Disinfection ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification ; Hospitals ; Medical Waste ; Sewage ; Waste Products ; Water Microbiology

Purpose: The imaging characteristics of two popular kV cone-beam CT (CBCT) and two MVCT systems utilised in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) were evaluated. Materials and methods: The study was performed on Varian Clinac iX, Elekta Synergy S, Siemens Oncor, and Tomotherapy. A CT phantom (Catphan-504, Phantom Laboratory, Salem, NY) was scanned for measurements of image quality including image noise, uniformity, density accuracy, spatial resolution, contrast linearity, and contrast resolution. The measurement results were analysed using in-house image analysis software. Reproducibility, position correction, and geometric accuracy were also evaluated with markers in a smaller alignment phantom. The performance evaluation compared volumetric image properties from these four systems with those from a conventional diagnostic CT (CCT). Results: It was shown that the linearity of the two kV CBCT was fairly consistent with CCT. The Elekta CBCT with half-circle 27-cm FOV had higher CT numbers than the other three systems. The image noises of the Elekta kV CBCT, Siemens MV CBCT, and Tomotherapy fan-beam CT (FBCT) are about 2-4 times higher than that of the Varian CBCT. The spatial resolutions of two kV CBCTs and two MV CBCTs were 8-11 lp/cm and 3-5 lp/cm, respectively. Conclusion: Elekta CBCT provided a faster image reconstruction and low dose per scan for half-circle scanning. Varian CBCT had relatively lower image noise. Tomotherapy FBCT had the best uniformity.

Humans ; Osteogenesis ; Mesentery/surgery* ; Ossification, Heterotopic/surgery*

Objective: To explore the relationship between abnormal expression of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene and methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) as well as their interaction on cervical cancerization. Methods: A total of 73 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 113 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN Ⅰ, n=45; CINⅡ/Ⅲ, n=68) and 60 women with normal cervix (NC) were included in the study. Real time PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the expression levels of mRNA and protein about FHIT and MeCP2, respectively. The methylation status of FHIT gene CpG island was tested by methylation-specifc PCR (MSP). Kruskal-Wallis H test, χ(2) test, trend χ(2) test and Spearman correlation analysis were conducted with software SPSS 20.0. The interaction was evaluated by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) model. Results: With the deterioration of cervical lesion, the methylation rates of FHIT gene CpG island (χ(2)=18.64, P<0.001; trend χ(2)=18.08, P<0.001) increased gradually, while the expression levels of FHIT mRNA (H=27.32, P<0.001; trend χ(2)=12.65, P<0.001) and protein (H=47.10, P<0.001; trend χ(2)=29.79, P<0.001) decreased gradually. There was a negative correlation between the methylation rates of FHIT gene CpG island and the expression level of FHIT protein (r=-0.226, P<0.001). The levels of MeCP2 mRNA (H=26.19, P<0.001; trend χ(2)=11.81, P=0.001) and protein (H=69.02, P<0.001; trend χ(2)=47.44, P<0.001) increased gradually with the aggravation of cervical lesions. There was a positive correlation between the expression level of MeCP2 protein and the FHIT mRNA Ct ratio (r=0.254, P<0.001). Expression of proteins were negatively correlated between MeCP2 and FHIT (r=-0.213, P=0.001). The results analyzed by GMDR model showed that there were interactions among high MeCP2 protein expression, the CpG island methylation of FHIT and mRNA and protein expression in CINⅡ/Ⅲ group, and among high MeCP2 mRNA and protein expression, the CpG island methylation of FHIT and low mRNA and protein expression in SCC group. Conclusion: High expression of MeCP2 mRNA and protein, the CpG island methylation and low mRNA and protein expression of FHIT could increase the risk of cervical carcinogenesis, and there might be a synergistic effect on cervical carcinogenesis.
Acid Anhydride Hydrolases/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; RNA, Messenger ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathology* ; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia/pathology*

Butanedioic acid was isolated from the ethyl alcohol extract of Hedysarum polybotrys. The methylated carboxylic acid was identified by GC-MS method.
Carboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Succinates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective: To investigate the effect of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) and its interaction with human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) on cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Methods: The participants included 67 women with normal cervix (NC), 69 women with CINⅠ and 68 women with CINⅡ/Ⅲ in a community cohort of pathologically diagnosed women established in Jiexiu of Shanxi province, from June 2014 to June 2015. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the demographic data of the subjects and the related factors of cervical lesions. Cervical exfoliated cells and cervical tissues from biopsy or surgery were selected. The infection status of HPV16 was detected by flow-through hybridization. The protein expression levels of hnRNP K were evaluated by Western blot. SPSS 23.0 software was used to collate and analyze the data. To study the differences in demographic characteristics, related factors, hnRNP K protein and HPV16 infection among NC, CINⅠand CINⅡ/Ⅲgroups, χ(2) test, trend χ(2) test, and Kruskal-Wallis H test were conducted. Multiple comparisons of hnRNP K protein in three groups were completed by using the Bonferroni method. The OR and its 95%CI of hnRNP K, HPV16 and CIN were calculated by using the unconditional logistic regression models. Two-way interactions between hnRNP K protein and HPV16 infection on CIN were analyzed by using additive model and related indicators. Results: HPV16 infection rates were 10.4% in women with normal cervix, 14.5% in women with CINⅠ and 41.2% in women with CINⅡ/Ⅲ, respectively. The differences among three groups were significant (P<0.001). Moreover, the infection rates of HPV16 gradually increased with the increasing severity of CIN (trend χ(2)=18.512, P<0.001). The differences in protein expression of hnRNP K among three groups were significant (H=48.138, P<0.001) and the expressionincreased with the development of cervical lesionss (trend χ(2)=21.765, P<0.001). Results from the interaction analysis indicated that there were additive effects between high expression of hnRNP K protein and HPV16 in CINⅡ/Ⅲ group compared with normal group (API=0.639, 95%CI: 0.083-1.196). In contrast, no such additive effect was found in CINⅠ group. Conclusions: HPV16 infection and over-expression of hnRNP K protein were associated with the increased risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. There might be interaction between hnRNP K protein overexpression and HPV16 infection existed on the progress of CINⅡ/Ⅲ.
Case-Control Studies ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K/metabolism* ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology* ; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia/virology*

Objective: Executive function correlates with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) based on static heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Our study advances this understanding by employing dynamic assessments of the PNS to explore and quantify its relationship with inhibitory control (IC). Methods: We recruited 31 men aged 20–35 years. We monitored their electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during the administration of the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II (CCPT-II) on a weekly basis over 2 weeks. HRV analysis was performed on ECG-derived RR intervals using 5-minute windows, each overlapping for the next 4 minutes to establish 1-minute intervals. For each time window, the HRV metrics extracted were: mean RR intervals, standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), low-frequency power with logarithm (lnLF), and high-frequency power with logarithm (lnHF). Each value was correlated with detectability and compared to the corresponding baseline value at t0. Results: Compared with the baseline level, SDNN and lnLF showed marked decreases during CCPT-II. The mean values of HRV showed significant correlation with d’, including mean SDNN (R=0.474, p=0.012), mean lnLF (R=0.390, p=0.045), and mean lnHF (R=0.400, p=0.032). In the 14th time window, the significant correlations included SDNN (R=0.578, p=0.002), lnLF (R=0.493, p=0.012), and lnHF (R=0.432, p=0.031). Significant correlation between d’ and HRV parameters emerged only during the initial CCPT-II. Conclusion A significant correlation between PNS and IC was observed in the first session alone. The IC in the repeated CCPT-II needs to consider the broader neural network.

Objective: Executive function correlates with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) based on static heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Our study advances this understanding by employing dynamic assessments of the PNS to explore and quantify its relationship with inhibitory control (IC). Methods: We recruited 31 men aged 20–35 years. We monitored their electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during the administration of the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II (CCPT-II) on a weekly basis over 2 weeks. HRV analysis was performed on ECG-derived RR intervals using 5-minute windows, each overlapping for the next 4 minutes to establish 1-minute intervals. For each time window, the HRV metrics extracted were: mean RR intervals, standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), low-frequency power with logarithm (lnLF), and high-frequency power with logarithm (lnHF). Each value was correlated with detectability and compared to the corresponding baseline value at t0. Results: Compared with the baseline level, SDNN and lnLF showed marked decreases during CCPT-II. The mean values of HRV showed significant correlation with d’, including mean SDNN (R=0.474, p=0.012), mean lnLF (R=0.390, p=0.045), and mean lnHF (R=0.400, p=0.032). In the 14th time window, the significant correlations included SDNN (R=0.578, p=0.002), lnLF (R=0.493, p=0.012), and lnHF (R=0.432, p=0.031). Significant correlation between d’ and HRV parameters emerged only during the initial CCPT-II. Conclusion A significant correlation between PNS and IC was observed in the first session alone. The IC in the repeated CCPT-II needs to consider the broader neural network.

Objective: Executive function correlates with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) based on static heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Our study advances this understanding by employing dynamic assessments of the PNS to explore and quantify its relationship with inhibitory control (IC). Methods: We recruited 31 men aged 20–35 years. We monitored their electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during the administration of the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II (CCPT-II) on a weekly basis over 2 weeks. HRV analysis was performed on ECG-derived RR intervals using 5-minute windows, each overlapping for the next 4 minutes to establish 1-minute intervals. For each time window, the HRV metrics extracted were: mean RR intervals, standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), low-frequency power with logarithm (lnLF), and high-frequency power with logarithm (lnHF). Each value was correlated with detectability and compared to the corresponding baseline value at t0. Results: Compared with the baseline level, SDNN and lnLF showed marked decreases during CCPT-II. The mean values of HRV showed significant correlation with d’, including mean SDNN (R=0.474, p=0.012), mean lnLF (R=0.390, p=0.045), and mean lnHF (R=0.400, p=0.032). In the 14th time window, the significant correlations included SDNN (R=0.578, p=0.002), lnLF (R=0.493, p=0.012), and lnHF (R=0.432, p=0.031). Significant correlation between d’ and HRV parameters emerged only during the initial CCPT-II. Conclusion A significant correlation between PNS and IC was observed in the first session alone. The IC in the repeated CCPT-II needs to consider the broader neural network.

Objective: Executive function correlates with the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) based on static heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Our study advances this understanding by employing dynamic assessments of the PNS to explore and quantify its relationship with inhibitory control (IC). Methods: We recruited 31 men aged 20–35 years. We monitored their electrocardiogram (ECG) signals during the administration of the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test-II (CCPT-II) on a weekly basis over 2 weeks. HRV analysis was performed on ECG-derived RR intervals using 5-minute windows, each overlapping for the next 4 minutes to establish 1-minute intervals. For each time window, the HRV metrics extracted were: mean RR intervals, standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), low-frequency power with logarithm (lnLF), and high-frequency power with logarithm (lnHF). Each value was correlated with detectability and compared to the corresponding baseline value at t0. Results: Compared with the baseline level, SDNN and lnLF showed marked decreases during CCPT-II. The mean values of HRV showed significant correlation with d’, including mean SDNN (R=0.474, p=0.012), mean lnLF (R=0.390, p=0.045), and mean lnHF (R=0.400, p=0.032). In the 14th time window, the significant correlations included SDNN (R=0.578, p=0.002), lnLF (R=0.493, p=0.012), and lnHF (R=0.432, p=0.031). Significant correlation between d’ and HRV parameters emerged only during the initial CCPT-II. Conclusion A significant correlation between PNS and IC was observed in the first session alone. The IC in the repeated CCPT-II needs to consider the broader neural network.