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Background Community-based intervention is an important part of palliative care for advanced cancer patients. However, its role in the health management of advanced cancer patients remains to be supported by medical evidence. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of community-involved hospice care for patients with advanced cancer. Methods Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, CNKI, VIP were searched by using Chinese keywords such as "community" "medical model" and "advanced cancer", Cochrane Library, PubMed and Web of Science were searched by using English keywords such as "Community-based" "Model of Palliative Care" "Advanced Cancer" "Quality of Life", to obtain randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the efficacy of community-involved hospice care from 2007-01-01 to 2022-05-10 by using Cochrane system evaluation method on 2022-05-22. The quality of RCTs meeting the inclusion criteria was evaluated, and the valid information was extracted for meta-analysis. Results A total of 11 RCTs in English and 9 RCTs in Chinese were included in the study, involving 2 356 and 1 238 patients, respectively. Meta-analysis showed that compared with routine cancer care, community-involved hospice care could improve quality of life and symptom severity in patients with advanced cancer, demonstrated by increasing Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative Care scale socre〔MD (95%CI) =3.77 (0.83, 6.71) , P=0.01〕and Quality of Life Instruments for Cancer Patients scale total score〔MD (95%CI) =12.53 (2.36, 22.69) , P=0.02〕, reducing Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale total score〔MD (95%CI) =-2.61 (-3.53, -1.70) , P

In the past decade, the population of international students enrolling in Chinese colleges and universities has been increasing rapidly, with the students in Asia taking the most portions. Chinese higher education institutions are facing great challenges in their course of internationalization. Therefore the studies on the intercultural adaptation of international students in Chinese higher education institutions have received extensive attention. The present research was conducted to investigate the intercultural adaptation of the Pakistani students at the Chinese universities in forms of a questionnaire and interviews. Colleen Ward's cultural adjustment process model is used as the analytical lens to explore the life and study experiences of the Pakistani students from their perspectives and to understand the challenges they experienced during their intercultural communication. The students' personal reports will collectively provide some valuable information for Chinese universities to understand cultural differences that international students is bringing to Chinese campuses and to help them succeed in a totally different academic setting.

In response to biotic and abiotic stresses, the WRKY gene family plays a crucial role in plant growth and development. This study focused on Phoebe bournei and involved genome-wide identification of WRKY gene family members, clarification of their molecular evolutionary characteristics, and comprehensive mapping of their expression profiles under diverse abiotic stress conditions. A total of 60 WRKY gene family members were identified, and their phylogenetic classification revealed three distinct groups. A conserved motif analysis underscored the significant conservation of motif 1 and motif 2 among the majority of PbWRKY proteins, with proteins within the same class sharing analogous gene structures. Furthermore, an examination of cis-acting elements and protein interaction networks revealed several genes implicated in abiotic stress responses in P. bournei. Transcriptomic data were utilized to analyze the expression patterns of WRKY family members under drought and waterlogged conditions, with subsequent validation by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) experiments. Notably, PbWRKY55 exhibited significant expression modulation under drought stress; PbWRKY36 responded prominently to waterlogging stress; and PbWRKY18, PbWRKY38, and PbWRKY57 demonstrated altered expression under both drought and waterlogging stresses. This study revealed the PbWRKY candidate genes that potentially play a pivotal role in enhancing abiotic stress resilience in P. bournei. The findings have provided valuable insights and knowledge that can guide further research aimed at understanding and addressing the impacts of abiotic stress within this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth and development are driven by intricate processes, with the cell membrane serving as a crucial interface between cells and their external environment. Maintaining balance and signal transduction across the cell membrane is essential for cellular stability and a host of life processes. Ion channels play a critical role in regulating intracellular ion concentrations and potentials. Among these, K+ channels on plant cell membranes are of paramount importance. The research of Shaker K+ channels has become a paradigm in the study of plant ion channels. This study offers a comprehensive overview of advancements in Shaker K+ channels, including insights into protein structure, function, regulatory mechanisms, and research techniques. Investigating Shaker K+ channels has enhanced our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing ion absorption and transport in plant cells. This knowledge offers invaluable guidance for enhancing crop yields and improving resistance to environmental stressors. Moreover, an extensive review of research methodologies in Shaker K+ channel studies provides essential reference solutions for researchers, promoting further advancements in ion channel research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the design problem of an electric bus (E-bus) route with charging stations to smooth the operations between E-bus service and charging. The design variables include the locations of E-bus stops, number of charging piles at charging stations, fare, and headway. A mathematical programming model is proposed to maximize social welfare in consideration of the uncertain charging demand at charging stations. The model solution algorithm is also designed. The model and algorithm are demonstrated on the E-bus route 931 in the city of Suzhou, China. The results of the case studies show that (i) the right number of stops on a bus route can contribute to the highest social welfare; (ii) the pile–bus ratio decreases with the increase of E-bus fleet size, thereby improving the E-bus charging efficiency at charging stations; and (iii) deploying charging stations at one end of a bus route can achieve a shorter waiting time for E-bus compared with deployment at two ends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. To identify novel clinical phenotypic signatures of congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (CNDI). Methods. A Chinese family with CNDI was recruited for participation in this study. The proband and one of his uncles suffered from polydipsia and polyuria since infancy. The results of clinical testing indicated the diagnosis of CNDI. 10 family members had similar symptoms but did not seek medical advice. Genetic testing of mutations in the coding region of the aquaporin 2 (AQP2) gene and the arginine vasopressin receptor 2 (AVPR2) gene were carried out in 11 family members. Somatic DNA from 5 female family members was used to test for methylation of polymorphic CAG repeats in the human androgen receptor (AR) gene, as an index for X-chromosome inactivation pattern (XCIP). Results. AQP2 gene mutations were not found in any family members, but a novel missense mutation (814th base A>G) in exon 2 of the AVPR2 gene was identified in 10 individuals. This mutation leads to a Met 272 Val (GAT-GGT) amino acid substitution. Skewed X-chromosome inactivation patterns of the normal X allele were observed in 4 females with the AVPR2 gene mutation and symptoms of diabetes insipidus, but not in an asymptomatic female with the AVPR2 gene mutation. Conclusions. Met 272 Val mutation of the AVPR2 gene was identified as a novel genetic risk factor for CDNI. The clinical NDI phenotype of female carriers with heterozygous AVPR2 mutation may be caused by X-chromosome inactivation induced by dominant methylation of the normal allele of AVPR2 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

pH of soilless culture substrate is an important and frequently measured property in facility agriculture. Compared with laboratory analysis, pH direct measurement (pH-DM) involving the direct insertion of a pH sensor into soil or substrates, is rapid, efficient, and inexpensive. This method requires a reliable pH sensor and exhibits a significant measuring error of 0.8 to 1.1. In this study, all-solid-stated pH sensors were fabricated on alumina substrate through magnetron sputtering. Substrates containing mixed peat and vermiculite were prepared to examine the effects of mass water content (MWC) and mixture ratio on the pH-DM method. Statistical analysis of the measured pH values demonstrated that MWC and mass ratio of peat ($\boldsymbol {\eta }_{{peat}}$) evidently influenced pH-DM. Specifically, in the unsaturated substrate, the errors of pH-DM were highly and negatively correlated with MWC but positively correlated with $\boldsymbol {\eta }_{{peat}}$. The measured pH values also exhibited wide dispersion in the substrates with high $\boldsymbol {\eta }_{{peat}}$ or extremely low MWC. Furthermore, a two-factor compensation model was established and evaluated. The compensation results indicated that the maximum error with pH-DM method decreased from −1.63 to −0.66 pH unit, and the fluctuation coefficient of pH-DM decreased from 0.796 to 0.264. The influence rules of MWC and $\boldsymbol {\eta }_{{peat}}$ on errors in the pH-DM method, as well as the proposed compensation model, are useful in improving the accuracy and robustness of pH-DM and can contribute to rapid and efficient pH measurements in soilless culture substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

mascRNA is a small cytoplasmic RNA derived from the lncRNAMALAT1. After being processed by the tRNA processing enzymes RNase P and RNase Z, mascRNA undergoes CCA addition like tRNAs and folds into a tRNA‐like cloverleaf structure. While MALAT1 functions in multiple cellular processes, the role of mascRNA was largely unknown. Here, we show that mascRNA binds directly to the multi‐tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) component glutaminyl‐tRNA synthetase (QARS). mascRNA promotes global protein translation and cell proliferation by positively regulating QARS protein levels. Our results uncover a role of mascRNA that is independent of MALAT1, but could be part of the molecular mechanism of MALAT1's function in cancer, and provide a paradigm for understanding tRNA‐like structures in mammalian cells. Synopsis: tRNA‐like noncoding RNA mascRNA increases the cytosolic protein levels of multi‐tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) component glutaminyl‐tRNA synthetase (QARS) by interacting with it and promoting its stability, thereby upregulating global protein translation. mascRNA interacts specifically with QARS in the cytosol.Binding of mascRNA increases QARS stability and protein levels.Increasing QARS protein levels by mascRNA results in an upregulation of global protein translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a reduced graphene oxide–supported Prussian Blue (rGO‐PB) composite as the cathode catalyst for a passive direct methanol–hydrogen peroxide fuel cell (DMHPFC) is used. Unlike the conventional passive direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with a cathodic catalyst of noble metal platinum (Pt), the new fuel cell uses hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. This nonnoble metal catalyst has a low cost, high catalytic activity, and high conductivity due to its 3D conductive network. The fuel cell has a theoretical voltage of 1.76 V (higher than 1.21 V related to the traditional DMFC) and can be used in an oxygen‐free environment. Results show that the cell shows good performance with a peak power density of 20.5 mW cm−2 at a higher temperature of 85 °C. The polarization and impedance curves indicate that as the temperature increases, the cell performance improves continuously with the decrease in mass transfer resistance. The discharging tests show a stable cell performance under continuous operation. The cell voltage has an instant response to the change in the current output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Water management is a critical issue to be solved efficiently for an air-breathing direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The cell performance decreases sharply once the water flooding occurs. In this paper, a novel strategy of water removal is proposed by incorporating a functional self-made expanded metal mesh, which can be used as the cathode flow field in a DMFC. Experiments show that water can be directly discharged in the form of water film or water line from the water outlet to the bottom underneath the expanded mesh. The water management can be further improved by using absorbent cottons, suitable feed rates and an upright texture direction of the metal mesh. Results also show that only a few mesh openings are blocked by water when the tested device tilts from 60° to 120°. In a real DMFC, the expanded mesh displays an excellent ability in water removal compared to the traditional perforated flow fields. The cathode water only gathers at the bottom and covers very few mesh openings. This new method helps efficiently avoid the issue of water flooding at the cathode using the expanded mesh. Highlights • Forced under-rib water removal by using metal mesh is proposed and validated. • Evolvement process of water passage is visually observed. • Improved methods for water management are investigated. • Generated water only gathers at the bottom and covers just a few mesh openings. • The issue of water flooding at the cathode is efficiently avoided in a real DMFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) play key roles in the regulation of growth and survival of various cancers. This study aimed to investigate expression of SDHB and PDK1 in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) tissues and analyzed the association of SDHB and PDK1 expression with the clinical significance and potential prognostic implication of rNPC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of SDHB and PDK1 in tissues in primary NPC (pNPC) and rNPC patients. Our results revealed that expression of SDHB in rNPC was significantly lower than that in pNPC, while the expression of PDK1 was higher compared to pNPC. The expression levels of SDHB and PDK1 were associated with T stage, N stage, clinical stage, and metastasis of rNPC. Survival analysis showed that patients with low SDHB expression had a significantly shorter overall survival time than those with high SDHB expression. Patients with high PDK1 expression had a shorter survival time than patients with low PDK1 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that the expression of SDHB and PDK1 was an independent predictor for the survival of patients with rNPC. Our results demonstrated that down-regulation of SDHB and up-regulation of PDK1 may be novel biomarkers for predicting advanced tumor progression and unfavorable prognosis in rNPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determined direct evaporative cooling with Lanzhou subway summer air-conditioning outdoor calculated dry bulb and wet bulb temperature of 28.2 °C and 18.1 °C respectively. In turn, by simulating the entry conditions, tested the stainless steel packing, the aluminum foil packing, the plant fiber packing, the glass fiber packing and polymer filler packing 5different packing types at the different thickness, different face velocity and different combination of water spray density of direct evaporative cooling efficiency and resistance, ultimately determined to use the stainless steel packing. Tested the stainless steel packing small prototype, preliminarily determine the best thickness is 450 mm; the best face velocity is 3 m/s; the [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of the produced carbon dioxide (CO 2) is important to improve the performance of a liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). This work investigates the CO 2 bubble behaviors and the two-phase flow characteristics, using a single sinusoidal corrugated channel as the anode flow field. The magnitude and gradient of the fluid velocity in this channel is higher than the traditional straight pattern, as proven by tracking CO 2 bubbles. The use of high magnitude and gradient of velocity enhances CO 2 emission and fuel delivery, as well as increases the pressure drop. The vortices in the disturbance structure of the corrugated channel help uniformly deliver the reactants and separate bubbles away from the channel wall. Using excessive values of amplitude A and angular frequency W in the corrugated channel causes serious bubble deformation and extra energy consumption. The effect of disturbance structure is negligible with small values of these two parameters. The cell with a corrugated channel shows a higher performance at different feed rates and concentrations of the methanol fuel. The optimal value of A and W are respectively 0.1and 5. The visualization tests demonstrate that the appearance of CO 2 bubbles in the corrugated channel is consistent with the simulation results. • A single-serpentine sinusoidal corrugated channel is used as the anode flow field. • Bubble behaviors are investigated by both simulation and visualization test. • The effects of two-phase flow characteristics on cell performance are studied. • The optimal parameters of amplitude A and angular frequency W are obtained. • The new flow field is preferred due to its functions in two-phase flow regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schwannoma is a relatively uncommon benign tumour of the soft tissues. We present a rare case of 10 tumours localised to the ulnar nerve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has been recognized as a low-grade, chronic inflammatory disease that leads to an increase in obesity-associated disorders, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), fatty liver diseases and cancer. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an effective drug for T2D, and it not only has glucose-regulating effects but also has anti-inflammatory effects in obesity. In our previous study, we designed a novel GLP-1 analogue, (E X -4) 2 -Fc, which has been shown to reduce body weight and improve glucose tolerance in vivo. In this study, we observed that (E X -4) 2 -Fc also has anti-inflammatory functions in adipose tissue. After the treatment of diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice with (E X -4) 2 -Fc, we found that the inflammatory response in adipose tissue was significantly attenuated. (Ex-4) 2 -Fc can reduce obesity-associated proinflammatory cytokine levels and macrophage numbers in DIO mice. In addition, (E X -4) 2 -Fc treatment resulted in proinflammatory M1-type macrophages beginning to transform into anti-inflammatory M2-type macrophages. The inflammatory mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were altered in adipose tissue after (E X -4) 2 -Fc treatment. Leptin has been proven to be closely related to immunity, and we demonstrated that the effect of (E X -4) 2 -Fc on adipocyte inflammation was related to leptin. The data suggested that (E X -4) 2 -Fc could modulate the inflammatory response by inhibiting the expression of leptin in adipose tissue. F0B7 (Ex-4) 2 -Fc could profoundly ameliorate obesity-induced inflammation in the adipose tissues of the DIO mice. F0B7 (Ex-4) 2 -Fc promotes the polarization of M2 macrophages in adipose tissue. F0B7 (Ex-4) 2 -Fc modulates the MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathways in adipose tissue. F0B7 (E X -4) 2 -Fc suppresses obesity-related inflammation by inhibiting leptin secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the potential mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for vascular dementia (VD) using tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics technology., Methods: Among 80 male SPF SD rats, 78 rats which met the selection criteria through the Morris water maze test were selected and randomly divided into a sham surgery group (18 rats) and a surgery group (60 rats). VD model was established by four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) method in the surgery group, and 36 rats with successful modeling were randomly assigned to a model group (18 rats) and an EA group (18 rats). Each group was further divided into three subgroups based on intervention duration, with each subgroup containing 6 rats. Seven days after model establishment, the EA group received EA intervention at left and right "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1) and bilateral "Fengchi" (GB 20), with continuous wave at a frequency of 2 Hz and current intensity of 1 mA, daily for 30 min, with subgroups receiving EA for 7, 14, or 21 d respectively. Cognitive function before and after interventions was assessed using Morris water maze. Proteomic analysis was conducted on the optimal EA subgroup and corresponding sham surgery and model subgroups, identifying differentially expressed proteins and analyzing them through bioinformatics. Differentially expressed target proteins was performed using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and Western blot techniques., Results: Compared to the sham surgery group, the model group exhibited prolonged escape latency and reduced number of platform crossings ( P <0.01); compared with model group, the EA group showed reductions in escape latency and increased platform crossings after 7, 14, and 21 days of intervention ( P <0.01, P <0.05). Compared to the 7 and 14-day intervention, the rats in the EA group of 21-day intervention showed the most significant improvements in reductions of escape latency and increased platform crossings ( P <0.01, P <0.05), and was selected for further proteomic, PRM analyses, and Western blot validation. Compared to the sham surgery group, the model group displayed 71 differentially expressed proteins, with 50 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated proteins; compared to the model group, the EA group had 54 differentially expressed proteins, with 30 up-regulated and 24 down-regulated proteins. Functional enrichment and clustering analyses indicated that these proteins were primarily associated with cellular processes, metabolic processes, phagocytosis recognition, immune response, and regulation of extracellular matrix, etc. Enrichment was observed in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and neurotrophic factors signaling pathways, involving glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 (Map2k2), with PRM and Western blot findings consistent with the proteomic results. Which meant that compared with the model group, the protein expression of GSK3β and Map2k2 of hippocampus was increased in the EA group ( P <0.01, P <0.05)., Conclusion: EA at "Sishencong" (EX-HN 1) and "Fengchi" (GB 20) could improve cognitive function in VD rats, with the mechanism involving multiple targets and pathways, potentially related to GSK3β, Map2k2 proteins, and the mTOR and neurotrophic factor signaling pathways.

Soil salinization poses a mounting global ecological and environmental threat. The identification of genes responsible for negative regulation of salt tolerance and their utilization in crop improvement through gene editing technologies emerges as a swift strategy for the effective utilization of saline-alkali lands. One efficient mechanism of plant salt tolerance is maintaining the proper intracellular K + /Na + ratio. The Shaker K + channels play a crucial role in potassium absorption, transport, and intracellular potassium homeostasis in plant cells. Here, the study presents the first genome-wide identification of Shaker K + channels in Nicotiana tabacum L., along with a detailed bioinformatic analysis of the 20 identified members. Transcriptome analysis revealed a significant up-regulation of NtSKOR1B , an outwardly-rectifying member predominantly expressed in the root tissue of tobacco seedlings, in response to salt stress. This finding was then confirmed by GUS staining of ProNtSKOR1B::GUS transgenic lines and RT-qPCR analysis. Subsequently, NtSKOR1B knockout mutants ( ntskor1 ) were then generated and subjected to salt conditions. It was found that ntskor1 mutants exhibit enhanced salt tolerance, characterized by increased biomass, higher K + content and elevated K + /Na + ratios in both leaf and root tissues, compared to wild-type plants. These results indicate that NtSKOR1B knockout inhibits K + efflux in root and leaf tissues of tobacco seedlings under salt stress, thereby maintaining higher K + /Na + ratios within the cells. Thus, our study identifies NtSKOR1B as a negative regulator of salt tolerance in tobacco seedlings., Competing Interests: Author YW is employed by China Tobacco Shandong Industrial. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Yuan, Nong, Hunpatin, Shi, Su, Xu, Wang, Zhang, Ning, Liu and Wang.)

Background: Microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) have been shown to play important roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. MiR-448 has frequently been shown to be a tumor suppressor, and is abnormally expressed in HCC tumor tissues. However, little is known about the role of miR-448 in HCC development. In this article, the regulatory role of miR-448 on insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) in modulating hepatoma cell viability and glycolysis was investigated., Methods: The expression of miR-448 profiles in clinical tumor tissues and cell lines was examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). HepG2 and Huh7 cells were transfected with miR-448 mimics, inhibitors, and scramble sequences. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined by a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and a flow cytometry analysis. IGF-1R, a potential target of miR-448, was selected following a bioinformatic analysis, and the regulatory effects of miR-448 on IGF-1R expression was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot. Glucose uptake, lactate production, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation were detected by corresponding kits., Results: Decreased miR-448 expression was observed in both HCC patients' tumor tissues and hepatoma cells in vitro . The overexpression of miR-448 in HepG2 and Huh7 cells decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. Additionally, the overexpression of miR-448 or the knockdown of IGF-1R lowered the level of glucose uptake, lactate production, and ATP generation, while the knockdown of miR-448 increased glycolysis. Further, aberrantly expressed miR-448 downregulated IGF-1R levels, while the inhibition of miR-448 resulted in the upregulation of IGF-1R in both HepG2 and Huh7 cells. In addition, miR-448 interacted with the wild-type 3'untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of IGF-1R, but had no effect on the mutant 3'UTRs. The expression of IGF-1R was increased in HCC patients' tumor tissues and serum, and was inversely correlated with miR-448 expression., Conclusions: The increased expression of miR-448 appears to downregulate the expression of IGF-1R by interacting with the 3'UTR in HCC progression. These findings highlight its role as a potential target for HCC therapy., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jgo.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jgo-22-90/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Background: Psittacosis ranges from a mild illness to fulminant severe pneumonia with multi-organ failure. It's crucial to understand the clinical characteristics and identify risk factors for a better outcome., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis designed to identify risk factors for severe Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia (C. psittaci pneumonia) by comparing the clinical characteristics of patients with severe and less severe forms of the disease. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, computed tomography (CT) imaging, and outcome data were collected., Results: We enrolled 27 patients with C. psittaci pneumonia, with a median age of 63 (range, 47-82) years, and 23 of whom (85.2%) had a history of avian exposure. Dyspnea was seen in 15 patients with severe C. psittaci pneumonia (100%), and four in 12 non-severe patients (33.3%) (P<0.01). Compared to non-severe patients, those with severe C. psittaci pneumonia had significantly higher levels of procalcitonin, urea nitrogen, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase (CK), B natriuretic peptide (BNP), myoglobin, IL-6, and IL-10, as well as lower lymphocyte and CD8+ T cell counts, and PaO2/FiO2 ratio. Among patients with severe infection, CT showed that 46.7% had multi-lobar (more than two lobes) pneumonia, whereas its incidence was 0% in non-severe patients (P=0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that the independent risk factors associated with severe C. psittaci pneumonia were abnormal CK (OR 15.2, 95% CI: 1.1-204.8, P=0.04) and BNP (OR 22.3, 95% CI: 1.8-281.9, P=0.02)., Conclusions: A history of prior avian exposure in middle-aged patients should serve as a clue in the diagnosis of C. psittaci pneumonia, and patients with its severe form are more likely to develop dyspnea and progress into respiratory failure, with involvement of multiple lung lobes. Abnormal CK and BNP levels are risk factors associated with severe C. psittaci pneumonia.

BACKGROUND The flavones are considered as competent antidiabetic molecules due to their strong antioxidant activities and higher in vivo stability. The present study evaluated the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of 5,7-dimethoxyflavone in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat models. MATERIAL AND METHODS The antidiabetic potential of 5,7-dimethoxyflavone was evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured using the Randox assay kit. Histopathological examination was carried out by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. RESULTS Oral administration of 5,7-dimethoxyflavone significantly reduced STZ-induced enhancement in blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin, as well as significant increases in C-peptide, insulin, hemoglobin, and total protein content (p<0.05). Additionally, treatment with 5,7-dimethoxyflavone resulted in a remarkable increase in non-enzymic antioxidants. Administration of 5,7-dimethoxyflavone had a hypolipidemic effect by significantly reducing levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins. The histopathological examination of rat pancreases revealed the beneficial effect of 5,7-dimethoxyflavone and protection of ß cell integrity in STZ-induced diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS These findings reflect the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, suggesting that 5,7-dimethoxyflavone may be a promising compound for use in development of new antidiabetic drugs.

Emerging evidences have proposed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a major role in carcinogenesis. Hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023028 has been reported to be aberrantly expressed in laryngeal cancer (LCa). However, the role and the mechanism of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023028 in LCa have not been adequately studied. In the present study, we demonstrated that hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023028 expression was up-regulated in LCa tissues and cell lines. miR-194-5p was down-regulated in LCa cells. Functionally, knockdown of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023028 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LCa cells, as evidenced by the reduced number of 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU)-positive cells and decreased number of migrated and invaded cells. Additionally, hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023028 was identified as an miR-194-5p sink. A negative correlation between miR-194-5p and hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023028 expression was observed in LCa tissues. Besides, down-regulation of miR-194-5p attenuated the inhibitory effects of hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023028 silencing on LCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In summary, hsa&#95;circ&#95;0023028 functions as an miR-194-5p sponge to promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LCa cells., (© 2019 The Author(s).)

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most significant long‑term complications in terms of morbidity and mortality for diabetic patients; however, the exact cause remains unknown. To address this, the DN model was established, and oxidative stress indexes, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‑Px), and inflammatory cytokines, includinginterleukin‑6 (IL‑6), tumor necrosis factor‑alpha (TNF‑α) and transforming growth factor‑beta (TGF‑β), were examined by ELISA. Renal pathological alterations and cell apoptosis was examined by hematoxylin and eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick‑end labeling staining, respectively. The expression levels of B‑cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2), Bcl‑2 associated X (Bax) and caspase‑3 wereexamined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The DN model was correctly established, with lower body weight and the higher blood glucose in the diabetes model group. The expression levels of SOD and GSH‑Px were significantly decreased in the diabetes model group; however, MDA, IL‑6, TNF‑α and TGF‑β were significantly increased. The kidney was severely damaged in the diabetes model group, with inflammatory cell invasion, increasing amount of interstitial matrix and hypertrophy with vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular cells. Cell apoptosis levels were significantly increased, and Bcl‑2 was significantly decreased in the diabetes model group in contrast with that of the sham group; however, Bax and caspase‑3 were significantly increased. It suggested that increased oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines may enhance the apoptosis levels in DN, and may provide a significant diagnostic reference for DN in diabetes patients.

The photoluminescence (PL) of nonthiolate ligand capped Au nanoclusters (NCs) is usually quenched by thiols due to the tight adsorption of thiols to the Au surface and formation of larger non-PL species. However, we here report an unexpected PL enhancement of cytidine stabilized Au (AuCyt) NCs triggered by thiols, such as reduced glutathione (GSH) at sub-μM level, while such phenomena have not been observed for Au NCs capped with similar adenosine/cytidine nucleotides. The mass spectroscopic results indicate that this enhancement may be caused by the formation of smaller, but highly fluorescent, Au species etched by thiols. This enables the sensitive detection of GSH from 20 nM to 3 μM, with an ultralow detection limit of 2.0 nM. Moreover, the glutathione reductase (GR) activity can be determined by the initial rate of GSH production, i.e., the maximum PL increasing rate, with a linear range of 0.34-17.0 U/L (1 U means reduction of 1.0 μmol of oxidized glutathione per min at pH 7.6 at 25 °C) and a limit of detection of 0.34 U/L. This method allows the accurate assays of GR in clinical serum samples as well as the rapid screening of GR inhibitors, indicating its promising biomedical applications.

Succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) play key roles in the regulation of growth and survival of various cancers. This study aimed to investigate expression of SDHB and PDK1 in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) tissues and analyzed the association of SDHB and PDK1 expression with the clinical significance and potential prognostic implication of rNPC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of SDHB and PDK1 in tissues in primary NPC (pNPC) and rNPC patients. Our results revealed that expression of SDHB in rNPC was significantly lower than that in pNPC, while the expression of PDK1 was higher compared to pNPC. The expression levels of SDHB and PDK1 were associated with T stage, N stage, clinical stage, and metastasis of rNPC. Survival analysis showed that patients with low SDHB expression had a significantly shorter overall survival time than those with high SDHB expression. Patients with high PDK1 expression had a shorter survival time than patients with low PDK1 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that the expression of SDHB and PDK1 was an independent predictor for the survival of patients with rNPC. Our results demonstrated that down-regulation of SDHB and up-regulation of PDK1 may be novel biomarkers for predicting advanced tumor progression and unfavorable prognosis in rNPC patients.

The rapid detection and imaging of intracellular thiols is of great importance during the occurrence and development of some chronic diseases. Here we demonstrate the rapid thiols-induced photoluminescence (PL) enhancement of the low luminescent glutathione (GSH) stabilized Au nanoparticles, AuGSH (low). The dynamic PL investigation reveals that the PL enhancement fits a first-order reaction model. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic and mass spectroscopic results indicate that AuGSH (low) are mainly comprised of "thiols-insufficient" Au species and the additional thiols can efficiently attach to the "unsaturated" surface of Au nanoparticles, accompanied by significant PL enhancement. The noncytotoxic AuGSH (low) probe can be successfully applied for imaging of intracellular thiols. Generally, this work illustrates the great prospects of facile-prepared AuGSH (low) as a candidate for thiols labeling and imaging.

Purpose: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized with frequent mutations of SETD2 gene and our purpose was to explore targeted therapy for this entity., Methods: By bioinformatic investigation of two major databases, the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we identified the selective PI3Kβ inhibitors TGX221 and AZD6482 as selective inhibitors for ccRCC with SETD2 mutations, with AZD6482 additionally targeting PIK3CA and CDK6 mutations., Results: Further investigation on AZD6482 profile revealed that mutations in RB1, KRAS, NRAS and APC contributed in drug resistance. Changes in both AZD6482-sensitive and -resistant gene sets showed limited impact on prognosis. Western blotting showed AZD6482 did not induce changes in a panel of major downstream effectors of AKT, but substantially increased PMS2 level. AZD6482 also selectively inhibited migration, invasiveness, and colony formation of ccRCC cells with SETD2 mutations. Integrative network analysis revealed complex interactions between these genes except SETD2., Conclusion: AZD6482 is a novel inhibitor with high selectivity for ccRCC SETD2 mutations. Increased activity of PI3K/AKT/PMS2 could play a role in SETD2 mutated ccRCC.

In the title compound, C(16)H(14)ClN, the conformation of the five-membered ring approximates to an envelope with a C atom as the flap. The dihedral angle between the aromatic rings is 78.71 (9)°.