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Purpose: Viral encephalitis (VE) or bacterial meningoencephalitis (BME) in early childhood may cause brain injury and neurological sequelae, including epilepsy. Postencephalitic epilepsy (PEE) characterized by epileptic spasms (ES) is a rare but serious condition; there is an urgent need to develop new methods to evaluate the characteristics of these children and select appropriate treatments.Methods: We conducted an observational study of 20 patients (11 males, 9 females) who experienced ES after VE or BME at the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Patients were followed up for over 12 months, and outcomes were analyzed.Results: The median ages at the onset of encephalitis and ES were 5.5 and 11.5 months, respectively. The median age at follow-up was 35.5 months. Sixteen (80 %) patients developed drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), including all 12 patients with VE and 4 of 8 patients with BME. Epileptiform discharges were detected on electroencephalography, including 15 patients with hypsarrhythmia and 5 without. Fifteen of the patients were treated with a 14-day intravenous infusion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) at a dose 2.5 U/kg (≤25 U); 12 showed a short-term response but 10 experienced recurrence. Three patients received vigabatrin, and none of these patients responded to treatment. Six patients started a ketogenic diet (KD); five failed to respond and the outcome was not known in one. Four patients were treated by vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and all showed a partial response.Conclusion: Children with PEE characterized by ES are more likely to develop DRE. The prognosis was worse for patients with VE compared to those with BME. Clarifying the efficacies of treatments involving ACTH (low-dose), KD, vigabatrin, and VNS will require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the high loading of flame retardants is needed to improve the flame-retardant property of epoxy resins accompanied with the serious deterioration of their thermal and mechanical properties. A novel flame retardant with the high flame-retardant effect, namely 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(10-oxido-5H-phenophosphazine-10-yl) pyrrolidine-2,5-dione (DPPA-HPM), was synthesized to solve the problem. The nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry verified the successful synthesis of DPPA-HPM. DPPA-HPM was an efficient flame retardant for epoxy resin. Only 1.5 wt% loading of DPPA-HPM was found to endow the epoxy resin with UL-94 V-0 rating and the high limited oxygen index value of 29.5%. Moreover, the flame-retarded epoxy resin possessed the good comprehensive properties with the maintained glass transition temperature and the improved flexural strength as compared with the control epoxy resin, which exhibits good potential application prospects. • A novel environment-friendly halogen-free flame retardant for epoxy resins, namely DPPA-HPM, was successfully synthesized. • Only 1.5 wt% loading of DPPA-HPM was found to endow epoxy resin with UL-94 V-0 rating and the high LOI value of 29.5%. • Compared with the control epoxy resin, the flame-retarded epoxy resin possessed the good comprehensive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common lethal cancers in the world. Dysregulation of purine-rich element binding protein alpha (PURα), which contributes to the initiation of PURΑ syndrome, is reportedly involved in the progression of multiple cancers, but its function and underlying mechanisms in ESCC progression remain unclear. Here, we first demonstrated that PURα promoted cell growth, migration and invasion in ESCC both in vitro and in vivo. An immunohistochemistry assay was then performed on 225 ESCC tissues, showing that high PURα expression was positively associated with lymph node metastasis and the AJCC stage, and the ESCC patients with positive PURα expression had worse survival. In addition, RNA sequencing implied that PURα induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in ESCC, which was further confirmed by qPCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses. Mechanistically, PURα enhanced the transcription of Snail2 by binding to its promoter region. Knockdown of Snail2 reversed PURα-induced EMT and inhibited the migration and invasion of ESCC cells. In conclusion, this study indicated that PURα promotes Snail2 transcriptional activity to induce EMT during ESCC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an adaptive phase-field method is proposed for modeling fracture of hyperelastic materials at large deformations. The adaptive mesh refinement is facilitated by the variable-node elements, which are flexible to act as transition elements in the employed quadtree mesh. To control the adaptive process, we propose a combined phase-field and energetic mesh refinement criterion, where the energetic part exploits the strain energy threshold of the AT1 phase-field model which is used in this work. Both the compressible and incompressible neo-Hookean models are taken into account, and the latter is enforced by the plane stress condition to simplify the implementation. Several representative examples are studied to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed adaptive phase-field method, in comparison to the available numerical and experimental reference data as well as the fixed locally pre-refined mesh. The simulated results show that the energetic part of the mesh refinement criterion can effectively prevent the delayed damage evolution when the phase-field initiates. Finally, the fracture process of a hyperelastic composite with inclusions is simulated to demonstrate the capacity of the proposed method for reproducing complex failure phenomena at large deformations. • An adaptive phase-field model for hyperelastic fracture is proposed. • Variable-node element is employed as transition element in quadtree mesh refinement scheme. • A combined phase-field and energetic mesh refinement criterion is developed. • Several examples including a hyperelastic composite show accuracy and efficiency of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phytochemical investigation on the leaves of Craibiodendron yunnanense W.W. Smith resulted in the isolation of 21 compounds, including 11 known ursane triterpenes, 8 oleanane triterpenes, and 2 sterols. Their structures were clarified by analyses of their NMR spectroscopic data as well as by comparison of these data with those published in the literature. From the present investigation, compounds 1 – 2, 6, 8 – 10, 13 – 16, 18 and 21 were isolated for the first time from the family Ericaceae, and their chemotaxonomic significance was discussed. Additionally, compounds 21 exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity against human MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cancer cell lines with IC 50 value of 14.19 μM and 21.45 μM, respectively. • Nineteen triterpenes and two sterols were isolated from Craibiodendron yunnanense. • The isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities. • The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds was summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish maws (dried swimbladders of fishes) are regarded as traditional luxurious delicacies, medicine and tonics, which have been recommended and consumed in Asia over many centuries. At the commercial level, they are ranked as different values based on species. However, fish maw species and the trade are still unknown and undocumented. The processing treatments make them difficult for species identification based on morphological characterization. In the present study, the genetic identification of the main commercialized species of fish maws has been carried out, based on the amplification of a fragment of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and subsequent BLAST analysis. The applicability of all kinds of processed products was verified, including dried, water soaked, salt fried and salt fried plus water soaked forms. The result indicated this method was applicable to all of them, showed that 53.3% of the products were incorrectly labeled and 58.3% of “croaker” products were substituted with catfish or perch species. Moreover, results indicated that besides traditional trade in Asia, the fish maw trade has been globally expanded to meet the growing demand of market. Therefore, this method can be useful in normative control of processed products, particularly in the authenticity of imported species, verifying the correct traceability in commercial trade, the correct labeling, and also for fisheries control of endangered species to conserve stocks biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Dominant groups in bacterial communities differred significantly among treatments. [•] Changes in bacterial communities were associated with plant performance. [•] Trees in the cornstalk mulch treatment had higher yield and fruit soluble solids. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) microenvironment contains dense desmoplastic stroma dominated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and is crucial to cancer development and progression. Several studies have revealed that thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) is a valuable serological-marker in PDAC. However, the detailed mechanism of the cancer-stroma interactome remains unclear. Here we showed that elevated THBS2 expression in PDAC was predominantly restricted to stroma and correlated with tumor progression and poor prognosis by quantitative proteomics and immunohistochemistry analyses. RNA in situ hybridization confirmed that CAFs but not neoplastic cells expressed THBS2 in precancerous lesions and its levels gradually increased with disease progression in genetically engineered mouse models. Mechanistically, cancer cell-secreted TGF-β1 activated CAFs to induce THBS2 expression via the p-Smad2/3 pathway. Consequently, CAF-derived THBS2 bound to the membrane receptors integrin αvβ3/CD36 and activated the MAPK pathway in PDAC cells to promote tumor growth and adhesion in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of integrin αvβ3, CD36, MEK and JNK rescued THBS2-induced malignant phenotypes. In conclusion, the TGF-β1-THBS2-integrin αvβ3/CD36-MAPK cascade forms a complex feedback circuit to mediate reciprocal interactions of pancreatic cancer cells-CAFs. THBS2 may act as a novel therapeutic-target to block the cancer-stroma communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorafenib and lenvatinib are approved first-line targeted therapies for advanced liver cancer, but most patients develop acquired resistance. Herein, we found that sorafenib induced extensive acetylation changes towards a more energetic metabolic phenotype. Metabolic adaptation was mediated via acetylation of the Lys-491 (K491) residue of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase isoform 2 (PCK2) (PCK2-K491) and Lys-473 (K473) residue of PCK1 (PCK1-K473) by the lysine acetyltransferase 8 (KAT8), resulting in isoenzyme transition from cytoplasmic PCK1 to mitochondrial PCK2. KAT8-catalyzed PCK2 acetylation at K491 impeded lysosomal degradation to increase the level of PCK2 in resistant cells. PCK2 inhibition in sorafenib-resistant cells significantly reversed drug resistance in vitro and in vivo. High levels of PCK2 predicted a shorter progression-free survival time in patients who received sorafenib treatment. Therefore, acetylation-induced isoenzyme transition from PCK1 to PCK2 contributes to resistance to systemic therapeutic drugs in liver cancer. PCK2 may be an emerging target for delaying tumor recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancers (CRCs) are characterized by diffuse infiltration of tumor cells into the regional lymph nodes and metastasis to distant organs, and its highly invasive nature contributes to disease recurrence and poor outcomes. The molecular mechanisms underlying CRC cell invasion remain incompletely understood. Here, we identified the upregulation of DNA damage repair-related protein RAD23B in CRC cells and tissues and showed that it associates with coronin 1C or coronin 3 (CORO1C) to facilitate invasion. We found that knockdown of RAD23B expression significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of CRC cells both in vitro and in vivo, and suppressed the talin1/2/integrin/FAK/RhoA/Rac1/CORO1C signaling pathways. Interestingly, RAD23B interacted and co-localized with CORO1C, and CORO1C aggregated toward the margin of cancer cells in both CRC cells and tissues when RAD23B overexpressed. Mechanistically, overexpression of RAD23B and/or CORO1C further increased invadopodia formation and matrix degradation in SW480 and HCT8 CRC cells. Conversely, silencing of RAD23B expression suppressed tumorigenesis and liver metastasis in xenotransplant murine models. Furthermore, we found that RAD23B was significantly overexpressed in tumor tissues (n = 720) compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues (n = 694) of patients with CRC. Finally, we identified a strong correlation between higher levels of cytoplasmic expression of RAD23B, and poor prognosis and liver metastasis in CRC patients. Taken together, our data highlight a novel RAD23B-CORO1C signaling axis in CRC cell invasion and metastasis that may be of clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The expression of GR-α, HDAC2, BNDF, TrkB, and C-Cbl incread in IS. • ACTH and/or melatonin reduced spasm frequency and prolonged the latency period. • Melatonin represents a promising drug for treatment of IS. Infantile spasms (IS) is a serious epileptic syndrome that frequently occurs in infancy. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is generally the first-line treatment for IS; however, side effects limit its application. Melatonin (MT) has been used in clinical treatment for sleep disorders with only minor side effects. Further, MT was shown to be a powerful anticonvulsant in an animal model of epilepsy. In this research, we aimed to compare the anticonvulsant efficacy of ACTH and/or MT for treatment of IS and explore the mechanisms underlying the anticonvulsant activity of MT, using an N-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA)-induced IS model in neonatal rats following exposure to prenatal stress. Latency to the onset of spasms and the total number of spasms were recorded to assess spasm severity. Treatment with ACTH and/or MT significantly reduced the number of spasms and prolonged the latency period. Additionally, expression of GR-α, HDAC2, BNDF, TrkB, and C-Cbl were significantly increased by induction with NMDA, and this effect was reversed by ACTH and/or MT treatment. Hence, our data suggest that combined ACTH and MT treatment is effective for reducing the number of spasms and increasing the latency period in NMDA rats, by restoring dysregulation of the HPA axis. These findings have the potential to provide a new strategy for the treatment of IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, COI and 16S rRNA genes were used to molecularly identify dried seahorse and pipefish sold on the Chinese market. One hundred and ninety-eight products, including 168 seahorse and 30 pipefish, were collected from dried seafood sellers in Zhanjiang (Guangdong province, China) and analyzed. Overall, the study identified 5 different species: Hippocampus trimaculatus , H. spinosissimus and H. kelloggi in seahorse products and Solegnathus hardwickii and S. spinosissimus in pipefish products. All the aforesaid species were randomly sold under the generic umbrella term of Hai ma (海马) (seahorse) and of Hai long (海龙) (pipefish) irrespectively of the price. The present study supports the main pathways of seahorse and pipefish exploitation already described in the literature and confirms previous concerns about the impact that illegal and not regulated trade could have on syngnathids. In particular, the huge economic value of dried products seems to represent the strongest incentive to fishing despite the presence of a legislative framework aimed at managing the wild population of seahorse and pipefish. A proper description on the label, comprising at least the scientific denomination and a "recognizable" Chinese commercial name, is needed to avoid deception of consumers and bypassing of official controls. • Molecular identification of dried seahorse and pipefish products has been performed • Three species of seahorse and two species of pipefish have been identified • All the products were sold under the generic term of Hai ma (海马) and of Hai long (海龙) - Illegal and not regulated trade still affect syngnathids species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion mechanism of 15–15Ti and 316Ti austenitic stainless steels exposed to liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) at 550 ℃ with dissolved oxygen 5 × 10−7 mass% was investigated. The oxides formed on steels have a dual- or triplex-layered structure. The higher content of Cr in oxides, the better inhibiting effect on Ni diffusion. The local dissolution attack left a Ni-rich recrystallization area with fcc -phase fine grains. The preferential intergranular oxidation (PIO) in random GBs of 15–15Ti induced intergranular cracking while the annealing twin boundaries were more resistant to crack. The 316Ti with smaller grains presented higher resistance to corrosion and intergranular cracking. • The intergranular oxidation in 15–15Ti steel can induce the intergranular cracking. • The annealing twin boundaries presents higher resistance to intergranular cracking. • The TiN precipitates promote local preferential oxidation and cracking of oxide. • The Pb can preferentially diffuse along grain boundaries compared to the Bi. • The dissolution attack leaves a confined Ni-rich area with fcc phase fine grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dried oyster, clam and mussel products have been commonly recommended and consumed in Asia over many centuries. However, the true species of the shellfish species in the trade is unknown. It is difficult to identify the shellfish species just based on their morphological characters of dried muscle and visceral mass without shells. In this study, 300 dried oyster ( shenghao ), clam ( geli ) and mussel ( dancai ) products commercialized in the markets of ten Chinese coastal cities were analyzed in order to authenticate species. Direct sequencing method based on fragments of the COI gene was carried out and results showed that 81% shenghao were extracted from Crassostrea angulata (Portuguese oyster), 19% shenghao were Crassostrea gigas (Pacific cupped oyster), 58% geli were extracted from Mactra chinensis (sunray surf clam), 42% geli were Ruditapes philippinarum (Manila clam) and all (100%) dancai were extracted from Mytilus galloprovincialis (Mediterranean mussel). Therefore, this work facilitates the identification of dried shellfish products in the market, support of food control and protection of consumers’ rights. Moreover, the result showed that Portuguese oyster, sunray surf clam, Manila clam and Mediterranean mussel have distributed (naturally distributed or cultured) to most coastal provinces of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A PCR-RFLP method has been developed for the identification of 16 commercial sea cucumber species in raw and processed food products. To implement the method, PCR amplification with the 16Sar/16Sbr primers, targeted to the amplification of a ca. 570 bp region of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene in sea cucumbers, was coupled to restriction analysis with Dde I, Hae III and Sty I. We also report the FINS method based on 16S rRNA mitochondrial sequences. Both proposed methodologies were independently applied to authenticate the species of 19 commercial products, showing that 9 products were incorrectly labeled (48%). Therefore, the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene really provide convenient, useful and academic molecular marker to study questions related to correct labeling of commercial products, traceability, and the control of sea cucumber fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish maws have been commonly recommended and consumed as delicacies, medicine and tonics in Asia over many centuries. However, the true species of the fish maws in the trade is unknown. It is difficult to identify the fish species just based on their morphological characters of swim bladders. In this study, 96 fish maw products commercialized in the market were analyzed in order to authenticate species. Direct sequencing method based on fragments of the 16S rRNA gene and COI gene were carried out and results showed that the fish maw were extracted from porcupinefish. 53 products were Diodon liturosus , 40 products were Diodon hystrix and three products were Chilomycterus reticulates . Therefore, this work facilitates the identification of fish maw products in the market, support of food control and protection of consumers’ rights. Moreover, based on the previous toxicity reports, it is suggested that the Spot-fin porcupinefish D. hystrix maw exists potential food security threat to the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dried scallop adductor muscle, known as yao zhu , has been ranked in the list of the eight sea treasures in Chinese cuisine, it has been commonly recommended and consumed in China over many centuries due to its delicious taste and abundant nutrition. However, the true species composition of the dried scallop adductor muscles in the trade is unclear. Indeed, it is difficult to identify the scallop species just based on their morphological characters of processed adductor muscles. In this study, 60 yao zhu products commercialized in Chinese market were analyzed in order to authenticate species. Direct sequencing and BLAST method based on a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene were carried out and results showed that 34 products (56.7%) were scallop species Argopecten irradians , and other 26 products (43.3%) were the scallop species Mizuhopecten yessoensis , indicated the yao zhu market were dominated by the both species, which were the introduced aquaculture scallop species. Moreover, a simple and fast PCR method proved to be capable of unequivocal identification between the two species. Therefore, this work facilitates the identification of yao zhu products in the market, support of food control and protection of consumers’ rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven rare oxylipins, siegesbeckins A–G (1 – 7) representing further bioactive constituents different from the general terpenyl compounds found in Siegesbeckia species, have been obtained from the aerial parts of Siegesbeckia glabrescens. These isolates were identified to be a series of methyl 4-methylpentanoates incorporating fatty acid moieties of different chain lengths, based on spectroscopic techniques, and their absolute configurations were determined via chemical degradation and comparison of experimental and theoretically calculated ECD spectra. With respect to bioactivity, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties of selected compounds were evaluated. Compounds 1 and 5 showed moderate antibacterial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria with MIC values of 4.3 μg/mL, while 3 showed no pronounced activity in these assays. Unlabelled Image • Seven rare oxylipins were separated and identified from the aerial parts of Siegesbeckia glabrescens. • The absolute configurations were established via chemical degradation and analysis of ECD data. • Two compounds with shorter fatty acid chains displayed mild antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]