provinces of northern China. After specificity retrieval using Primer-BLAST against the NCBI database, three SE specific oligonucleotide primers were selected as candidate primers. The primers targeting Prot6e gene were adopted and primers targeting Sdf I were also selected to validate the results, after testing eight different types of pooled poultry environmental samples (overshoe, air, drinking nipple, feed, egg collection belt, eggshell, air inlet, and air outlet) by PCR. A PCR detection limit of 1 CFU/mL was determined using cell lysates from pure cultures. Testing time was less than 48 h. On-farm samples were collected from two layer farm sizes (one housing more than 50,000 layers, and the other, less than 50,000 layers) in each province. The applied PCR method was shown to be simple, inexpensive and effective for screening SE in a large amount of farm samples. The study identified only one SE-positive farm, which a large farm and where nine samples were found to be contaminated with SE: drinking nipples (3), egg collection belt (1), air inlet (1), air (1), overshoe (1) and eggshell (2).

ABSTRACT Ondine's curse Syndrome is a central sleep apnoea syndrome caused by medulla respiratory centre dysfunction, with clinical manifestations such as respiratory dysfunction during wake, difficulty breathing, increased partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), sleep apnoea or death during sleep. This paper presents a case of a patient, who was confirmed with the diagnosis after clinical analysis, PCO2 comparison and tracking two similar cases in the family. Ondine's curse syndrome is rare and easily missed, and there is no specific drug treatment. The disease prognosis is poor. The treatment of this disease is difficult and the use of mechanical ventilation and diaphragm pacing therapy might exhibit some short-term efficacy. Drug treatment still needs further study; the long-term effect was still not good.

RESUMEN El síndrome de la maldición de Ondina es un síndrome de apnea del sueño central causado por disfunción del centro respiratorio de la médula oblonga, con manifestaciones clínicas tales como disfunción respiratoria durante el despertar, dificultad para respirar, aumento de la presión parcial del dióxido de carbono (PCO2), apnea del sueño, o muerte durante el sueño. Este trabajo presenta el caso de un paciente que fue confirmado con el diagnóstico después de análisis clínicos, comparación de PCO2, y el seguimiento de dos casos similares en la familia. El síndrome de la maldición de Ondina es raro y fácilmente escapa al diagnóstico. No hay medicamento específico para el tratamiento. El pronóstico de la enfermedad es pobre. El tratamiento de esta enfermedad es difícil, pero el uso de la ventilación mecánica y la terapia de estimulación del diafragma pueden tener cierta eficacia a corto plazo. El tratamiento medicamentoso requiere todavía de más estudio; su efecto a largo plazo todavía no es bueno.

Asthma is a chronic allergic disease characterized by airway inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), and mucus hypersecretion. T-lymphocytes are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma, mediating airway inflammatory reactions by secreting cytokines. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Notch signaling pathways are associated with T cell signaling, proliferation, and differentiation, and are important in the progression of asthma. Thus, compounds that can modulate T cell proliferation and function may be of clinical value. Here, we assessed the effects of tangeretin, a plant-derived flavonoid, in experimental asthma. BALB/c mice at postnatal day (P) 12 were challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). Separate groups of mice (n=18/group) were administered tangeretin at 25 or 50 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage. Dexamethasone was used as a positive control. Tangeretin treatment reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and also restored the normal histology of lung tissues. OVA-specific IgE levels in serum and BALF were reduced. AHR, as determined by airway resistance and lung compliance, was normalized. Flow cytometry analyses revealed a reduced Th17 cell population. Tangeretin reduced the levels of Th2 and Th17 cytokines and raised IFN-γ levels. PI3K signaling was inhibited. The expressions of the Notch 1 receptor and its ligands Jagged 1 and 2 were downregulated by tangeretin. Our findings support the possible use of tangeretin for treating allergic asthma.

This study was designed to investigate and compare the HPV prevalence, genotypes distribution and associated risk factors in rural and urban women living in Xishuang Banna district, in the province of Yunnan. A total of 177 and 190 women from rural and urban areas were engaged, respectively. HPV DNA was amplified using the L1 consensus primers system (MY09/11 and GP5/6) and HPV GenoArray test was conducted for genotyping. Proportions were compared by chi-square test, and logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors. A total of 54 women were positive for HPV DNA. Among rural women, 23 women were positive for HPV infection, of which 21 showed a single infection and 2 had a multiple infection. HPV-16 (10/23) was the most prevalent genotype followed by HPV-52 (5/23), and HPV-58 (5/23). Urban women had a higher infection rate for overall HPV (31/54) and for multiple genotype infection (8/31). HPV-52 (9/31) was the most prevalent genotype followed by HPV-39 (7/31) and HPV-68 (5/31). The age-specific HPV prevalence was also different between rural and urban women. In urban area, women with age <35 years had the highest HPV prevalence, which declined thereafter as age advanced. However, in rural women the highest HPV prevalence was observed in an older age group (>56 years). Ethnicity, smoking and parity were significantly associated with HPV infection among urban women. Our study demonstrates that HPV prevalence and genotype distribution varies among women from rural and urban areas in the south of Yunnan.

High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) enhance platelet activation, whereas high levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) exert a cardioprotective effect. However, the effects on platelet activation of high levels of LDL-C combined with low levels of HDL-C (HLC) have not yet been reported. We aimed to evaluate the platelet activation marker of HLC patients and investigate the antiplatelet effect of atorvastatin on this population. Forty-eight patients with high levels of LDL-C were enrolled. Among these, 23 had HLC and the other 25 had high levels of LDL-C combined with normal levels of HDL-C (HNC). A total of 35 normocholesterolemic (NOMC) volunteers were included as controls. Whole blood flow cytometry and platelet aggregation measurements were performed on all participants to detect the following platelet activation markers: CD62p (P-selectin), PAC-1 (GPIIb/IIIa), and maximal platelet aggregation (MPAG). A daily dose of 20 mg atorvastatin was administered to patients with high levels of LDL-C, and the above assessments were obtained at baseline and after 1 and 2 months of treatment. The expression of platelets CD62p and PAC-1 was increased in HNC patients compared to NOMC volunteers (P<0.01 and P<0.05). Furthermore, the surface expression of platelets CD62p and PAC-1 was greater among HLC patients than among HNC patients (P<0.01 and P<0.05). Although the expression of CD62p and PAC-1 decreased significantly after atorvastatin treatment, it remained higher in the HLC group than in the HNC group (P<0.05 and P=0.116). The reduction of HDL-C further increased platelet activation in patients with high levels of LDL-C. Platelet activation remained higher among HLC patients regardless of atorvastatin treatment.

ABSTRACT Objective: In the last decade, dental implants have emerged as a crucial modality and serve as an individual form of therapy for dental failure. However, disparities in host responses have led to peri-implantitis and implant failure. The pathological mechanisms driving peri-implantitis remain largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated the role of oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the progression of peri-implantitis and dental implants failure, compared with chronic periodontal disease. Subjects and Methods: Three patient groups (peri-implantitis, chronic periodontal disease and control), each with 10 subjects (7M/3F) and average age ranging from 40–60 years were selected for analysis. Salivary oxidative stress and tissue AGE levels were analysed by probing for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Maillard reaction-related fluorescence, respectively. Results: We observed significant increase (> 2-fold) in oxidative stress and AGE levels in patients with peri-implantitis and chronic periodontal disease compared to controls, with chronic periodontal disease having the highest levels. In addition, we observed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.94) between oxidative stress and AGE levels in the patients. Conclusion: We propose that increased AGE levels and oxidative stress, although not the only pathway, are significant mediators in the pathogenesis of peri-implantitis. Altering them may potentially be used in combination with other modalities to manage peri-implantitis.

RESUMEN Objetivo: En la última década, los implantes dentales han surgido como una modalidad crucial y sirven como forma individual de terapia para el fracaso dental. Sin embargo, las disparidades en las respuestas de los receptores han llevado a la peri-implantitis y al fracaso del implante. Los mecanismos patológicos que conducen a la peri-implantitis, se desconocen en gran medida. En este estudio, evaluamos el papel del estrés oxidativo y los productos finales de la glicación avanzada (PGA) en la progresión de la peri-implantitis y el fracaso de los implantes dentales, en comparación con la enfermedad periodontal crónica. Sujetos y métodos: Tres grupos de pacientes (peri-implantitis, enfermedad periodontal crónica y control) cada uno con 10 sujetos (7H/3M) y edad promedio de 40 a 60 años, fueron seleccionados para el análisis. El estrés oxidativo salival y los niveles PGA del tejido se analizaron mediante el sondeo de especies reactivas del oxígeno (ERO) y fluorescencia por reacción de Maillard, respectivamente. Resultados: Observamos un aumento significativo (> 2 veces) en el estrés oxidativo y los niveles PGA de los pacientes con peri-implantitis y enfermedad periodontal crónica en comparación con los controles, correspondiendo los niveles más altos a la enfermedad periodontal crónica. Además, observamos una fuerte correlación positiva (r = 0.94) entre el estrés oxidativo y los niveles de PGA en los pacientes. Conclusión: Proponemos que el aumento de los niveles de PGA y el estrés oxidativo, aunque no son la única vía, constituyen mediadores importantes en la patogénesis de la peri-implantitis. El alterarlos puede potencialmente utilizarse en combinación con otras modalidades para tratar la peri-implantitis.

p15INK4B, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, has been recognized as a tumor suppressor. Loss of or methylation of the p15INK4B gene in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells enhances myeloid progenitor formation from common myeloid progenitors. Therefore, we examined the effects of overexpressed p15INK4B on proliferation and apoptosis of CML cells. Overexpression of p15INK4B inhibited the growth of K562 cells by downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and cyclin D1 expression. Overexpression of p15INK4B also induced apoptosis of K562 cells by upregulating Bax expression and downregulating Bcl-2 expression. Overexpression of p15INK4B together with STI571 (imatinib) or BCR-ABL1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) also enhanced growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of K562 cells. The enhanced effect was also mediated by reduction of cyclin D1 and CDK4 and regulation of Bax and Bcl-2. In conclusion, our study may provide new insights into the role of p15INK4B in CML and a potential therapeutic target for overcoming tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in CML.

A ligação dissimilar entre ligas de memória de forma e ligas de Ti tem sido tentada por vários investigadores devido ao potencial de aplicação industrial que estes materiais apresentam. No entanto as diferente propriedades termo-físicas dos dois matérias criam sérias dificuldades. A brasagem pode ser uma solução para ligar estes materiais uma vez que estes são submetidos a um ciclo térmico menos drástico. No presente estudo analisou-se a possibilidade de ligar chapas com 1 mm de espessura em NiTi equiatómico e Ti6Al4V utilizando nano partículas de prata, em formas diferentes, como materiais de adição. Analisam-se as superfícies obtidas para determinar o tipo de fractura e discutem-se os mecanismos envolvidos com vista a determinar a possibilidade de se conseguir uma ligação eficaz com esta técnica.

Dissimilar joining of shape memory alloys to Ti alloys has long been attempted by several research groups due to the foreseen potential industrial applications. However, the very dissimilar thermo-physical properties of both materials place several difficulties. Brazing can be a solution since the base materials are subjected to a less sharp thermal cycle. In the present study brazed overlap joints of 1 mm thick plates of equiatomic NiTi and Ti6Al4V were produced using nano silver based filler materials. Surfaces were analyzed to assess the type of fracture and the capability of achieving bonding and involved mechanisms are discussed.

We report a case of successful treatment with erlotinib of a patient with non-small cell lung cancer (stage IV) and meningeal metastasis. Combined treatment with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and erlotinib mitigated neurologic symptoms of the patient. Magnetic resonance imaging showed reduction of the brain metastasis. Partial remission was observed by chest computed tomography (CT) scan after six months of erlotinib therapy.

Reportamos un caso de tratamiento exitoso con el erlotinib de un paciente con cáncer pulmonar de células no pequeñas (fase IV) y metástasis meníngea. El tratamiento combinado con la radioterapia total del cerebro (WBRT) y erlotinib mitigaron los síntomas neurológicos del paciente. Las imágenes de resonancia magnética mostraron una reducción de la metástasis del cerebro. La remisión parcial fue observada mediante CT scan de tórax tras seis meses de terapia con erlotinib.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision in the treatment of advanced rectal cancer in a randomised population. METHODS: Between 2001 and 2005, 125 patients (70 males, 55 females, mean age 55.5 (standard deviation (SD) 11) years, range 25 - 81 years) with rectal cancer were evaluated and prospectively followed up in our hospital (mean follow-up 42 (SD 23 months, range 5 - 113 months). The 5-year overall survival rate, 5-year disease-free survival rate and recurrence rate were analysed. RESULTS: There were 54 cases of cancer defined as UICC stage II and 68 cases defined as stage III. Of these cases, 22 were localised to the upper rectum, 50 to the middle rectum and 53 to the lower rectum. The 5-year overall survival rates were 71.3% and 51% among the stage II and the stage III patients, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 59.2% and 45.4% among the stage II and the stage III cancer patients, respectively. The overall recurrence rate was 16.8% (local recurrence rate 11.25%, distant recurrence rate 8%). Multivariate analysis showed that age and size were independent predictors of overall survival (p=0.006 and p<0.001 for stage II and stage III patients, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest good long-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer. However, this technique should be used with caution in older patients and patients with larger tumours.

Our objective was to clone, express and characterize adult Dermatophagoides farinae group 1 (Der f 1) allergens to further produce recombinant allergens for future clinical applications in order to eliminate side reactions from crude extracts of mites. Based on GenBank data, we designed primers and amplified the cDNA fragment coding for Der f 1 by nested-PCR. After purification and recovery, the cDNA fragment was cloned into the pMD19-T vector. The fragment was then sequenced, subcloned into the plasmid pET28a(+), expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 and identified by Western blotting. The cDNA coding for Der f 1 was cloned, sequenced and expressed successfully. Sequence analysis showed the presence of an open reading frame containing 966 bp that encodes a protein of 321 amino acids. Interestingly, homology analysis showed that the Der p 1 shared more than 87% identity in amino acid sequence with Eur m 1 but only 80% with Der f 1. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses suggested that D. pteronyssinus was evolutionarily closer to Euroglyphus maynei than to D. farinae, even though D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae belong to the same Dermatophagoides genus. A total of three cysteine peptidase active sites were found in the predicted amino acid sequence, including 127-138 (QGGCGSCWAFSG), 267-277 (NYHAVNIVGYG) and 284-303 (YWIVRNSWDTTWGDSGYGYF). Moreover, secondary structure analysis revealed that Der f 1 contained an a helix (33.96%), an extended strand (17.13%), a ß turn (5.61%), and a random coil (43.30%). A simple three-dimensional model of this protein was constructed using a Swiss-model server. The cDNA coding for Der f 1 was cloned, sequenced and expressed successfully. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis suggests that D. pteronyssinus is evolutionarily more similar to E. maynei than to D. farinae.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumours in the world, especially in Guangxi, China. The causes and mechanism of its tumourigenesis and development have not been completely clarified. Some studies revealed that the hepatic local cellular immune function was one of the factors. In the present study, the local micro-environmental immune status was explored by investigating the number, distribution and function of CD3, CD57,CD20, CD68, and granzyme B (GrB) positive cells in 60 patients with HCC and 62 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and its relationship with the prognosis of the patients. The results showed that the number of T and B lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in the liver of HCC patients was significantly higher than that in the LC and normal controls; while the number of macrophages (Mj) was significantly lower. The number of Mj in the tissues decreased successively with the decrease of HCC differentiation; GrB-expressing cells in the liver predominantly consisted of CD57 positive cells. The number of NK cells, B lymphocytes and GrB-expressing cells in the cancerous tissues of stage I and II was significantly higher than that of stages III and IV. The number of T lymphocytes, NK cells, Mj and GrB-expressing lymphocytes in HCC cases without metastasis in 15 months was significantly higher than in the metastatic counterparts. The number of T and B lymphocytes, NK cells, and GrB-expressing cells decreased in patients with the progression of the HCC. These results suggest that the number of T and B lymphocytes, NK cells, Mj and GrB-positive lymphocytes might be important markers in the estimation of hepatic local immune status and be useful factors for predicting the prognosis of HCC patients.

El carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC) es uno de los tumores malignos más comunes en el mundo, especialmente en Guangxi, China. Las causas y el mecanismo de su desarrollo y génesis tumoral no han sido completamente aclarados. Algunos estudios revelaron que la función inmune celular local hepática era uno de los factores. En este estudio se exploró el estatus inmune microambiental local, mediante la investigación del número, distribución y función de CD3, CD57,CD20, CD68, y células positivas para la granzima B (GrB) en 60 pacientes con CHC y 62 pacientes con cirrosis hepática (CH) y su relación con la prognosis de los pacientes. Los resultados mostraron que el número de linfocitos T y B y las células asesinas naturales (NK) en el hígado de los pacientes con HCH, era significativamente mayor que en los controles normales y los pacientes con CH, mientras que el número de macrófagos (Mj) fue significativamente menor. El número de Mj en los tejidos disminuyó sucesivamente a la par con la disminución de la diferenciación de CHC; las células expresoras de GrB en el hígado consistían predominantemente en células positivas CD57. El número de células NK, linfocitos B y células expresoras de GrB en los tejidos cancerosos de etapas I y II, fue significativamente más alto que el de las etapas III y IV. El número de linfocitos T, células NK, Mj y linfocitos expresores de GrB en los casos de CHC sin metástasis en 15 meses, fue significativamente mayor que en las contrapartidas metastáticas. El número de linfocitos T y B, células NK, y células expresoras de GrB, disminuyó en los pacientes a medida que progresaba el CHC. Estos resultados sugieren que el número de linfocitos T y B, células NK, Mj y linfocitos GrB-positivos podrían ser marcadores importantes en la valoración del estatus inmune local hepático y los factores útiles a la hora de predecir la prognosis de los pacientes de CHC.

DEAD-box proteins comprise a family of ATP-dependent RNA helicases involved in several aspects of RNA metabolism. Here we report the characterization of the human DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX26. The gene is composed of 14 exons distributed over an extension of 8,123 bp of genomic sequence and encodes a transcript of 1.8 kb that is expressed in all tissues evaluated. The predicted amino acid sequence shows a high similarity to a yeast DEAD-box RNA helicase (Dbp9b) involved in ribosome biogenesis. The new helicase maps to 7p12, a region of frequent chromosome amplifications in glioblastomas involving the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. Nevertheless, co-amplification of DDX26 with EGFR was not detected in nine tumors analyzed.