Association between Polymorphisms of ERCC1 and Response in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Cisplatin-based Chemotherapy

Background and objective Results of studies on genetic polymorphisms of ERCC1 gene in DNA repair pathway which may affect response to platinum-based chemotherapy and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer are conflicting. The aim of this study is to prospectively assess the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of C8092A and codon118 in ERCC1 and drug response in 90 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Methods All patients were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Genotypes of ERCC1 C8092A and codon118 were examined by sequencing, and the association between genotypes and response was evaluated. Results Genotype frequencies of ERCC1 C8092A were CC 40.0% (36/90), CA 48.9% (44/90) and AA 11.1% (10/90), frequencies of codon118 were CC 58.9% (53/90), CT 34.4% (31/90) and TT 6.7% (6/90). There was no significant difference in response rate of patients carrying with CC, compared with CA plus AA in C8092A (33.3% vs 29.6%, P=0.71). Response rate of patients carrying with CC in ERCC1 118 was 32.1%, 24.3% with CT plus CC (P=0.43). There was no difference in progression free survival between patients carrying with CC and CT plus TT in C8092A (5.2 months vs 5.4 months, P=0.62). There was no difference in progression free survival between patients carrying with CC and CA plus AA (5.5 months vs 5.3 months, P=0.59). Conclusion The results suggest that there is no association between polymorphisms in ERCC1 C8092A and codon118 and response in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy

Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum S100B in sepsis-associated encephalopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIn sepsis, brain dysfunction is known as Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), which often results in severe cognitive and neurological sequelae and increases the risk of death. Our systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) in SAE patients.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search of the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane databases, CNKI, VIP, and WFSD from their inception dates until August 20, 2022. A Meta-analysis of the included studies was also performed using Review Manager version 5.4 and Stata16.0.ResultsThis meta-analysis included 28 studies with 1401 serum samples from SAE patients and 1591 serum samples from no-encephalopathy septic (NE) patients. The Meta-Analysis showed that individuals with SAE had higher serum S100B level than NE controls (MD, 0.49 [95% CI (0.37)-(0.60), Z =8.29, P < 0.00001]), and the baseline level of serum S100B in septic patients with burn was significantly higher than average (1.96 [95% CI (0.92)-(2.99), Z =3.71, P < 0.0002]) In addition, septic patients with favorable outcomes had lower serum S100B levels than those with unfavorable outcomes (MD, -0.35 [95% CI (-0.50)-(-0.20), Z =4.60, P < 0.00001]).ConclusionOur Meta-Analysis indicates that higher serum S100B level in septic patients are moderately associated with SAE and unfavorable outcomes (The outcomes here mainly refer to the mortality). The serum S100B level may be a useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of SAE

STUDY ON A NEW DESIGN OF GROUTING PUMP FOR MANAGING WATER INRUSH IN KARST TUNNELS

The low flow rate and efficiency of existing grouting pumps such as piston pumps and diaphragm pumps result in difficulty in managing sudden water and slurry discharges. In this study, a new design for grouting pumps is proposed to improve the grouting flow rate and efficiency. A grouting model test scheme to manage the water inrush of a tubular karst is designed. The power consumption of this system is equivalent to that of a diaphragm grouting pump. Improved performance was also observed for the newly designed rotary piston pump in grouting plugging tests. The retention of slurry and changes in moving water flow are observed and recorded to examine the grouting effects of the pumps. In addition, the pressure and flow rate changes of the grouting slurry are used to gauge the performance parameters of the pumps. A rotary piston pump and a traditional piston pump were tested in single- and separate-hole grouting experiments in tunnel engineering sites. In the grouting model test, which manages the water inrush of a tubular karst, the newly designed rotary piston pump had a distinct advantage in terms of the slurry retention thickness and fracture sealing effect. In particular, the efficiency of the rotary piston pump increased by a factor of 10 over the diaphragm grouting pump. During the experiments in the engineering site, the grouting flow rate of the rotary piston pump showed significant increase when compared to the traditional piston pump. The construction time was halved. The proposed rotary piston grouting pump has shown obvious advantages over existing grouting pumps

Vibration characteristics and environmental responses of different vehicle-track-ballast coupling systems in subway operation

The vibration characteristics of two ballast beds are analyzed in this study from five aspects including the amplitude-frequency characteristic curve of foundation reaction. This study also shows that the maximum ground Z vibration level caused by a normal monolithic ballast bed structure is 75 dB. The range of its vibration influence during daytime is approximately 30 m. The maximum ground Z vibration level caused by a rubber floating slab track structure is 52 dB, whereas that caused by a steel spring floating slab track structure is 57 dB. The maximum damping amount in horizontal speed of a rubber floating slab track structure is 74 %, whereas the reduction of vertical ground vibration speed and acceleration is 92 % and 93 %, respectively. The reduction in Z level is 37 %. The horizontal speed reduction in a steel spring floating slab track structure is 71 %, whereas the reduction of ground vertical vibration speed and acceleration is 83 % and 84 %, respectively. The reduction in Z level is 29 %

Advanced Feedback Experiment Methods With Hiher Education Theory

Advanced reserved experiment method focused cognitive law, constructivism and assimilation theory in a way that science teaching method has a profound theoretical foundation and many years of teaching practice. It is a product of deepening the reform of higher education, it is a method of quality education, innovative ability indispensable.The advanced feedback experimental method, that is, to arrange the experimental activity ahead of teaching the theory, so that students can find problems in the course of experiment and solve them in the follow-up theory teaching, it is able to fully mobilize the enthusiasm of students and let them be full of “suspense” before the class. The biggest advantage of the advanced feedback experimental method is to provide more supports to the heuristic and interactive teaching. It enables students to get the maximum amount of information of physics, chemistry, biology and other natural phenomena within limited time and space and in turn to co-operate the classroom teaching strongly. The “hide” of experimental class and the “show” of theory teaching echo each other to make the experiment and theory class linked organically. That can stir up students’ interests and passion in learning. So that they have “Suspense” before class, after-class sense of accomplishment. After more than ten years of practice, it proves that the advanced feedback experimental method is indeed a good way to reform the professional of natural science for higher education sectionand. It is worthy for recommendation

A single amino acid substitution in the R3 domain of GLABRA1 leads to inhibition of trichome formation in Arabidopsis without affecting its interaction with GLABRA3

GLABRA1 (GL1) is an R2R3 MYB transcription factor that regulates trichome formation in Arabidopsis by interacting with the bHLH transcription factor GLABRA3 (GL3) or ENHANCER OF GL3 (EGL3). The conserved [D/E]L×2 [R/K]×3L×6L×3R amino acid signature in the R3 domain of MYB proteins has been shown to be required for the interaction of MYBs with R/B‐like bHLH transcription factors. By using genetic and molecular analyses, we show that the glabrous phenotype in the nph4‐1 mutant is caused by a single nucleotide mutation in the GL1 gene, generating a Ser to Phe substitution (S92F) in the conserved [D/E]L×2[R/K]×3L×6L×3R amino acid signature of GL1. Activation of the integrated GL2p:GUS reporter gene in protoplasts by cotransfection of GL1 and GL3 or EGL3 was abolished by this GL1‐S92F substitution. However, GL1‐S92F interacted successfully with GL3 or EGL3 in protoplast transfection assays. Unlike VPGL1GL3, the fusion protein VPGL1‐S92FGL3 failed to activate the integrated GL2p:GUS reporter gene in transfected protoplasts. These results suggested that the S92 in the conserved [D/E]L×2 [R/K]×3L×6L×3R amino acid signature of GL1 is not essential for the interaction of GL1 and GL3, but may play a role in the binding of GL1 to the promoters of its target genes.The R2R3 MYB transcription factor GL1 is a key regulator of trichome formation in Arabidopsis. The conserved [D/E]L×2[R/K]×3L×6L×3R amino acid signature in the R3 domain is required for the interaction of MYBs with R/B‐like bHLH transcription factors. S92F amino acid substantiation in the conserved [D/E]L×2[R/K]×3L×6L×3R signature in GL1 lead to loss‐of‐function mutation of GL1. However, our results indicate that Ser92 residue is not required for the interaction of GL1 with bHLH transcription factor GL3 or EGL3, but may required for binding of GL1 to its target genes.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145310/1/pce12695_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145310/2/pce12695.pd

Simultaneous Determination of 24 Acid Industrial Dyes in Food by Solid Phase Extraction-Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A method based on solid phase extraction (SPE) combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was established for the determination of 24 acid industrial dyes in food. The sample was extracted with ammonia-ethanol solution (ammonia: absolute ethyl alcohol:water=2:7:1, v/v), the extracting solution was condensed to 1 mL under a stream of nitrogen，then dissolved by 10 mL 5% methanol-water solution. The solution was purified by Agela Cleanert PWAX SPE column. The eluant was dried with nitrogen and dissolved by ammonium acetate acetonitrile solution (10 mmol/L ammonium acetate water:acetonitrile =1:1, v/v), the analytes were separated by the Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse RRHD C18 (3.0 mm×150 mm，1.8 μm) column using mobile phase gradient with acetonitrile and 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate. The analytes were ionized with negative electrospray ionization (ESI−) and analyzed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, then quantified by external standard method. The linearity of 24 acid industrial dyes displayed good linearities in the range from 20～300 ng/mL, the correlation coefficients higher than 0.999. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 10 μg/kg and 25 μg/kg. The recoveries at three level spiked levels (25、100、250 μg/kg) were 91.0%～112.7% with the relative standard deviations (n=6) between 0.42% and 4.39%. The method was applied to determine 40 batches of bean products, condiments, aquatic products and meat products each, the acid orange Ⅱ was detected in 2 batches of braised meat samples, the content was 138±2.8 μg/kg and 179±3.7 μg/kg, the red 2G was detected in 2 batches of sausage samples, the content was 320±8.6 μg/kg and 230±6.2 μg/kg. The method is rapid, sensitive and reliable, it can be applied to determine 24 acid industrial dyes in food

Parameters Optimization of Curtain Grouting Reinforcement Cycle in Yonglian Tunnel and Its Application

For practical purposes, the curtain grouting method is an effective method to treat geological disasters and can be used to improve the strength and permeability resistance of surrounding rock. Selection of the optimal parameters of grouting reinforcement cycle especially reinforcement cycle thickness is one of the most interesting areas of research in curtain grouting designs. Based on the fluid-structure interaction theory and orthogonal analysis method, the influence of reinforcement cycle thickness, elastic modulus, and permeability on water inflow of tunnel after grouting and stability of surrounding rock was analyzed. As to the water inflow of tunnel after grouting used as performance evaluation index of grouting reinforcement cycle, it can be concluded that the permeability was the most important factor followed by reinforcement cycle thickness and elastic modulus. Furthermore, pore water pressure field, stress field, and plastic zone of surrounding rock were calculated by using COMSOL software under different conditions of reinforcement cycle thickness. It also can be concluded that the optimal thickness of reinforcement cycle and permeability can be adopted as 8 m and 1/100 of the surrounding rock permeability in the curtain grouting reinforcement cycle. The engineering case provides a reference for similar engineering

Influence of nitrogen on corrosion behaviour of high nitrogen martensitic stainless steels manufactured by pressurized metallurgy

Effect of nitrogen on microstructure and corrosion behaviour of high nitrogen martensitic stainless steels manufactured by pressurized metallurgy was investigated by microscopy, electrochemical and spectroscopy analyses. Results indicated that increasing nitrogen content significantly enhanced the corrosion properties of martensitic stainless steels, while excess nitrogen deteriorated the corrosion resistance. The impacts of increased nitrogen content could be summarized as three aspects: the change of precipitation content and conversion of main precipitates from MC to MN; the enhanced protection performance of passive film by enrichment of Cr, especially CrO and CrN; the improved repassivation ability by increased nitrogen content in solid solution

Alteration of Brain Structure With Long-Term Abstinence of Methamphetamine by Voxel-Based Morphometry

Background: A large portion of previous studies that have demonstrated brain gray matter reduction in individuals who use methamphetamine (MA) have focused on short-term abstinence, but few studies have focused on the effects of long-term abstinence of methamphetamine on brain structures.Materials and Methods: Our study includes 40 healthy controls and 44 abstinent methamphetamine-dependent (AMD) subjects who have abstained for at least 14 months. For every AMD subject, the age when they first used MA, the total time of MA use, the frequency of MA use in the last month before abstinence, the duration of abstinence and the craving score were recorded. Here we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure the gray matter volume (GMV) of each subject with voxel-based morphometry method. Two-sample t-test (AlphaSim corrected) was performed to obtain brain regions with different gray matter volume (GMV) between groups. In addition, partial correlation coefficients adjusted for age, years of education, smoking, and drinking were calculated in the AMD group to assess associations between the mean GMV values in significant clusters and variables of MA use and abstinence.Results: Compared with the healthy control group, AMD group showed increased gray matter volumes in the bilateral cerebellum and decreased volumes in the right calcarine and right cuneus. Moreover, GMV of left cerebellum are positively correlated with the duration of abstinence in the AMD group (p = 0.040, r = 0.626).Conclusions: The present study showed that the gray matter volume in some brain regions is abnormal in the AMD subjects with long-term abstinence. Changes in gray matter volume of visual and cognitive function regions suggested that these areas play important roles in the progress of MA addiction and abstinence. In addition, positive correlation between GMV of the left cerebellum crus and duration of abstinence suggested that prolonged abstinence is beneficial to cognitive function recovery