Chemokines and their receptors play important roles in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma

The chemokine system consists of four different subclasses with over 50 chemokines and 19 receptors. Their functions in the immune system have been well elucidated and research during the last decades unveils their new roles in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). The chemokines and their receptors in the microenvironment influence the development of HCCby several aspects including:inflammation,effects on immune cells,angiogenesis,and direct effects on HCC cells. Regarding these aspects,pre-clinical research by targeting the chemokine system has yielded promising data,and these findings bring us new clues in the chemokine-based therapies for HCC.

Metallogenesis and hydrothermal evolution of the Tonggou Cu deposit in the Eastern Tianshan:Evidence from fluid inclusions,H-O-S isotopes,and Re-Os geochronology

The Tonggou Cu polymetallic deposit in the Bogda Orogenic Belt,Eastern Tianshan shows evidence for three stages of hydrothermal mineralization:early pyrite veins(Stage 1),polymetallic sulfide±epidote-quartz(Stage 2),and late-stage pyrite-calcite veins(Stage 3).Fluid inclusion petrography and microthermometry analyses indicate that the liquid-rich aqueous inclusions(L),vapour-rich aqueous inclusions(V),and NaCl daughter mineral-bearing three phase inclusions(S)formed during the main stage of mineralization,and that the ore fluids represent high-temperature and high-salinity H20-NaCl hydrothermal fluids that underwent boiling.Stable isotope(H,O)data indicate that the ore fluids of the Tonggou deposit were originally derived from magmatic water in Stage 2 and subsequently mixed with local meteoric water during Stage 3.Sulphur isotope compositions(6.7‰to 10.9‰)are consistent with theδ^34 S values of pyrite from the Qijiaojing Formation sandstone,indicating the primary source of the sulphur ore.Furthermore,chalcopyrite grains separated from the chalcopyrite-rich ore samples yield an isochron age of 303±12 Ma(MSWD=1.2).These results indicate that the Tonggou deposit is a transition between high-sulfidation and porphyry deposits which formed in the Late Carboniferous.It also suggests an increased likelihood for the occurrence of Cu(Au,Mo)in the Bogda Orogenic Belt,especially at locations where the Cu-Zn deposits are thicker;further deep drilling and exploration are encouraged in these areas.

Family function and health behaviours of stroke survivors

Purpose:To investigate health behaviours and family function in stroke survivors,and evaluate the relationships among them.Methods:Patients who were diagnosed with stroke before and went back to neurology clinic between August 2011 and February 2012 in a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou,China were recruited for this study.Patients that were discharged and living at home for at least two months were asked to complete Family Assessment Device(FAD)and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile,version II(HPLP-II)questionnaires.Individual items were scored between 1 and 4 points,and survey scores were compared and analysed using Pearson's correlations.Results:The mean overall FAD family function score was 2.18±0.25 points,with lower scores observed for problem solving and role function factors,and higher scores for communication,affection involvement,and behaviour control.The mean overall HPLP-II health behaviour score was 2.27±0.36 points,with the highest score for the nutrition factor,and the lowest score for the exercise factor.The total score of family function negatively correlated with health behaviours(r?0.535,p<0.01).Conclusions:Family function and health behaviours in stroke survivors are related,and need further improvement.Healthcare workers should pay close attention to patients'family function and health behaviours and find the reasons which may be influence their level.

A drug-eluting Balloon for the trEatment of coronarY bifurcatiON lesions in the side branch:a prospective multicenter ranDomized (BEYOND)clinical trial in China

Background:Treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions remains challenging;a simple strategy has been preferred as of late,but the disadvantage is ostium stenosis or even occlusion of the side branch(SB).Only a few single-center studies investigating the combination of a drug-eluting stent in the main branch followed by a drug-eluting balloon in the SB have been reported.This prospective,multicenter,randomized study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of a paclitaxel-eluting balloon(PEB)compared with regular balloon angioplasty(BA)in the treatment of non-left main coronary artery bifurcation lesions.Methods:Between December 2014 and November 2015,a total of 222 consecutive patients with bifurcation lesions were enrolled in this study at ten Chinese centers.Patients were randomly allocated at a 1:1 ratio to a PEB group(n=113)and a BA group(n=109).The primary efficacy endpoint was angiographic target lesion stenosis at 9 months.Secondary efficacy and safety endpoints included target lesion revascularization,target vessel revascularization,target lesion failure,major adverse cardiac and cerebral events(MACCEs),all-cause death,cardiac death,non-fatal myocardial infarction,and thrombosis in target lesions.The main analyses performed in this clinical trial included case shedding analysis,base-value equilibrium analysis,effectiveness analysis,and safety analysis.SAS version 9.4 was used for the statistical analyses.Results:At the 9-month angiographic follow-up,the difference in the primary efficacy endpoint of target lesion stenosis between the PEB(28.7%±18.7%)and BA groups(40.0%±19.0%)was-11.3%(95%confidence interval:-16.3%to-6.3%,Psuperiority<0.0001)in the intention-to-treat analysis,and similar results were recorded in the per-protocol analysis,demonstrating the superiority of PEB to BA.Late lumen loss was significantly lower in the PEB group than in the BA group(-0.06±0.32 vs.0.18±0.34 mm,P<0.0001).For intention-to-treat,there were no significant differences between PEB and BA in the 9-month percentages of MACCEs(0.9%vs.3.7%,P=0.16)or non-fatal myocardial infarctions(0 vs.0.9%,P=0.49).There were no clinical events of target lesion revascularization,target vessel revascularization,target lesion failure,all-cause death,cardiac death or target lesion thrombosis in either group.Conclusions:In de novo non-left main coronary artery bifurcations treated with provisional T stenting,SB dilation with the PEB group demonstrated better angiographic results than treatment with regular BA at the 9-month follow-up in terms of reduced target lesion stenosis.Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT02325817;https://clinicaltrials.gov.

Corticosteroid Therapy Might be Associated with the Development of Coronary Aneurysm in Children with Kawasaki Disease

Background：Coronary artery lesions （CALs） are known to be the main complication in children with Kawasaki disease （KD）.Instead of intravenous immunoglobulin （IVIG）,corticosteroid therapy has been accepted to be used for children with KD who are unresponsive to IVIG.This study aimed to evaluate risk factors for CALs in children with KD.Methods：We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 2331 children with KD from January 2005 to December 2014.To identify the independent risk factors for CALs,multivariable logistic regression models were constructed using significant variables identified from univariate logistic regression analysis.Results：The incidence of CALs was 36.0% （840 of 2331）,including 625 （26.8%） coronary artery dilations and 215 （9.2%） coronary artery aneurysms （CAAs）.Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified that male,incomplete KD,longer fever duration,and C-reactive protein （CRP） 〉 100 mg/L were independent risk factors for coronary artery dilatations.On the other hand,male,incomplete KD,longer fever duration,prolonged days of illness at the initial treatment,corticosteroid therapy,sodium ≤133 mmol/L,and albumin 〈35 g/L were the independent risk factors for CAAs.In addition,corticosteroid therapy,prolonged days of illness at the initial treatment,and albumin 〈35 g/L were the independent risk factors for giant CAAs.Conclusions：CALs might be associated with male sex,incomplete KD,longer fever duration,prolonged days of illness at the initial treatment,albumin 〈35 g/L,sodium ≤ 133 mmol/L,CRP 〉 100 mg/L,and corticosteroid therapy.Corticosteroid therapy was an independent risk factor for CAAs and giant CAAs.Thus,corticosteroids should be used with caution in the treatment of KD with the risk for CALs.

Heat sensitivity of eggs attributes to the reduction in Agasicles hygrophila population

Agasicles hygrophila has been introduced worldwide as a control agent for the invasive weed Alternanthera philoxeroides.However,global warming has potential impact on its controlling efficacy.The aim of this research was to explore the primary factors responsible for the greatly reduced A.hygrophila population in hot summers.To imitate the temperature conditions in summers,different developmental stages of hygrophila were treated with high temperatures from 32.5℃ to 45℃ for 1-5 h.Based on the survival rate,the heat tolerance of each developmental stage was ranked from lowest to highest as follows:egg,1st,2nd,3rd instar larva,adult and pupa.Eggs showed the lowest heat tolerance with 37.5℃ as the critical temperature affecting larval hatching.Heat treatment of the A.hygrophila eggs at 37.5℃ for 1 h decreased the hatch rate to 24%.Our results indicated that when compared with the control at 25℃,1 h treatment at 37.5℃ prolonged the duration of the egg stage,shortened the duration of oviposition and total longevity,and changed the reproductive pattern of A.hygrophila.The net reproductive rate,intrinsic rate and finite rate were all significantly reduced.The results suggest that low heat tolerance of the eggs was the major factor responsible for the reduction of A.hygrophila populations,and the key temperature was 37.5°C.Therefore,appropriate measures should be taken to protect eggs in order to maintain the efficacy of A.hygrophila in the biological control of A.philoxeroides in hot summers.

Extraction and isolation of the salidroside-type metabolite from zinc(Zn) and cadmium(Cd) hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance

The active metabolite in the post-harvested biomass of zinc(Zn) and cadmium(Cd) hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance from phytoextraction is of great interest in China.The current study demonstrates that a salidroside-type metabolite can be yielded from the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator S.alfredii biomass by means of sonication/ethanol extraction and macroporous resin column(AB-8 type) isolation.The concentrations of Zn and Cd in the salidroside-type metabolite were below the limitation of the national standards.