Fast pyrolysis experiments of corn stalk were performed to investigate the optimal pyrolysis conditions of temperature and bed material for maximum bio-oil production under flue gas atmosphere. Under the optimized pyrolysis conditions, furfural residue, xylose residue and kelp seaweed were pyrolyzed to examine their yield distributions of products, and the physical characteristics of bio-oil were studied. The best flow rate of the flue gas at selected temperature is obtained, and the pyrolysis temperature at 500 degrees C and dolomite as bed material could give a maximum bio-oil yield. The highest bio-oil yield of 43.3% (W/W) was achieved from corn stalk under the optimal conditions. Two main fractions were recovered from the stratified bio-oils: light oils and heavy oils. The physical properties of heavy oils from all feedstocks varied little. The calorific values of heavy oils were much higher than that of light oils. The pyrolysis gas could be used as a gaseous fuel due to a relatively high calorific value of 6.5-8.5 MJ/m3.
Biofuels ; Biomass ; Bioreactors ; Furaldehyde ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Kelp ; Temperature ; Xylose ; chemistry ; Zea mays

Objective To investigate the alterations in oligodendrocyte and microglia and changes in neurobehavior after human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUcMSCs) intervention on the newborn rat model of white matter damage (WMD) induced by hypoxia-ischemia.Methods After the operation of left common carotid artery ligation and 4 h hypoxia (6％ O2 and 94％ N2),twelve three-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats died and the remaining sixty rats were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group.The first day was 0 to 24 h after birth.Rats of the experimental group were intraperitoneally injected the fourth generation HUcMSCs 1 × 106 (0.05 ml) on the third,fourth and fifth day respectively.At the same time,rats of the control group were intraperitoneally injected phosphate buffer (0.05 ml).Eight rats of each group were executed on the tenth and twenty first day respectively to detect the number of cells positive for myelin basic protein (MBP) and ectodermal dysplasia-1 (ED-1) staining by immunohistochemistry.Three rats of each group were executed on the tenth and twenty first day respectively to detect MBP and ED-1 expression by western blot.Eight rats of each group were weighed and underwent the neurobehavioral evaluation on the twenty eighth day.Data were analyzed using t test.Results On the tenth and twenty first day,the numbers of MBP-positive cells in the experimental group (11.8 ± 4.1 and 23.8± 8.1) were significantly higher than those in the control group (6.7±3.1 and 11.5 ± 5.8,t=-2.81 and 3.49,both P＜0.05) ; and the numbers of ED-1 positive cells in the experimental group (20.8 ± 3.4 and 19.1 ± 2.8) were significantly lower than those in the control group (32.8±4.2 and 29.5±5.2,t=6.23 and 4.93,both P＜0.01).On the tenth and twenty first day,MBP expressions in the experimental group (1.3 ± 0.1 and 1.1 ± 0.1) were higher than those in the control group (0.8±0.0 and 0.6±0.1,t=-7.53 and 6.68,both P＜0.01) ; and the ED-1 expressions in the experimental group (0.6±0.1 and 0.4±0.1) were lower than those in the control group (1.0±0.1 and 0.8±0.1,t=3.09 and 4.90,both P＜0.01).Weight on the seventh,tenth,fourteenth,twenty first and twenty eighth day in the experimental group [(15.0± 1.2),(16.6±0.9),(27.0± 1.6),(44.2±2.3) and (68.1 ±4.2) g] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(12.7 ± 1.6),(13.5 ± 2.0),(23.6 ± 1.9),(38.4± 0.9) and (60.0± 4.2) g,t=-3.11,-3.97,3.67,-6.52 and-3.72,all P＜0.05].On the twenty eighth day,the score of open field test in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (36.5 ± 2.9 vs 24.3 ± 3.6,t=7.36,P＜0.01).So was the hanging test (3.6± 1.0 vs 2.0±0.7,t=3.53,P＜0.01).In Cylinder test,the ratio of left/both and right/both forefeet in the experimental group were similar [(49.8± 13.3) ％ vs (41.4±5.9) ％,t=0.86,P＞0.05],but the ratio of left/both forefeet in the control group was higher than right/both [(49.5 ± 11.3) ％ vs (31.2±3.2) ％,t=4.38,P＜0.01].Conclusions HUcMSCs are able to enhance the number of oligodendrocytes while weaken the activity of microglias in the WMD newborn rat model,and to promote the physical development and improve the rat neurobehavior.

OBJECTIVETo study the properties of orthodontic rectangular arch wires in torsion.

METHODSBy using the torsion measurement apparatus, torsion moments and angles of four kinds of orthodontic wires (0.46 mm x 0.63 mm and 0.48 mm x 0.63 mm stainless steel wires, and the same size nickel-titanium wires) were tested respectively in a 0.56 mm-slot first maxillary incisor bracket. According to the torsion moments and angles, scatter graphs were drawn to fit the load-deflection curves of four kinds of wires and their linear equations were calculated. According to the equations, the torsion stiffness and the play angles of the wires at 20 N mm correspondingly were calculated.

RESULTSThe torsion stiffness of four kinds of wires were 4.909, 6.417, 1.325 and 1.363 N mn/degrees, the torsion angles of different wires were 19.14 degrees, 15.33 degrees, 36.83 degrees and 35.07 degrees at 20 N mm respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe torsion stiffness of stainless steel wires was bigger than that of the same cross-section dimensional nickel-titanium wires. The difference of torsion stiffness between two dimensional nickel-titanium wires is smaller, while the difference of torsion stiffness between two stainless steel wires is larger.

Incisor ; Nickel ; Orthodontic Wires ; Stainless Steel ; Titanium

BACKGROUNDThe delayed diagnosis of pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) disruption in children following blunt abdominal trauma can result in loss of function of the involved kidney. We examined the potential for kidney preservation and the limits of diagnostic delays.

METHODSA retrospective review of 17 cases of PUJ disruption at Beijing Children's Hospital from 1993 to 2009 was done with respect to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

RESULTSThe interval from trauma to diagnosis of PUJ disruption was (52 ± 52) days. If one case with nephrectomy was excluded, the interval from trauma to diagnosis was (40 ± 20) days. The average time between injury and first treatment was (49 ± 25) days. Pelvi-ureteric reanastomosis and caliceal ureterostomy were performed separately in 11 and 4 patients, respectively. Ileal replacement for ureter injuries was finally performed in one patient. Hydronephrosis of the injured kidney was reduced and the function improved in 15 out of 17 patients (88%). Only one patient received nephrectomy and the nephrectomy rate was 5.9%.

CONCLUSIONDifferential renal function at the PUJ disruption side can be saved and the rate of nephrectomy reduced by appropriate surgery if the time to diagnosis and first treatment is limited to within two months.

Abdominal Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; injuries ; surgery ; Kidney Pelvis ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureter ; injuries ; surgery ; Ureteral Obstruction ; etiology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study on clinical role of acupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) for treatment of postpartum hypolactation and to provide clinical basis for indications of acupoints.

METHODSThis was a single blind randomized controlled multi-center study by Beijing obstetrical and gynecological hospital, Beijing Mother and Child health institute and Haidian Mother and Child health institute, 276 cases of postpartum hypolactation were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a Chinese drug group. The acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) and the Chinese drug group with traditional drug Tongre Decoction. Degree of breast engorge, lactating volume, prolactin, neonate body weight, artificial feeding frequency and volume, urination frequency and crying time of neonate were recorded for comparison of therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAfter treatment, degree of breast engorge, lactating volume, neonate body weight, artificial feeding frequency and volume, urination frequency and crying time of neonate were significantly improved in the two groups, with no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at Tanzhong (CV 17) can effectively promote lactation with a same therapeutic effect as the traditional Chinese drug Tongru Decocnon.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation Disorders ; therapy ; Puerperal Disorders ; therapy ; Single-Blind Method

OBJECTIVETo establish a database and to understand the molecular epidemiological features of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from different animal reservoirs and patients.

METHODSPulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed according to the PulseNet protocol with minor modifications. A dendrogram was constructed using the BioNumerics.

RESULTSUnder the PulseNet protocol, 62 PFGE patterns were obtained from 76 non-O157 STEC isolates and then divided into A to M groups. Isolates from different sources were widely distributed in different groups, but were predominant seen in certain groups.

CONCLUSIONThe non-O157 STEC isolates in China were highly polymorphic. PulseNet protocol seemed to be suitable for the typing of Chinese non-O157 STEC isolates.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Escherichia coli Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Escherichia coli O157 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Feces ; microbiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the diagnostic value of English, Chinese and Japanese standards of TW2 to skeletal age assessment of children with central precocious puberty (CPP), then to confirm the normal thresholds. METHODS: Sixty one children as patient group were definitely assured CPP. The control group had 67 children. Among them, 61 were normal children, another 6 children as a special control group. Left hand-wrist X-ray radiographs were retrospectively analyzed by two doctors separately and their skeletal ages were assessed with the three standards of TW2 method. The differences between skeletal age and chronological age were analyzed with ROC in SPSS 13.0. RESULTS: (1) The skeletal age results showed kappa value is 0.776 deduced by two clinical doctors(u = 16.128, P < 0.05). (2) There were no statistic differences for the areas under ROC curves among three methods. (3) d > or = 1.15 years in TW2, d > or = 1.25 years in TW2-CHN and d > or = 0.65 years in TW2-JP were more susceptive and specific points. CONCLUSION TW2, TW2-CHN and TW2-JP provided a higher value for the diagnosis of skeletal age in unhealthy children, and TW2-CHN is highest value for Chinese children.
Age Determination by Skeleton/standards* ; Age Factors ; Body Height ; Bone Development ; Carpal Bones/growth & development* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Hand/growth & development* ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Puberty, Precocious/diagnosis* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To evaluate the value of high-throughput sequencing(HTS)data reanalysis that does not include ERBB2 copy number variation(CNV)analysis,in identifying ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.Methods The HTS data of 252 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed by pathological biopsy who received peripheral blood cfDNA HTS detection samples were retrospectively analyzed.According to the HTS data of ERBB2 non-amplified samples judged by immunohistochemistry(IHC)and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH),the number of chromosome 17(Chr17)reads in the total number of reads was calculated the range of the ratio was initially determined as the threshold for prompting ERBB2 amplification.Suspected positive samples were screened according to thresholds and verified by digital PCR,IHC and FISH.Results The proportion of the number of Chr17 reads accounts for the number of total reads in the 89 cases of ERBB2 non-amplified samples determined by IHC and/or FISH ranged from 0.188 to 0.299(0.239±0.192).Using 0.298(1.25 times the mean)as the threshold indicating ERBB2 amplification,the data of 163 samples were analyzed,of which 7 cases were suspected to be positive,and the ratio ranged from 0.302 to 0.853.Among them,5 cases were determined to be positive by IHC and/or FISH,and 6 cases were confirmed to be positive by digital PCR.The ratio of the number of Chr17 reads to the number of total reads was positively correlated with the ratio of ERBB2/EIF2C1,and the correlation was good(r2=0.909).Conclusion The high-throughput sequencing data that does not cover the ERBB2 CNV analysis has a certain hint value for ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUNDAlthough chemotherapy is one of the most important treatments of breast cancer, it is limited by significant inter-individual variations in response and toxicity. The metabolism of epirubicin (EPI) and cyclophosphamide (CTX) is mainly mediated by cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). It has been well-known that the activities of these enzymes are polymorphic in population due to their genetic polymorphisms. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of genetic polymorphisms in CYP3A, GSTP1 and MDR1 genes on treatment response and side-effects of breast cancer patients receiving EPI/CTX chemotherapy.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients with stage II or III invasive breast cancer were recruited and treated with three to four cycles of EPI 80 mg/m(2) and CTX 600 mg/m(2) every two weeks. The AJCC TNM staging system (sixth edition) was used to evaluate the pathological response of primary tumor and axillary lymph nodes. The genotypes of gene polymorphisms were determined by using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods.

RESULTSPatients carrying GSTP1 (105)Ile/Val or (105)Ile/Ile genotype were more likely to have good response (OR, 0.40; 95%CI, 0.16 - 0.96; P = 0.024) and light toxicity (OR, 0.35; 95%CI, 0.13 - 0.78; P = 0.006) than those carrying (105)Val/Val genotypes. The response to the treatment was not correlated with estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and Her2/neu status of tumors. No correlation was found between toxicity effect and patient's age, tumor staging, menopause status, and dose intensity of the drugs.

CONCLUSIONGSTP1 polymorphism was associated with the chemotherapy response or adverse effects of EPI and CTX regimens.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Epirubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genotype ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; genetics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics

Objective To construct the pEGFP-C1-CXCL1 eukaryotic expression vector and to investigate the effect of CXCL1 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells under endoplasmic reticulum stress ( ERS).Methods Fragments of CXCL1 were obtained from the cDNA library of HepG2 cells before CXCL1 was cloned into a pEGFP-C1 vector for a recombinant plasmid pEGFP-C1-CXCL1 which was screened and identified by PCR and sequence alignment .Then,the recombinant plas-mid of pEGFP-C1-CXCL1 was transfected into human 293 T cell line and the expression of CXCL 1 was detected by fluores-cence microscopy and Western blotting.pEGFP-C1-CXCL1was furhter transfected into HepG2 cells, and CCK8 was used to detect the inhibitory effect of CXCL1 on tumor proliferation induced by TM in hepatocellular carcinoma .Results pEGFP-C1-CXCL1 was vertified by sequencing analysis .Fluorescence microscopy showed that pEGFP-C1-CXCL1 was transfected into 293T.CXCL1 expression was detected by Western blotting .CCK8 showed that TM inhibited tumor proliferation , while overexpression of CXCL1 decreased the inhabitory rate on cell proliferation of HepG 2 cells under ER stress compared to pEGFP-C1 group and the control group .Conclusion A recombinant pEGFP-C1-CXCL1 plasmid is successfully constructed that can be expressed stably in human 293T cells.Overexpression of CXCL1 can effectively reduce the inhabitory rate of HCC cells induced by the ER stress.