Search

In this review, we summarized the state-of-the-art progress on the ethanol performance of NiO by means of morphology, doping, loading noble metal particles, and forming heterojunctions. We first introduced the effect of modulating NiO morphology on ethanol performance that has been reported in recent years. The morphology with large specific surface area and high porosity was considered to be the one that can bring high gas response. Then, we discussed the enhanced effect of the doping of metal cations and noble metal particle loading on the ethanol-sensitive properties of NiO. Doping ions increased the ground-state resistance and increased the oxygen defect concentration of NiO. The effects of noble metal particles on the performance of NiO included chemical sensitization and electronic sensitization. Finally, the related contents of NiO forming complexes with metal oxides and bimetallic oxides were discussed. In this section, the specific improvement mechanism was discussed first, and then, the related work of researchers in recent years was summarized. At the same time, we presented a reasonable outlook for NiO-based ethanol sensors, imagining future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma is the most common primary tumor in the central nervous system, and thrombosis-associated genes are related to its occurrence and progression. Univariate Cox and LASSO regression analysis were utilized to develop a new prognostic signature based on thrombosis-associated genes. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and HALLMARK were used for functional annotation of risk signature. ESTIMATE, MCP-counter, xCell, and TIMER algorithms were used to quantify immune infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) was used for selecting potential drug compounds. Risk signature based on thrombosis-associated genes shows moderate performance in prognosis prediction. The functional annotation of the risk signature indicates that the signaling pathways related to the cell cycle, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and immune suppression are rich in the high-risk group. Somatic mutation analysis shows that tumor-suppressive gene TP53 and oncogene PTEN have higher expression in low-risk and high-risk groups, respectively. Potential drug compounds are explored in risk score groups and show higher AUC values in the low-risk score group. A nomogram with valuable prognostic factors exhibits high sensitivity in predicting the survival outcome of GBM patients. Our research screens out multiple thromboses-associated genes with remarkable clinical significance in GBM and further develops a meaningful prognostic risk signature predicting drug sensitivity and survival outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel humidity sensors based on semiconducting metal oxides with good humidity-sensing properties have attracted extensive attention, which due to their high sensitivity at room temperature, high safety, low hysteresis, and long-term stability. As a typical p-type semiconductor metal oxide, CuO is considered to be a high-performance moisture-sensitive material; however, with the development of production, the complex working environment has put forward higher requirements for its humidity sensitivity, especially sensitivity and stability. In this regard, workers around the world are working to improve the moisture-sensing properties of sensing elements. In this review, the humidity-sensing properties of CuO-based moisture-sensitive materials are comprehensively summarized, focusing on effective measures to improve the moisture-sensing properties of CuO-based moisture-sensitive materials, including surface modification and nanocomposites. The future research of semiconducting metal oxide humidity-sensitive materials is also prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin treatment was confirmed to reduce insulin resistance, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a functional protein of the membrane lipid rafts, known as caveolae, and is widely expressed in mammalian adipose tissue. There is increasing evidence that show the involvement of Cav-1 in the AKT activation, which is responsible for insulin sensitivity. Our aim was to investigate the effect of Cav-1 depletion on insulin sensitivity and AKT activation in glargine-treated type 2 diabetic mice. Mice were exposed to a high-fat diet and subject to intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to induce diabetes. Next, glargine was administered to treat T2DM mice for 3 weeks (insulin group). The expression of Cav-1 was then silenced by injecting lentiviral-vectored short hairpin RNA (shRNA) through the tail vein of glargine-treated T2DM mice (CAV1-shRNA group), while scramble virus injection was used as a negative control (Ctrl-shRNA group). The results showed that glargine was able to upregulate the expression of PI3K and activate serine phosphorylation of AKT through the upregulation of Cav-1 expression in paraepididymal adipose tissue of the insulin group. However, glargine treatment could not activate AKT pathway in Cav-1 silenced diabetic mice. These results suggest that Cav-1 is essential for the activation of AKT and improving insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic mice during glargine treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The connection between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D) gene polymorphisms and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) was conflicting. This pooled analysis was performed to explore this issue. Methods. All eligible investigations were identified from various electronic databases, and the pooled analysis was evaluated using Stata software. Results. 27 studies with 2538 IgAN cases and 3592 controls were included. In overall subjects, ACE D allele, DD, and II genotype were associated with IgAN susceptibility (D vs. I: OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10–1.32, P < 0.001 ; DD vs. ID + II: OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.20–1.60, P < 0.001 ; and II vs. DD + ID: OR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73–0.95, P = 0.007). In Asian and Chinese patients, ACE I/D gene polymorphism was also correlated with IgAN vulnerability. Moreover, ACE D allele, DD, and II genotype were correlated with the progression of IgAN (D vs. I: OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.09–1.73, P = 0.008 ; DD vs. ID + II: OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.06–2.31, P = 0.024 ; and II vs. DD + ID: OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49–0.99, P = 0.045). Conversely, in Caucasian subjects, there was no link between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and the risk of IgAN. Conclusion. ACE I/D gene polymorphism was correlated with the vulnerability and progression of IgAN in Asian and Chinese patients, and ACE D allele and DD homozygote genotype could be adverse factors for IgAN, while the II homozygote genotype could be an advantage factor. But, no significant association was found between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and IgAN in Caucasians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intraocular direct cyclophotocoagulation (IDCP) using a 532 nm laser with combination treatment in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) for patients with advanced neovascular glaucoma (NVG) with angle closure. In addition, we sought to determine the success rate and frequency of complications and explore an optimized solution to reduce the number of topical medications and the pain of patients. Methods. A retrospective case note review of all patients undergoing combined treatment including IVR, phaco, PPV, PRP, and IDCP from January 2017 to June 2018. Results. In total, 24 consecutive patients (25 eyes) were reviewed. The mean IOP was significantly decreased from 42.2 ± 8.5 mmHg preoperatively to 15.56 ± 2.0 mmHg (P < 0.0001), and no neovascularization of the iris (NVI) reoccurred at month 18. The number of medications used was reduced from 2.72 ± 0.45 preoperatively to 0.87 ± 0.40 at month 18 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions. During 18 months of follow-up, the combined treatments were safe and had a significant IOP-lowering effect. This study provides a new method of performing IDCP with a 532 nm laser, allowing for the use of internal cyclophotocoagulation without extra equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is an uncommon endocrine disease, and surgery is considered the only potential cure. PC does not have a mature staging system because of the small number of PC patients. Our aim is to further investigate the prognostic factors associated with PC and explore the optimal extent of resection for PC patients. Methods. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to explore the influence of relevant factors on cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan–Meier method and analyzed using the log-rank test. The mortality rates per 1,000 person-years were calculated to evaluate patients' follow-up data. We also performed subgroup analysis based on the extent of resection. Results. The extent of resection was related to both CSS and OS, whereas race and extent of disease had a significant positive correlation with OS (all P < 0.05). Patients who underwent parathyroidectomy had remarkably better CSS and OS than patients who did not undergo definitive treatment. Conclusion. The extent of resection is related to CSS and OS in patients with PC. No significant difference in prognosis was observed between patients who underwent parathyroidectomy and those who underwent en bloc resection, which may provide useful parameters for the treatment of PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To investigate the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients after an attack of primary acute angle closure glaucoma (PAACG) and to assess the impact of attack time on prognosis of retinal changes. Design. cross-sectional study. Methods. Twenty-six patients with unilateral PAACG attack and cataracts from 2017 to 2019 were enrolled. Eyes with PAACG attack time less than 1 day constituted the group A (n = 13), while eyes with PAACG attack time more than 1 day constituted the group B (n = 13). All patients received phacoemulsification and viscogoniosynechialysis after intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering. All patients underwent ophthalmic examinations including IOP, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and visual field (VF). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to obtain circumpapillary RNFL vessel density (cpVD). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to examine the peripapillary RNFL and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC). All patients accepted 2 assessments before and 1 month after the procedure. Results. The IOP of all patients recovered to normal (12.77 ± 2.65 mm Hgvs. 12.77 ± 3.85 mmHg, p=0.834) after the procedure. Patients in the group A had better BCVA improvement than those in the group B (1.32 ± 0.84 vs. 0.50 ± 0.21, p=0.004), as well as better mean defect (MD) values from VF (−3.65 ± 2.54 vs −16.05 ± 5.99, p<0.001). Compared with group B, patients in the group A had thicker macula (Fovea area: 255.00 ± 27.94 μm vs. 203.92 ± 59.73 μm, p=0.010), thicker GCC (82.62 ± 8.76 μm vs. 65.23 ± 18.56 μm, p=0.005), and thicker RNFL (105.08 ± 9.38 μm vs. 77.69 ± 20.23 μm, p<0.001). Higher blood flow density in all-plexus peripapillary retina was observed in the group A eyes compared with group B (full sector: 0.56 ± 0.02 vs. 0.41 ± 0.07, p<0.001). In both groups, the association between average RNFL thickness and cpVD as well as MD values and pattern standard deviation (PSD) values from VF was stronger (R2 = 0.58, 0.60, −0.54, respectively, all p<0.001) than the association between GCC thickness and cpVD, as well as MD values and PSD values (R2 = 0.37, p=0.001; R2 = 0.37, p=0.001; R2 = −0.27, p=0.007). Conclusion. Patients with attack time less than 1 day had better retinal thickness and all-plexus peripapillary retina blood flow density. Controlling the attack time could decrease retinal damage by PAACG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To investigate the changes of thickness in each layer, the morphology and density of inner neurons in rhesus monkeys' retina at various growth stages, thus contribute useful data for further biological studies. Methods. The thickness of nerve fiber layer (NFL), the whole retina, inner plexiform layer (IPL), and outer plexiform layer (OPL) of rhesus monkeys at different ages were observed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The morphology and the density of inner neurons of rhesus monkey retina were detected by immunofluorescence. Results. The retina showed the well-known ten layers, the thickness of each retinal layer in rhesus monkeys at various ages increased rapidly after infant, and the retina was the thickest in adulthood, but the retinal thickness stop growing in senescent. Quantitative analysis showed that the maximum density of inner neurons was reached in adolescent, and then, the density of inner neurons decreased in adults and senescent retinas. And some changes in the morphology of rod bipolar cells have occurred in senescent. Conclusions. The structure of retina in rhesus monkeys is relatively immature at infant, and the inner retina of rhesus monkeys is mature in adolescent, while the thickness of each retinal layer was the most developed in the adult group. There was no significant change in senescence for the thickness of each retinal layer, but the number of the neurons in our study has a decreasing trend and the morphological structure has changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in the retinal Müller cells is a key factor contributing to the retinal inflammation and vascular leakage in diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms through which the 3 main unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways regulate ERS and to examine the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in Müller cells in vitro. Methods. Rat Müller cell lines were stimulated with high glucose to mimic a diabetic environment in vitro. PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) were downregulated or upregulated with shRNA or overexpression plasmids. The transfected Müller cells were cultivated in high glucose medium for 48 hours. Expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), ATF6, and VEGF was examined with immunofluorescence and western blot. Results. Our data indicated that ERS was found in both high glucose and osmotic control groups. Overexpression or downregulation of UPR pathways effectively increased or reduced the production of GRP78, ATF4, XBP1, ATF6, and VEGF, respectively. These 3 signaling pathways had similar regulatory effects on VEGF. Conclusion. The 3 UPR-mediated inflammatory pathways were dependent on each other. Inhibition any of these signaling pathways in UPR might be a potential therapeutic target for DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) can potentially confer a growth advantage to individual cellular clones. Currently, the recommended treatment for patients with high-risk MDS is the methylation agent decitabine (DAC), a drug that can induce the reexpression of silenced tumor suppressor genes. We investigated the effects of DAC treatment on the myeloid MDS cell line SKM-1 and investigated the role of FOXO3A, a potentially tumor-suppressive transcription factor, by silencing its expression prior to DAC treatment. We found that FOXO3A exists in an inactive, hyperphosphorylated form in SKM-1 cells, but that DAC both induces FOXO3A expression and reactivates the protein by reducing its phosphorylation level. Furthermore, we show that this FOXO3A activation is responsible for the DAC-induced differentiation of SKM-1 cells into monocytes, as well as for SKM-1 cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy. Collectively, these results suggest that FOXO3A reactivation may contribute to the therapeutic effects of DAC in MDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new paraffin/surfactant/water emulsion (PSW) for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) controlling was prepared and its potential for VOCs removal was investigated. Results indicated that PSW-5 (5%, v/v) provided higher toluene absorption efficiency (90.77%) than the other absorbents used. The saturation pressure, Henry’s constant, and activity coefficient of toluene in PSW-5 were significantly lower than those in water, and toluene solubility (1.331 g·L−1) in the PSW-5 was more than 2.5 times higher than the value in water. Several factors potentially affecting the toluene absorption efficiency were systematically investigated. The results suggested that concentration and pH of PSW, absorption temperature, and gas flow rate all had a strong influence on the toluene absorption, but the inlet concentration of toluene had little effect on the toluene absorption. There were different absorbing performances of PSW-5 on different VOCs, and the ketones, esters, and aromatics were more easily removed by the PSW-5 than the alkanes. Regeneration and reuse of the PSW were possible; after 3 runs of regeneration the absorption efficiency of PSW-5 for toluene also could reach 82.42%. So, the PSW is an economic, efficient, and safe absorbent and has a great prospect in organic waste gas treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless technology will be widely used in libraries with the development of the mobile network in the near future. This paper focuses on MAC protocol for wireless network based on ultra-wideband band (UWB) to solve the problems of real-time and reliability in the wireless transmitting. According to the particular signal characteristics such as low energy consumption and excellent location, we propose a multichannel MAC protocol (UWBIMAC) based on status-adaptive to choose the channel mechanism. Simulation results show that the protocol had the ability of stronger antijamming, improved network throughput, and provided better average delay performance than IEEE802.15.4 MAC, IEEE802.11 MAC, and other UWBIMAC protocols. This method could be used in the process of wireless transmission service in the library or other similar scenarios. To a certain extent, it solves the problem of real-time and reliable performance in the process of wireless communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]