A Study on the Degree of Amidoximation of Polyacrylonitrile Fibers and Its Effect on Their Capacity to Adsorb Uranyl Ions

Amidoximation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers was studied by reacting them with hydroxylamine. The chemical structure, mechanical intensity, and morphologies of PAN and amidoximated PAN (AO-PAN) fibers were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile tests, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. A higher degree of amidoximation resulted in a higher conversion ratio (CR) of the nitrile group and a higher density of the amidoxime group, while also reducing the mechanical intensity of the fibers. During amidoximation, a hydrogel layer formed on the fiber surface by bonding with H₂O molecules, increasing the diameter of the AO-PAN fibers. The layer thickness increased as the CR of the AO-PAN fibers’ nitrile group was increased. The hydrogel layer decreased the adsorption capability by hindering the diffusion of uranyl ions to the interior of the AO-PAN fibers. Therefore, a CR of about 10.8% would provide an appropriate balance between the mechanical properties and the adsorption capability

Impact of <i>XRCC2</i> Arg188His Polymorphism on Cancer Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Association between the single nucleotide polymorphism rs3218536 (known as Arg188His) located in the X-ray repair cross complementing group 2 (<i>XRCC2</i>) gene and cancer susceptibility has been widely investigated. However, results thus far have remained controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to identify the impact of this polymorphism on cancer susceptibility.</p><p>Methods</p><p>PubMed and Embase databases were searched systematically until September 7, 2013 to obtain all the records evaluating the association between the <i>XRCC2</i> Arg188His polymorphism and the risk of all types of cancers. We used the odds ratio (OR) as measure of effect, and pooled the data in a Mantel-Haenszel weighed random-effects meta-analysis to provide a summary estimate of the impact of this polymorphism on breast cancer, ovarian cancer and other cancers. All the analyses were carried out in STATA 12.0.</p><p>Results</p><p>With 30868 cases and 38656 controls, a total of 45 case-control studies from 26 publications were eventually included in our meta-analysis. No significant association was observed between the <i>XRCC2</i> Arg188His polymorphism and breast cancer susceptibility (dominant model: OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.86–1.04, P = 0.232). However, a significant impact of this polymorphism was detected on decreased ovarian cancer risk (dominant model: OR = 0.83, 95%CI = 0.73–0.95, P = 0.007). In addition, we found this polymorphism was associated with increased upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer susceptibility (dominant model: OR = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.04–2.20, P = 0.032).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The Arg188His polymorphism might play different roles in carcinogenesis of various cancer types. Current evidence did not suggest that this polymorphism was directly associated with breast cancer susceptibility. However, this polymorphism might contribute to decreased gynecological cancer risk and increased UADT cancer risk. More preclinical and epidemiological studies were still imperative for further evaluation.</p></div

Graphene Oxide Transparent Hybrid Film and Its Ultraviolet Shielding Property

Herein, we first reported a facile strategy to prepare functional Poly­(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hybrid film with well ultraviolet (UV) shielding property and visible light transmittance using graphene oxide nanosheets as UV-absorber. The absorbance of ultraviolet light at 300 nm can be up to 97.5%, while the transmittance of visible light at 500 nm keeps 40% plus. This hybrid film can protect protein from UVA light induced photosensitive damage, remarkably

Sensitivity analysis on the association between the <i>XRCC2</i> Arg188His polymorphism and susceptibility of breast cancer (dominant model: Arg/His+His/His vs. Arg/Arg).

<p>No statistically different results were obtained by excluding every single study in sequence.</p

Forest plot for the association of the <i>XRCC2</i> Arg188His polymorphism with breast cancer risk (dominant model: His/His + Arg/His vs. Arg/Arg).

<p>No significant association was observed between the Arg188His polymorphism and susceptibility of breast cancer.</p

Baseline characteristics of eligible case-control studies.

<p>* Number °f case-control studies separately reported by articles.</p><p>^**Studies included only in the subgroup meta-analysis of ethnicity.</p><p>PB: population-based; HB: hospital-based; NA: not available; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; PCR-RFLP: polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism; MALDI-TOF-MS: matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry; PCR-HRM: polymerase chain reaction -high resolution melting; APEX: arrayed primer extension; PCR EIA: Polymerase Chain Reaction-Enzyme Immunoassay.</p

Forest plot for the association between the <i>XRCC2</i> Arg188His polymorphism and UADT cancer risk (dominant model: Arg/His+ His/His vs. Arg/Arg).

<p>Significant association was observed between this polymorphism and increased risk for UADT cancer.</p

Stratified analysis of the <i>XRCC2</i> Arg188His polymorphism on cancer susceptibility.

<p>*Subgroup analysis.</p><p>**Number of studies included.</p><p>P: P-value of association test, <i>P_h</i>: P-value of Q-test for heterogeneity test; NA: not available.</p

Additional file 1: of A novel hand-assisted laparoscopic versus conventional laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for right colon cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

SPIRIT 2013 Checklist: Recommended items to address in a clinical trial protocol and related documents. (DOC 116 kb

Forest plot for the subgroup analysis of gynecological cancer (dominant model: Arg/His+His/His vs. Arg/Arg).

<p>Significant association was detected between the <i>XRCC2</i> Arg188His polymorphism and decreased risk for ovarian cancer and cervical cancer.</p