Objective To study the characteristics of plasma adiponectin levels exhibiting in gestation women and newborns, as well as the relationships between adiponectin levels and fetal birth weight. Methods Totally 98 subjects have been considered in this study, in-cluding venous blood samples of 36 healthy non-pregnant women (control group), 31 uncomplicated pregnant women (pregnancies group) and the cord blood samples taken at delivery of their singleton infants born at term (newborns group). The concentrations of adiponectin and insulin were determined by radioimmunoassay technique. And SPSS was used for statistical analyses. Results The adiponectin level in women of late period of gestation (WLPG) (11.10±5.72)g/ml was lower than that of other two groups, and the newborns average cord plasma level of adiponectin was (30.71±12.77) g/ml significantly higher than that of the control group (16.52±6.87) g/ml. The adipone-ctin level for WLPG was correlated with FINS and HOMA-IR (r = -0.411, -0.393, P <0.05). The adiponectin level in cord plasma was positively correlated with birth weight(r = 0.416, P < 0.05). The adiponectin level in WLPG was correlated neither with the adiponec-tin level nor body weights of their newborns. Conclusions The average cord plasma adiponectin level of newboms is significantly higher than that of the control group and WLPG. It is positively correlated with birth weight, which suggests that adiponectin may be involved in reg-ulating fetal growth. The adiponectin level in WLPG is correlated neither with the adiponectin level nor body weights of their newborns.

Carbon-limited continuous culture was used to study the relationship between the growth of Aspergillus niger and the production of glucoamylase. The result showed that when the specific growth rate was lower than 0.068 h(-1), the production of glucoamylase was growth-associated, when the specific growth rate was higher than 0.068 h(-1), the production of glucoamylase was not growth-associated. Based on the result of continuous culture, the Monod dynamics model of glucose consumption of A. niger was constructed, Combining Herbert-Pirt equation of glucose and oxygen consumption with Luedeking-Piret equation of enzyme production, the black-box model of Aspergillus niger for enzyme production was established. The exponential fed-batch culture was designed to control the specific growth rate at 0.05 h(-1) by using this model and the highest yield for glucoamylase production by A. niger reached 0.127 g glucoamylase/g glucose. The black-box model constructed in this study successfully described the glucoamylase production by A. niger and the result of the model fitted the measured value well. The black-box model could guide the design and optimization of glucoamylase production by A. niger.
Aspergillus niger ; metabolism ; Batch Cell Culture Techniques ; Carbon ; Culture Media ; Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase ; biosynthesis ; Glucose ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Oxygen

Objective To investigate the expression of heparanase (Hpa) in serum and tissue of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its clinical significance.Methods Immunohistochemical method (SP) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the expression of Hpa protein in serum and tissues of 38 cases of PTC,37 cases of patients with benign thyroid nodules,and 30 normal controls.Results Expression of Hpa in PTC was higher than that of benign thyroid nodules (P＜0.01).Expression of Hpa in lymph node metastasis group was higher than that in group without lymph node metastasis (P＜0.05).Compared with the normal control group,the content of serum Hpa in patients with benign thyroid nodules had no significant difference (P＞0.05).Hpa content in serum of patients with PTC was higher than that of benign thyroid nodules group and the normal control group (P＜0.01).There was no statistically significant difference of the level of serum Hpa between groups with and without lymph node metastasis.Conclusions Detecting tissue and preoperative serum Hpa concentration is valuable for diagnosis of PTC.Hpa detection in tissues can be used to determine whether there was lymph node metastasis in PTC patients,while Hpa detection in preoperative serum can not judge whether there is lymph node metastasis.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of the tubeless minipercutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in treatment of upper ureteral calculi.Methods From March 2014 to March 2015,all the patients with upper ureteral calculi except for those with severe infection,pyonephrosis or renal cortex less than 5 mm were randomized into two groups,the standard PCNL group (24 F nephrostomy tube) and the mini-PCNL group (18 F nephrostomy tube).After PCNL,all the patients received ultrasound examination to check residual stones,perforation and urine leakage.DJ tube was placed and the channel of PCNL was packed with hemostatic sponge without nephrostomy tube.There were 26 patients in standard group and 28 in mini-group.The operation time,postoperative hemoglobin change,postoperative visual analogue pain score (VAS),the time when urine turned clean,postoperative urinary extravasation,hydrothorax,fever and the stone-free rate were compared between two groups.Particularly,these data were compared in those aged＞65 years.Results The operation time in the standard PCNL and the mini-PCNL group was (58.3 ±21.8) and (86.4±23.3) minutes respectively,and had a significant difference (t=10.836,P＜0.05).The decrease in hemoglobin level was (8.3±5.8) g/L and (7.7±0.5.4) g/L,the VAS scores was (3.8±0.8) and (3.6±1.1),the time when urine turned clean was (11.9±4.7) h and (9.6±5.6) h,the postoperative hospital stay was (5.1±0.8) d and (4.8±1.2) d,and the stone free rate was 92.3％ and 89.2％ in standard PCNL and mini-PCNL group respectively(P＞ 0.05).No significant difference were found between two groups (all P＞0.05).There was one patient who got fever more than 38.5℃ in the standard group and 2 cases in the mini-group.Each group had 1 slight hydrothorax,and no blood infusion and perinephric urinary extravasation were found.The application of packing hemostatic sponge in the nephrostomy channel was feasible and suitable for both the standard and tubeless mini-PCNL groups.Conclusions The application of packing hemostatic sponge in the nephrostomy channel is feasible and suitable in both the standard and tubeless miniPCNL.It is safe for the treatment of renal and ureteral calculi,and it can decrease the hemorrhage and urine leakage,which works for the elderly patients too.

Objective To study the relationship between heparanase( Hpa) , urokinase type plasminogen activator( uPA) expression and lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinoma.Methods Immunohistochemieal SP method was used to analyze the expression of Hpa and uPA in 113 cases of thyroid carcinoma and 134 cases of be-nign thyroid nodules.The expression of Hpa and uPA in thyroid carcinoma and its clinical significance were ana-lyzed.Results The positive expression rate of Hpa and uPA in thyroid carcinoma and benign nodular thyroid tis-sue were 82.30%,16.42%and 89.38%, 11.19%.The positive expression rate of Hpa and uPA in carcinoma tissues with lymph metastasis and without metastasis were 93.94%,100% and 65.96%,74.47%.Expression of Hpa and uPA in thyroid carcinoma group was significantly higher than that of benign thyroid nodules group( P<0.001) .The rate of positive expression in lymph metastatic tissues were significantly higher than those in tissue without metastasis( P<0.001) .Hpa and uPA expression in thyroid carcinoma tissues was positively correlated( r=0.437, P=0.021).Conclusion The expression of Hpa and uPA is closely related with the occurrence and metastasis of thyroid carcinoma.

Objective To explore the risk factors of inguinal metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis, screening lymph node metastasis high-risk patients. Methods The clinical and pathological data of 81 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis were analyzed retrospectively. Age at presentation ranged from 27 to 81 years with a median of 49 years. Course of disease within one year of patients with 46 cases (56.8%), 1 year above 35 eases (43.2 %). Seventyfive patients underwent bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection, and 6 patients had unilateral inguinal lymph node dissection. Clinical stage of the primary tumor was assigned according to the 2002 TNM staging system. Variables included patients' age, redundant prepuce and/or phimosis, tumor site,size, number, macroscopic growth pattern, histological grade, inguinal physical examination and the size of inguinal lymph nodes. Results Of the 81 patients, 42 (51.9%) were staged as pN+ and 39 (48. 1%) as pN0. Metastases occurred in 32.0% (16/50) of G1, 78.3% (18/23) of G2 and 100. 0%(8/8) of G3 cases, with significant differences among them (P= 0. 015). According to the inguinal lymph node physical examination results, 63 were staged as clinically node-positive (cN+) and 18 as clinically node-negative (cN0). Metastases occurred in 63. 5% (40/63) of cases of cN+, as compared with 11.1% (2/18) of cases of cN0(P=0. 012). At a median follow up of 40 months (ranged 2-127 months), the 5-year disease free survival rates for positive and negative inguinal lymph nodes metastasis were 71.4% and 92.3%, respectively (P=0. 005) , and the 5-year cancer specific survival rates were 79.0% and 91.4%, respectively (P=0.001). Conclusions Inguinal physical examination and histological grade were the strongest predictors of inguinal metastasis. The patients with inguinal lymph nodes metastasis have lower 5-year disease free survival rates and cancer specific survival rates,and should receive positive treatment measures.

Purpose: Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) serves as a key component of autophagy,which is associated with the progression of carcinoma. Yet, it is still unclear whetherLC3B is also an independent risk factor for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). We aimto explore the predictive value of LC3B on prognosis of ICC, and to establish a novel andavailable nomogram to predict relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) for thesepatients after curative-intent hepatectomy. Materials and Methods: From August 2004 to March 2017, 105 ICC patients were eligibly enrolled in the ThirdAffiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Preoperative clinical information of enrolledpatients was collected. Expression LC3B in the ICC specimen was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: The 5-year RFS and OS in this cohort were 15.7% and 29.6%, respectively. On multivariateCox regression analysis, independent risk factors for 5-year OS were cancer antigen 125,microvascular invasion, LC3B expression and lymph node metastasis. Except for the above4 factors, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and tumor differentiation were independent factorsfor 5-year RFS. The area under the curve of nomograms for OS and RFS were 0.820 and0.747, respectively. Conclusion The nomograms based on LC3B can be considered as effective models to predict postoperativesurvival for ICC patients.

Objective:The aim of this study was to explore the associations of muscle size and density with handgrip strength(HGS)and the Timed Up and Go(TUG)test.Methods:Totally 301 participants living in the Xinjiekou community near Beijing Jishuitan Hospital were recruited for CT imaging of the hip and a 1-cm slice of the mid-thigh.The cross-sectional area and density of the gluteus maximus and the mid-thigh muscles were estimated by the Osirix viewer based on CT images.HGS and TUG were also performed in these subjects.Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlations of muscle density and size with TUG and grip strength.Results:In women, after adjustment for age and BMI, the density of the gluteus maximus was negatively correlated with TUG( P trend=0.0366), while the size of the gluteus maximus and the mid-thigh muscles was not correlated with TUG.In men, the density or size of these muscles was not correlated with TUG.After adjustment for age and BMI, the density of the gluteus maximus was positively correlated with grip strength( P trend=0.0334)and the size of the mid-thigh muscles was also positively correlated with grip strength( P trend=0.0155)in men, but they were not correlated with grip strength in women. Conclusions:There were sex differences in the relationship between muscle size or density and grip strength or timed up and go.The density of the gluteus maximus is associated with muscle strength and physical performance while the size of the mid-thigh muscles is correlated with muscle strength.

Purpose To explore the value of dual-layer spectral detector CT(DLSCT)in evaluating preoperative tumor staging in rectal adenocarcinoma(RA).Materials and Methods A total of 78 patients with pathologically confirmed RA in Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from May 2021 to March 2022 were involved in this retrospective study.All the patients underwent plain and dual-phase contrast-enhanced scans by DLSCT within one week before surgery.Taking pathological results as the golden standard,the accuracy rates of tumor staging were calculated and compared between the multiple-parameter maps derived from DLSCT and 120 kVp polyenergetic image.The effective atomic number(Z-eff)from plain scan,iodine concentration(IC)from arterial phase(AP)and venous phase(VP)were measured.The normalized iodine concentration(NIC)in AP and VP were calculated.The differences of Z-eff,NICAP and NICVP were compared among the pT1-2,pT3 and pT4 groups.The correlation between the pT stages and above values was assessed and the diagnostic efficiencies were analyzed.Results The overall accuracy rate(88.46%vs.67.95%;χ2=9.628,P=0.002),the pT1-2 staging accuracy rate(80.00%vs.40.00%;χ2=6.667,P=0.01),and the pT3 staging accuracy rate(88.10%vs.69.05%;χ2=4.525,P=0.033)of multiple-parameter maps derived from DLSCT were significantly higher than those of 120 kVp polyenergetic image,respectively.The Z-eff,NICAP and NICVP were significantly different among pT stage groups(F=6.456,11.029,12.698,all P<0.05)and exhibited a positive correlation with pT stages(r=0.371,0.367,0.363,all P<0.01).The areas under the curve of Z-eff,NICAP and NICVP to assess pT3-4 staging RA were 0.77,0.71 and 0.74,respectively.Conclusion The multiple-parameter maps derived from DLSCT can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative tumor staging of RA.Z-eff from plain scan and NIC from dual-phase helps differentiate pT1-2 from pT3-4 staging RA.

Objective:To explore the value of dual-layer detector spectral CT quantitative parameters in evaluating the treatment response of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. From May 2021 to March 2023, a total of 52 patients with LARC who received complete nCRT and were pathologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma at the Guangdong Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were retrospectively enrolled. Each patient underwent spectral CT examination before and after nCRT, including plain scan, arterial phase (AP), and venous phase (VP) scans. According to the tumor regression grade, the patients were divided into the good response ( n=20) and the poor response group ( n=32). Measurements of the primary tumor′s spectral CT parameters, including effective atomic number (Z eff) at plain scan, iodine concentration (IC), CT values of 40 keV and 100 keV virtual monochromatic image (VMI) at dual-enhanced phases, were taken before and after nCRT. Additionally, the normalized iodine concentration (NIC), spectral curve slope (λHU), and the change rate of the above parameters before and after nCRT were calculated. The independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the efficacy of various metrics in evaluating the tumor treatment response of nCRT. A binary logistic regression analysis of combined parameter results was performed for the parameters with the areas under curve (AUC)>0.75, and the AUC of the combined parameter was evaluated. Results:There were significant differences in NIC AP and λHU VP before nCRT, NIC VP and λHU VP after nCRT, and the change rates of Z eff, NIC AP, NIC VP and λHU AP between the good response group and the poor response group ( P<0.05). The remaining parameters showed no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). The ROC curve results showed that the AUCs of the above 8 parameters for evaluating tumor treatment response of nCRT were 0.702, 0.655, 0.695, 0.769, 0.738, 0.807, 0.791, and 0.677, respectively. The AUC of the combined model of the three parameters with AUC>0.75 (λHU VP after nCRT, the change rate of NIC AP and NIC VP) was 0.869, with 80.0% sensitivity and 84.4% specificity. Conclusion:The quantitative parameters derived from spectral CT may provide new markers for evaluating the response to nCRT treatment in patients with LARC. The multi-parameter combined model can improve diagnostic efficacy.