Association of genotypes of rs671 within ALDH2 with risk for gastric cardia adenocarcinoma in the Chinese Han population in high-and low-incidence areas

Objective: This study aimed to determine if gastric cardia adenocarcinoma(GCA) risk was associated with the lys(A or *2) allele at the rs671(glu504lys) polymorphism within the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2) gene in a Chinese Han population. We also aimed to investigate ALDH2 genotypic distributions between subjects from high- and low-incidence areas for both GCA and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).Methods: We designed a case-control study including 2,686 patients with GCA and 3,675 control subjects from high- and lowincidence areas for both GCA and ESCC in China. Taq Man allele discrimination assay was used to genotype the rs671 polymorphism. χ~2 test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to estimate the odds ratios for the development of GCA,and multivariate ordinal logistic regression was used to analyze ALDH2 genotypic distributions among different groups.Results: Compared with ALDH2*1/*1 homozygotes, ALDH2*1/*2 and ALDH2*2/*2 carriers did not increase the risk for GCA in the Chinese Han population(P>0.05). Interestingly, the ratio of homozygous or heterozygous ALDH2 *2 carriers in highincidence areas for both GCA and ESCC was lower than that in low-incidence areas(P<0.001).Conclusions: Genotypes of rs671 at ALDH2 may not increase GCA susceptibility in Chinese Han populations. In addition, the ALDH2 genotypic distribution differs between Chinese Han populations from high- and low-incidence areas for both GCA and ESCC. Our findings may shed light on the possible genetic mechanism for the dramatic geographic differences of GCA occurrence in China.

Observation of etch pits in Fe-36wt%Ni Invar alloy

To indirectly investigate the dislocation behavior of Fe-36wt%Ni Invar alloy by the etch pit method, polished Invar specimens were etched by a solution containing 4 g copper sulfate, 20 mL hydrochloric acid, and 20 mL deionized water for 2 min. Etch pits in the etched surfaces were observed. All the etch pits in one specific grain exhibited similar shapes, which are closely related to the grain orienta-tions. These etch pits were characterized as dislocation etch pits. It was observed that etch pits arranged along grain boundaries, gathered at grain tips and strip-like etch pit clusters passed through a number of grains in the pure Invar specimens. After the addition of a small amount of alloying elements, the identification of a single dislocation etch pit is challenging compared with the pure Invar alloy. Thus, the observation of etch pits facilitates the investigation on the dislocation behavior of the pure Invar alloy. In addition, alloying elements may affect the densities and sizes of etch pits.

Truth telling for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Henan,China

Objective: This study aims to investigate the truth-telling status and the relevant factors of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) patients in Henan, China.Methods: A cross-sectional study from April to June 2015 using questionnaires was given to 301 family members of hospitalized ESCC patients based in three affiliated hospitals of Zhengzhou University(i.e., The First Hospital, The Second Hospital, and Tumor Hospital) and Anyang Tumor Hospital.Results: Among the 41.9%(126/301) hospitalized ESCC patients who knew of their true diagnoses, only 4.0% patients were informed by their corresponding responsible doctors, 39.7% by their family members, and 56.3% by themselves. Univariate analyses showed that disclosure of confirmed ESCC diagnosis to patients was correlated with gender, family history of cancer(FHC), education level, vocation, hospital administrative level, and attitudes of family members(P < 0.05). Furthermore,multivariate analysis indicated that attitude of family members was the most important and an independent factor for diagnosis disclosure. Those patients with a negative FHC, under-education, manual occupation, advanced stages, and hospitalized in municipal hospitals exhibited a low rate of truth telling.Conclusions: Truth telling for ESCC patients in Henan is not prevalent and may be improved through consultation with family members, particularly for patients with a negative FHC, poor education, manual occupation, and advanced stages.

WoundCareLog APP-A new application to record wound diagnosis and healing

The incidence of chronic wounds has been increasing over the past 20 years.However,the standardized diagnosis and treatment practice of chronic refractory wounds have not been established.In addition,the properties of the wound are characterized by morphology and thus correct description of the wound in medical history collection plays a vital role,which directly affects the definitive diagnosis.To develop more accurate format of clinical history record which can correctly reflect a patient's course and treatment progress,and to standardize the medical history record of chronic refractory wounds,at the national or regional level,we designed the WoundCareLog APP.It acts as a recording and communication tool for wound healing specialists at all levels of medical institutions in China.The WoundCareLog APP is fully compatible to meet the criteria and requirements of conventional medical records by embedding 9 modules.In addition,the demands for morphological description of wounds in wound healing diagnosis and treatment have been fulfilled by enroll of digital imaging technology to overcome the inadequacies of trad让ional medical history records.