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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of small, mature CD5

The treatment effect of myofunctional appliance therapy has remained debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects in class II division I pediatric patients receiving Education Fonctionnelle (EF) myofunctional appliance therapy.Thirteen patients undergoing EF appliance treatment (9 boys and 4 girls；average 9.3years old) met the inclusion criteria and 13 untreated patients (9 boys and 4 girls；average 9.9 years old) served as controls. Initial and one-year follow-up lateral cephalometric measurement was used to assess skeletal and dentoalveolar changes. Gender ratio was analyzed using Chi-square test. Age and cephalometric measurement changes within and between the two groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test and Benjamini - Hochberg procedure.There were no significant differences in age, gender ratio, and initial cephalometric measurement data between the two groups. One-year follow-up skeletal findings revealed no significant differences between the two groups. Regarding the dentoalveolar changes, only the values of the upper incisor angle related parameters revealed significances between the two group (with adjusted p value).In this preliminary small sample size study, the EF group demonstrated significant upper incisor angle decrease, lower incisor angle increase, and lower incisor tip to mandibular plane distance decrease in comparison to the values measured in the control group. However, only the upper incisor angle changes were statistically significant after p-value adjustment. The skeletal effect of the EF appliance could not be verified in one-year follow-up of cephalometric data.

Rhein, one of the main active components of rhubarb (Dahuang) and Polygonum multiflorum (Heshouwu), has a wide range of effective pharmacological effects. Recently, increasing studies have focused on its potential hepatorenal toxicity, but the cardiotoxicity is unknown. In this study, we found that the IC

Lithium plating in working batteries has attracted wide attention in the exploration of safe energy storage. Establishing an effective and rapid early-warning method is strongly considered but quite challenging since lithium plating behavior is determined by diverse factors. In this contribution, we present a non-destructive electrochemical detection method based on transient state analysis and three-electrode cell configuration. Through dividing the iR drop value by the current density, the as-obtained impedance quantity (Ri) can serve as a descriptor to describe the change of electrochemical reaction impedance on the graphite anode. The onset of lithium plating can be identified from the sharp drop of Ri. Once the dendritic plated lithium occurs, the extra electrochemical reactions at the lithium interfaces leads to growing active area and reduced surface resistance of the anode. We proposed a protocol to operate the batteries under the limited capacity, which renders the cell with 98.2% capacity retention after 1000 cycles without lithium plating. The early-warning method has also been validated in in-situ optical microscopy batteries and practical pouch cells, providing a general but effective method for online lithium plating detection towards safe batteries.

Vinexin β is a member of an adaptor protein family. Previous research has elucidated its role in cell adhesion and growth factor signaling. Recently, several studies demonstrated its role in metabolic abnormality, such as obesity and atherosclerosis. In this study, we found that vinexin β-knockout (KO) mice were more obese and gained more obvious visceral fat accumulation than their wildtype (WT) littermates fed with high fat diet (HFD). KO mice also showed more severe hepatosteatosis when compared with the WT control, which was in line with the significant increase of key serum lipids in KO mice. Furthermore, we confirmed the inhibited Akt signaling and exacerbated insulin resistance which resulted in high fasting blood glucose in KO mice. The endoplasmic reticulum stress response was found obviously activated which may mediate the metabolic changes in KO mice. Our studies indicated that vinexin β deficiency promotes the diet-induced metabolic disorders.

Lithium (Li) metal attributes to the promising anode but endures the low Columbic efficiency (CE) and safety issues from the inactive Li accumulation. The metallic Li which is isolated from the lithium anode (named dead Li0) consists the major component of the inactive Li. We systematically and meticulously investigated the formation and evaluation of dead Li0 during stripping process from electron transfer, the oxidation of Li0 to Li+ and the diffusion of Li+ through solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). The above-mentioned processes were regulated by adjusting the contact sites of electron channels, the dynamic rate of conversion from Li0 to Li+, and the structure as well as components of SEI. The design principles for achieving less dead Li0 and higher CE are proposed as a proof of concept in lithium metal batteries. This new insight sheds a comprehensive light on dead Li0 formation and guides the next-generation safe batteries for future application.

Aim Our goal of this study is to explore the effects of miR-15a-5p on keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. Materials and methods The gene expression of miR-15a-5p in healthy and psoriatic tissues was evaluated by qRT-PCR. Interleukin 22 (IL-22) was used to stimulate in vitro keratinocyte hyperproliferation, and the effect of miR-15a-5p knockdown/overexpression was assessed. The binding between miR-15a-5p and FOSL1 was predicted with bioinformatic database and confirmed with luciferase reporter assay. Keratinocyte viability, proliferation and apoptosis with different treatments were evaluated by MTT assay, colony formation, and flow cytometry, respectively. The proliferative, apoptotic, and MAPK/ERK signature proteins were evaluated with western blot. Results The miR-15a-5p expression was significantly downregulated in psoriasis patients. In vitro psoriasis model was developed by IL-22 stimulation, which enhanced proliferation and reduced apoptosis of keratinocytes. MiR-15a-5p overexpression suppressed IL-22-induced proliferation and induced apoptosis. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay showed miR-15a-5p bound to FOSL1. FOSL1 knockdown inhibited IL-22-induced proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of keratinocytes. Keratinocyte proliferation was further enhanced by IL-22 stimulation with FOSL1 overexpression, and miR-15a-5p overexpression reversed the hyperproliferation and provoked keratinocyte apoptosis. MiR-15a-5p/FOSL1 functioned via MAPK/ERK pathway. Conclusion In the current study, we reported miR-15a-5p exhibited anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on keratinocytes using an IL-22-induced cells as in vitro psoriasis model. The results showed miR-15a-5p could be used as potential biomarker to treat psoriasis.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri was encapsulated using Maillard-reaction-products (MRPs) of soy protein isolate (SPI) and α-lactose monohydrate by freeze-drying. The mixed solution of SPI and α-lactose monohydrate was placed in a water bath at 89°C for 160 min for Maillard reaction, and then freeze-dried to obtain MRPs. The effects of Maillard reaction on functional characteristics of MRPs and the properties of MRPs-microcapsules were studied. SDS-PAGE indicated that SPI subunit reacted with lactose to form a polymer, and the band of MRPs disappeared around the molecular weights of 33, 40, 63, and 100 kDa. Compared with SPI, the emulsion stability, emulsion activity, foaming capacity, foam stability, and gel strength of MRPs were increased by 259%, 55.71%, 82.32%, 58.53%, and 3266%, respectively. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and scanning electron micrographs confirmed that the protein structure also changed significantly. Then, MRPs were used as wall material to prepare L. reuteri microcapsules. Physical properties and viable counts of L. reuteri during the simulated gastrointestinal digestion and storage period were determined. The particle size of MRPs-microcapsules (68 μm) was smaller than that of SPI-microcapsules (91 μm). The viable counts of L. reuteri in simulated gastrointestinal digestion and after storage for 30 days were improved. The modifications with Maillard reaction can improve emulsification, foaming, and gel strength of SPI, and MRPs could be used as a new type of wall material in the production of L. reuteri microcapsules.

The consequences of sandstone reservoir rock failure may lead to sand production. This phenomenon can have negative impact on lifting cost and economic of any field development. Metal erosion due to sanding can lead to loss of integrity and hydrocarbon leakage. Poor decision on the type of completion can risk the viability of the field. To facilitate best sand management over the life of a field and to maintain economical productivity, accurate prediction of sand production volume/rates is needed to increase both productivity and the ultimate recovery of the hydrocarbon while keeping the operating cost low. This paper summarizes the sand production modeling for onset and volume of sand namely technology that required to improve understanding on sand production and mitigation. Three main questions will be answered, why industry needs to worry about sand production, what are the available technologies to predict sanding volume/rates finally, how the current technologies can be improved to estimate sand production volume/rates.

In this study, the inhibitory activities of eight caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) against xanthine oxidase (XOD) in vitro were investigated, and the interaction mechanisms between each compound and XOD were studied. HPLC and fluorescence spectra showed that the inhibitory activities of dicaffeoylquinic acids (diCQAs) were higher than that of monocaffeoylquinic acids (monoCQAs), due to the main roles of hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bond between XOD and diCQAs. Both the binding constant and the lowest binding energy data indicated that the affinities of diCQAs to XOD were stronger than that of monoCQAs. Circular dichroism showed that the structure of XOD was compacted with the increased of α-helix content, resulting in decreased enzyme catalytic activity. Molecular docking revealed that CQAs preferentially bind to the flavin adenine dinucleotide region in XOD. These results provided the mechanisms of CQAs on inhibiting XOD and the further utilization of CQAs as XOD inhibitors to prevent hyperuricemia.

The distribution of ranked heights of excursions of a Brownian bridge is given by Pitman and Yor (2001). In this work, we consider excursions of a Brownian excursion above a random level x , where x is the value of the excursion at an independent uniform time on [0,1]. We study the maximum heights of these excursions as Pitman and Yor did for excursions of a Brownian bridge. In particular, the probability functions and the moments of the sum of the j th highest maximum over an excursion above x and the absolute value of the k th lowest minimum over an excursion below x , including j = 1 and k = 2 , are computed in this paper.

This study examines whether and how female directors enhance innovation performance. Based on a sample of U.S. firms, this study shows that firms with more female directors on boards present a more pronounced positive association between R&D and future firm performance (measured by earnings and operating cash flow), suggesting a positive impact of female directors on R&D performance. We also examine how female directors affect two intermediate R&D performance indicators, namely innovation output and productivity. Our results show that a higher number of female directors are associated with higher innovation output (measured by the sensitivity of patents and patent citations to R&D) and higher R&D productivity (measured by the sensitivity of future sales to R&D). In the further analysis, we trace the committee that each female director sits on and find that the better R&D outcomes brought by female directors are mainly driven by their monitoring rather than advisory role. Additionally, female directors enhance the R&D outcomes by attending more board meetings.

Objective It is unclear whether nucleophosmin (NPM) participates in cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of NPM in atherosclerosis. Methods Levels and location of NPM in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques and healthy controls were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblots, and immunofluorescence. Atherosclerotic prone ApoE–/– mice were fed with a Western diet for 16 weeks as an in vivo model. Human primary umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured as an in vitro model. Results Compared with controls, we found that NPM levels in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques were more than twice as high as in normal arteries, which mainly localized in endothelial cells. In vivo, adenovirus-containing NPM small hairpin RNA attenuated atherosclerotic lesion and promoted plaque stabilization in ApoE–/– mice fed a Western diet by reducing vascular inflammation, maintaining endothelial function, and decreasing macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, NPM knockdown decreased nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 phosphorylation. In cultured HUVECs, palmitic acid increased the protein levels of NPM and induced the expression of inflammatory cytokines and monocyte adhesion, whereas NPM knockdown attenuated this effect. In HUVECs, NPM protein physically interacted with NF-κB p65 subunit and promoted its nuclear transposition. NPM also increased the transcriptional activity of NF-κB p65 promoter and enhance its binding to target genes, including interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin. Conclusions These data provide novel evidence that NPM promotes atherosclerosis by inducing vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction through the NF-κB signaling pathway and suggest that NPM may be a promising target for atherosclerosis prevention and treatment.

Objective To assess the therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Design A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial (1-year follow-up). Setting Outpatient of local medical center settings. Participants Patients (N=26) who were diagnosed with bilateral moderate-to-severe CTS (total 52 wrists) were included. For each patient, one wrist was randomized into either the PRP or control group and the contralateral wrist of the same patient was allocated to another group. Twenty-four patients were included in the final data analysis. Interventions The wrists in the PRP group received a single ultrasound-guided dose of PRP injection (3.5mL), and the control group received a single ultrasound-guided injection with normal saline (3.5mL). Main Outcome Measures The Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) scores were used as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes encompassed the cross-sectional area of the median nerve and electrophysiological study. Assessments were conducted prior to injection and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postinjection. Results Compared to the control group, the PRP group exhibited significant improvements in BCTQ severity scores at all time points, BCTQ functional scores at the sixth month, and cross-sectional area at the 12th month postinjection (P Conclusions A single dose of ultrasound-guided perineural PRP injection can provide therapeutic effect for 1 year postinjection.

The influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) combined with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) on the freeze-thaw stability of corn starch gel was investigated. After five freeze-thaw cycles, the syneresis value of OSA starch treated with PEF-assisted esterification for 15 min was lower by 29.5 %, while that of OSA starch without PEF treatment was lower by 10.17 %, compared to that of native starch. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance data showed that the introduction of OSA groups greatly increased the water-holding capacity of starch. Results from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the PEF-assisted esterification markedly hindered the re-formation of the helical structure of starch during freeze-thaw cycles. Moreover, PEF-assisted esterification improved the viscoelastic properties of the starch gel. It is found that the freeze-thaw stability of the PEF-modified starch depends not only on the degree of substitution but also on the starch molecular fine structure. PEF-assisted OSA starch with a high degree of substitution, a low content of amylose, and a high content of short amylopectin chains were found to have high freeze-thaw stability. This study shows that PEF-assisted esterification is a promising technique that should be used for preserving the quality of frozen foods.