The Magnetic Properties of 1111-type Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor (La1−x_{1-x}Bax_{x})(Zn1−x_{1-x}Mnx_{x})AsO in the Low Doping Regime

We investigated the magnetic properties of (La$_{1-x}$Ba$_{x}$)(Zn$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$)AsO with $x$ varying from 0.005 to 0.05 at an external magnetic field of 1000 Oe. For doping levels of $x$ $\leq$ 0.01, the system remains paramagnetic down to the lowest measurable temperature of 2 K. Only when the doping level increases to $x$ = 0.02 does the ferromagnetic ordering appear. Our analysis indicates that antiferromagnetic exchange interactions dominate for $x$ $\leq$ 0.01, as shown by the negative Weiss temperature fitted from the magnetization data. The Weiss temperature becomes positive, i.e., ferromagnetic coupling starts to dominate, for $x$ $\geq$ 0.02. The Mn-Mn spin interaction parameter $\mid$$2J/k_B$$\mid$ is estimated to be in the order of 10 K for both $x$ $\leq$ 0.01 (antiferromagnetic ordered state) and $x$ $\geq$ 0.02 (ferromagnetic ordered state). Our results unequivocally demonstrate the competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in carrier-mediated ferromagnetic systems.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Economic Burden for Lung Cancer Survivors in Urban China.

BackgroundWith the rapid increase in the incidence and mortality of lung cancer, a growing number of lung cancer patients and their families are faced with a tremendous economic burden because of the high cost of treatment in China. This study was conducted to estimate the economic burden and patient responsibility of lung cancer patients and the impact of this burden on family income.MethodsThis study uses data from a retrospective questionnaire survey conducted in 10 communities in urban China and includes 195 surviving lung cancer patients diagnosed over the previous five years. The calculation of direct economic burden included both direct medical and direct nonmedical costs. Indirect costs were calculated using the human capital approach, which measures the productivity lost for both patients and family caregivers. The price index was applied for the cost calculation.ResultsThe average economic burden from lung cancer was $43,336 per patient, of which the direct cost per capita was$42,540 (98.16%) and the indirect cost per capita was $795 (1.84$30,277 per capita, which accounted for 171% of the household annual income, a percentage that fell to 107% after subtracting the compensation from medical insurance.ConclusionsThe economic burden for lung cancer patients is substantial in the urban areas of China, and an effective control strategy to lower the cost is urgently needed

The effect of chemotherapy combined with recombination mutant human tumor necrosis factor on advanced cancer

BACKGROUND: Past studies suggested that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) assisted anti-tumor treatment and intensified the sensitivity of chemotherapy. However its clinical application has been curbed because of its low purity, high dosage, and strong toxicity. This research, through perspective random clinical control experiment, observed the therapeutic effect of the treatment of late malignant tumor through the injection of recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor (rmhTNF) combined with general chemotherapy and its adverse reactions. METHODS: 105 patients with advanced malignant tumor were randomly divided into trial group, 69 patients, and control group, 36 patients. Injection of rmhTNF 4 × 10(6)u/m(2 )was given to the trial group, from the 1(st )to 7(th )days, the 11(th )to 17(th )days combined with chemotherapy course. The chemotherapy plan was as follows: CAP for patients with the NSCLC; FAM for patients with gastric cancer; FC for patients with colorectal cancer. One treatment cycle lasted for 21 days and two cycles were scheduled. The control group was given only the same chemotherapy as the trial group. RESULTS: In the trial group there was 1 CR case and 12 PR cases, and the response rate is 13/69 (18.84%); in the control group 1 PR case, the response rate 1/36 (2.78%). The response rate of the trial group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P = 0.022). The response rate for NSCLC in the trial group was 8/17 (47.06%), and 1/6 (16.67%) in the control group. The response rates for gastric cancer and colorectal cancer in the trial groups also were higher than those of the control groups. After the treatment the KPS is 89.00 ± 9.92 in the trial group, and 84.17 ± 8.84 in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.028). The adverse reactions of rmhTNF injection included: pain in the injection area, chill, hardening and swelling and redness in the injection area, fever, ostealgia and myosalgia, and cold-like symptoms. All these adverse reactions were mild and bearable. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of rmhTNF injection in combination with general chemotherapy is an effective and secure means in treating advanced malignant tumor

A Lipoprotein Lipase–Promoting Agent, NO-1886, Improves Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in High Fat, High Sucrose–Fed New Zealand White Rabbits

The synthetic compound NO-1886 is a lipoprotein lipase activator that lowers plasma triglycerides and elevates high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Recently, the authors found that NO-1886 also had an action of reducing plasma glucose in high-fat/high-sucrose diet–induced diabetic rabbits. In the current study, we investigated the effects of NO-1886 on insulin resistance and β-cell function in rabbits. Our results showed that high-fat/high-sucrose feeding increased plasma triglyceride, free fatty acid (FFA), and glucose levels and decreased HDL-C level. This diet also induced insulin resistance and impairment of acute insulin response to glucose loading. Supplementing 1% NO-1886 into the high-fat/high-sucrose diet resulted in decreased plasma triglyceride, FFA, and glucose levels and increased HDL-C level. The authors also found a clear increased glucose clearance and a protected acute insulin response to intravenous glucose loading by NO-1886 supplementation. These data suggest that NO-1886 suppresses the elevation of blood glucose in rabbits induced by feeding a high-fat/high-sucrose diet, probably through controlling lipid metabolism and improving insulin resistance

Consumer preference and willingness to pay for low-residue vegetables: Evidence from discrete choice experiments in China

IntroductionThis study aims to investigate consumers' cognition, preference and willingness to pay (WTP) for celery with low pesticide residues, and to provide evidence from a consumer perspective for government food safety regulation.MethodA survey was conducted on the population over the age of 18 in 6 provinces of Shanghai, Guangdong, Sichuan, Hunan, Hebei and Heilongjiang in China, in order to improve the representativeness of sample. The study carried out a survey of respondents' cognitive attitudes towards low-residue vegetables, and applied a discrete choice model (DCE) to simulate different scenarios of consumers buying vegetables. The DCE included residue level, appearance, taste, and price and finally constructed 24 choice sets. Respondents' preference for low-residue celery and WTP were analyzed using a mixed logit model.ResultA total of 1292 respondents were surveyed. The model results showed that consumers had the highest positive preference for pesticide-free celery. For the Chinese consumers, price was the most important attribute, followed by the residue level, taste, and appearance. Consumer WTP for pesticide-free celery was11.17CNY/500g. Factors affecting consumer preferences were age, gender, income, education, whether they had children, or paid attention to pesticide residue in vegetables, and related reports of pesticide residue exceed the standard in vegetables.ConclusionOur study is more finely divided at the residue level, and the findings provide useful information for producers and policy makers

EFTUD2 is a promising diagnostic and prognostic indicator involved in the tumor immune microenvironment and glycolysis of lung adenocarcinoma

BackgroundElongation Factor Tu GTP Binding Domain Containing 2 (EFTUD2), a conserved spliceosomal GTPase, is involved in craniofacial development and various cancers, but its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear.MethodsEFTUD2 expression in LUAD tissues was analyzed using data from TCGA and GEO, and validated by immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting. The relationship between EFTUD2 expression and clinical features was examined using Fisher’s exact test. Diagnostic and prognostic analyses were performed in R. Hub genes related to EFTUD2 were identified through topological algorithms, and immune infiltration was assessed using CIBERSORT. The cGAS-STING pathway and m6A modification were also analyzed in the TCGA LUAD cohort. Functional assays were conducted to assess EFTUD2’s impact on LUAD cell proliferation, cell cycle, invasion, and metastasis, while glycolytic enzyme levels were measured by Western blotting.ResultsEFTUD2 was upregulated in LUAD tissues and cells, correlating with N classification, visceral pleural invasion, intravascular tumor embolism, and cytokeratin-19 fragment antigen 21-1. Sixteen EFTUD2-related hub genes were identified. Higher EFTUD2 expression was linked to altered immune cell infiltration, with increased TumorPurity scores and decreased StromalScore, ImmuneScore, and ESTIMATEScore values. Gene enrichment analyses highlighted EFTUD2’s involvement in cell adhesion, immune response. EFTUD2 was strongly associated with the cGAS-STING pathway and m6A modification. EFTUD2 knockdown inhibited LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and tumorigenicity, causing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest, and altered glycolytic enzyme expression. These findings may suggest that EFTUD2 positively regulates the progression of LUAD and modulates the glycolytic activity of tumor cells, making it valuable for LUAD treatment and prognosis.ConclusionsEFTUD2 is a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for LUAD, associated with immune infiltration, the tumor microenvironment, the cGAS-STING pathway, m6A modification, and glycolysis

Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy by Traditional Chinese Medicine

In spite of the impressive progress in the investigation of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), the complex mechanisms underlying the onset and deterioration of HE are still not fully understood. Currently, none of the existing theories provide conclusive explanations on the symptoms that link liver dysfunction to nervous system disorders and clinical manifestations. This paper summarized the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches used for HE in modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine and provided future perspective in HE therapies from the viewpoint of holistic and personalized Chinese medicine.</jats:p