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Objective: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a serious opportunistic infection mainly diagnosed in patients with rheumatic conditions. However, PJP in anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5-positive dermatomyositis (MDA5 + DM) patients remains poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the 6-month PJP risk in newly diagnosed MDA5 + DM patients. Methods: A retrospective observational study of 105 inpatients with newly diagnosed MDA5 + DM was conducted at Renji Hospital from January 2018 to November 2019. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, and treatment data were recorded. The primary outcome was PJP incidence within 6 months after a MDA5 + DM diagnosis. Results: The analysis included 105 patients, including 13 patients diagnosed with PJP during the observation period. The median time from the MDA5 + DM diagnosis to PJP was 89 ± 38 days. Compared with the PJP − patients, the PJP + patients had a significantly greater risk of mortality (69.2% vs. 13.0% P < 0.001). Regarding the baseline comorbidities, hypertension (P = 0.013) and cancer (P = 0.02) were more common in the PJP + group. Additionally, a larger proportion of the PJP + patients received prolonged high-dose steroid therapy (≥ 60 mg/day and ≥ 1 month) (P = 0.022) and double or triple immunosuppressant therapy (P = 0.013). The multivariate analysis showed that PJP was independently associated with lymphopenia (ALC < 500 cells/µl) (OR: 5.434, 95% CI: 2.074–55.155; P = 0.012) and the combined use of cyclophosphamide (CTX) and tacrolimus (TAC) (OR: 10.695, 95% CI: 1.440–20.508; P = 0.005). Conclusion: There was a high incidence and mortality in the MDA5 + DM patients with PJP, with patients on combined immunosuppressive treatments, particularly CTX and TAC, being at a higher risk. Prolonged high-dose steroid therapy (≥ 60 mg/day and ≥ 1 month) was another risk factor for PJP. Key Points • There was a high incidence and mortality in the MDA5 + DM patients with PJP. • Most PJP cases occurred within 3 months after the MDA5 + DM diagnosis. • The 6-month infection risk of PJP increased with the administration of multiagent immunosuppression, especially the combination of CTX and TAC. • Prolonged high-dose steroid therapy (≥ 60 mg/day and ≥ 1 month) was another risk factor for PJP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a systemic small-vessel vasculitis associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and predominantly causes kidney and pulmonary injuries. Subarachnoid hemorrhage, a life-threatening manifestation of the central nervous system (CNS), rarely occurs in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). We report the case of a young man with spontaneous SAH recurrence and active nephritis. The patient was treated with a glucocorticoid pulse and intravenous cyclophosphamide (CTX) in combination with decreasing cerebral perfusion pressure and analgesic therapy. All the patients' symptoms except the proteinuria resolved. We reviewed the clinical characteristics of 34 previously reported cases of SAH with AAV, comprising six cases of MPA, eight cases of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and 19 cases of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and one case of unclassified AAV. All the cases showed features of active vasculitis. Concomitant nephritis and peripheral neuropathy were found in the MPA and EGPA cases with SAH, respectively. Renal and pulmonary manifestations were predominant in the patients with GPA and SAH. Ten patients had aneurysmal abnormalities, and six patients had cardiac abnormalities. Thirty-one patients were treated with glucocorticoids, and 18 patients received concurrent immunosuppressants. Patients with SAH had a mortality rate of 38.2%. The presence of cerebrovascular events or cardiac involvement in patients with AAV and SAH is associated with increased mortality of 64.3%. Our study indicates that SAH should be cautioned as a disease occurring in patients with AAV. Early diagnosis with aggressive immunosuppressive therapy can help improve the prognosis of patients with SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous reports indicate that long intergenic non-coding RNA LINC00665 naturally occurred vital effects in various cancers. Herein, the role of LINC00665 in ovarian cancer progress was explored. We found that LINC00665 was upregulated in ovarian cancer cell lines. Besides, a series of assays including flow cytometry, wound-healing, transwell, cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and EdU assay confirmed that the knockdown of LINC00665 could reduce the viability, proliferation, and migration of SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that many lncRNAs can function as endogenous miRNA sponges by competitively binding common miRNAs. In this study, the bioinformatics analysis suggests that LNC00665 specifically binds to miR-181a-5p. LINC00665 downregulated the miR-181a-5p in SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells. The knockdown of miR-181a-5p evidently reverses the inhibitory effect of sh-LINC00662. Besides, FH2 domain containing 1 (FHDC1) has been proved to deed as an effective target of miR-181a-5p. The results reveal the knockdown of LINC00665 facilitates ovarian cancer via development by sponging miR-181a-5p and up-regulating FHDC1 expression. These may contribute to ovarian cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess response to cyclosporine A, and/or corticosteroids, and possible factors influencing the response in adult patients with acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). Clinical data from 42 cases were retrospectively analyzed. These patients received cyclosporine A (CsA), and/or corticosteroids (CS), or other immunosuppressive agents on becoming refractory and relapse. Thirty-nine patients were evaluated. Remission induction therapy included CsA (n = 16), CS (n = 13), CsA in combination with CS (n = 6), or other immunosuppressive agents (n = 4). Initial response rates were 75.0, 46.2, 66.7 and 75.0%, respectively (P = 0.456). Cumulative response rates in patients who received CsA, CS, CsA in combination with CS, or other immunosuppressive agents were 69.6% (16/23), 50.0% (7/14), 71.4% (5/7), 42.9% (6/14), respectively (P = 0.376). Cumulative rates of CR were 26.1% (6/23), 28.6% (4/14), 57.1% (4/7), 14.3% (2/14), respectively (P = 0.284). In 27 refractory and relapsed PRCA patients, 11 of 17 patients (64.7%) achieved remission by CsA and/or CS regimen, while three of ten patients (30.0%) responded to other immunosuppressive agents (P = 0.120). CsA and/or CS were effective in treating PRCA. For patients with relapse or refractory PRCA, there were no satisfactory treatments if CsA and/or CS failed or were not administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATC1) was up-regulated in cancers mediating malignant behaviors. However, the role of NFATC1 in ovarian cancer has not been elucidated. In the present study, we undertook to explore the clinicopathological significance of NFATC1 expression and the mechanism by which NFATC1 works in ovarian cancer. Expression status of NFATC1 was examined using immunohistochemistry. Both knockdown and re-expression of NFATC1 on ovarian cancer cells were employed to observe the effect overgrowth. It was found that NFATC1 was significantly overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues in comparison with paired normal control tissues and that overexpression of NFATC1 was significantly associated with metastasis and poor prognosis on clinical tissue level. In in vitro ovarian cancer cell lines, we found that NFATC1 can promote proliferation up-regulating c-myc through activation of ERK1/2/p38/MAPK signal pathway. Together, the results we obtained demonstrated that NFATC1 played oncogenic role in ovarian cancer. Mechanistically, NFATC1 promoted growth of ovarian cancer cells up-regulating c-myc through activation of ERK1/2/p38/MAPK signal pathway, suggesting that NFATC1 might be used as a therapeutic target for ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vortex-assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification-solidification liquid microextraction (VASEME-SFO) has been proposed for the determination of triazine and phenylurea herbicides in milk. 1-Dodecanol was used as the extraction solvent and dispersed into the aqueous samples by the assistance of a vortex mixer. Meanwhile, the addition of a surfactant, which was used as an emulsifier, could enhance the speed of the mass transfer from aqueous samples to the extract solvent. Acetic acid and NaSO were applied and used to eliminate interference by proteins and fats. The influence of various parameters in the VASEME-SFO such as the type and volume of the extraction solvent, the type and concentration of the surfactant, and the vortex time, salt addition, and sample solution pH were investigated and optimized. Under optimal conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) reached ranges of 0.005-0.09 and 0.015-0.30 μg L, respectively. Dynamic linear ranges (DLRs) of 0.2-200 and 2-400 μg L were obtained for triazine and phenylurea herbicides, respectively. The performance of the method was evaluated for extraction and determination of these herbicides in milk in micrograms per liter, and satisfactory results were obtained (RSD < 10.6 %). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaWO, CaWO:Sm and CaWO:(Sm, Li) nanoparticles were synthesized by the precipitation method with addition of PEG 200. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the obtained samples have a pure tetragonal phase. The CaWO sample shows an emission peak at 418 nm originating from the charge-transfer transitions within the WO complex. CaWO:Sm and CaWO:(Sm, Li) samples show emission peaks originating from the f-f forbidden transitions of the 4f electrons of Sm ions. The charge compensator of Li can enhance the emission intensity effectively. It is found that the emission intensity of CaWO:(3 mol% Sm, 4 mol% Li) phosphor is about double that of CaWO:3 mol% Sm phosphor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper described an ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to determine fungicides in fruit juices. In this method, 1-hexyl-3-methyli-midazolium hexafluorophosphate (HMIMPF) was used as extraction solvent, which dispersed into the fruit juices under vigorously shaking with the vortex. The effects of experimental parameters, such as extraction solvent volume, disperser solvent and its volume, vortex time, centrifugation time, sample pH, on the extraction efficiency were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the linear correlation coefficients ranged from 0.9902 to 0.9979 for concentration levels of 0.02-2 mg l, the extraction recoveries were ranged 66.2-92.9 % except pyrimethanil (39.5-44.6 %), The relative standard deviations (RSDs; n = 6) ranged from 2.2 % to 11.6 %, and the limits of detection (LODs) for the fungicides were between 3.1 and 10.2 μg l. Two real samples including apple and grape juices, spiked at two concentration levels were analyzed and yielded recoveries ranging from 71.3-93.1 % and 65.4-87.7 %, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field trials were carried out to investigate the dissipation and residue levels of bifenthrin in wheat. After extraction with acetonitrile, the samples were cleaned up by dispersive solid-phase extraction and detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The half-lives of bifenthrin in wheat seedlings ranged from 2.4 to 10.5 days. At harvest time, the terminal residues of bifenthrin were below the maximum residue limit (0.5 mg/kg) set by Codex Alimentarius Committee or European Union in wheat grain, which suggested that the use of this pesticide was safe for humans. However, the relatively high residue levels of bifenthrin in wheat straw should be paid attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple analytical method was developed to determine the 2,4-D isooctyl ester residue in wheat and soil by gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector. Using the method, the dissipation and residue of 2,4-D isooctyl ester in wheat field was investigated. The average recoveries of 2,4-D isooctyl ester ranged from 80.1% to 110.0% with relative standard deviations of 2.4% to 16.1%. The pesticide showed a rapid dissipation rate either in wheat seedling or soil, with the half-lives of 1.0 to 3.0 days. The terminal residue results in wheat grain were much lower than the codex MRL (2.0 mg/kg). It could be considered safe to food and environment when using this herbicide for controlling weeds in wheat field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

new method was developed for the determination of fungicides in red wine using ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid dispersive liquid-phase microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The ionic liquid, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (IL) was quickly disrupted by ultrasonication and dispersed in wine as fine droplets. At this stage, the analytes were extracted into the fine droplets of IL. After centrifugation, the concentration of the enriched fungicides in the sedimented phase was determined. Extraction conditions including the type of extraction solvent, the extraction solvent volume, ultrasonication time, centrifugation time and sample pH were optimized. The performance of the method was studied in terms of linearity, precision, and recovery. Quantitative recoveries (>70%) except for pyrimethanil were obtained, and method precision was also satisfactory (RSD < 10%). Enrichment factors range from 100 to 200, and the limits of detection are at the low μg per liter level for most of the target compounds. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method was validated for the analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in leeks. The leek sample was cut into about 2 cm lengths and heated in a microwave oven for 50 s to inactivate enzymes. The sample was extracted with 50 mL acetonitrile using an Ultra-turrax T18 blender and cleaned up by solid phase extraction. The target analytes were determined by GC with a flame photometric detector. Average recoveries were 73–118% and limits of detection ranged from 1.1 to 10.0 μg kg−1. The uncertainty of the analysis for each pesticide was evaluated as below 16%. The method was applied to determine organophosphorus pesticides in real samples. The GC–MS was used as confirmatory tool for positive samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose and study a stochastic delay single-species population system in polluted environment with psychological effect and pulse toxicant input. We establish sufficient conditions for the extinction, nonpersistence in the mean, weak persistence, and strong persistence of the single-species population and obtain the threshold value between extinction and weak persistence. Finally, we confirm the efficiency of the main results by numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissipation of cyprodinil under field and greenhouse condition in China was investigated. The pesticide cyprodinil dissipation differed under different cultivate conditions, the half lives were 14.5 and 12.5 days in strawberry and soil, respectively, under the field condition, 5.5 and 6.5 days, respectively, under greenhouse. The results showed that the dissipation rate under greenhouse condition was much faster than under field condition either in strawberry or soil. The terminal residues in strawberries were below the EU maximum residue level (5 mg/kg) after 7 days of application. This study will give a suggestion for the reasonable use of cyprodinil under different cultivate conditions and can also provide reference to set MRL value in strawberry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant use of platinum for catalyzing the cathodic oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) has hampered the widespread use of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The construction of well-defined electrode architecture in nanoscale with enhanced utilization and catalytic performance of Pt might be a promising approach to address such barrier. Inspired by the highly efficient catalytic processes in enzymes with active centers embedded in charge transport pathways, here we demonstrate for the first time a design that allocates platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) at the boundaries with dual-functions of conducting both electrons by aid of polypyrrole and protons via Nafion® ionomer within hierarchical nanoarrays. By mimicking enzymes functionally, an impressive ORR activity and stability is achieved. Using this brand new electrode architecture as the cathode and the anode of a PEMFC, a high mass specific power density of 5.23 W mg−1Pt is achieved, with remarkable durability. These improvements are ascribed to not only the electron decoration and the anchoring effects from the Nafion® ionomer decorated PPy substrate to the supported Pt NPs, but also the fast charge and mass transport facilitated by the electron and proton pathways within the electrode architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]