Effects of administration styles of arsenic trioxide on intracellular arsenic concentration, cell differentiation and apoptosis

We studied the effects of varying and steady-state concentrations of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on apoptosis and differentiation of several cell lines in vitro. We also studied the same effects of fluctuating vs constant concentrations of As2O3 in vivo in patients treated with daily 3-hour fast infusions or daily slow, continuous infusions. Intracellular concentrations of arsenic and apoptosis rate were higher whereas differentiation was reduced in cells exposed to constant concentrations of As2O3.     

BRAF V600E mutation as a novel mechanism of acquired resistance to ALK inhibition in ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma: A case report

Rationale:Patients with lung adenocarcinoma harboring EML4-ALK rearrangements respond well to multiple ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, the tumor will invariably progress due to acquired resistance. Comprehensive genomic profiling appears to be a promising strategy to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of ALK-TKIs resistance.Patient concerns:A patient with right lung adenocarcinoma harboring an ALK rearrangement received targeted therapy with multiple ALK-TKIs. He sought for follow-up treatment after his disease progressed again.Diagnosis:The patient had a tumor diagnosed with stage I (T1bN0M0) lung adenocarcinoma.Interventions:Due to the surgical contraindication, the patient did not undergo surgical resection. Instead, he received crizotinib as the first-line therapy with the progression-free survival of 20 months. Then he switched to alectinib treatment, however the disease rapidly progressed again.Outcomes:Next-generation sequencing was performed and revealed that 7 somatic mutations were identified. Among them, 2 mutations, ALK I1171T and BRAF V600E, may be responsible for the resistance of this patient to ALK-TKIs. BRAF V600E mutation may explain the patient''s resistance to lorlatinib.Lessons:We present a case of ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinoma with acquired resistance to ALK inhibition, in which the BRAF V600E mutation is a novel resistance mechanism. This provides evidence that BRAF V600E mutation is one mechanism of ALK-TKI resistance.     

The flow characteristics of solid particles used as additives for lubricants in the point contact area

Solid nanoparticles have been applied as anti-wear and friction reduction additives for lubricants. In this paper, the flow characteristics of solid particles used as additives for lubricants were studied. A flow field visualizer based on high speed photography was developed. The particle trajectories in the point contact area were recorded using the flow field visualizer and were compared with the particle trajectories simulated using COMSOL. The results were analyzed and compared with tribological test results. It was found that the experimental results matched well with the simulation results, and the speed of the particles decreased by 60% at the inlet and outlet zones of the contact area. Solid particles were found to experience an unsteady flow in both the inlet and outlet zones and this would contribute to particle sedimentation in those areas, which matches well with the findings of the tribology test, which showed that more particles sedimented in those two areas.

The flow characteristics of solid particles used as lubricant additives under point contact conditions were investigated.     

Utilization of phosphate rock as a sole source of phosphorus for uranium biomineralization mediated by Penicillium funiculosum

In this work, uranium(vi) biomineralization by soluble ortho-phosphate from decomposition of the phosphate rock powder, a cheap and readily available material, was studied in detail. Penicillium funiculosum was effective in solubilizing P from the phosphate rock powder, and the highest concentration of the dissolved phosphate reached 220 mg L⁻¹ (pH = 6). A yellow precipitate was immediately formed when solutions with different concentrations of uranium were treated with PO₄³⁻-containing fermentation broth, and the precipitate was identified as chernikovite by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and X-ray powder diffraction. Our study showed that the concentrations of uranium in solutions can be decreased to the level lower than maximum contaminant limit for water (50 μg L⁻¹) by the Environmental Protection Agency of China when Penicillium funiculosum was incubated for 22 days in the broth containing 5 g L⁻¹ phosphate rock powder.

In this work, uranium(vi) biomineralization by soluble ortho-phosphate from decomposition of the phosphate rock powder, a cheap and readily available material, was studied in detail.     

Association of Resistance Exercise With the Incidence of Hypercholesterolemia in Men

Objective

To examine the associations of resistance exercise, independent of and combined with aerobic exercise, with the risk of development of hypercholesterolemia in men.

2012年我国农村妇女宫颈癌检查状况分析

目的分析我国农村妇女宫颈癌检查项目工作现状。方法利用全国重大公共卫生项目"两癌"检查项目信息直报系统,对2012年宫颈癌检查上报数据进行分析。结果 2012年全国对35~64岁的农村妇女进行宫颈癌检查10 621 482例,任务完成率106.2%,其中东、中、西部任务完成率分别为97.2%、112.9%及102.4%。检查人群中,81.76%的妇女既往从未接受过宫颈癌检查。运用宫颈细胞学检查及醋酸/碘染色(VIA/VILI)方法进行初筛的比例分别为77.17%和18.55%。在宫颈细胞学检查中,运用TBS描述性报告阅片的比例为65.49%,巴氏分级报告的比例为34.51%。宫颈细胞学检查结果异常或可疑病例检出率为3.93%,醋酸/碘染色检查结果异常或可疑病例检出率为11.05%。宫颈癌初筛检查的可疑/异常人群中,分别有17.01%、9.66%的妇女未接受阴道镜及病理学检查。宫颈癌前病变(CINII、III)及宫颈癌检出率124.87/10万、早诊率89.60%。结论多数地区应用宫颈细胞学检查方法作为宫颈癌初筛检查手段,但应用TBS报告结果的比例和异常结果检出率尚需进一步提高,亟需加强参与宫颈癌检查的相关人员技术培训及可疑/阳性人群的管理,进一步提高宫颈癌检查效果。