Shandong province,located in the Lower Yellow River,is one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilization.However,the comprehensive genetic histories of this region have remained largely unknown until now due to a...Shandong province,located in the Lower Yellow River,is one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilization.However,the comprehensive genetic histories of this region have remained largely unknown until now due to a lack of ancient human genomes.Here,we present 21 ancient genomes from Shandong dating from the Warring States period to the Northern Dynasties.Unlike the early Neolithic samples from Shandong,the historical samples are most closely related to post-Late Neolithic populations of the Middle Yellow River Basin,suggesting a population turnover in Shandong from the Neolithic Age to the Historical era.In addition,we detect a close genetic affinity between the historical samples in Shandong and present-day Han Chinese,showing long-term genetic stability in Han Chinese,at least since the Warring States period.展开更多
Accurate prediction of tropical cyclone(TC)intensity is challenging due to the complex physical processes involved.Here,we introduce a new TC intensity prediction scheme for the western North Pacific(WNP)based on a ti...Accurate prediction of tropical cyclone(TC)intensity is challenging due to the complex physical processes involved.Here,we introduce a new TC intensity prediction scheme for the western North Pacific(WNP)based on a time-dependent theory of TC intensification,termed the energetically based dynamical system(EBDS)model,together with the use of a long short-term memory(LSTM)neural network.In time-dependent theory,TC intensity change is controlled by both the internal dynamics of the TC system and various environmental factors,expressed as environmental dynamical efficiency.The LSTM neural network is used to predict the environmental dynamical efficiency in the EBDS model trained using besttrack TC data and global reanalysis data during 1982–2017.The transfer learning and ensemble methods are used to retrain the scheme using the environmental factors predicted by the Global Forecast System(GFS)of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction during 2017–21.The predicted environmental dynamical efficiency is finally iterated into the EBDS equations to predict TC intensity.The new scheme is evaluated for TC intensity prediction using both reanalysis data and the GFS prediction data.The intensity prediction by the new scheme shows better skill than the official prediction from the China Meteorological Administration(CMA)and those by other state-of-art statistical and dynamical forecast systems,except for the 72-h forecast.Particularly at the longer lead times of 96 h and 120 h,the new scheme has smaller forecast errors,with a more than 30%improvement over the official forecasts.展开更多
Here we propose a new concept of"molecule aging":with some special treatment,a molecule could be"aged"by losing some unknown tiny particles or pieces from atoms in the molecule,Such"aging"...Here we propose a new concept of"molecule aging":with some special treatment,a molecule could be"aged"by losing some unknown tiny particles or pieces from atoms in the molecule,Such"aging"or loss of unknown tiny particles does not change apparently its molecular structure or chemical composition,but some physicochemical properties could be changed irreversibly.We further confirm such"molecule aging"via a long-term electron attacking to age water(H_(2)O)molecules.The IR spectra show no structural difference between the fresh water and the aged one,while the NMR spectra show that the electron attacking can decrease the size of water clusters.Such facts indicate that the electron attacking indeed can"affect"the structure of water molecule slightly but without damaging to its basic molecule frame.Further exploration reveals that the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)activity of the aged water molecule is lower than the fresh water on the same Pt/C electrocatalyst.The density functional theory calculations indicate that the shortened O-H bond in H_(2)O indeed can present lower HER activity,so the observed size decrease of water clusters from NMR probably could be attributed to the shortening of O-H bond in water molecules.Such results indicate significantly that the molecule aging can produce materials with new functions for new possible applications.展开更多
Ongoing wind energy developments play a key role in mitigating the global effects of climate change and the energy crisis;however,they have complex ecological consequences for many flying animals.The Yellow Sea coast ...Ongoing wind energy developments play a key role in mitigating the global effects of climate change and the energy crisis;however,they have complex ecological consequences for many flying animals.The Yellow Sea coast is considered as an ecological bottleneck for migratory waterbirds along the East Asian–Australasian flyway(EAAF),and is also an important wind farm base in China.However,the effects of large-scale onshore wind farms along the EAAF on multidimensional waterbird diversity,and how to mitigate these effects,remain unclear.Here we examined how wind farms and their surrounding landscapes affected multidimensional waterbird diversity along the Yellow Sea coast.Taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic diversity of the waterbird assemblages,and mean pairwise distances and nearest taxon distances with null models were quantified in relation to 4 different wind turbine densities.We also measured 6 landscape variables.Multi-dimensional waterbird diversity(taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic diversity)significantly decreased with increasing wind turbine density.Functional and phylogenetic structures tended to be clustered in waterbird communities,and environmental filtering drove waterbird community assemblages.Furthermore,waterbird diversity was regulated by a combination of wind turbine density and landscape variables,with edge density of aquaculture ponds,in addition to wind turbine density,having the greatest independent contribution to waterbird diversity.These results suggest that attempts to mitigate the impact of wind farms on waterbird diversity could involve the landscape transformation of wind farm regions,for example,by including high-edge-density aquaculture ponds(i.e.,industrial ponds)around wind farms,instead of traditional low-edge-density aquaculture ponds.展开更多
Industrial water splitting has long been suppressed by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction(OER),which requires a catalyst to be efficient.Herein,we propose a molecular-level proton acceptor strategy...Industrial water splitting has long been suppressed by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction(OER),which requires a catalyst to be efficient.Herein,we propose a molecular-level proton acceptor strategy to produce an efficient OER catalyst that can boost industrial-scale water splitting.Molecular-level phosphate(-PO_(4))group is introduced to modify the surface of PrBa_(0.5)Ca_(0.5)Co_(2)O_(5)+δ(PBCC).The achieved catalyst(PO_(4)-PBCC)exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic performance in alkaline media.Based on the X-ray absorption spectroscopy results and density functional theory(DFT)calculations,the PO_(4)on the surface,which is regarded as the Lewis base,is the key factor to overcome the kinetic limitation of the proton transfer process during the OER.The use of the catalyst in a membrane electrode assembly(MEA)is further evaluated for industrial-scale water splitting,and it only needs a low voltage of 1.66 V to achieve a large current density of 1 A cm^(-2).This work provides a new molecular-level strategy to develop highly efficient OER electrocatalysts for industrial applications.展开更多
AIM:To establish the real time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) with dual labeled probes for fast detection of SLC25A13 gene mutation 851del4.METHODS:Four hundred infants(< 1 year of age) with unexpla...AIM:To establish the real time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) with dual labeled probes for fast detection of SLC25A13 gene mutation 851del4.METHODS:Four hundred infants(< 1 year of age) with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis from 18 provinces or municipalities in China were enrolled in this study for detecting their SLC25A13 gene mutation 851del4.Suitable primers and fluorescence-labeled probes for detecting SLC25A13 gene mutation 841del4 were designed.Normal and mutant sequences were detected by PCR with two fluorescence-labeled probes.After a single RT-PCR,results were obtained by analyzing the take-off curves.Twenty-four positive and 14 negative samples were retested by direct sequencing.RESULTS:Eight homozygous and 30 heterozygous mutations were detected in 46 mutant alleles with a 851del4 mutation rate of 5.8%(46/800).Twenty-six and 20 mutant alleles were observed respectively,in 474 and 242 alleles from the intermediate and southern areas of China.No mutant allele was detected in 84 alleles from northern China.Twenty-four positive samples including 4 homozygous and 20 heterozygous mutations,and 14 negative samples were retested by direct sequencing,which confirmed that the accuracy of RTPCR was 100%.CONCLUSION:RT-PCR can detect the mutation 851del4 in infants with intrahepatic cholestasis with an accuracy of 100%.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of 6 noninvasive liver fibrosis models and to identify the most valuable model for the prediction of liver fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients.METHODS:Seventy-eight CHB pat...AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of 6 noninvasive liver fibrosis models and to identify the most valuable model for the prediction of liver fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients.METHODS:Seventy-eight CHB patients were consecutively enrolled in this study.Liver biopsy was performed and blood serum was obtained at admission.Histological diagnosis was made according to the METAVIR system.Significant fibrosis was defined as stage score ≥ 2,severe fibrosis as stage score ≥ 3.The diagnostic accuracy of 6 noninvasive liver fibrosis models,including serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) to platelet ratio index(APRI),FIB-4,Forn's index,Fibrometer,Hepascore,and Shanghai Liver Fibrosis Group's index(SLFG),was investigated.RESULTS:The APRI,FIB-4 and Forn's index under receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC) for sig-nificant fibrosis were 0.71,0.75 and 0.79,respectively,with a diagnosis accuracy of 67%,77% and 80%,respectively,and 0.80,0.87 and 0.86,respectively,under the AUROC for severe fibrosis.The Hepascore,SLFG,and Fibrometer were 0.80,0.83 and 0.85,respectively under the AUROC for significant fibrosis(P < 0.01).The diagnosis accuracy of Hepascore and SLFG was 86% and 88%,respectively.The Hepascore,SLFG,and Fibrometer were 0.95,0.93,and 0.94,respectively,under the AUROC for severe fibrosis(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:The models containing direct serum markers have a better diagnostic value than those not containing direct serum markers.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare, low-grade malignant vascular tumor. Although its unusual imaging and pathologic findings are being recognized with increasing frequency, diagnosis ...BACKGROUND: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare, low-grade malignant vascular tumor. Although its unusual imaging and pathologic findings are being recognized with increasing frequency, diagnosis is still difficult. This study aimed to analyze the CT and MRI features of hepatic EHE with a pathological study in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy and knowledge of this disease in daily practice. METHODS: Nine patients with hepatic EHE confirmed pathologically underwent plain and dynamic contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT examination. Of these patients, four underwent additional MRI (plain Ti-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced scanning) and one had selective hepatic arteriography. The imaging findings were reviewed retrospectively together with the pathological results. RESULTS: A total of 79 lesions, ranging from 3.0 to 44.6 mm in maximum diameter, with an average of 16.8 +/- 7.1 mm, were found in various segments of the liver. Thirty of the 79 lesions grew adjacent to the hepatic capsule. In the 4 patients receiving MRI, 39 lesions were found with low signal intensity on unenhanced T1WI and intermediate to high signal intensity on T2WI. The 'capsular retraction' sign was found in all the 4 patients. Nine of the 39 lesions showed the 'halo' sign after contrast enhancement on MRI. Of the 79 lesions (hypodense nodules) in the 9 patients shown by unenhanced plain CT, 26 were confluent. Calcification was found in 2 patients and the 'capsular retraction' sign in 7. Thirty-eight of the 79 lesions demonstrated the 'halo' sign after contrast enhancement on CT, and this sign was more clearly demonstrated in the portal venous phase. In one patient, selective hepatic arteriography showed patchy stain in the peripheral liver parenchyma with small vessels around them. Histology in all patients revealed proliferation of abnormal fibrous tissue and vessel-like structures scattered with irregular epithelioid cells having a signet ring-like structure. Immunohistochemically, all patients were positive for CD34, 4 were positive for CD31, and 3 were positive for factor VIII-related antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic EHE may manifest as solitary or diffuse nodular lesions with a predilection for peripheral subcapsular growth and nodular confluence, together with the 'halo' and 'capsular retraction' signs. These imaging findings can help to improve the diagnostic accuracy of this rare hepatic tumor. (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2010; 9: 154-158)展开更多
BACKGROUND: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), the second most common benign hepatic tumor after hemangioma, is characterized by a stellate central scar and hyperplastic nodules. Although some large FNH may be associate...BACKGROUND: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), the second most common benign hepatic tumor after hemangioma, is characterized by a stellate central scar and hyperplastic nodules. Although some large FNH may be associated with significant symptoms, more frequently they are discovered incidentally on physical examination or the work-up of unrelated symptoms. Since its nature and pathogenesis are still controversial, accurate diagnosis of FNH based on clinical presentation and radiographic studies is difficult. The purpose of this study was to explore the diagnosis and treatment of FNH. METHODS: Eighty-six FNH patients confirmed pathologically were treated at the Liver Cancer Institute in our hospital from 1996 to 2006. Their clinical manifestions, imaging presentation, pathological findings, and surgical results were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients with 99 foci, 54 were male and 32 female, with a mean age of 37 years. Eighty patients had a single solitary focus and 6 had multiple foci. Tumor diameter was less than 5 cm in 69 patients, 5-10 cm in 15, and more than 10 cm in 2. The overall rate of correct preoperative diagnosis was 59.3% (51/86) including 32.9% (26/79) by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), 60.3% (35/58) by CT, and 77.4% (24/31) by MRI. All the 86 patients underwent resection with good curative effect. CONCLUSIONS: CT and MRI are important diagnostic methods for FNH but it is difficult to make a definite preoperative diagnosis for partial classical and all non-classical FNH patients. We suggest that patients with clinical symptoms or with indefinite diagnosis should accept surgical removal.展开更多
AIM: To explore the oncological outcomes of unresectable lung metastases without extrapulmonary metastases in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Patients with unresectable isolated lung metastases from colorectal cancer were...AIM: To explore the oncological outcomes of unresectable lung metastases without extrapulmonary metastases in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Patients with unresectable isolated lung metastases from colorectal cancer were prospectively collected in a single institution during a 5-year period. All patients received either the fluorouracil/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin, fluorouracil/leucovorin plus irinotecan or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin regimen as first-line treatment. The resectability after preoperative chemotherapy was evaluated. Patients' outcome and predictive factors for overall survival were also investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis.RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included in the study. After standardized fi rst-line chemotherapy, only 4 patients (5.7%) were converted to resectable disease. The median overall survival time in all patients was 19 mo (95% CI: 12.6-25.4), with a 2-year overall survival rate of 38.8%. No survival difference was found among different fi rst-line chemotherapeutic regimens. Prognostic analysis demonstrated that only the fi rst response assessment for fi rst-line treatment was the independent factor for predicting overall survival. The median survival time in partial response, stable disease and progressive disease patients were 27 mo, 16 mo and 8 mo (P = 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary metastasectomy can only be performed in a small part of unresectable lung metastases patients after chemotherapy. Patients' first response assessment is an important prognostic factor.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the suitability of rupintrivir against Enterovirus 71(EV71)induced severe clinical symptoms using computational methods. METHODS:The structure of EV71 3C protease was predicted by homology modeling.The...AIM:To evaluate the suitability of rupintrivir against Enterovirus 71(EV71)induced severe clinical symptoms using computational methods. METHODS:The structure of EV71 3C protease was predicted by homology modeling.The binding free energies between rupintrivir and EV71 3C and human rhinovirus 3C protease were computed by molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann/ surface area and molecular mechanics generalized-born/ surface area methods.EV71 3C fragments obtained from clinical samples collected during May to July 2008 in Shanghai were amplified by reverse-transcription and polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. RESULTS:We observed that rupintrivir had favorable binding affinity with EV71 3C protease(-10.76 kcal/mol). The variability of the 3C protein sequence in isolates of various outbreaks,including those obtained in our hospital from May to July 2008,were also analyzed to validate the conservation of the drug binding pocket. CONCLUSION:Rupintrivir,whose safety profiles had been proved,is an attractive candidate and can be quickly utilized for treating severe EV71 infection.展开更多
A general method was described to synthesize a highly hydrophobic cyclic peptide,cyclo[LWLWLWLWLQ]where underlines indicate D-configuration of the amino acid,by a two-step solid-phase/solution synthesis strategy.The l...A general method was described to synthesize a highly hydrophobic cyclic peptide,cyclo[LWLWLWLWLQ]where underlines indicate D-configuration of the amino acid,by a two-step solid-phase/solution synthesis strategy.The linear decapeptide was assembled by standard Boc chemistry on solid-phase and subsequently cyclized in solution with high efficiency and reproducibility. In subsequent purification by semi-preparative HPLC,50%(v/v) DMF/H_2O was employed as the solvent to overcome the difficulty of solubilization...展开更多
基金funded by the Shandong Province Humanities and Social Sciences Project“Sorting and Research on Human Bones of Han Dynasty Excavated from the Medical Center Cemetery in Linzi”granted to Zhigang Wu(2022-JCLS-12)the National Key Research and Development Program(2023YFC3303701-02)+5 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32270667)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China(2023J06013)the Major Project of the National Social Science Foundation of China granted to Chuan-Chao Wang(21&ZD285)Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering at Fudan University(No.SKLGE-2310)Open Research Fund of Forensic Genetics Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Public Security(2023FGKFKT07)Major Special Project of Philosophy and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education(2022JZDZ023).
文摘Shandong province,located in the Lower Yellow River,is one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilization.However,the comprehensive genetic histories of this region have remained largely unknown until now due to a lack of ancient human genomes.Here,we present 21 ancient genomes from Shandong dating from the Warring States period to the Northern Dynasties.Unlike the early Neolithic samples from Shandong,the historical samples are most closely related to post-Late Neolithic populations of the Middle Yellow River Basin,suggesting a population turnover in Shandong from the Neolithic Age to the Historical era.In addition,we detect a close genetic affinity between the historical samples in Shandong and present-day Han Chinese,showing long-term genetic stability in Han Chinese,at least since the Warring States period.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2017YFC1501604)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41875114 and 41875057).
文摘Accurate prediction of tropical cyclone(TC)intensity is challenging due to the complex physical processes involved.Here,we introduce a new TC intensity prediction scheme for the western North Pacific(WNP)based on a time-dependent theory of TC intensification,termed the energetically based dynamical system(EBDS)model,together with the use of a long short-term memory(LSTM)neural network.In time-dependent theory,TC intensity change is controlled by both the internal dynamics of the TC system and various environmental factors,expressed as environmental dynamical efficiency.The LSTM neural network is used to predict the environmental dynamical efficiency in the EBDS model trained using besttrack TC data and global reanalysis data during 1982–2017.The transfer learning and ensemble methods are used to retrain the scheme using the environmental factors predicted by the Global Forecast System(GFS)of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction during 2017–21.The predicted environmental dynamical efficiency is finally iterated into the EBDS equations to predict TC intensity.The new scheme is evaluated for TC intensity prediction using both reanalysis data and the GFS prediction data.The intensity prediction by the new scheme shows better skill than the official prediction from the China Meteorological Administration(CMA)and those by other state-of-art statistical and dynamical forecast systems,except for the 72-h forecast.Particularly at the longer lead times of 96 h and 120 h,the new scheme has smaller forecast errors,with a more than 30%improvement over the official forecasts.
基金funded by the Key Research and Development Program sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology(MOST)(2022YFA1203400)National Natural Science Foundation of China(21925205,22072145,21372155,22005294,and 22102172)。
文摘Here we propose a new concept of"molecule aging":with some special treatment,a molecule could be"aged"by losing some unknown tiny particles or pieces from atoms in the molecule,Such"aging"or loss of unknown tiny particles does not change apparently its molecular structure or chemical composition,but some physicochemical properties could be changed irreversibly.We further confirm such"molecule aging"via a long-term electron attacking to age water(H_(2)O)molecules.The IR spectra show no structural difference between the fresh water and the aged one,while the NMR spectra show that the electron attacking can decrease the size of water clusters.Such facts indicate that the electron attacking indeed can"affect"the structure of water molecule slightly but without damaging to its basic molecule frame.Further exploration reveals that the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)activity of the aged water molecule is lower than the fresh water on the same Pt/C electrocatalyst.The density functional theory calculations indicate that the shortened O-H bond in H_(2)O indeed can present lower HER activity,so the observed size decrease of water clusters from NMR probably could be attributed to the shortening of O-H bond in water molecules.Such results indicate significantly that the molecule aging can produce materials with new functions for new possible applications.
基金fnancially supported by the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(No.18DZ1205000)Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31901099)+3 种基金Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station,Ministry of Education,Shanghai Science and Technology Committee(ECNU-YDEWS-2022)Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering,Institute of Biodiversity Science,Fudan University(2023-FDU-KF-02)Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration(SHUES2023A04)“Pioneer”and“Leading Goose”R&D Program of Zhejiang(2024C02002).
文摘Ongoing wind energy developments play a key role in mitigating the global effects of climate change and the energy crisis;however,they have complex ecological consequences for many flying animals.The Yellow Sea coast is considered as an ecological bottleneck for migratory waterbirds along the East Asian–Australasian flyway(EAAF),and is also an important wind farm base in China.However,the effects of large-scale onshore wind farms along the EAAF on multidimensional waterbird diversity,and how to mitigate these effects,remain unclear.Here we examined how wind farms and their surrounding landscapes affected multidimensional waterbird diversity along the Yellow Sea coast.Taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic diversity of the waterbird assemblages,and mean pairwise distances and nearest taxon distances with null models were quantified in relation to 4 different wind turbine densities.We also measured 6 landscape variables.Multi-dimensional waterbird diversity(taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic diversity)significantly decreased with increasing wind turbine density.Functional and phylogenetic structures tended to be clustered in waterbird communities,and environmental filtering drove waterbird community assemblages.Furthermore,waterbird diversity was regulated by a combination of wind turbine density and landscape variables,with edge density of aquaculture ponds,in addition to wind turbine density,having the greatest independent contribution to waterbird diversity.These results suggest that attempts to mitigate the impact of wind farms on waterbird diversity could involve the landscape transformation of wind farm regions,for example,by including high-edge-density aquaculture ponds(i.e.,industrial ponds)around wind farms,instead of traditional low-edge-density aquaculture ponds.
基金supported by the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China(22272081),Jiangsu Provincial Specially Appointed Professors Foundation.
文摘Industrial water splitting has long been suppressed by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction(OER),which requires a catalyst to be efficient.Herein,we propose a molecular-level proton acceptor strategy to produce an efficient OER catalyst that can boost industrial-scale water splitting.Molecular-level phosphate(-PO_(4))group is introduced to modify the surface of PrBa_(0.5)Ca_(0.5)Co_(2)O_(5)+δ(PBCC).The achieved catalyst(PO_(4)-PBCC)exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic performance in alkaline media.Based on the X-ray absorption spectroscopy results and density functional theory(DFT)calculations,the PO_(4)on the surface,which is regarded as the Lewis base,is the key factor to overcome the kinetic limitation of the proton transfer process during the OER.The use of the catalyst in a membrane electrode assembly(MEA)is further evaluated for industrial-scale water splitting,and it only needs a low voltage of 1.66 V to achieve a large current density of 1 A cm^(-2).This work provides a new molecular-level strategy to develop highly efficient OER electrocatalysts for industrial applications.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No 30672257 and No 30973230Shanghai Public Health Key Subject Construction,No 08GWZX0102
文摘AIM:To establish the real time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) with dual labeled probes for fast detection of SLC25A13 gene mutation 851del4.METHODS:Four hundred infants(< 1 year of age) with unexplained intrahepatic cholestasis from 18 provinces or municipalities in China were enrolled in this study for detecting their SLC25A13 gene mutation 851del4.Suitable primers and fluorescence-labeled probes for detecting SLC25A13 gene mutation 841del4 were designed.Normal and mutant sequences were detected by PCR with two fluorescence-labeled probes.After a single RT-PCR,results were obtained by analyzing the take-off curves.Twenty-four positive and 14 negative samples were retested by direct sequencing.RESULTS:Eight homozygous and 30 heterozygous mutations were detected in 46 mutant alleles with a 851del4 mutation rate of 5.8%(46/800).Twenty-six and 20 mutant alleles were observed respectively,in 474 and 242 alleles from the intermediate and southern areas of China.No mutant allele was detected in 84 alleles from northern China.Twenty-four positive samples including 4 homozygous and 20 heterozygous mutations,and 14 negative samples were retested by direct sequencing,which confirmed that the accuracy of RTPCR was 100%.CONCLUSION:RT-PCR can detect the mutation 851del4 in infants with intrahepatic cholestasis with an accuracy of 100%.
基金Supported by Grant for Master Degree Students of Fudan University
文摘AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of 6 noninvasive liver fibrosis models and to identify the most valuable model for the prediction of liver fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients.METHODS:Seventy-eight CHB patients were consecutively enrolled in this study.Liver biopsy was performed and blood serum was obtained at admission.Histological diagnosis was made according to the METAVIR system.Significant fibrosis was defined as stage score ≥ 2,severe fibrosis as stage score ≥ 3.The diagnostic accuracy of 6 noninvasive liver fibrosis models,including serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) to platelet ratio index(APRI),FIB-4,Forn's index,Fibrometer,Hepascore,and Shanghai Liver Fibrosis Group's index(SLFG),was investigated.RESULTS:The APRI,FIB-4 and Forn's index under receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC) for sig-nificant fibrosis were 0.71,0.75 and 0.79,respectively,with a diagnosis accuracy of 67%,77% and 80%,respectively,and 0.80,0.87 and 0.86,respectively,under the AUROC for severe fibrosis.The Hepascore,SLFG,and Fibrometer were 0.80,0.83 and 0.85,respectively under the AUROC for significant fibrosis(P < 0.01).The diagnosis accuracy of Hepascore and SLFG was 86% and 88%,respectively.The Hepascore,SLFG,and Fibrometer were 0.95,0.93,and 0.94,respectively,under the AUROC for severe fibrosis(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:The models containing direct serum markers have a better diagnostic value than those not containing direct serum markers.
文摘BACKGROUND: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare, low-grade malignant vascular tumor. Although its unusual imaging and pathologic findings are being recognized with increasing frequency, diagnosis is still difficult. This study aimed to analyze the CT and MRI features of hepatic EHE with a pathological study in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy and knowledge of this disease in daily practice. METHODS: Nine patients with hepatic EHE confirmed pathologically underwent plain and dynamic contrast-enhanced multi-detector row CT examination. Of these patients, four underwent additional MRI (plain Ti-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced scanning) and one had selective hepatic arteriography. The imaging findings were reviewed retrospectively together with the pathological results. RESULTS: A total of 79 lesions, ranging from 3.0 to 44.6 mm in maximum diameter, with an average of 16.8 +/- 7.1 mm, were found in various segments of the liver. Thirty of the 79 lesions grew adjacent to the hepatic capsule. In the 4 patients receiving MRI, 39 lesions were found with low signal intensity on unenhanced T1WI and intermediate to high signal intensity on T2WI. The 'capsular retraction' sign was found in all the 4 patients. Nine of the 39 lesions showed the 'halo' sign after contrast enhancement on MRI. Of the 79 lesions (hypodense nodules) in the 9 patients shown by unenhanced plain CT, 26 were confluent. Calcification was found in 2 patients and the 'capsular retraction' sign in 7. Thirty-eight of the 79 lesions demonstrated the 'halo' sign after contrast enhancement on CT, and this sign was more clearly demonstrated in the portal venous phase. In one patient, selective hepatic arteriography showed patchy stain in the peripheral liver parenchyma with small vessels around them. Histology in all patients revealed proliferation of abnormal fibrous tissue and vessel-like structures scattered with irregular epithelioid cells having a signet ring-like structure. Immunohistochemically, all patients were positive for CD34, 4 were positive for CD31, and 3 were positive for factor VIII-related antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic EHE may manifest as solitary or diffuse nodular lesions with a predilection for peripheral subcapsular growth and nodular confluence, together with the 'halo' and 'capsular retraction' signs. These imaging findings can help to improve the diagnostic accuracy of this rare hepatic tumor. (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2010; 9: 154-158)
文摘BACKGROUND: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), the second most common benign hepatic tumor after hemangioma, is characterized by a stellate central scar and hyperplastic nodules. Although some large FNH may be associated with significant symptoms, more frequently they are discovered incidentally on physical examination or the work-up of unrelated symptoms. Since its nature and pathogenesis are still controversial, accurate diagnosis of FNH based on clinical presentation and radiographic studies is difficult. The purpose of this study was to explore the diagnosis and treatment of FNH. METHODS: Eighty-six FNH patients confirmed pathologically were treated at the Liver Cancer Institute in our hospital from 1996 to 2006. Their clinical manifestions, imaging presentation, pathological findings, and surgical results were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients with 99 foci, 54 were male and 32 female, with a mean age of 37 years. Eighty patients had a single solitary focus and 6 had multiple foci. Tumor diameter was less than 5 cm in 69 patients, 5-10 cm in 15, and more than 10 cm in 2. The overall rate of correct preoperative diagnosis was 59.3% (51/86) including 32.9% (26/79) by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), 60.3% (35/58) by CT, and 77.4% (24/31) by MRI. All the 86 patients underwent resection with good curative effect. CONCLUSIONS: CT and MRI are important diagnostic methods for FNH but it is difficult to make a definite preoperative diagnosis for partial classical and all non-classical FNH patients. We suggest that patients with clinical symptoms or with indefinite diagnosis should accept surgical removal.
基金Supported by The Grant from Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, No. 09411967000
文摘AIM: To explore the oncological outcomes of unresectable lung metastases without extrapulmonary metastases in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Patients with unresectable isolated lung metastases from colorectal cancer were prospectively collected in a single institution during a 5-year period. All patients received either the fluorouracil/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin, fluorouracil/leucovorin plus irinotecan or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin regimen as first-line treatment. The resectability after preoperative chemotherapy was evaluated. Patients' outcome and predictive factors for overall survival were also investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis.RESULTS: A total of 70 patients were included in the study. After standardized fi rst-line chemotherapy, only 4 patients (5.7%) were converted to resectable disease. The median overall survival time in all patients was 19 mo (95% CI: 12.6-25.4), with a 2-year overall survival rate of 38.8%. No survival difference was found among different fi rst-line chemotherapeutic regimens. Prognostic analysis demonstrated that only the fi rst response assessment for fi rst-line treatment was the independent factor for predicting overall survival. The median survival time in partial response, stable disease and progressive disease patients were 27 mo, 16 mo and 8 mo (P = 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary metastasectomy can only be performed in a small part of unresectable lung metastases patients after chemotherapy. Patients' first response assessment is an important prognostic factor.
基金Supported by Start-up Fund(No.KSF0062)of the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center
文摘AIM:To evaluate the suitability of rupintrivir against Enterovirus 71(EV71)induced severe clinical symptoms using computational methods. METHODS:The structure of EV71 3C protease was predicted by homology modeling.The binding free energies between rupintrivir and EV71 3C and human rhinovirus 3C protease were computed by molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann/ surface area and molecular mechanics generalized-born/ surface area methods.EV71 3C fragments obtained from clinical samples collected during May to July 2008 in Shanghai were amplified by reverse-transcription and polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. RESULTS:We observed that rupintrivir had favorable binding affinity with EV71 3C protease(-10.76 kcal/mol). The variability of the 3C protein sequence in isolates of various outbreaks,including those obtained in our hospital from May to July 2008,were also analyzed to validate the conservation of the drug binding pocket. CONCLUSION:Rupintrivir,whose safety profiles had been proved,is an attractive candidate and can be quickly utilized for treating severe EV71 infection.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation(No.30672546)Shanghai Municipal Committee of S & T(No.0652nm013)National Key Basic Research Program of China(No.2007CB935800)
文摘A general method was described to synthesize a highly hydrophobic cyclic peptide,cyclo[LWLWLWLWLQ]where underlines indicate D-configuration of the amino acid,by a two-step solid-phase/solution synthesis strategy.The linear decapeptide was assembled by standard Boc chemistry on solid-phase and subsequently cyclized in solution with high efficiency and reproducibility. In subsequent purification by semi-preparative HPLC,50%(v/v) DMF/H_2O was employed as the solvent to overcome the difficulty of solubilization...
