The renal cell cancer stem cells determine the growth and proliferation of renal cell carcino-ma.So far some possible markers have been identified in renal cell carcinoma,including octamer binding factor 4 (Oct4),CD133,CD105,ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 transporter gene (ABCB1),CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4),but these markers are still controversial.Therefore,for the more effective treatments of metastatic renal cell carcinoma,studying a generally applicable marker for renal cell carcinoma is necessary.

Based on the analysis of the influence of the valve pivot distance on the performance of mechanical heart valve (MHV), such as the valve opening and closing features, flow field characteristics and the valve assembly properties, value constraints of the valve pivot distance were established, and the reasonable valve was obtained by means of the finite element method. It can be shown that the central flow characteristics of the valve could be enhanced with the increasing of the ratio of pivot distance to valve inner diameter, but the plastic deformation of the ring could be liable to occur in the MHV assembly process. It is proved that the valve of specifications can be designed in similar ratio of pivot distance to valve inner diameter according to the result of the valve performance experiment.
Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valves ; Prosthesis Design

The rutile structure titanium oxide (Ti-O) film was prepared on the pure titanium material TA2 (99.999%) surface by the magnetic filter high vacuum arc deposition sputtering source. The method can not only maintain the material mechanical properties, but also improve the surface properties for better biocompatibility to accommodate the physiological environment. The preparation process of the Ti-O film was as follows. Firstly, argon ions sputtered to the TA2 substrate surface to remove the excess impurities. Secondly, a metal ion source generated Ti ions and oxygen ions by the RF discharge. Meanwhile a certain negative bias was imposed on the sample. There a certain composition of Ti-O film was obtained under a certain pressure of oxygen in the vacuum chamber. Finally, X-ray diffraction was used to research the structure and composition of the film. The results showed that the Ti-O film of the rutile crystal structure was formed under the 0.18 Pa oxygen partial pressure. A Nano scratch experiment was used to test the coating adhesion property, which demonstrated that the film was stable and durable. The contact angle experiment and the platelet clotting experiment proved that the modified surface method had improved platelet adhesion performance, and, therefore, the material possessed better biocompatibility. On the whole, the evaluations proved the modified material had excellent performance.
Heart Valves ; Heart, Artificial ; Ions ; Materials Testing ; Oxygen ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; X-Ray Diffraction

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided sacral block in the obese patients by comparing it with the traditional positioning method.Methods Sixty obese patients,aged 25-50 yr,weighing 56-80 kg,with body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2,scheduled for elective anorectal surgery,were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table:ultrasound-guided sacral block group (group U) and traditional positioning method group (group T).The sacral canal puncture point was located via either ultrasonic or traditional positioning method.After successful puncture,1％ lidocaine 20 ml was injected.The number of patients in whom puncture was successful at first attempt and the number of patients in whom the time for puncture ≤ 1 min were recorded.The adverse reactions were observed.The efficacy of sacral block was evaluated.Results Compared with group T,the success rate of puncture at first attempt was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant changes were found in the number of patients in whom the time for puncture ≤ 1 min or efffcacy of sacral block in group U (P ＞ 0.05).No adverse reactions were found in the two groups.Conclusion Ultrasound-guided sacral block can raise the success rate of puncture at first attempt and provide similar efficacy of block in the obese patients when compared with the traditional positioning method,and thus has significant clinical value.

Objective To investigate the effect of intermittent use of low molecular heparin (LMWH) on microembofic signal (MES) in patients with ischemic stroke on the basis of anti-platelet aggregation and statin therapy.Methods Ninety MES-positive patients with acute ischemic stroke detected by transcranial Doppler were randomly divided into a non-LMWH group (n =44) and a LMWH group (n =46).The non-LMWH group was treated conventionally with enteric-coated aspirin and atorvastatin.On the basis of conventional therapy,the LMWH group was treated with LMWH,subcutaneous injection of LMWH calcium 4 100 AXaIU every 3 months,twice a day,and one week as a course of treatment (a total of 3 courses).The number of MES,MES-positive rate and incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular events at 3 and 6 month were compared in both groups.Results There was no significant difference in the MES-positive rates at 3 month after treatment between the non-LMWH group and the LMWH group (70.45％ vs.61.36％ ;x2 =1.357,P =0.244),but the number of MES in the non-LMWH group was higher than that in the LMWH group (12.07 ± 10.16 vs.8.09± 8.13; t =1.470,P =0.043); the MES-positive rate at 6 month after treatment in the non-LMWH group was significantly higher than that in the LMWH group (36.96％ vs.19.57％;x2=3.982,P=0.046),and the number of MES in the non-LMWH group was also significantly higher than that in the LMWH group (10.32 ±9.93 vs. 1.46 ± 3.27; t =5.450,P =0.000).There was no significant difference in incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular events at 3 month (2.17％vs. 9.09％,P =0.198 ),but the incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular events at 6 month in the LMWH group was significantly lower than that in the non-LMWH group (4.35％ vs.20.45％,P =0.025).Conclusions On the basis of anti-platelet aggregation and statin therapy,the intermittent use of LMWH may decrease the MES-positive rate and the incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular events in the MES-positive patients with ischemic stroke at 6 month.

Objectives In order to develop a rapid microsatellite genotyping assay for inter-strain differentiation of Candida albicans isolates and understand the transmission characteristics of the infections. Methods DNA was extracted from C. albicans isolates from genitals, anal canals and oral cavities of 39 women and 27 men with genital candidiasis. The microsatellite sequences in stabel genes(CDC3, EF3 and HIS3) were amplified by a fluorescence labeled PCR. Fluorescent signals were read with an automatic se- quencer, and the data were collected with GeneScan software followed by genotyping with Genotyper soft- ware to analyze polymorphic microsatellite loci. Results Combined analysis of the 3 microsatellite markers showed 18 gene allele associations in C. albicans from genital sites of all men and women, including 10 in women, 11 in men and 3 in both. The allele associations of dominant pathogenetic strains for both sexes were 116:124, 122:131,160:200, which covered 50% of pathogenetic infection. Three common allele associations for both sexes covered 71% of all infections. Genitals and anal canals shared strains of same allele associations in 80% of women and in only 3.8% of men. The strains of same allele associations were identified in both genitals and mouth in 2.7% of women but in none of men. In their genital sites 71% of couples shared the same allele strains, of which 80% were the dominant pathogenetic strains identified in both sexes. Conclusions The improved microsatellite genotyping assay is useful for rapid differentiation, identification of infective source, and contact tracing of C. albicans infection. There are pathogenetic C. albi- cans strains with predominant allele associations in genital infections.

BACKGROUND:Zinc oxide has shown extraordinary antibacterial effect. But the antibacterial mechanisms of zinc oxide have not been wel developed, and the safety of zinc oxide has not yet been confirmed.
OBJECTIVE:To summarize the antibacterial mechanism and safety of zinc oxide based on the current research situation of zinc oxide.
METHODS:The CNKI database and PubMed database (2005-01/2013-08) were used to search the related articles about zinc oxide antibacterial mechanism and safety. The retrieval keywords were“zinc oxide or ZnO, antibacterial”,“zinc oxide or ZnO, safety”both in English and Chinese.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSTION:The antibacterial mechanism of zinc oxide is complex. Zinc oxide reveals its antibacterial power by photo catalysis, zinc ion dissolve out, and active oxygen. But the relationship between photo catalysis and active oxygen is different based on different studies. The safety of zinc oxide is not confirmed, and different studies have different results. Especial y for the nano-zinc oxide, some studies have showed that the zinc oxide is toxic. Al of these mean much more researches are needed to verify the safety of zinc oxide.

Objective To establish a method of analyzing total uranium and 235U/238U ratio in urine using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and uncertainty assessment.Methods Urine sample was digested with HNO3 and H2O2,and total uranium was determined using ICP-MS method directly.The digested urine sample was separated to concentrate uranium with tributyl phosphate (TBP) column,and 235U/238U ratio was analyzed using ICP-MS.The uncertainty was evaluated through sample pre-treatment,measurement and standard curve calculation.Results The recovery of total uranium in urine was 98.4％-102.4％,detection limit was 0.002 μg/L.The relative expanded uncertainty of total uranium concentration in urine was 0.26 (k =2).235 U/238 U ratio was 0.001 1 (k =2).Conclusions This study offers a low detection limit,good recovery and precision method for rapid determination of total uranium and 235U/238 U ratio in urine samples.It is potential used for both in occupational exposure assessment and nuclear emergency situation.The uncertainty evaluation of total uranium and 235U/238U ratio in urine are reliable.

Objective To explore the impact of iodine nutrition on 8-10 years old children after adjusting the iodine content in iodized salt in Hangzhou.Methods Twelve counties (areas,cities) were divided into urban,suburban and rural areas in Hangzhou.By population proportion survey (PPS),every county(area,city) was divided into east,west,south,north and middle districts; one school was selected in each district; forty children (half male and half female) aged 8-10 years old in each school were selected; family salt and urine samples of each student were collected.The levels of salt and urinary iodine were measured by picric sodium thiosulfate titrimetric (GB 13025.7-2012) and spectrophotometer method (WS/T 107-2006),respectively.Results Two thousand seven hundred and twenty-five household salt samples were collected.The median of salt iodine,the iodized salt coverage rate,the qualification rate of iodized salt and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt were 24.00 mg/kg,4.35％(2 571/2 725),91.02％(2 340/2 571) and 85.87％(2 340/2 725),respectively.The medians of salt iodine in urban,suburb and rural areas were 24.10,22.12,24.30 mg/kg,respectively.A total of 2 664 children urine samples were collected.The median of urinary iodine (MUI) of the children was 177.24 μg/L.The MUIs in urban,suburb and rural areas were 175.00,178.55,178.00 μg/L,respectively; in male was 183.00 μg/L and female was 170.50 μg/L.When non-iodized and unqualified iodized salt were taken,the differences of urinary iodine within groups were statistically significant in urban,suburb and rural areas(x2 =18.652,14.686,all P ＜ 0.05).In rural area,the difference of urinary iodine of 8-10 years old children who ingested different types of iodized salt was statistically significant(x2 =39.07,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion After adjusting the iodine content of salt in Hangzhou,the iodine-nutritional status of 8-10 years old students is at a appropriatelevel.

The possibility of polyoxymethylene (POM) as heart valve leaflet material was investigated by comparing the hemocompatibility with that of 316L stainless steel and low-temperature isotropic pyrolytic carbon (LTIC). Surface hydrophobicity was characterized by water contact angle measurement. Platelet adhesion, APTT/PT/TT and hemolysis rate tests were applied for evaluating hemocompatibility. The results showed that POM was hydrophobic and had a low hemolytic rate, adhesion amount and activation degree of platelets on POM surface were less than 316L stainless steel, and was similar to LTIC. This research pointed out potential application of POM as heart valve leaflets.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Blood Platelets ; Carbon ; chemistry ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; Resins, Synthetic ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry