Cholecystectomy does not significantly increase the risk of fatty liver disease

AIM: To investigate the relationship between cholecystectomy and fatty liver disease(FLD) in a Chinese population.METHODS: A total of 32428 subjects who had voluntarily undergone annual health checkups in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2011 to May 2013 were included in this study. Basic data collection, physical examination, laboratory examination, and abdominal ultrasound examination were performed.RESULTS: Subjects undergoing cholecystectomy were associated with greater age, female sex, higher body mass index, and higher levels of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. However, no significant differences were found in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gammaglutamyl transpeptidase, albumin, and serum uric acid. The overall prevalence of FLD diagnosed by ultrasonography was high at 38.4%. The prevalence of FLD was significantly higher for subjects who had undergone cholecystectomy(46.9%) than those who had not undergone cholecystectomy(38.1%; χ2 test, P < 0.001). Cholecystectomy was positively associated with FLD(OR = 1.433, 95%CI: 1.259-1.631). However, after adjusting for possible factors associated withFLD, multivariate regression analysis showed that the association between cholecystectomy and FLD was not statistically significant(OR = 1.096; 95%CI: 0.939-1.279). CONCLUSION: According to our study results, cholecystectomy may not be a significant risk factor for FLD.

In vivo SPECT imaging of an 131I-labeled PM 2.5 mimic substitute

The health effects of ambient PM 2.5 and its potential mechanisms have generated considerable interest.In vitro cell studies and ex vivo animal experiments may not accurately determine the characteristics of PM 2.5 particles.To better understand their detailed mechanisms,we performed an in vivo study using single photon emission tomography(SPECT)imaging.To mimic the PM 2.5 particles,SiO2 nanoparticles modified by ethylene carbonate or polyvinyl pyrrolidone were labeled with 131I.After administration via inhalation,in vivo SPECT imaging of the radiolabeled particles in sprague dawley rats was performed.It was found that radioactivity accumulated in the lungs and trachea 6 and 24 h after administration.In addition,significant radioactivity was observed in the abdomen,including the liver and kidneys.The results were also confirmed by ex vivo autoradiography.This study revealed that in vivo SPECT imaging could be an effective method for investigating the properties of PM 2.5 particles.

Lie Point Symmetry Analysis of the Harry-Dym Type Equation with Riemann-Liouville Fractional Derivative

In this paper, Lie point symmetry group of the Harry-Dym type equation with Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative is constructed. Then complete subgroup classification is obtained by means of the optimal system method. Finally, corresponding group-invariant solutions with reduced fractional ordinary differential equations are presented via similarity reductions.

Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-graft-Poly(lactic acid) Copolymer

Chitosan-graft-poly（lactic acid） （CS-g-PLA） copolymer was synthesized through emulsion self-assembly in a water-in-oil （W/O） microemulsion. The water phase was composed of CS aqueous solution, while the oil phase was made up of PLA in chloroform. The W/O microemulsion was fabricated in the presence of surfactant span-80 and the self-assembly was performed between PLA and CS under the effect of N-（3-dimethylaminopropyl）-N＇ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride （EDC＇HCI）. FTIR and IH-NMR analysis indicated PLA was grafted onto the backbone of CS via the reaction between the carboxyl groups in PLA and the amino groups in CS. 1H-NMR characterization further revealed the grafting content of PLA was 16%. The obtained CS-g-PLA could self-assemble to form micelles, their size distributed in the range of 125-375 nm with average diameter of 142 nm. The present design integrates the favorable biological properties of CS and the excellent mechanical properties of PLA, which makes CS-g-PLA copolymer a promising candidate as a carrier for targeted bioactive molecules delivery.

Phase Ⅲ trial of docetaxel cisplatin 5-fluorouracil induction chemotherapy for resectable oral cancer suggests favorable pathological response as a surrogate endpoint for good therapeutic outcome

Dear Editor,Induction chemotherapy has been utilized for decades in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).The docetaxel,cisplatin,5-fluorouracil(TPF)regimen is the most recommended induction chemotherapy regimen forHNSCC and oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)[1].However,our initial phase Ⅲ trial failed to demonstrate a significant survival benefit of TPF induction chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced OSCC[2].