Solar microwave millisecond spike at 2.84 GHz

Using the high time resolution of 1 ms, the data of solar microwave millisecond spike (MMS) event was recorded more than two hundred times at the frequency of 2.84 GHz at Beijing (Peking) Observatory since May 1981. A preliminary analysis was made. It can be seen from the data that the MMS-events have a variety of the fast activities such as the dispersed and isolated spikes, the clusters of the crowded spikes, the weak spikes superimposed on the noise background, and the phenomena of absorption. The marked differences from that observed with lower time resolution are presented. Using the data, a valuable statistical analysis was made. There are close correlations between MMS-events and hard X-ray bursts, and fast drifting bursts. The MMS events are highly dependent on the type of active regions and the magnetic field configuration. It seems to be crucial to find out the accurate positions on the active region where the MMS-events happen and to make co-operative observations at different bands during the special period when specific active regions appear on the solar disk

Identification and characterization of insect-specific proteins by genome data analysis

Background: Insects constitute the vast majority of known species with their importance including biodiversity, agricultural, and human health concerns. It is likely that the successful adaptation of the Insecta clade depends on specific components in its proteome that give rise to specialized features. However, proteome determination is an intensive undertaking. Here we present results from a computational method that uses genome analysis to characterize insect and eukaryote proteomes as an approximation complementary to experimental approaches. Results: Homologs in common to Drosophila melanogaster, Anopheles gambiae, Bombyx mori, Tribolium castaneum, and Apis mellifera were compared to the complete genomes of three non-insect eukaryotes (opisthokonts) Homo sapiens, Caenorhabditis elegans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This operation yielded 154 groups of orthologous proteins in Drosophila to be insect-specific homologs; 466 groups were determined to be common to eukaryotes (represented by three opisthokonts). ESTs from the hemimetabolous insect Locust migratoria were also considered in order to approximate their corresponding genes in the insect-specific homologs. Stress and stimulus response proteins were found to constitute a higher fraction in the insect-specific homologs than in the homologs common to eukaryotes. Conclusion: The significant representation of stress response and stimulus response proteins in proteins determined to be insect-specific, along with specific cuticle and pheromone/odorant binding proteins, suggest that communication and adaptation to environments may distinguish insect evolution relative to other eukaryotes. The tendency for low Ka/Ks ratios in the insect-specific protein set suggests purifying selection pressure. The generally larger number of paralogs in the insect-specific proteins may indicate adaptation to environment changes. Instances in our insect-specific protein set have been arrived at through experiments reported in the literature, supporting the accuracy of our approach

Fresh raspberry phytochemical extract inhibits hepatic lesion in a Wistar rat model

Background: Red raspberry possesses potent antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative activity against cancer in vitro. Methods: The objective of this study was to determine the protective effects of raspberry 80% acetone extract in a rat hepatic lesions model induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Rats were treated with the red raspberry extract (0.75, 1.5 or 3.0 g/kg of body weight) by gavage starting 2 h after DEN administration and continuing for 20 weeks. Results: A dose-dependent inhibition by red raspberry extract of DEN-induced hepatic nodule formation which stands for hepatic lesions was observed. Corresponding hepatic nodule incidence rates were 45.0, 40.0, 25.0 and 5.0% in positive control, low, middle and high groups, respectively (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Gross findings, histopathological and ultrastructural evaluations of hepatic lesion were performed on 9, 8, 5 and 1 hepatic nodule in positive control, low, middle and high doses of groups, respectively, identified in rats from the respective groups of 20. A decreasing trend of proportions of hepatocellular carcinoma masses accompanied the increasing doses of red raspberry extract. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the potent capacity of red raspberry diet could not only suppress DEN-induced hepatic lesions in rats, but also reduce the definite diagnostic features of neoplasm

Double Opposing-Rhomboid Flaps for Closure of a Circular Facial Defect in a Special Position

Various techniques are used to repair circular defects in special positions on the face. Simple closure will yield unsatisfactory results because of skin tension. As an ideal method of reconstruction, various flaps are used to provide a versatile and safe alternative. The authors applied double opposing-rhomboid flaps, which provided for closure of a circular skin defect without alteration to the original shapes of the vital structures and resulted in an imperceptible scar. With careful designing, 21 patients with circular defects caused by skin tumor excisions to special facial positions have attained effective functional and aesthetic results using this method since 2004

Metabolically Specific In Situ Fluorescent Visualization of Bacterial Infection on Wound Tissues

The ability to effectively detect bacterial infection in human tissues is important for the timely treatment of the infection. However, traditional techniques fail to visualize bacterial species adhered to host cells in situ in a target-specific manner. Dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) exclusively exists in bacterial species and metabolically converts p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) to folic acid (FA). By targeting this bacterium-specific metabolism, we have developed a fluorescent imaging probe, PABA-DCM, based on the conjugation of PABA with a long-wavelength fluorophore, dicyanomethylene 4H-pyran (DCM). We confirmed that the probe can be used in the synthetic pathway of a broad spectrum of Gram-positive and negative bacteria, resulting in a significantly extended retention time in bacterial over mammalian cells. We validated that DHPS catalytically introduces a dihydropteridine group to the amino end of the PABA motif of PABA-DCM, and the resulting adduct leads to an increase in the FA levels of bacteria. We also constructed a hydrogel dressing containing PABA-DCM and graphene oxide (GO), termed PABA-DCM@GO, that achieves target-specific fluorescence visualization of bacterial infection on the wounded tissues of mice. Our research paves the way for the development of fluorescent imaging agents that target species-conserved metabolic pathways of microorganisms for the in situ monitoring of infections in human tissues. </p

Case Report: Response to crizotinib treatment in a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with LDLR-ROS1 fusion

C-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) fusion is a pathogenic driver gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, clinical guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) have recommended molecular pathologic tests for patients with NSCLC, including the detection of the ROS1 gene. Crizotinib is a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), ROS1, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). In recent years, the efficacy of crizotinib in NSCLC patients with ROS1 fusion has been reported. Here, a 77-year-old woman was diagnosed with stage IVA lung adenocarcinoma harboring a novel low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-ROS1 fusion variant. This novel LDLR-ROS1 fusion was identified by targeted DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel and then verified by RNA fusion panel based on amplicon sequencing. This patient benefited from subsequent crizotinib therapy and achieved progression-free survival of 15 months without significant toxic symptoms. Our case report recommended a promising targeted therapeutic option for patients with metastatic NSCLC with LDLR-ROS1 fusion and highlighted the importance of genetic testing for accurate treatment