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BackgroundSustained self-monitoring and self-management behaviors are crucial to maintain optimal health for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As smartphones and mobile health (mHealth) devices become widely available, self-monitoring using mHealth devices is an appealing strategy in support of successful self-management of T2DM. However, research indicates that engagement with mHealth devices decreases over time. Thus, it is important to understand engagement trajectories to provide varying levels of support that can improve self-monitoring and self-management behaviors. ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to develop (1) digital phenotypes of the self-monitoring behaviors of patients with T2DM based on their engagement trajectory of using multiple mHealth devices, and (2) assess the association of individual digital phenotypes of self-monitoring behaviors with baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. MethodsThis longitudinal observational feasibility study included 60 participants with T2DM who were instructed to monitor their weight, blood glucose, and physical activity using a wireless weight scale, phone-tethered glucometer, and accelerometer, respectively, over 6 months. We used latent class growth analysis (LCGA) with multitrajectory modeling to associate the digital phenotypes of participants’ self-monitoring behaviors based on their engagement trajectories with multiple mHealth devices. Associations between individual characteristics and digital phenotypes on participants’ self-monitoring behavior were assessed by analysis of variance or the Chi square test. ResultsThe engagement with accelerometers to monitor daily physical activities was consistently high for all participants over time. Three distinct digital phenotypes were identified based on participants’ engagement with the wireless weight scale and glucometer: (1) low and waning engagement group (24/60, 40%), (2) medium engagement group (20/60, 33%), and (3) consistently high engagement group (16/60, 27%). Participants that were younger, female, nonwhite, had a low income, and with a higher baseline hemoglobin A1c level were more likely to be in the low and waning engagement group. ConclusionsWe demonstrated how to digitally phenotype individuals’ self-monitoring behavior based on their engagement trajectory with multiple mHealth devices. Distinct self-monitoring behavior groups were identified. Individual demographic and clinical characteristics were associated with different self-monitoring behavior groups. Future research should identify methods to provide tailored support for people with T2DM to help them better monitor and manage their condition. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/13517

The rapid development of miniaturization and refinement of modern electronic components has led to higher requirements for nanosized powders. The barium strontium titanate (Ba1-xSrxTiO3, BST) nanopowders with fine grains, uniform particle size and high purity have broad application prospects. Herein, BST nanopowders were synthesized via nonhydrolytic sol-gel method and the effects of different processing parameters on structure were investigated systematically by using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, laser particle size analyser and thermogravimetric mass spectrometry. In the first step, different dispersants, dispersant concentration and calcination temperature were selected for synthesis of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 powder to find optimal conditions. In the second step, these optimal conditions were used to synthesize BST powders, but different (Ba+Sr)/Ti and Ba/Sr molar ratios were used to find those that can enable preparation of single phase cubic perovskite powder. Therefore, this study showed how the processing parameters can be systematically tuned with the idea to obtain ultra-fine single phase BST nanoparticles.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of covalent coupling with the dietary polyphenol rosmarinic acid (RA) on the structure and properties of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG). β-LG-RA complexes were prepared using the free radical and alkaline methods. The structural changes of β-LG after coupling with RA were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity of β-LG and its complexes with RA was assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical cation scavenging methods. Furthermore, their binding capacity to serum-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results revealed that the secondary structure of β-LG transformed from α-helix to β-sheet and random coil after RA covalent conjugation. The protein underwent changes in its secondary and tertiary structures. Additionally, compared to β-LG, the β-LG-RA covalent conjugates showed significantly enhanced antioxidant activity and reduced binding ability with serum specific IgG. In conclusion, covalent coupling with RA led to a significant improvement in the antioxidant activity of β-LG and a significant decrease in its binding capacity to serum-specific IgG by introducing phenolic hydroxyl groups.

Novel tungstate SrLa6-xW10O40: xEu3+ (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, 0.15, 0.18, 0.21) red phosphors were prepared by solid state method at 1150 °C by using SrCO3, La2O3, WO3 and Eu2O3 as raw materials. The powders were agglomerated with particles having mostly spheroidal morphology, mean particle size D50 = 12.8 μm and narrow particle size distribution. With the increase of doping amount x, there is no significant difference in the diffraction peak position of the phosphor, but the cell volume of SrLa6W10O40 slowly decreases. The relative strength of diffraction peaks decreases gradually and the half-peak width widens gradually, indicating that the inclusion of Eu3+ ions affects the crystallization of the SrLa6W10O40 matrix. Excitation and emission spectra of the prepared samples were obtained. The optimal doping content has the SrLa5.85W10O4: 0.15Eu3+ phosphor and is characterised with the colour coordinate of (0.652, 0.348), which is closer to the red standard colour (0.67, 0.33) than the near-ultraviolet red phosphor Y2O2S: Eu3+ (0.622, 0.351) used for commercial LED.

ABSTRACTAnti-interferon-γ autoantibody (AIGA) syndrome may be the basis of disseminated Talaromyces marneffei infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative adults. However, the pathogenesis of Th1 cell immunity in T. marneffei infection with AIGA syndrome is unknown. A multicenter study of HIV-negative individuals with T. marneffei infection was conducted between September 2018 and September 2020 in Guangdong and Guangxi, China. Patients were divided into AIGA-positive (AP) and AIGA-negative (AN) groups according to the AIGA titer and neutralizing activity. The relationship between AIGA syndrome and Th1 immune deficiency was investigated by using AP patient serum and purification of AIGA. Fifty-five HIV-negative adults with disseminated T. marneffei infection who were otherwise healthy were included. The prevalence of AIGA positivity was 83.6%. Based on their AIGA status, 46 and 9 patients were assigned to the AP and AN groups, respectively. The levels of Th1 cells, IFN-γ, and T-bet were higher in T. marneffei-infected patients than in healthy controls. However, the levels of CD4+ T-cell STAT-1 phosphorylation (pSTAT1) and Th1 cells were lower in the AP group than in the AN group. Both the serum of patients with AIGA syndrome and the AIGA purified from the serum of patients with AIGA syndrome could reduce CD4+ T-cell pSTAT1, Th1 cell differentiation and T-bet mRNA, and protein expression. The Th1 cell immune response plays a pivotal role in defense against T. marneffei infection in HIV-negative patients. Inhibition of the Th1 cell immune response may be an important pathological effect of AIGA syndrome.IMPORTANCEThe pathogenesis of Th1 cell immunity in Talaromyces marneffei infection with anti-interferon-γ autoantibody (AIGA) syndrome is unknown. This is an interesting study addressing an important knowledge gap regarding the pathogenesis of T. marneffei in non-HIV positive patients; in particular patients with AIGA. The finding of the Th1 cell immune response plays a pivotal role in defense against T. marneffei infection in HIV-negative patients, and inhibition of the Th1 cell immune response may be an important pathological effect of AIGA syndrome, which presented in this research could help bridge the current knowledge gap.

Abstract Background In a randomized trial, Lianhuaqingwen (LHQW) capsule was effective for accelerating symptom recovery among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the lack of blinding and limited sample sizes decreased the level of clinical evidence. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of LHQW capsule in adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Methods We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial in adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (17 sites from China, Thailand, Philippine and Vietnam). Patients received standard-of-care alone or plus LHQW capsules (4 capsules, thrice daily) for 14 days. The primary endpoint was the median time to sustained clinical improvement or resolution of nine major symptoms. Results The full-analysis set consisted of 410 patients in LHQW capsules and 405 in placebo group. LHQW significantly shortened the primary endpoint in the full-analysis set (4.0 vs. 6.7 days, hazards ratio: 1.63, 95% confidence interval: 1.39-1.90). LHQW capsules shortened the median time to sustained clinical improvement or resolution of stuffy or runny nose (2.8 vs. 3.7 days), sore throat (2.0 vs. 2.6 days), cough (3.2 vs. 4.9 days), feeling hot or feverish (1.0 vs. 1.3 days), low energy or tiredness (1.3 vs. 1.9 days), and myalgia (1.5 vs. 2.0 days). The duration to sustained clinical improvement or resolution of shortness of breath, headache, and chills or shivering did not differ significantly between the two groups. Safety was comparable between the two groups. No serious adverse events were reported. Interpretation LHQW capsules promote recovery of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 via accelerating symptom resolution and were well tolerated. Trial registration ChiCTR2200056727 .

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of touch imprint cytology (TIC) for sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases of patients with clinical node-negative early breast cancer. The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were meticulously searched to retrieve literature published from January 2005 to September 2022 by two independent reviewers. The meta-analysis was performed using STATA16.0, Meta-Disc 1.4, and RevMan 5.4.9. According to the inclusion criteria, 4,073 patients from 13 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of TIC for detecting SLN metastases were 0.77 (95% CI 0.66–0.85) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.97–1.00), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 76.15 (95% CI 29.16–198.84) and 0.23 (95% CI 0.15–0.36), respectively. The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 326.82 (95% CI 132.76–804.56) and the area under the sROC curve was 0.97 (95% CI 0.95–0.98), respectively. This meta-analysis revealed that TIC with high sensitivity and specificity is a feasibility and accuracy diagnosis technique for intraoperative detection of SLN metastases in breast cancer.

The use of smart contract technology for contract execution and real-time payment can ensure the timely availability of funds, thus ensuring the security and authenticity of data in power grid transactions. In this paper, we design a digital RMB smart contract model based on blockchain technology and use the hexadecimal model to create, deploy, and execute smart contract functions. And through the DTSC algorithm, smart contracts can be applied to the grid smart payment settlement. At the same time, a privacy protection algorithm for transaction data is proposed, and finally, the grid smart payment settlement system is designed based on smart contracts and privacy protection algorithms. Simulation test results show that the cost required for the digital RMB smart contract proposed in this paper is lower than the existing schemes in terms of invocation and deployment costs. The average chain code invocation delay in smart contract technology decreases when the transaction sending rate increases from 250TPS to 300TPS. Moreover, the on-chain operation time of this system is only 2.69 seconds, which meets the demand of practical power grid smart payment settlement applications. This paper sets the foundation for the efficient operation of the grid smart payment and settlement system and provides a guarantee for payment and settlement security.

The effects of different concentrations (0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, and 0.25%) of resveratrol (RE) on the structural properties, rheological properties and gel properties (gel strength, water retention, water mobility, whiteness and microstructure) of silver fish myofibrillar protein were investigated. RE was found to combine with myofibrillar protein molecules, resulting in an increase in the particle size. Ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra and intrinsic fluorescence spectra showed that the addition of RE changed the spatial conformation of myofibrillar protein and reduce its fluorescence intensity. The rheological results showed that the addition of RE increased the storage modulus and loss modulus of myofibrillar protein. As the amount of added RE increased, the gel strength first increased and then decreased. The addition of 0.15% of RE increased it by 38.43% compared with the control group. In addition, the addition of RE also improved the texture properties of the gel and increased the whiteness. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analysis showed that the addition of RE transformed part of the free water into immobilized water, enhancing the water-binding capacity of the gel. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the addition of RE promoted the formation of a denser gel network. These results show that when added at an appropriate level, RE could interact with silver carp myofibrillar protein to change its conformation, thereby enhancing the gel properties of myofibrillar protein and forming a dense gel network structure. The results of this study can provide a reference for improving the gel properties of freshwater fish surimi and the quality of surimi products.

Bioactive peptides from marine sources have a broad spectrum of biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-hypertensive and anti-atherogenic activity. The molecular mass of antioxidant peptides from marine sources is generally less than 3 kDa, and most of them are produced by pepsin hydrolysis. The molecular mass of antihypertensive peptides from marine sources, which have angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity, is generally less than 1.5 kDa. Peptides extracted from chlorella can inhibit the production of endothelial cell selectin and have anti-atherosclerotic activity. Peptides derived from the hydrolysis of green-lipped mussel by neutral protease can promote the proliferation of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor, and repair skin wound. Peptides derived from proteins in fish processing byproducts have good foaming and emulsifying properties; the higher the degree of hydrolysis, the better the solubility. This article aims to review the information on bioactive peptides isolated from different marine sources, with focus on different biological activities and functional properties as well as different industrial applications. It is expected to promote the development of functional products from bioactive peptides derived from marine sources and provide a theoretical reference for further studies on their biological and functional characteristics.

Abstract To provide a basis for further optimization of the polio sequential immunization schedule, this study evaluated the effectiveness of booster immunization with one dose of bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) at 48 months of age after different primary polio immunization schedules. At 48 months of age, one dose of bOPV was administered, and their poliovirus types 1–3 (PV1, PV2, and PV3, respectively)-specific neutralizing antibody levels were determined. Participants found to be negative for any type of PV-specific neutralizing antibody at 24, 36, or 48 months of age were re-vaccinated with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). The 439 subjects who received a bOPV booster immunization at the age of 48 months had lower PV2-specific antibody levels compared with those who received IPV. One dose of IPV during basic polio immunization induced the lowest PV2-specific antibody levels. On the basis of our findings, to ensure that no less than 70% of the vaccinated have protection efficiency, we recommend the following: if basic immunization was conducted with 1IPV + 2bOPV (especially Sabin strain-based IPV), a booster immunization with IPV is recommended at 36 months of age, whereas if basic immunization was conducted with 2IPV + 1bOPV, a booster immunization with IPV is recommended at 48 months of age. A sequential immunization schedule of 2IPV + 1bOPV + 1IPV can not only maintain high levels of antibody against PV1 and PV3 but also increases immunity to PV2 and induces early intestinal mucosal immunity, with relatively good safety. Thus, this may be the best sequential immunization schedule for polio in countries or regions at high risk for polio.

Iron metabolism is considered to play the principal role in sepsis, but the key iron metabolism-related genetic signatures are unclear. In this study, we analyzed and identified the genetic signatures related to the iron-metabolism in sepsis by using a bioinformatics analysis of four transcriptomic datasets from the GEO database. A total of 21 differentially expressed iron metabolism-related signatures were identified including 9 transporters, 8 enzymes, and 4 regulatory factors. Among them, lipocalin 2 was found to have the highest diagnostic value as its expression showed significant differences in all the comparisons including sepsis vs healthy controls, sepsis vs non-sepsis diseases, and mild forms vs severe forms of sepsis. Besides, the cytochrome P450 gene CYP1B1 also showed diagnostic values for sepsis from the non-sepsis diseases. The CYP4V2, LTF, and GCLM showed diagnostic values for distinguishing the severe forms from mild forms of sepsis. Our analysis identified 21 sepsis-associated iron metabolism-related genetic signatures, which may represent diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of sepsis, and will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the occurrence of sepsis.

Abstract Background Exosomes are nanosized membranous vesicles secreted by various types of cells, which facilitate intercellular communication by transporting bioactive compounds. Exosomes are abundant in biological fluids including semen, and their protein composition and the potential of seminal plasma exosomes (SPEs) as fertility biomarkers were elucidated in humans, however, little information is available regarding buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Here, we examined protein correlation between spermatozoa, seminal plasma (SP), and SPEs, and we compared and analyzed protein differences between high-motility (H-motility) and low-motility (L-motility) SPEs in buffalo. Results SPEs were concentrated and purified by ultracentrifugation combined with sucrose density gradient centrifugation, followed by verification using western blotting, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. Protein composition in spermatozoa, SP and SPEs, and protein difference in H- and L-motility SPEs were identified by LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis and were functionally analyzed through comprehensive bioinformatics. Many SPEs proteins originated from spermatozoa and SP, and nearly one third were also present in spermatozoa and SP. A series of proteins associated with reproductive processes including sperm capacitation, spermatid differentiation, fertilization, sperm-egg recognition, membrane fusion, and acrosome reaction were integrated in a functional network. Comparative proteomic analyses showed 119 down-regulated and 41 up-regulated proteins in L-motility SPEs, compared with H-motility SPEs. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) showed that most differential proteins were located in sperm and vesicles, with activities of hydrolase and metalloproteinase, and were involved in sperm-egg recognition, fertilization, single fertilization, and sperm-zona pellucida binding processes, etc. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that differential proteins were mainly involved in the PPRP signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and cAMP signaling pathway, among others. Furthermore, 6 proteins associated with reproduction were validated by parallel reaction monitoring analysis. Conclusion This study provides a comprehensive description of the seminal plasma exosome proteome and may be of use for further screening of biomarkers associated with male infertility.

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with poor prognosis and high mortality. This study aimed to explore the oncogenic mechanisms of TRAF5 in HCC and provide a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC. Methods Human HCC cell lines (HepG2, HuH7, SMMC-LM3, and Hep3B), normal adult liver epithelial cells (THLE-2), and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) were utilized. Cell transfection was performed for functional investigation. qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to detect mRNA expression of TRAF5, LTBR, and NF-κB and protein expression of TRAF5, p-RIP1(S166)/RIP1, p-MLKL(S345)/MLKL, LTBR, and p-NF-κB/NF-κB. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated using CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, and Transwell assays. Cell survival, necrosis, and apoptosis were assessed using flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342/PI double staining. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence were performed to determine the interaction between TRAF5 and LTBR. A xenograft model was established to validate the role of TRAF5 in HCC. Results TRAF5 knockdown inhibited HCC cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion, and survival but enhanced necroptosis. Additionally, TRAF5 is correlated with LTBR and TRAF5 silencing down-regulated LTBR in HCC cells. LTBR knockdown inhibited HCC cell viability, while LTBR overexpression eliminated the effects of TRAF5 deficiency on inhibiting HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival. LTBR overexpression abolished the promotive function of TRAF5 knockdown on cell necroptosis. LTBR overexpression undid the suppressive effect of TRAF5 knockdown on NF-κB signaling in HCC cells. Moreover, TRAF5 knockdown suppressed xenograft tumor growth, inhibited cell proliferation, and promoted tumor cell apoptosis. Conclusions TRAF5 deficiency facilitates necroptosis in HCC by suppressing LTBR-mediated NF-κB signaling.

Adenosine is a vital biological small molecule that regulates various physiological processes in the human body. A high expression of adenosine in cells can facilitate tumor growth. Therefore, detecting adenosine is crucial for early disease diagnosis. In this paper, we designed a fluorescent biosensor for the sensitive detection of adenosine based on the cationic comb-type copolymer PLL-g-Dex for assisted rapid hybridization of nucleic acids at room temperature. In this strategy, adenosine preferentially binds to the aptamer immobilized on the surface of magnetic nanobeads, releasing free aDNA in solution as the primer strand, which rapidly forms DNA nanowires with auxiliary probes of bDNA with the assistance of PLL-g-Dex. SYBR Green I is embedded in DNA duplexes to generate strong fluorescence. The experimental results showed that PLL-g-Dex promotes DNA hybridization reactions at room temperature to form ultra-long DNA nanowires, thus achieving signal amplification and shortening the detection time. In addition, magnetic nanobeads can reduce the background signal during the reaction. Compared with several previous studies on the fluorescence detection of adenosine, this strategy has a lower detection limit of 2.32 nM. Furthermore, this novel system exhibited a good detection performance even under complex environments, such as serum, providing some reference for the quantitative detection of adenosine in early disease diagnosis.

BACKGROUND Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a series of carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic hydrocarbons with high octanol-water partition coefficients, which are easily adsorbed by soil particles and affect the environment and human health. Sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8) oxidation method to remediate PAHs in organic contaminated soil is a more commonly used method in recent years both domestically and internationally. However, at the present stage, the urgent problem to be solved in measuring the content of PAHs in the remediation soil and evaluating the effect of soil remediation is that if sodium persulfate remains in the soil, the oxidation reaction of PAHs may be further accelerated due to the high extraction temperature in the sample pretreatment process. OBJECTIVES To develop an accurate method to determine PAHs in soil after remediation. METHODS The effects of no reductant and pre-added reductant-Soxhlet extraction on the recoveries of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 6 substitutes in soil after remediation were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS The results showed that the method of pre-added reductant (Vitamin C) was better than no reductant. The PAHs recoveries of pre-added reductant and no reductant were 76.2%-110.0% and 6.0%-72.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The comparative analysis showed that adding reducing agent before sample extraction could effectively eliminate the influence of residual sodium persulfate and improve the accuracy of PAHs determination results in soil after remediation. This study provides a new method for the accurate determination of PAHs in soil after remediation.

At present, a large number of studies have demonstrated that miRNAs can be used as biological indicators for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as tumours and cancer, so it is important to develop a new miRNA detection platform. In this work, miRNA-122 is used as the basis for targeting detection agents. We have designed an unlabelled DNA1 that undergoes partial hybridisation and has a 20 T base long strand. The fluorescent signal in this experiment is derived from copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) generated on the circular T-long strand of DNA1. At the same time, DNA1 is able to react with miRNA-122 and achieve hydrolysis of the part bound to miRNA-122 via the action of nucleic acid exonuclease III (Exo III), leaving a part of the DNA, called DNA3, while releasing miRNA-122 to participate in the next reaction, thus achieving circular amplification. DNA3 is able to react with DNA2, which is bound to streptavidin magnetic beads (SIBs) and separated from the reaction solution via the application of a magnetic field. Overall, this is a fluorescence signal reduction experiment, and the strength of the fluorescence signal from the copper nanoclusters can determine whether the target miRNA-122 is present or not. The degree of fluorescence reduction indicates how much DNA1, and thus the amount of target miRNA-122, has been hydrolysed. By evaluating the variations in the fluorescence signal under optimised conditions, we discovered that this method has good sensitivity, with a detection limit as low as 0.46 nM, better than many other previous works on fluorescence signal-based biosensors for miRNA detection. This technique offers high discrimination and selectivity and can serve as a persuasive reference for early diagnosis.

Cervical cancer is an important topic in the study of global health issues, ranking fourth among women’s cancer cases in the world. It is one of the nine major cancers that China is focusing on preventing and treating, and it is the only cancer that can be prevented through vaccination. Systematic and effective screening for human papilloma (HPV) infection, which is closely linked to the development of cervical cancer, can reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality. In this paper, an electrochemical sensor was designed to detect HPV 16 using dual-signal amplification. An APTES-modified glassy carbon electrode was used for improved stability. Gold nanoparticles and a chain amplification reaction were combined for signal amplification. The limit of detection (LOD) of this electrochemical sensor was 1.731 × 10−16 mol/L, and the linear response of the target detector range was from 1.0 × 10−13 mol/L to 1.0 × 10−5 mol/L (R2 = 0.99232). The test of serum sample recovery showed that it has good anti-interference, and the performance of all aspects was improved to different degrees compared with the previous research from the team. The designed sensor is centered around the principles of low cost, high sensitivity and stability, which provides new ideas for the future development of cervical cancer prevention and electrochemical biosensors.

• The linkage between crop water productivity and soil properties were summarized• Knowledge of soil microbial effects on crop water productivity is still limited• Knowledge of interactions of soil factors on crop water productivity is still limitedAgriculture uses a large proportion of global and regional water resources. Due to the rapid increase of population in the world, the increasing competition for water resources has led to an urgent need in increasing crop water productivity for agricultural sustainability. As the medium for crop growth, soils and their properties are important in affecting crop water productivity. This review examines the effects of soil physical, chemical, and microbial properties on crop water productivity and the quantitative relationships between them. A comprehensive view of these relationships may provide important insights for soil and water management in arable land for agriculture in the future.

BACKGROUND Compared with zircon U-Pb dating, monazite has more advantages in the dating of some metamorphic rocks or highly differentiated rocks. However, the U-Th-Pb isotopic dating of monazite has been limited, because of high Th concentration (commonly>7%), many mineral inclusions, and rare dating standard samples. Previous research on LA-ICP-MS U-Th-Pb dating of monazite mainly focused on laser parameters, and lacked attention on ICP-MS conditions. OBJECTIVES To find suitable experimental LA-ICP-MS monazite dating conditions. METHODS Using 193nm ArF excimer laser ablation system and Agilent 7500a inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer, laser parameters (laser beam spot diameter and laser frequency) and ICP-MS parameters(dwelling time of 232Th) were investigated. The laser beam spot diameter was set to 24μm, 16μm and 10μm, and the laser frequency was set to 3Hz, 4Hz and 5Hz. The dwelling time of 232Th was set to 10ms, 6ms, 3ms and 1ms for U-Th-Pb dating. Finally, the monazite sample RW-1 was used as the standard sample to calibrate the monazite sample Bananeira. RESULTS It was suitable for monazite dating when the beam spot diameter was 16μm, the dwelling time of 232Th was 3ms or 1ms, the energy density was 4J/cm2, the laser frequency was 5Hz, the carrier gas (He) flow rate was 0.35L/min, and the carrier gas (Ar) flow rate was 0.95L/min. Under these conditions, Bananeira's weighted average ages of 207Pb/235U were 510.7±8.6Ma (MSWD=0.87), and 513.8±5.7Ma (MSWD=0.38), which were consistent with the recommended age of 507.7±1.3Ma with respective errors of 0.59% and 1.20%. 208Pb/232Th weighted average ages were 496.9±8.6Ma (MSWD=0.596) and 499.8±5.6Ma (MSWD=0.37), which were consistent with the recommended age of 497.6±1.6Ma, with respective errors of 0.14% and 0.44%. The 207Pb/235U weighted average age of Huangshan sample HS-1 was 128.3±2.4Ma (MSWD=0.73), which were close to the zircon age of 127.0±2.1Ma (MSWD=0.93) in the Huangshan area. CONCLUSIONS The optimal laser and ICP-MS conditions are suitable for monazite U-Th-Pb isotopic age determination.

Acute treatment of young patients with proximal femoral fracture (PFF) remains a challenge for trauma surgeons due to major fracture displacement and heavy pain in clinical practice. Traditional methods have a variety of intrinsic defaults and cannot successfully manage the requirements of young patients. Benefiting from our anatomic research, we explored a new method of external fixation for this specific trauma and evaluated its feasibility and clinical outcomes.

乙酰辅酶A羧化酶是谷氨酸棒杆菌中调控脂肪酸合成的关键酶。为了研究乙酰辅酶A羧化酶α亚基（accBC）基因对脂肪酸合成的影响，以accBC表达的菌株重组谷氨酸棒杆菌G-BC为材料，研究了诱导剂异丙基-β-D-硫代半乳糖苷（IPTG）浓度、培养时间、培养温度对重组谷氨酸棒杆菌G-BC脂肪酸产量的影响，并通过响应面法优化了重组谷氨酸棒杆菌G-BC产脂肪酸的培养条件，同时与原始菌株脂肪酸产量进行了对比。结果表明：重组谷氨酸棒杆菌G-BC产脂肪酸的最佳条件为诱导剂浓度1 mmol/L 、培养时间20 h、培养温度32 ℃，在此条件下脂肪酸产量为34.56 mg/g（以菌体干质量计），比原始菌株提高了1.68倍。说明乙酰辅酶A羧化酶α亚基对于谷氨酸棒杆菌合成脂肪酸有促进作用。 Acetyl-CoA carboxylase is a key enzyme regulating fatty acid synthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicum. In order to study the effect of acetyl-CoA carboxylase α subunit (accBC) gene on fatty acid synthesis,the recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum G-BC(expression strain of accBC) was used as raw material, the effects of inducer(isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside,IPTG) concentration, culture time and culture temperature on the yield of fatty acid were studied. Moreover, the culture conditions for fatty acid production of recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum G-BC were optimized by response surface methodology. The fatty acid yield of the original strain and the recombinant strain was also compared.The results showed that the optimal culture conditions were obtained as follows: inducer concentration 1 mmol/L, culture time 20 h, and culture temperature 32 ℃. Under these conditions, the yield of fatty acid was 34.56 mg/g（based on dry weight of bacteria）, which was 1.68 times higher than original strain. The accBC can promote the synthesis of fatty acid by Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Graphene oxide/epoxy composite coatings have attracted much attention from researchers due to their excellent anti-corrosion properties. Graphene oxide as a two-dimensional nano-filler can enhance the overall properties of epoxy resin coatings. In the paper, models of graphene oxide/epoxy composite coatings with different permeation degrees are constructed respectively. The interfacial interaction between GO and epoxy resin and the adsorption properties of epoxy coating with metal are analyzed from an atomic perspective by molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate that the interfacial adsorption effect of the epoxy coating on the protected metal is stronger than the interfacial bonding of GO on the epoxy resin matrix. Simulations of models with different degrees of permeation suggest that the permeation of the NaCl solution occupies the interfacial space and reduces the adhesion between the two interfaces.

C27H18CdN6O4, triclinic, P1‾$P‾{1}$ (no. 2), a = 10.2994(8) Å, b = 10.7795(7) Å, c = 11.0038(7) Å, α = 89.778(5)°, β = 78.046(6)°, γ = 83.049(6)°, Z = 2, V = 1186.11(14) Å3, Rgt(F) = 0.0402, wRref(F2) = 0.0809, T = 293 K.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important cause of cervical cancer formation; therefore, being able to detect high-risk HPV (e.g., HPV-16) is important for the early treatment and prevention of cervical cancer. In this study, a combination of a 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) modified gold electrode and a super sandwich structure was creatively developed, resulting in the development of a biosensor that is both sensitive and stable for the detection of HPV-16. The electrochemical biosensor possesses a lower detection limit compared with previous studies with an LOD of 5.475 × 10−16 mol/L and it possesses a wide linear range from 1.0 × 10−13 mol/L to 1.0 × 10−6 mol/L (R2 = 0.9923) for the target DNA. The experimental data show that the sensor has good stability, and there is no significant decrease in the current response value after 7 days in the low-temperature environment. In addition, the sensor proved to be a powerful clinical tool for disease diagnosis because it showed good interference resistance in complex human serum samples.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical biomarker in the angiogenesis of several cancers. Nowadays, novel approaches to rapid, sensitive, and reliable VEGF detection are urgently required for early cancer diagnosis. Cationic comb-type copolymer, poly(L-lysine)-graft-dextran (PLL-g-Dex) accelerates DNA hybridization and chain exchange reaction while stabilizing the DNA assembly structure. In this work, we examined the chaperone activity of PLL-g-Dex to assist G-quadruplex-based fluorescent DNA biosensors for sensitive detection of VEGF. This convenient and effective strategy is based on chitosan hydrogel, c-myc, Thioflavin T (ThT), VEGF aptamer, and its partially complementary strand. The results show that chaperone copolymer PLL-g-Dex significantly promotes the accumulation of G-quadruplex and assembles into G-wires, allowing an effective signal amplification. Using this method, the detection limit of VEGF was as low as 23 pM, better than many previous works on aptamer-based VEGF detection. This chaperone copolymer-assisted signal amplification strategy has potential applications in the highly sensitive detection of target proteins, even including viruses.

Although miRNAs exist in small quantities in the human body, they are closely related to the abnormal expression of genes in diseases such as tumors. Therefore, sensitive detection of miRNAs is very important for the prevention and treatment of various tumors and major diseases. The purpose of this study is to develop a label-free sensing strategy based on the co-action of double-hairpin molecular beacons and deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) for highly sensitive detection of miRNA-21. The target miRNA-21 promotes the assembly of DNAzyme with a complete catalytic core region. At the presence of Mg2+, DNAzyme cuts a substrate into short chains, which open the double hairpin molecular beacon, and then form G-quadruplexs at both ends, specifically binding more ThT to generate a amplified fluorescent signal. The cut substrate will be replaced by the uncut ones in the next stage, increasing the concentration of reactants, and thus further improving the fluorescence intensity. This DNAzyme assisted double hairpin molecular beacon has a certain degree of discrimination for substances with single base mismatches, and the detection limit of miRNA-21 is 0.13 pM, lower than that of the many other analysis. Further, this detection has good selectivity and sensitivity in serum. Therefore, this strategy provides a simple, fast and low-cost platform for the sensitive detection of miRNA-21, having potential applications in early cancer diagnosis.

The appropriate pressure sensitive adhesion performances at working temperature are vital for the applications of waterborne polyurethane (WPU). Understanding the relationship among rheological behaviors, macromolecular structures and adhesive performances can be very useful to the rational design of waterborne polyurethane pressure sensitive adhesives (WPU-PSAs) for different operating temperatures, as well as other kinds of adhesives. In this study, four kinds of WPU-PSAs were prepared by reacting polypropylene glycol (PPG), hydrogenated hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HHTPB), dimethyl alcohol propionic acid (DMPA), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and four kinds of chain extenders. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), swelling and rheology tests were used in parallel with an analysis of adhesive performances of the dried films of the adhesives. Results showed that, in addition to the nature of chain extenders playing a role on the rheological behaviors and adhesive performances of polymer, the gel content could be used to adjust the macromolecular structure and molecular weight distribution of polymer, thus distinctly affected the adhesive performances of PSA. The relationship among rheological behaviors, macromolecular structure and adhesive performances was investigated, and the rational design of WPU was achieved with appropriate pressure sensitive adhesion properties for different working temperatures of 25 and 60 °C.

This paper addresses a special and imperceptible class of privacy, called implicit privacy. In contrast to traditional (explicit) privacy, implicit privacy has two essential properties: (1) It is not initially defined as a privacy attribute; (2) it is strongly associated with privacy attributes. In other words, attackers could utilize it to infer privacy attributes with a certain probability, indirectly resulting in the disclosure of private information. To deal with the implicit privacy disclosure problem, we give a measurable definition of implicit privacy, and propose an ex-ante implicit privacy-preserving framework based on data generation, called IMPOSTER. The framework consists of an implicit privacy detection module and an implicit privacy protection module. The former uses normalized mutual information to detect implicit privacy attributes that are strongly related to traditional privacy attributes. Based on the idea of data generation, the latter equips the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) framework with an additional discriminator, which is used to eliminate the association between traditional privacy attributes and implicit ones. We elaborate a theoretical analysis for the convergence of the framework. Experiments demonstrate that with the learned generator, IMPOSTER can alleviate the disclosure of implicit privacy while maintaining good data utility.

Flourishing green hydrogen economy worldwide serves as a pillar for global energy transition and carbon-neutral targets. However, rare researches on the environmental impact of green hydrogen production have focused on national average resource availability and technology market share. Nor a detailed and holistic sensitivity and uncertainty analysis regarding both foreground and background parameters in the green hydrogen production life cycle could be found. To fill these gaps, we present this study as a comprehensive environmental impact investigation of renewable-electricity-based water electrolysis H2 production in France, in terms of average resource availability and technology market share in France in 2019. Water electrolysis H2 production with average French wind electricity through proton exchange membrane electrolysis unit was identified as the most environmentally-beneficial option among all pathways studied. By building the corresponding French national benchmark parametric life cycle model, the key parameters that determine the environmental impact of green hydrogen in France were revealed. Under current French context, environmental impact’s uncertainty for solar-to-H2 and wind-to-H2 pathways is between 19%-26% and 8%-11%, respectively. Based on the unit process contribution investigation and further scenario analyses, we propose the guidelines and suggestions on improving life cycle renewability and sustainability to French green H2 production.

C13H15NO8SZn, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 12.3456(3) Å, b = 13.7680(4) Å, c = 19.9125(5) Å, β = 107.051(2)°, V = 3235.85(14) Å3, Z = 8, Rgt(F) = 0.0325, wRref(F2) = 0.0819, T = 293(2) K.

C14H14CdN6O6, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 11.2983(5) Å, b = 9.2539(4) Å, c = 17.0604(7) Å, β = 105.398(1)°, Z = 4, V = 1719.69(13) Å3, Rgt(F) = 0.0321, wRref(F2) = 0.1060, T = 193(2) K.

Abstract In this paper, the auxiliary principle technique is extended to study a system of generalized set-valued strongly nonlinear mixed implicit quasi-variational-like inequalities problem in Hilbert spaces. First, we establish the existence of solutions of the corresponding system of auxiliary variational inequalities problem. Then, using the existence result, we construct a new iterative algorithm. Finally, both the existence of solutions of the original problem and the convergence of iterative sequences generated by the algorithm are proved. We give an affirmative answer to the open problem raised by Noor et al. (Korean J. Comput. Appl. Math. 1:73-89, 1998; J. Comput. Appl. Math. 47:285-312, 1993). Our results improve and extend some known results.

The heat conduction in half-plane with an insulated crack subjected to moving point heat source is investigated. The analytical solution and the numerical means are combined to analyze the transient temperature distribution of a cracked half-plane under moving point heat source. The transient temperature distribution of the half plane structure under moving point heat source is obtained by the moving coordinate method firstly, then the heat conduction equation with thermal boundary of an insulated crack face is changed to singular integral equation by applying Fourier transforms and solved by the numerical method. The numerical examples of the temperature distribution on the cracked half-plane structure under moving point heat source are presented and discussed in detail.

AIM:To introduce a new near-vision chart for children aged 3-5 years old and its clinical applications.METHODS:The new near-vision chart which combined the Bailey-Lovie layout with a newly devised set of symmetry symbols was designed based on Weber-Fechner law. It consists of 15 rows of symmetry symbols, corresponding to a visual acuity range from 1.3 to 0.1 logMAR. The optotypes were red against a white background and were specially shaped four basic geometric symbols:circle, square, triangle，and cross, which matched the preschool children''s cognitive level. A regular geometric progression of the optotype sizes and distribution was employed to arrange in 15 lines. The progression rate of the optotype size between two lines was 1.2589 and two smaller groups of optotypes ranging from 0.7 to -0.1 logMAR were included for repetitive testing. A near visual acuity was recorded in logMAR or decimal, and the testing distance was 25 cm.RESULTS:This new near-vision chart with pediatric acuity test optotypes which consists of 4 different symbols (triangle, square, cross, and circle) met the national and international eye chart design guidelines. When performing the near visual acuity assessment in preschoolers (3-5 years old). It overcame an inability to recognize the letters of the alphabet and difficulties in designating the direction of black abstract symbols such as the tumbling ''E'' or Landolt ''C'', which the subjects were prone to lose interest in. Near vision may be recorded in different notations:decimal acuity and logMAR. These two notations can be easily converted each other in the new near-vision chart. The measurements of this new chart not only showed a significant correlation and a good consistency with the Chinese national standard logarithmic near-vision chart (r=0.932, P<0.01), but also indicated good test-retest reliability (89% of retest scores were within 0.1 logMAR units of the initial test score) and a high response rate.CONCLUSION:The results of this study support the validity and reliability of near visual acuity measurements using the new near-vision chart in children aged 3-5y over a wide range of visual acuities, and the new eye chart was especially suitable for the detection of amblyopia risk factors and low vision examination in children (3-5y of age). It can be applied in routine clinical practice.

AIM: To investigate the long-term outcomes after surgery for intermittent exotropia \〖X(T)\〗, constant exotropia with a previously intermittent history and constant exotropia without a previously intermittent history. METHODS: Totally 137 patients with intermittent exotropia or constant exotropia who had underwent surgery were analyzed retrospectively. They were assigned into three groups: group 1, seventy-four patients with X(T); group 2, thirty-eight constant exotropia patients with a previously intermittent history; group 3, twenty-five constant exotropia patients without a previously intermittent history. The surgical outcomes in the ocular deviation and the recovery of stereoacuity were compared separately among the three groups. The average follow-up time was 2.2 years. RESULTS: The successful alignment rates were 78%(group 1), 68%(group 2), 64%(group 3), respectively(group 1 vs group 2, P=0.249; group 1 vs group 3, P=0.153; group 2 vs group 3, P=0.716). Fifty-seven patients(77%)in group 1, five patients(13%)in group 2 and one patient(4%)in group 3 achieved binocularity after surgery(group 1 vs group 2, P<0.001; group 1 vs group 3, P<0.001; group 2 vs group 3, P=0.440). The number of patients who achieved gross stereopsis in group 1, group 2 and group 3 were 66(89%), 27(71%), 8(32%)(group 1 vs group 2, P=0.015; group 1 vs group 3, P<0.001; group 2 vs group 3, P=0.002). Twenty-nine patients(56%)in group 1, 5 patients(24%)in group 2, 1 patients(7%)in group 3 achieved distance stereoacuity(group 1 vs group 2, P=0.013; group 1 vs group 3, P=0.001; group 2 vs group 3, P=0.366). CONCLUSION: Patients with constant exotropia who had a intermittent history have a better surgical result compared with those without a intermittence period in gross stereopsis, but a worse postoperative sensory outcome than patients with X(T)in binocular vision, gross stereopsis, and distant stereoacuity. Constant exotropia patients with a period of X(T)may have missed the optimal timing for treatment, early surgery can optimize the postoperative sensory results.

C13H17N3OS, monoclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 7.746(6) Å, b = 12.344(9) Å, c = 12.655(9) Å, α = 95.766(7)°, β = 98.007(7)°, γ = 101.595(13)°, V = 1163.4(15) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0550, wRref(F2) = 0.1616, T = 296(2) K.

C16H20N4Ni, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 7.6578(10) Å, b = 17.184(2) Å, c = 11.6581(15) Å, β = 100.837(2)°, V = 1506.7(3) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0356, wRref(F2) = 0.0945, T = 296(2) K.

With the expansion of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in smart cities, the shared bicycle has developed quickly as a new green public transportation mode, and is changing the travel habits of citizens heavily across the world, especially in China. The purpose of the current paper is to provide an inclusive review and survey on shared bicycle besides its benefits, history, brands and comparisons. In addition, it proposes the concept of the Internet of Shared Bicycle (IoSB) for the first time, as far as we know, to find a feasible solution for those technical problems of the shared bicycle. The possible architecture of IoSB in our opinion is presented, as well as most of key IoT technologies, and their capabilities to merge into and apply to the different parts of IoSB are introduced. Meanwhile, some challenges and barriers to IoSB’s implementation are expressed thoroughly too. As far as the advice for overcoming those barriers be concerned, the IoSB’s potential aspects and applications in smart city with respect to technology development in the future provide another valuable further discussion in this paper.

Multitag identification is one of the main advantages of the radio frequency identification (RFID) system. In the RFID system, the capture effect often happens in the real environment. When the capture effect occurs, the reader will not completely identify the tags in its scope. In many RFID applications, to get the real-time number of tags, the reader identifies the tags repeatedly. In these cases, the tag in the reader's scope is a staying tag or an arriving tag. The reader already stores the IDs of all staying tags, so it can just verify the existence of these tags to rapidly identify them. As a result, the reader can spend the main time in recognizing arriving tags. To cope with the capture effect and identify staying tags rapidly, this paper presents a collecting collision tree protocol for RFID tag identification with capture effect (CCT). In CCT, a collecting mechanism is adopted and a lot of staying tags can be recognized in a slot. What is more, the reader can identify all tags in its range when the capture effect happens. Finally, various analysis and simulation results show that CCT outperforms the existing algorithms significantly.

Maternal protein components change markedly during mammalian oogenesis. Many of these proteins have yet to be characterized and verified. In this study, a proteomics approach was used to evaluate changes in proteins during oogenesis in the Swamp Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Proteins from 500 immature oocytes and 500 in vitro matured oocytes were subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis, and more than 400 spots were detected. Image analysis indicated that 17 proteins were differentially expressed between the two groups. Eight proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. In mature oocytes, three proteins were down-regulated: major vault protein (MVP), N-acetyllactosaminide β-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (GCNT-2), and gem-associated protein (GEMIN)8, whereas five other proteins, heat shock protein (HSP)60, Ras-responsive element-binding protein 1 (RREB-1), heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (HSC71), hemoglobin subunit α (HBA), and BMP-2-inducible protein kinase (BMP-2K), were up-regulated. The expression profiles of HSP60 and GEMIN8 were further verified by Western blotting. The changes in HSP60 protein expression demonstrate the increasing need for mitochondrial protein importation to facilitate macromolecular assembly during oocyte maturation. The down-regulation of GEMIN8 production implies that RNA splicing is impaired in mature oocytes.

Heart failure (HF) is a serious cardiovascular disease and is characterized by exaggerated sympathetic activity. In this paper, we review these limited studies, with particular emphasis on examining the role of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in the neurohumoral excitation in HF. The PVN is an important neuroendocrine and preautonomic output nucleus, and is considered as the important central site for integration of sympathetic nerve activity. Accumulating evidences demonstrate that a number of neurohumoral processes are involved in the pathophysiology of HF, such as renin-angiotensin system (RAS), proinflammatory cytokines (PICs), neurotransmitters, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recent studies about neurohumoral regulation indicate that angiotensin II type1 receptor (AT1-R) is the important product mediated by cytoplasmic nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) which is up-regulated along with elevated PICs and angiotensin II (ANG II) in the PVN of HF rats. These findings suggest that the NF-κB mediates the cross-talk between RAS and PICs in the PVN in HF. The further studies indicate that the interaction between AT1-R and NF-κB in the PVN contributes to oxidative stress and sympathoexcitation by modulating neurotransmitters in heart failure, and the superoxide activates NF-κB in the PVN and contributes to neurohumoral excitation. In conclusion, the neurohumoral excitation in HF is based on the interaction of RAS, PICs, ROS, NF-κB and neurotransmitters in the PVN; and the activated NF-κB in the PVN modulates the neurotransmitters and contributes to sympathoexcitation in rats with heart failure.

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to develop a modified retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy and compare its results with the previous technique. Methods One hundred retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomies were performed from February 2007 to October 2011. The previous technique was performed in 60 cases (Group 1). The modified technique (n = 40) included fast access to the renal pedicle according to several anatomic landmarks and early ligation of renal vessels (Group 2). The mean operation time, mean blood loss, duration of hospital stay conversion rate and complication rate were compared between the groups. Results No significant differences were detected regarding mean patient age, mean body mass index, and tumor size between the two groups (P >0.05). The mean operation time was 59.5 ± 20.0 and 39.5 ± 17.5 minutes, respectively, in Groups 1 and 2 (P P P >0.05). Conclusions Early ligature using fast access to the renal vessels during retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy contributed to less operation time and intraoperative blood loss compared with the previous technique. In addition, the modified technique permits the procedure to be performed following the principles of open radical nephrectomy.

Abstract Background Regardless of the availability of therapeutic options, the overall 5-year survival for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer remains less than 5%. Gum resins from Boswellia species, also known as frankincense, have been used as a major ingredient in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat a variety of health-related conditions. Both frankincense chemical extracts and essential oil prepared from Boswellia species gum resins exhibit anti-neoplastic activity, and have been investigated as potential anti-cancer agents. The goals of this study are to identify optimal condition for preparing frankincense essential oil that possesses potent anti-tumor activity, and to evaluate the activity in both cultured human pancreatic cancer cells and a xenograft mouse cancer model. Methods Boswellia sacra gum resins were hydrodistilled at 78°C; and essential oil distillate fractions were collected at different durations (Fraction I at 0–2 h, Fraction II at 8–10 h, and Fraction III at 11–12 h). Hydrodistillation of the second half of gum resins was performed at 100°C; and distillate was collected at 11–12 h (Fraction IV). Chemical compositions were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS); and total boswellic acids contents were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Frankincense essential oil-modulated pancreatic tumor cell viability and cytotoxicity were determined by colorimetric assays. Levels of apoptotic markers, signaling molecules, and cell cycle regulators expression were characterized by Western blot analysis. A heterotopic (subcutaneous) human pancreatic cancer xenograft nude mouse model was used to evaluate anti-tumor capability of Fraction IV frankincense essential oil in vivo. Frankincense essential oil-induced tumor cytostatic and cytotoxic activities in animals were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results Longer duration and higher temperature hydrodistillation produced more abundant high molecular weight compounds, including boswellic acids, in frankincense essential oil fraactions. Human pancreatic cancer cells were sensitive to Fractions III and IV (containing higher molecular weight compounds) treatment with suppressed cell viability and increased cell death. Essential oil activated the caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway, induced a rapid and transient activation of Akt and Erk1/2, and suppressed levels of cyclin D1 cdk4 expression in cultured pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, Boswellia sacra essential oil Fraction IV exhibited anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities against pancreatic tumors in the heterotopic xenograft mouse model. Conclusion All fractions of frankincense essential oil from Boswellia sacra are capable of suppressing viability and inducing apoptosis of a panel of human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Potency of essential oil-suppressed tumor cell viability may be associated with the greater abundance of high molecular weight compounds in Fractions III and IV. Although chemical component(s) responsible for tumor cell cytotoxicity remains undefined, crude essential oil prepared from hydrodistillation of Boswellia sacra gum resins might be a useful alternative therapeutic agent for treating patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis.

Abstract Background Acquired radioresistance of cancer cells remains a fundamental barrier to attaining the maximal efficacy of radiotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Anti-apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, play an important role in the radioresistance of cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to determine if ABT-737, a BH3-only mimic, could reverse the acquired radioresistance of the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231R by targeting Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Methods The radiosensitivity of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-231R cells was compared using colony formation assays. Reverse-transcription PCR and western blot were performed to detect the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in the cancer cell lines. Annexin V flow cytometric analysis and caspase-3 colorimetric assay were used to evaluate apoptosis of the cancer cells. Cell viability was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8. The animals used in this study were 4 to 6-week-old athymic female BALB/c nu/nu mice. Results The MDA-MB-231R cells were more radioresistant than the MDA-MB-231 cells, and Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were overexpressed in the MDA-MB-231R cells. While ABT-737 was able to restore the radiosensitivity of the MDA-MB-231R cells in vitro and in vivo experiment, it was not able to enhance the radiosensitivity of the MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, ABT-737 increased radiation-induced apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231R cells. Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were down regulated in the MDA-MB-231R cells following treatment with ABT-737. Conclusions Targeting of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL with ABT-737 may reverse the acquired radioresistance of MDA-MB-231R cells in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest an attractive strategy for overcoming the acquired radioresistance of breast cancer cells.

Abstract Background The Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) provides a useful tool for prediction of renal prognosis. However, the application of this classification in children with IgAN needs validation in different patient populations. Methods A total of 218 children with IgAN from 7 renal centers in China were enrolled. The inclusion criteria was similar to the original Oxford study. Results There were 98 patients (45%) with mesangial proliferation (M1), 51 patients (23%) with endocapillary proliferation (E1), 136 patients (62%) with segmental sclerosis/adhesion lesion (S1), 13 patients (6%) with moderate tubulointerstitial fibrosis (T1 26-50% of cortex scarred), and only 2 patients (1%) with severe tubulointerstitial fibrosis (T2, >50% of cortex scarred). During a median follow-up duration of 56 months, 24 children (12.4%) developed ESRD or 50% decline in renal function. In univariate COX analysis, we found that tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (HR 4.3, 95%CI 1.8-10.5, P Conclusions We confirmed tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis was the only feature independently associated with renal outcomes in Chinese children with IgAN.

Abstract Background Chemokines and their receptors are known to play important roles in the tumorigenesis of many malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the expression of the chemokine SDF-1 and its receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Methods The expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 in specimens from 97 renal cell carcinoma patients was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray. These results were correlated with the clinicopathological parameters and survival of the patients. Results CXCR4 and CXCR7 were expressed in all patients, whereas SDF-1 was expressed in 61 patients (62.9%). No association was observed between the expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 or SDF-1 and the clinical or pathological data except between SDF-1 expression and Fuhrman’s grade (P = 0.015). Patients with high expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 had shorter overall survival and recurrence-free survival than those with low expression. In a multivariate analysis, the high expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 correlated with poor overall survival and recurrence-free survival independent of gender, age, AJCC stage, lymph node status, metastasis, histologic variant and Fuhrman’s grade. Conclusions High levels of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 were associated with poor overall survival and recurrence-free survival in renal cell carcinoma patients. CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 may serve as useful prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for renal cell carcinoma.

Abstract Background Inflammatory injury plays a critical role in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)-induced neurological deficits; however, the signaling pathways are not apparent by which the upstream cellular events trigger innate immune and inflammatory responses that contribute to neurological impairments. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a role in inflammatory damage caused by brain disorders. Methods In this study, we investigate the role of TLR4 signaling in ICH-induced inflammation. In the ICH model, a significant upregulation of TLR4 expression in reactive microglia has been demonstrated using real-time RT-PCR. Activation of microglia was detected by immunohistochemistry, cytokines were measured by ELISA, MyD88, TRIF and NF-κB were measured by Western blot and EMSA, animal behavior was evaluated by animal behavioristics. Results Compared to WT mice, TLR4−/− mice had restrained ICH-induced brain damage showing in reduced cerebral edema and lower neurological deficit scores. Quantification of cytokines including IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β and assessment of macrophage infiltration in perihematoma tissues from TLR4−/−, MyD88−/− and TRIF−/− mice showed attenuated inflammatory damage after ICH. TLR4−/− mice also exhibited reduced MyD88 and TRIF expression which was accompanied by decreased NF-κB activity. This suggests that after ICH both MyD88 and TRIF pathways might be involved in TLR4-mediated inflammatory injury possibly via NF-κB activation. Exogenous hemin administration significantly increased TLR4 expression and microglial activation in cultures and also exacerbated brain injury in WT mice but not in TLR4−/− mice. Anti-TLR4 antibody administration suppressed hemin-induced microglial activation in cultures and in the mice model of ICH. Conclusions Our findings suggest that heme potentiates microglial activation via TLR4, in turn inducing NF-κB activation via the MyD88/TRIF signaling pathway, and ultimately increasing cytokine expression and inflammatory injury in ICH. Targeting TLR4 signaling may be a promising therapeutic strategy for ICH.

Abstract Background Smoking is a significant women's health issue. Examining smoking behaviors among occupational groups with a high prevalence of women may reveal the culture of smoking behavior and quit efforts of female smokers. The purpose of this study was to examine how smoking and quitting characteristics (i.e., ever and recent quit attempts) among females in the occupation of nursing are similar or different to those of women in the general population. Methods Cross-sectional data from the Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey 2006/2007 were used to compare smoking behaviors of nurses (n = 2, 566) to those of non-healthcare professional women (n = 93, 717). Smoking characteristics included years of smoking, number of cigarettes, and time to first cigarette with smoking within the first 30 minutes as an indicator of nicotine dependence. Logistic regression models using replicate weights were used to determine correlates of ever and previous 12 months quit attempts. Results Nurses had a lower smoking prevalence than other women (12.1% vs 16.6%, p < 0.0001); were more likely to have ever made a quit attempt (77% vs 68%, p = 0.0002); but not in the previous 12 months (42% vs 43%, p = 0.77). Among those who ever made a quit attempt, nurses who smoked within 30 minutes of waking, were more likely to have made a quit attempt compared to other women (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.9, 5.1). When considering quit attempts within the last 12 months, nurses whose first cigarette was after 30 minutes of waking were less likely to have made a quit attempt compared to other females (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.98). There were no other significant differences in ever/recent quitting. Conclusions Smoking prevalence among female nurses was lower than among women who were not in healthcare occupations, as expected. The lack of difference in recent quit efforts among female nurses as compared to other female smokers has not been previously reported. The link between lower level of nicotine dependence, as reflected by the longer time to first cigarette, and lower quit attempts among nurses needs further exploration.