Sun exposure and skin cancer,and the puzzle of cutaneous melanoma: A perspective on Fears et al. Mathematical models of age and ultraviolet effects on the incidence of skin cancer among whites in the United States. American Journal of Epidemiology 1977; 105: 420–427

Sunlight has been known as an important cause of skin cancer since around the turn of the 20th Century. A 1977 landmark paper of US scientists Fears, Scotto, and Schneiderman advanced a novel hypothesis whereby cutaneous melanoma was primarily caused by intermittent sun exposure (i.e. periodic, brief episodes of exposure to high-intensity ultraviolet radiation) while the keratinocyte cancers, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, were primarily caused by progressive accumulation of sun exposure. With respect to cutaneous melanoma, this became known as the intermittent exposure hypothesis. The hypothesis stemmed from analysis of measured ambient ultraviolet radiation and age-specific incidence rates of melanoma and keratinocyte cancers collected as an extension to the US Third National Cancer Survey in several US States. In this perspective paper, we put this novel hypothesis into the context of knowledge at the time, and describe subsequent epidemiological and molecular research into melanoma that elaborated the intermittent exposure hypothesis and ultimately replaced it with a dual pathway hypothesis. Our present understanding is of two distinct biological pathways by which cutaneous melanoma might develop; a nevus prone pathway initiated by early sun exposure and promoted by intermittent sun exposure or possibly host factors; and a chronic sun exposure pathway in sun sensitive people who progressively accumulate sun exposure to the sites of future melanomas.     

阿霉素损伤心肌细胞miRNA378与网腔钙结合蛋白、内质网应激的关系

目的：研究阿霉素损伤心肌细胞miRNA378与网腔钙结合蛋白（calumenin）、内质网应激相关性。方法：原代培养乳鼠心肌细胞分为6组：对照组、阿霉素组、miRNA378过表达对照组、miRNA378过表达组、miRNA378沉默对照组、miRNA378沉默组,采用免疫组化法检测细胞α-SMA蛋白;慢病毒质粒转染心室肌细胞,实时荧光定量PCR技术检测各组心肌细胞miRNA378、calumenin及葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78） mRNA表达。结果：与阿霉素组相比较,miRNA378过表达组心肌细胞calumenin mRNA表达增加（P<0.01）,而GRP78 mRNA表达减少（P<0.01）;与阿霉素组相比较,miRNA378沉默组calumenin及GRP78 mRNA表达无统计学差异。结论：阿霉素损伤乳鼠心肌细胞是通过减少calumenin蛋白表达进而引起内质网应激,该作用通过上调miRNA378得到缓解。     

Statistical analysis and optimization of nitrogen,phosphorus, and inoculum concentrations for the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by response surface methodology

In order to optimize and evaluate the influence of nitrogen, phosphorus, and inoculum concentrations on the biodegradation of hydrocarbon contaminated effluents, experiments based on central composite design (CCD) method were carried out for 3 days, employing C1 mixed culture and intermittent aeration. The independent variables were nitrogen concentration (X ₁), phosphorus concentration (X ₂), and inoculum concentration (X ₃) and the removal of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) was the dependent variable. The optimized nutrients ratio (C:N:P = 100:20:2.7) and inoculum concentration (1.32 g/l) provided TPH removal of 71.8% after processing for three days. Analysis using gas chromatography identified five hydrocarbons classes: paraffins, isoparaffins, olefins, naphthenics, and aromatics. The naphthenic compounds did not degrade as readily as the other hydrocarbons that were identified. The following degradation percentages were obtained: 87.1% for the paraffins, 77.7% for the isoparaffins, 78.6% for the olefins, 38.4% for the naphthenics, and 71.7% for the aromatics.     

Modeling and experimental studies on intermittent starch feeding and citrate addition in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of starch to flavor compounds

Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) is a combined process of saccharification of a renewable bioresource and fermentation process to produce products, such as lactic acid and ethanol. Recently, SSF has been extensively used to convert various sources of cellulose and starch into fermentative products. Here, we present a study on production of buttery flavors, namely diacetyl and acetoin, by growing Lactobacillus rhamnosus on a starch medium containing the enzyme glucoamylase. We further develop a structured kinetics for the SSF process, which includes enzyme and growth kinetics. The model was used to simulate the effect of pH and temperature on the SSF process so as to obtain optimum operating conditions. The model was experimentally verified by conducting SSF using an initial starch concentration of 100 g/L. The study demonstrated that the developed kinetic was able to suggest strategies for improved productivities. The developed model was able to accurately predict the enhanced productivity of flavors in a three stage process with intermittent addition of starch. Experimental and simulations demonstrated that citrate addition can also lead to enhanced productivity of flavors. The developed optimal model for SSF was able to capture the dynamics of SSF in batch mode as well as in a three stage process. The structured kinetics was also able to quantify the effect of multiple substrates present in the medium. The study demonstrated that structured kinetic models can be used in the future for design and optimization of SSF as a batch or a fed-batch process. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Effects of continuous and pulsatile PTH treatments on rat bone marrow stromal cells

Bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) differentiation and proliferation are controlled by numerous growth factors and hormones. Continuous parathyroid hormone (PTH) treatment has been shown to decrease osteoblast differentiation, whereas pulsatile PTH increases osteoblast differentiation. However, the effects of PTH treatments on MSCs have not been investigated. This study showed continuous PTH treatment in the presence of dexamethasone (DEX) promoted osteogenic differentiation of rat MSCs in vitro, as demonstrated by increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, number of ALP expressing cells, and up-regulation of PTH receptor-1, ALP, and osteocalcin mRNA expressions. In contrast, pulsatile PTH treatment was found to suppress osteogenesis of rat MSCs, possibly by promoting the maintenance of undifferentiated cells. Additionally, the observed effects of PTH were strongly dependent on the presence of DEX. MSC proliferation however was not influenced by PTH independent of treatment regimen and presence or absence of DEX. Furthermore, our work raised the possibility that PTH treatment may modulate stem/progenitor cell activity within MSC cultures.     

Transgenic rescue of Atg5-null mice from neonatal lethality with neuron-specific expression of ATG5: Systemic analysis of adult Atg5-deficient mice

Atg5-null mice are neonatal lethal. We have revealed in our recent paper that these mice die due to neuronal dysfunction resulting in suckling failure. Our new mouse model, atg5^–/–;Eno2/Nse-Atg5 mice, where Atg5 is deficient in the whole body except for neurons, enables us to analyze the consequences of macroautophagy/autophagy-deficiency in the whole body of adult mice.     

间断切口与长切口获取大隐静脉在冠状动脉旁路移植术中作用的对比研究

目的:比较冠状动脉旁路移植术(CABG)中采用间断切口与长切口获取大隐静脉作为静脉桥材料的优缺点。方法:选择2011年12月至2012年12月宁夏医科大学总医院心脏大血管外科111例行CABG的冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病患者为研究对象。根据术中获取大隐静脉方法的不同,随机将其分为两组,长切口组64例,在CABG中采用长切口法获取大隐静脉,间断切口组47例,在CABG中采用间断切口法获取大隐静脉。比较两组大隐静脉获取时间、下肢切口缝合时间、下肢手术时间、大隐静脉桥长度、下肢切口长度和下肢切口并发症发生率的差异。结果:间断切口组大隐静脉桥长度及下肢手术时间(45.4±6.7)cm,(65.8±10.3)min与长切口组(47.5±6.7)cm,(65.8±10.3)min比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。间断切口组获取大隐静脉的时间(48.9±8.3)min显著长于长切口组(37.3±5.8)min,下肢切口长度与缝合时间(17.0±3.5)cm,(16.9±3.4)min明显短于长切口组的(43.5±6.4)min,(31.7±5.9)min,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组大隐静脉壁的损伤情况比较无统计学差异(P0.05),但间断切口组术后下肢切口延迟愈合、感染、渗出、下肢血肿等并发症的发生率低于长切口组(P0.05)。结论:在冠状动脉旁路移植术中,间断切口获取大隐静脉能够显著缩短下肢手术切口长度,有助于减少术后下肢切口感染、延迟愈合、渗出、下肢血肿等并发症的发生。     

Effects of intermittent suckling on body composition of Iberian piglets weaned at 35 days of age

Piglet body composition at weaning could be a determinant for pig’s viability and may be influenced by factors such as the nutritional management followed during suckling. An experiment was conducted to study whether intermittent suckling (IS) affects body composition at weaning and nutrient and energy retention during a 34-day lactation period in Iberian piglets. Litters were subjected to conventional suckling (CS) or IS (n=10 litters of six piglets per treatment) in two trials. All piglets had ad libitum access to creep feed from day 15 onwards. In IS, piglets were progressively separated from the sow for 6, 8 and 10 h daily during the last week of lactation, whereas in CS piglets had continuous access to their dams. Creep feed intake in litters and BW development of individual piglets were measured throughout the 34-day lactation. Within each litter, both at birth and at weaning (day 35), one piglet was used to assess nutrient retention and body composition by the comparative slaughter approach. During days 29 to 35 of the experiment, daily creep feed intake was greater in IS piglets (IS 124, CS 67 g/piglet, P=0.040), and average daily gain differed significantly between groups (IS 190, CS 150 g/day, P=0.010). BW at weaning was higher in the IS than in the CS piglets (IS 8.19, CS 7.48 kg, P=0.011). Empty-body fat and energy content at weaning were higher in the IS compared with CS litters, as well as fat content in the carcass (P=0.04). The IS treatment did not affect empty-body protein deposition, but significantly increased daily retention of fat, energy, ash and calcium, compared with CS litters (P<0.05). Thus, IS in Iberian piglets seems to enhance feed intake, growth rate and retention of some body components, which may contribute to a higher body fat content at weaning and facilitate the weaning process.     

间断低氧对大鼠下丘脑超微结构及前增食欲素水平的影响

目的探讨睡眠中间断低氧对大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素及受体水平的影响以及下丘脑超微结构的变化。方法大鼠分成对照组、间断低氧组和持续低氧组,分别给予吸入空气,持续低氧和间断低氧气体,并在实验开始后1d、3d、1w和4w应用RT-PCR方法测定大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素及受体水平,分析其间的变化关系,电镜观察下丘脑的超微结构变化。结果与对照组和持续低氧组比较,间断低氧4w后大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素mRNA水平明显降低,受体水平升高,但在持续低氧和对照组之间无明显差异。在低氧后1d、3d、7d后大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素mRNA降低,受体水平升高,在4w后,持续低氧组则接近正常。急性持续低氧大鼠超微结构变化更严重,而慢性间断低氧变化更持久。结论慢性间断低氧可以引起下丘脑前增食欲素下降及受体水平升高,急性持续低氧也可引起上述变化,而慢性持续低氧未引起增食欲素改变;慢性间断低氧大鼠下丘脑超微结构表现为严重而持久的变化。