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Allergic rhinitis (AR) resulted in impairing human health and quality of life seriously. There is currently no definitive remedy for AR. Recent studies have shown that autophagy may regulate airway inflammation. Our comprehension of autophagy and its molecular mechanism in the field of AR condition remains incomplete. Our research endeavors to bridge this knowledge deficit by investigating the correlation between AR and autophagy. The AR-related gene expression profile GSE50223 was screened and downloaded. The “limma” package of R software was utilized to identify differentially expressed genes associated with autophagy. GO, KEGG, and Gene set enrichment analyses were conducted. A PPI network of differentially expressed autophagy-related genes were established and further identified through the CytoHubba algorithm. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was employed to evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of the hub genes and to examine the relationship between autophagy-related genes and AR. Finally, qRT-PCR was carried out to confirm the chosen autophagy-related genes using clinical samples. 21 autophagy-related genes in allergic rhinitis were identified. BECN1, PIK3C3, GABARAPL2, ULK2, and UVRAG were considered as significant differentially expressed autophagy-related genes. However, additional molecular biological experiments will be necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanism connecting autophagy and AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial drug resistance represents a significant global concern, with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis posing a particularly grave threat to contemporary healthcare systems. This study aims to reveal the reasons for the prevalence of VRE in China. Methods: This study collected data from the China Antimicrobial Resistance Detection System, China Statistical Yearbook, and China Meteorological Network. The collected data are meticulously organized and subjected to both single-factor and multi-factor analyses. An accurate multiple linear regression model was developed by utilizing this comprehensive dataset. Results: Single-factor analysis revealed significant regional variations in the resistance rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (P = 0.003). Specifically, there were noteworthy disparities observed between regions experiencing temperate and monsoon climates (P = 0.029; P = 0.005). Furthermore, multi-factor regression analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between the drug resistance rate and both rainfall and rGDP, while a positive correlation was observed with nPI. Conclusion: We successfully established a prediction model for the VRE and found that the resistance rate was low in areas with high rainfall and high per capita economic income, but high in areas with many specialized public health institutions. This is critical for public health strategies and helps policymakers and healthcare practitioners tailor antibiotic resistance approaches to local geography, meteorology, economic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gear churning behavior commonly actively or passively appears in high-speed machinal transmissions of helicopters and new energy electric vehicles. In these high-speed scenarios of churning and windage behaviors coexist the corresponding energy, dissipations of spiral bevel gears are no longer accurately predicted by the classic churning loss model, as well as the proposed windage loss model. Considering that these two phenomena are influenced by the fluid properties, gear geometry, and working condition parameters, this paper tries to develop a unified analytical model to calculate gear no-load power losses for this special scenario between a typical churning and windage phenomenon for a spiral bevel gear, leveraging with the air–oil ratio relations. A series of experimental data on a single rotating part in an oil sump at numerous rotational speeds and initial static oil levels have been performed. On top of that, the unified analytical model is verified and improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High mortality due to hygrothermal stress during heat waves is mostly linked to cardiovascular malfunction, the most serious of which are malignant arrhythmias. However, the mechanism associated with hygrothermal stress leading to malignant arrhythmias remains unclear. The energy metabolism regulated by liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the electrical signaling based on gap junction protein, connexin43 (Cx43), plays important roles in the development of cardiac arrhythmias. In order to investigate whether hygrothermal stress induces arrhythmias via the LKB1-AMPK-Cx43 pathway, Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to high temperature and humidity for constructing the hygrothermal stress model. A final choice of 40 °C and 85% humidity was made by pre-exploration based on different gradient environmental conditions with reference to arrhythmia event-inducing stability and risk of sudden death. Then, the incidence of arrhythmic events, as well as the expression, phosphorylation at Ser368, and distribution of Cx43 in the myocardium, were examined. Meanwhile, the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activator, Acadesine, was also administered to investigate the role played by AMPK in the process. Our results showed that hygrothermal stress induced malignant arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and severe atrioventricular block. Besides, hygrothermal stress decreased the phosphorylation of Cx43 at Ser368, induced proarrhythmic redistribution of Cx43 from polar to lateral sides of the cardiomyocytes, and also caused LKB1 and phosphorylated-AMPK expression to be less abundant. While, pretreatment with Acadesine significantly actived the LKB1-AMPK-Cx43 pathway and thus ameliorated malignant arrhythmias, indicating that the hygrothermal stress-induced arrhythmias is associated with the redistribution of gap junctions in cardiomyocytes and the organism's energy metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clifford Geertz's essay, "Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture" comprehensively explored the basic problems encountered in the theoretical efforts of 20th century social sciences. As a response to his reflection, this paper tries to reveal the methodological roots of the predicament of interpretive anthropology and all social sciences, through an epistemological analysis of social science. In addition, with the Theory of Belief as an analytical tool, it also tries to offer a solution to one of the classic predicaments in social sciences: "what is ethnography". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theorization of social sciences in the 20th century walked forward with difficulty. Clifford Geertz's essay, "Thick description: Toward an interpretive theory of culture", which comprehensively explored the fundamental problems in the process, is an essential document in the history of thoughts in the social sciences in the twentieth century. In response to Geertz's reflection, this paper tries to reveal the predicament of interpretive anthropology and the entire social sciences and its methodological roots through an epistemological analysis of social science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep-sea environment is an extremely difficult habitat for microorganisms to survive in due to its intense hydrostatic pressure. However, the mechanisms by which these organisms adapt to such extreme conditions remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the metabolic adaptations of Microbacterium sediminis YLB-01, a cold and stress-tolerant microorganism isolated from deep-sea sediments, in response to high-pressure conditions. YLB-01 cells were cultured at normal atmospheric pressure and 28 ℃ until they reached the stationary growth phase. Subsequently, the cells were exposed to either normal pressure or high pressure (30 MPa) at 4 ℃ for 7 days. Using NMR-based metabolomic and proteomic analyses of YLB-01 cells exposed to high-pressure conditions, we observed significant metabolic changes in several metabolic pathways, including amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. In particular, the high-pressure treatment stimulates cell division and triggers the accumulation of UDP-glucose, a critical factor in cell wall formation. This finding highlights the adaptive strategies used by YLB-01 cells to survive in the challenging high-pressure environments of the deep sea. Specifically, we discovered that YLB-01 cells regulate amino acid metabolism, promote carbohydrate metabolism, enhance cell wall synthesis, and improve cell membrane fluidity in response to high pressure. These adaptive mechanisms play essential roles in supporting the survival and growth of YLB-01 in high-pressure conditions. Our study offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic adaptation of deep-sea microorganisms to high-pressure environments. Key points: • NMR-based metabolomic and proteomic analyses were conducted on Microbacterium sediminis YLB-01 to investigate the significant alterations in several metabolic pathways in response to high-pressure treatment. • YLB-01 cells used adaptive strategies (such as regulated amino acid metabolism, promoted carbohydrate metabolism, enhanced cell wall synthesis, and improved cell membrane fluidity) to survive in the challenging high-pressure environment of the deep sea. • High-pressure treatment stimulated cell division and triggered the accumulation of UDP-glucose, a critical factor in cell wall formation, in Microbacterium sediminis YLB-01 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple drug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene encodes P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP-dependent drug efflux pump that protects the cells from a wide range of drugs. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been linked with the structural and functional aspect of P-gp and with the predisposition to multiple myeloma. Two hundred thirty-one MM patients and 244 healthy controls were included in the present investigation. MDR1 gene polymorphisms (rs1045642, rs1128503 and rs2032582) were genotyped by TaqMan SNP detection assay. Relative expression of the MDR1 gene was quantified by RT-PCR. Distribution of genotypes and alleles of MDR1 gene polymorphisms (rs1045642, rs1128503 and rs2032582) among the MM patients and healthy controls were comparable. TT genotype and minor allele "T" of MDR1 rs1045642 polymorphism were more frequent in survivors than those who died during the follow-up period of 5 years (TT: OR = 0.37, p = 0.01, T: OR = 0.59, p = 0.007). Relative expression of the MDR1 gene was higher in MM patients than in controls (p < 0.0001). MDR1 polymorphisms (rs1045642) were associated with the expression of MDR1 in MM patients and controls. Survival analysis revealed a significant association of the TT genotype with protection from MM death with standard treatment compared to those with the CC genotype. TT genotype of MDR1 rs1045642 polymorphism is associated with lower MDR1 expression and a protective genotype against MM patients' mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is one of the most dangerous malignant tumors to human health in the world. Previous researches have shown that cytoskeleton regulator RNA (CYTOR), a long noncoding RNA was involved in the occurrence and development of various types of cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical significance and biological function of CYTOR in lung cancer. Real-time quantitative PCR was applied to detect the expression of CYTOR. The proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells was analyzed by CCK8 assay. The luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay were used to reveal the interactions between CYTOR and its downstream targets. Western blot was used to detect the expression of high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1). Here we found CYTOR was upregulated in lung cancer tissues and cell lines. The proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells was inhibited after CYTOR silencing. In addition, CYTOR could directly interact with and negatively regulate miR-103a-3p, and miR-103a-3p inhibited cell proliferation by targeting HMGB1. The CYTOR/miR-103a-3p/HMGB1 axis promoted lung cancer cell proliferation. CYTOR sponges miR-103a-3p to promote the proliferation of lung cancer cells through HMGB1. The CYTOR/miR-103a-3p/HMGB1 axis plays a critical role in the progression of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are one of the factors that cause human diseases and endanger public health and social security. Attenuating bacterial membranes and metabolism by porous cellulose is a sustainable strategy for the treating bacterially contaminated water. Herein, a photoresponsive fiber (CEL-THPP) was synthesized by the covalent coupling of cellulose with porphyrin derivatives (THPP). The coordination of the Zn(II) ion with CEL-THPP induced the self-assembly of CEL-THPP producing CEL-THPP@Zn with a pore volume of 0.016 cm3/g. CEL-THPP@Zn is a porous rod-like structure fiber. Interestingly, CEL-THPP@Zn exhibits strong fluorescence emission at 662 nm in solid with an optical band gap of 1.69 eV. Moreover, CEL-THPP@Zn exhibited excellent inhibitory and adsorption effects on both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, this study provides a novel method for the preparation of mesoporous fibers, and the CEL-THPP@Zn can be applied to bacterial inhibition and filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate the characteristics and treatment outcomes of adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) patients with thyroid involvement. We retrospectively described the clinical, biological, and genomic characteristics of a series of 36 LCH patients with thyroid involvement in our center between January 2001 and December 2021. At the time of diagnosis, only one patient was classified as having single-system LCH, and 35 patients were classified as having multisystem (MS) LCH. Three patients had coexisting papillary thyroid carcinoma. Patients with thyroid gland involvement had higher frequencies of pituitary (88.6% vs. 53.4%, P < 0.001), liver (45.7% vs. 20.7%, P = 0.003), and lymph node (54.3% vs. 31.6%, P = 0.012) involvement and a lower frequency of bone (45.7% vs. 72.0%, P = 0.003) involvement than patients without thyroid gland involvement. Sixteen patients had abnormal thyroid function, including nine patients with primary hypothyroidism, one patient with central hypothyroidism, and six patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. BRAFV600E, BRAFN486_P490, and MAP2K1 mutations were detected in 14.3%, 57.1%, and 7.1% of patients, respectively. After a 43-month median follow-up, none of the patients died, and 15 patients experienced reactivation. The median event-free survival was 37.5 months. Two of 6 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism had normal thyroid function, and 12 patients still had hypothyroidism after treatment. As the largest adult LCH cohort with thyroid gland involvement to date, we found that patients with thyroid gland involvement had different clinical characteristics, genetic profiles, and outcomes than patients without thyroid gland involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore antithrombotic strategy and its relationship with outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at high risk for stroke and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) in real-world clinical practice. Patients with AF at high risk for stroke complicated with CCS from China Atrial Fibrillation Registry (CAFR) were enrolled. The patients were divided into non-antithrombotic (Non-AT) group, oral anticoagulants (OAC) group, antiplatelet therapy (APT) group (aspirin or clopidogrel), and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) group (aspirin + clopidogrel) according to their antithrombotic strategies at baseline. The patients with OAC + single antiplatelet drug (14 cases) and OAC + dual antiplatelet therapy (7 cases) were excluded for the small sample size. The primary effectiveness outcome was the composite outcome of coronary events, thromboembolism, and all-cause mortality. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding events. From 2011 to 2018, 25,512 patients were included in the CARF study, 769 patients with AF at high risk for stroke and CCS were enrolled in this study. After a follow-up of 47.4 ± 25.3 months, the incidences of primary effectiveness outcome were 44.6%, 25.7%, 43.6%, and 29.1% in the four groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The incidences of primary effectiveness and all-cause mortality were both significantly lower in the OAC group than in the Non-AT group, (25.7% vs. 44.6%, HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.39–0.73, P < 0.001) and (14.6% vs. 38.5%, HR 0.36, 95%CI 0.25–0.52, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, age (HR 1.03, 95%CI 1.01–1.05, P = 0.015), heart failure (HR 1.67, 95%CI 1.20–2.33, P = 0.002) and OAC (HR 0.66, 95%CI 0.47–0.91, P = 0.012) were independent factors for the composite outcome. There was no significant difference in major bleeding events between the four groups. OAC monotherapy significantly reduced the primary effectiveness composite outcome and all-cause mortality in the patients with AF at high risk for stroke complicated with CCS. However, there was no significant difference in major bleeding among the different antithrombotic strategies. Trial Registrationwww.chictr.org.cn (No. ChiCTR-OCH-13003729). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idarubicin 12 mg/m2 has been recommended as a standard induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It is unknown whether a higher dose of idarubicin can improve the remission rate. This phase 2 prospective single-arm study enrolled 45 adults with newly diagnosed AML between September 2019 and May 2021 (NCT 04,069,208). Induction therapy included administration of idarubicin 14 mg/m2 for 3 days and cytarabine 100 mg/m2 every 12 h subcutaneously for 7 days. The primary endpoint was the composite complete response rate (complete response (CR) plus complete response with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi)). The median age was 45 years (range 14–60 years). Forty (88.9%) patients had CR or CRi, including 39 patients with CR and 1 patient with CRi after one course of induction therapy. The median times to recovery of absolute neutrophil and platelet counts were 21 days. Only 1 patient died of intracranial hemorrhage during induction therapy. After a median follow-up of 14 months (range 3.5–24 months), the estimated 18-month overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) were 66.9% and 57.5%, respectively. In conclusion, idarubicin 14 mg/m2 plus cytarabine was a safe and efficient intensive regimen for younger and fit patients with newly diagnosed AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a type of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), underwater gliders (UG) are getting increasing attention in ocean exploration. To save energy and satisfy the mission requirements of a longer voyage, shape optimization for UGs has become a key technique and research focus. In this paper, a conventional UG, including its fuselage and hydrofoil, is optimized, which aims to decrease the average resistance in one motion cycle. To operate the optimization progress for the complex object, multiple free form deformation (FFD) volumes are established for geometric parameterization. High-fidelity simulation models are employed for objective function evaluation and gradients calculation. And sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method is adopted as an optimization algorithm. The optimization results show that there exists a UG with symmetrical and non-horizontal hydrofoils that has lower resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mammals, cyclic GMP–AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) produces the cyclic dinucleotide 2′3′-cGAMP in response to cytosolic DNA and this triggers an antiviral immune response. cGAS belongs to a large family of cGAS/DncV-like nucleotidyltransferases that is present in both prokaryotes1 and eukaryotes2–5. In bacteria, these enzymes synthesize a range of cyclic oligonucleotides and have recently emerged as important regulators of phage infections6–8. Here we identify two cGAS-like receptors (cGLRs) in the insect Drosophila melanogaster. We show that cGLR1 and cGLR2 activate Sting- and NF-κB-dependent antiviral immunity in response to infection with RNA or DNA viruses. cGLR1 is activated by double-stranded RNA to produce the cyclic dinucleotide 3′2′-cGAMP, whereas cGLR2 produces a combination of 2′3′-cGAMP and 3′2′-cGAMP in response to an as-yet-unidentified stimulus. Our data establish cGAS as the founding member of a family of receptors that sense different types of nucleic acids and trigger immunity through the production of cyclic dinucleotides beyond 2′3′-cGAMP.Two cGAS-like receptors, cGLR1 and cGLR2, identified in Drosophila melanogaster are shown to induce antiviral immunity in response to RNA or DNA virus infections through the production of 2′3′-cGAMP and 3′2′-cGAMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic GMP–AMP synthase (cGAS) is a cytosolic DNA sensor that produces the second messenger cG[2′–5′]pA[3′–5′]p (2′3′-cGAMP) and controls activation of innate immunity in mammalian cells1–5. Animal genomes typically encode multiple proteins with predicted homology to cGAS6–10, but the function of these uncharacterized enzymes is unknown. Here we show that cGAS-like receptors (cGLRs) are innate immune sensors that are capable of recognizing divergent molecular patterns and catalysing synthesis of distinct nucleotide second messenger signals. Crystal structures of human and insect cGLRs reveal a nucleotidyltransferase signalling core shared with cGAS and a diversified primary ligand-binding surface modified with notable insertions and deletions. We demonstrate that surface remodelling of cGLRs enables altered ligand specificity and used a forward biochemical screen to identify cGLR1 as a double-stranded RNA sensor in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. We show that RNA recognition activates Drosophila cGLR1 to synthesize the novel product cG[3′–5′]pA[2′–5′]p (3′2′-cGAMP). A crystal structure of Drosophila stimulator of interferon genes (dSTING) in complex with 3′2′-cGAMP explains selective isomer recognition, and 3′2′-cGAMP induces an enhanced antiviral state in vivo that protects from viral infection. Similar to radiation of Toll-like receptors in pathogen immunity, our results establish cGLRs as a diverse family of metazoan pattern recognition receptors.The authors identify Drosophila cGLR1 as a double-stranded RNA sensor and 3′2′-cGAMP as a nucleotide second messenger and activator of Drosophila STING signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to verify the reliability of ablation index (AI) for ablation lesion estimating with different settings for radiofrequency (RF) parameters: power, impedance, contact angles, irrigation rate, temperature of irrigation saline, and irrigation solution. RF ablations (N = 66) were performed on ex vivo porcine left ventricle submerged in 37 °C saline. The aforementioned ablation parameters were changed to measure whether the size of the ablation lesion was consistent at a fixed AI value of 500. The maximum lesion diameter (r = − 0.631, P = 0.028), depth (r = − 0.896, P < 0.001), and volume (r = − 0.745, P < 0.005) were significantly reduced with an increase of the impedance. The lesion depth (P < 0.05) and the lesion volume (P < 0.05) were significantly larger with glucose irrigation than saline irrigation. In conclusion, at a fixed AI value, impedance and irrigation solution have impact on the ablation lesions, which could affect the accuracy of AI formula to estimate ablation lesion size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteric glial cells (EGCs) and enteric glial–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) are directly involved in intestinal inflammation. In this study, we sought to examine the possible mechanisms for how Bifidobacterium bifidum (B.b.) and Bacteroides fragilis (B.f.) influence EGC regulation. In this study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were used as exogenous stimuli of EGCs to establish an intestinal inflammation model. After stimulation with LPS and IFN-γ, B.b. and B.f. supernatants were used to activate EGCs and to examine EGC immune mechanisms. For this purpose, qRT-PCR, western blotting, and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) were used to detect the expression of NLRP3, NLRP6, NGF, NT-3, IL-18, IL-1β, and caspase-1. We found that EGCs, after stimulation with LPS and IFN-γ, could express NLRP3, NLRP6, NT-3, NGF, IL-18, IL-1β, and caspase-1 through LSCM. In intestinal inflammation, B.b. and B.f. could trigger an increase in NGF and NT-3 expression in EGCs in order to protect the intestine. Furthermore, B.b. and B.f. could upregulate NLRP3 expression in EGCs and promote an inflammatory response. B.b. had a dual regulatory role in EGC NLRP6 expression, while B.f. inhibited NLRP6 protein expression. Moreover, B.b. could decrease the expression of IL-18, IL-1β, and caspase-1 in EGCs in order to inhibit the inflammatory response. Contrary to this, B.f. could upregulate IL-18, IL-1β, and caspase-1 expression in EGCs in order to promote the inflammatory response. B.b. and B.f. can influence the expression of NGF, NT-3, NLRP3, NLRP6, IL-18, IL-1β, and caspase-1 in EGCs in order to inhibit or promote intestinal inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-domain airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data are frequently subject to interference from various types of noise, which can reduce the data quality and affect data inversion and interpretation. Traditional denoising methods primarily deal with data directly, without analyzing the data in detail; thus, the results are not always satisfactory. In this paper, we propose a method based on dictionary learning for EM data denoising. This method uses dictionary learning to perform feature analysis and to extract and reconstruct the true signal. In the process of dictionary learning, the random noise is filtered out as residuals. To verily the effectiveness of this dictionary learning approach for denoising, we use a fixed overcomplete discrete cosine transform (ODCT) dictionary algorithm, the method-of-optimal-directions (MOD) dictionary learning algorithm, and the K-singular value decomposition (K-SVD) dictionary learning algorithm to denoise decay curves at single points and to denoise profile data for different time channels in time-domain AEM. The results show obvious differences among the three dictionaries for denoising AEM data, with the K-SVD dictionary achieving the best performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apocynum venetum L. and Eleutherococcus senticosus have been used for hundreds of years to treat hypertension in China. In previous research, there was not a suitable quality control of method for the formulas of Apocynum venetum L. and Eleutherococcus senticosus. It is urgent and essential to develop modern analytical methods for Apocynum venetum L. and Eleutherococcus senticosus to ensure the quality of the formulas. A rapid approach for simultaneous determination of hyperoside, isoquercitrin and eleutheroside E in Apocynum venetum L. and Eleutherococcus senticosus by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector was described and validated. The full method validation, including the linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, repeatability, stability and recovery, was examined. All target components, including isomers of hyperoside and isoquercitrin, were baseline separated in 35 min. The developed method was sensitive, reliable and feasible. With this method, the optimal decoction conditions of Apocynum venetum L. and Eleutherococcus senticosus were selected, and their quality analysis was carried out. Furthermore, an herbal compatibility study of Apocynum venetum L. and Eleutherococcus senticosus based on detecting variations in the content of their active ingredients was performed by the developed HPLC method. It could be an alternative for the quantitative analysis of herbs that contain hyperoside, isoquercitrin or (and) eleutheroside E in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most wide-spread "hostile" environmental factor for marine microorganisms is low temperature, which is usually accompanied by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). Metabolic mechanisms of marine microorganisms adapting to prolonged low temperature under HHP remain to be clarified. To reveal the underlying metabolic mechanisms, we performed NMR-based metabolomic analysis of aqueous extracts derived from a psychrotolerant Microbacterium sediminis YLB-01, which was isolated from deep-sea sediment and possess great biotechnology potentials. The YLB-01 cells were firstly cultivated at the optimal condition (28 °C, 0.1 MPa) for either 18 h (logarithmic phase) or 24 h (stationary phase), then continually cultivated at either 28 °C or 4 °C under HHP (30 MPa) for 7 days. The cells cultivated at low temperature, which experienced cold stress, were distinctly distinguished from those at normal temperature. Cold stress primarily induced metabolic changes in amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. Furthermore, the logarithmic and stationary phase cells cultivated at low temperature exhibited distinct metabolic discrimination, which was mostly reflected in the significantly disturbed carbohydrate metabolism. The logarithmic phase cells displayed suppressed TCA cycle, while the stationary phase cells showed decreased pyruvate and increased lactate. In addition, we performed transcriptome analysis for the stationary phase cells to support the metabolomic analysis. Our results suggest that the cold adaptation of the psychrotroph YLB-01 is closely associated with profoundly altered amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. Our work provides a mechanistic understanding of the metabolic adaptation of marine psychrotrophs to prolonged low temperature under HHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of new information technologies, a revolution is being taken place to bring the industry into a new era of intelligent manufacturing. One of the key requirements of intelligent manufacturing is the interoperability of industrial applications. However, it is challenging to realize the interoperability for legacy industrial applications due to 1) the deficient semantic information of data transmitted over heterogeneous communication protocols, 2) the difficulty to understand the complex process of business logic with no source code, and 3) the high cost and potential risk of reengineering the applications. To address the issues, in this paper, we propose an approach named SmartPipe to exposing existing functionalities of an industrial application as APIs without source code while simultaneously allowing the application to remain unchanged. We design a behavioral runtime model (BRM) as the self-representation of the industrial applications, based on which a computational reflection framework is designed to flexibly construct the model and generate APIs that encapsulate specific functionalities. We validate SmartPipe on a real industrial application that controls the spin-draw winding machine. Results show that our approach is effective and more suitable for industrial scenes compared with traditional approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impact of body mass index (BMI) on all-cause mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients remains controversial. Methods: A total of 10,942 AF patients were prospectively enrolled and categorized into four BMI groups: underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (BMI 18.5–24 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 24–28 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Different Cox proportional hazards models were performed to evaluate the association between BMI and all-cause mortality. Results: During a median follow-up of 30 months (IQR 18–48 months), 862 deaths events occurred. Compared to normal BMI, higher BMI was associated with a lower mortality risk (overweight: HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.61–0.81, P < 0.0001 and obesity: HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.44–0.67, P < 0.0001) and lower BMI was associated with a higher mortality risk (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.67–2.97, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: A reversed relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality in AF patients was found. Higher risk of mortality was observed in underweight patients compared to patients with a normal BMI, while overweight and obese patients had a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Clinical trial registration: URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=5831. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-OCH-13003729. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective evaluation model was established to digitize the quality of cocoa butter equivalents (CBEs) based on determinations of total and sn-2 fatty acid compositions and triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles and the "deducting score" principle. Similarity scores for selected fats and oils calculated from the model revealed differences between them and parallel cocoa butter compositions. For CBE1 and CBE2, total similarity scores were 90.6 and 90.0, whereas those of mango (76.3), dhupa (84.1), sal fat (84.7), kokum (78.3), palm mid fractions (PMF, 77.9), shea butter (64.0), illipe butter (89.7) and Pentadesma butyracea butter (67.2), respectively. Similarity scores were found to agree with physical properties, including polymorphism, crystal morphology, crystallization or melting behaviors, and solid fat content. The present study provides an accurate means of assessing CBE quality and hopefully will contribute to the development of commercial CBEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare efficacy and safety of postponing administration of aprepitant and routine triple-antiemetic treatment for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients who received docetaxel and cisplatin multi-day chemotherapy treatment, and to evaluate the effect of aprepitant on docetaxel pharmacokinetics in the Chinese population.Methods: A total of 24 cancer patients (including 5 females and 19 males, 22-74 years old) received two cycles of high-emetic DP (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 on day 1 + cisplatin 25 mg/m2 on days 1-3) regimen. A randomized, two-period and cross-over study was applied for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The patients in group A took aprepitant 125 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on days 2-3 (administered aprepitant 1 h before chemotherapy). In group B, the patients took aprepitant 125 mg on day 2, 80 mg on days 3-4, which was delayed 1 day than group A. Efficacy and safety in overall phase were evaluated within 5 days after initiation of chemotherapy. Simultaneously, the differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of docetaxel between two different antiemetic treatments are compared.Results: The CR rate of delayed-phase nausea was compared between the routine triple-antiemetic treatment (group A) and the aprepitant delayed 1-day administration treatment (group B), and the difference was statistically significant (16.7% vs 45.8% P < 0.05), despite there were similar for two groups in the CR rate of acute-phase nausea and vomiting, and delayed-phase vomiting. In two groups, the area under the docetaxel curve (AUC0-t values) (mean ± SD) of docetaxel was 1134.21 ± 732.55 (ng h/mL) and 1080.94 ± 585.09 (ng h/mL), and the geometric means were 944.82 and 902.10 (ng h/mL), respectively. There was no significant difference in AUC values between the two antiemetic treatments (P > 0.05), as well as Cmax, CLz, T1/2z, MRT and Tmax.Conclusions: Delayed administration of aprepitant provided superior delayed-phase nausea protection for patients who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy in comparison with the routine triple-antiemetic treatment. In addition, in the routine triple-antiemetic treatment, aprepitant did not significantly affect the main pharmacokinetic parameters of docetaxel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The product of ferulic acid decarboxylation, 4-vinylguaiacol (4-VG), is an important antioxidant and is reported to have an antioxidant capacity comparable to α-tocopherol. In this study, evaluation on antioxidant capacities of ferulic acid, catechin, and 4-VG was performed when 200 ppm of each compound was added in a 10% O/W emulsion for 50 days. Peroxide value (POV) results of the O/W emulsion containing 4-VG were noteworthy. The POV was 1.9 meq/L of emulsion after 29 days, which was no different to the initial value (day 0). Even when the oxidation was allowed to advance to day 50, the POV remained at 2.2 meq/L of emulsion, representing only a tiny increase relative to the initial value on day 0. 1H-NMR results also showed that the lowest conjugated forms and no aldehydes were detected in emulsion of 4-VG stored for 50 days, proving the excellent antioxidant capacity in the O/W emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarboxylation of ferulic acid would increase the solubility in oils. Rice bran extract (RBE) containing 29 mg ferulic acid/g RBE was decarboxylated to obtain decarboxylated rice bran extract (DRBE), and its antioxidant capacity in oil system was studied. After addition of DRBE (500 ppm), oxidation was monitored for 20 days at 60 °C under the dark. To compare the oxidation degree, 500 ppm of ferulic acid and well-known lipid soluble antioxidant, α-tocopherol, were used. Contents of conjugated dienes and aldehydes were measured using 1H NMR as well as peroxide value (POV). On 7 days of oxidation, DRBE (539.0 meq/kg oil) showed lower POV than the control (819.7 meq/kg oil). Also, contents of total conjugated form and aldehydes were 194.60, and 5.94 mmol/L oil, which were lower than those of control (323.63 and 15.94 mmol/L oil). However, after 10 days of oxidation, antioxidant capacity of DRBE was not observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, an Optimized Fuzzy-Padé Controller (OFPC) for attitude stabilization of a quadrotor is proposed by using Padé approximants and fuzzy singleton rules. To determine unknown coefficients of the Padé approximant, a PD-type Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) is first designed. As the number of the fuzzy singleton rules extracted from the FLC is less than the number of the unknown coefficients, some of them cannot be determined using the rules. The coefficients not specified are determined applying particle swarm optimization algorithm to increase convergence speed and decrease energy consumption. The simulation results for the OFPC demonstrate faster convergence speed, lower power consumption, larger convergence region, better robustness, and faster computational time in comparison to the FLC. Unlike the FLC, the OFPC is fast enough to be implemented on the microcontroller of the quadrotor. The experimental results indicate that the proposed controller quickly stabilizes the quadrotor, even with externally applied disturbances. The proposed approach possesses certain advantages over FLCs, and it can be employed wherever FLCs are not applicable due to the high computational burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the effect of icariin (ICA) on the cognitive impairment induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice and the underlying mechanisms related to changes in hippocampal acetylation level.Methods: The modifified free-fall method was used to establish the TBI mouse model. Mice with post-TBI cognitive impairment were randomly divided into 3 groups using the randomised block method (n=7): TBI (vehicle-treated), low-dose (75 mg/kg) and high-dose (150 mg/kg) of ICA groups. An additional sham-operated group (vehicle-treated) was employed. The vehicle or ICA was administrated by gavage for 28 consecutive days. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was conducted. Acetylcholine (ACh) content, mRNA and protein levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and protein levels of acetylated H3 (Ac-H3) and Ac-H4 were detected in the hippocampus.Results: Compared with the sham-operated group, the MWM performance, hippocampal ACh content, mRNA and protein levels of ChAT, and protein levels of Ac-H3 and Ac-H4 were signifificantly decreased in the TBI group (P<0.05). High-dose of ICA signifificantly ameliorated the TBI-induced weak MWM performance, increased hippocampal ACh content, and mRNA and protein levels of ChAT, as well as Ac-H3 protein level compared with the TBI group (P<0.05).Conclusion: ICA improved post-TBI cognitive impairment in mice by enhancing hippocampal acetylation, which improved hippocampal cholinergic function and ultimately improved cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Thyroid dysfunction affects the outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation. However, it remains unclear if the variations in thyroid function, especially in the triiodothyronine levels, are associated with AF recurrence in euthyroid subjects. This study investigated the associations of thyroid hormone levels with arrhythmia recurrence after AF catheter ablation in euthyroid patients.Methods: A total of 1115 consecutive AF patients who underwent catheter ablation were prospectively enrolled and had their thyroid function measured prior to the procedure. The serum free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were assessed as predictors of recurrence and were adjusted for potential confounders. The subjects were divided into five quintile groups according to the FT3, FT4, and TSH levels, respectively.Results: After a median follow-up of 723 days (interquartile range, 180-1070), 47.2% of patients experienced recurrence. After multivariate adjustment, subject in the lowest and highest FT3 quintiles showed increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-2.03, P < 0.01, and HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.16-1.87, P < 0.01, respectively), compared to the median quintile of FT3 levels. Regarding the FT4 level, the highest quintile group showed a higher risk of recurrence (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.01-1.60, P = 0.04). The TSH levels were not associated with AF recurrence.Conclusions: Both high and low FT3 levels were associated with AF recurrence after catheter ablation. High-normal FT4 levels were also related to AF recurrence; however, no association was found between normal TSH levels and AF recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertex arboricity va(G) of a graph G is the minimum number of colors the vertices can be colored so that each color class induces a forest. It was known that va(G)≤3 for every planar graph G. In this paper, we prove that va(G)≤2 if G is a planar graph without intersecting 5-cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have reported attenuation of insulin resistance (IR) by improving phosphorylation of the insulin signalling pathway. However, the upstream molecular signalling pathway is still elusive. In this study, Western blot was used to evaluate the phosphorylation level of the insulin signalling pathway and the AMPK pathway. 2-NBDG was used to evaluate glucose uptake. Ca2+ imaging was used to assess change of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. We found that NaHS enhanced the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and glucose uptake and activated the insulin signalling cascade in a palmitic acid (PA)-induced IR model in C2C12 cells. Furthermore, activation of the IRS1/PI3K/AKT pathway and glucose uptake were decreased when AMPK or CaMKKβ was inhibited. Our study also showed that the mitochondrial electron transport chain, ATP production, and intramitochondrial cAMP declined in the IR model but that this effect was reversed by NaHS, an effect that may be mediated by the Ca2+/CaMKK2/AMPK and PI3K/AKT pathways. Our data indicate that H2S improves activation of the insulin signalling cascade and glucose uptake via activation of the Ca2+/CaMKK2/AMPK pathway and mitochondrial metabolism in C2C12 cells. Furthermore, NaHS protects mitochondrial function and maintains normal ATP production by activating the cAMP system and the Ca2+/CaMKK2/AMPK and PI3K/ATK pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While AF is considered more like a left atrial (LA) disease, to what extent the right atrium contributes to the pathogenesis and ablation outcome of AF remains unclear. This study aimed to identify if right atrial diameter (RAD) could predict arrhythmia recurrence after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods: Four hundred and seventy patients with drug-resistant AF [paroxysmal AF (PAF) 196; non-PAF 274] who underwent primary catheter ablation were enrolled. Ablation strategy included complete bilateral pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in all patients and additional linear ablation across mitral isthmus, LA roof, and tricuspid isthmus in non-PAF cases. Risk factors associated with recurrence were determined by a Cox regression model, and the predictive power was evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic curve.Results: After 24.3 ± 18.0 months, 284 patients (60.6%) experienced atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence (111 in PAF, 173 in non-PAF). RAD was moderately associated with LA diameter (r = 0.371, P < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.205, P < 0.001), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (r = 0.319, P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that RAD was an independent predictor for recurrence only in PAF patients with LAD ≥35 mm (HR 1.044, 95% CI 1.007-1.082, P = 0.021). The RAD cutoff value of 35.5 mm predicts atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence with 85.4% sensitivity and 29.2% specificity. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that RAD over 35.5 mm is associated with more recurrence after PAF ablation (log-rank P = 0.034), comparing to those with RAD <35.5 mm.Conclusions: RAD predicts outcome of ablation only in patients with PAF and concurrent LA enlargement. Under this condition, RAD <35.5 mm is associated with a more favorable recurrence-free survival at over 2-year follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxabicycloheptene sulfonate (OBHS) is a novel bicyclic core selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) with estrogen receptor (ER) antagonistic-activity and anti-inflammatory activity. However, little is known about protective action of OBHS on neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, OBHS demonstrated a remarkably protective effect against amyloid beta (Aβ) induced cytotoxicity via G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) in rat astroglial cell line (C6). The C6 cell death induced by Aβ was decreased by OBHS (1 μM) treatment for 45 min. This rapid protective action was blocked by GPER1 specific antagonist or siRNA knockdown. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3k)/Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation also exhibited similar effects as GPER1 antagonist in blocking the protective effects of OBHS. Moreover, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was also increased by OBHS as a consequence of the activation of GPER1-PI3K/Akt and ERK pathways. Additionally, the phenyl sulfonate moiety of OBHS played a vital role in producing GPER1's agonist property according to the molecular docking analysis. These findings suggest that OBHS provide protection directed at enhancing glial cell survival through the activation of GPER1, which, in turn, offers a novel insight into the molecular mechanisms behind the potential application of OBHS in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A graph is 1-planar if it can be drawn on the plane so that each edge is crossed by at most one other edge. In this paper, we verify the total coloring conjecture for every 1-planar graph G if either Δ( G) ≥ 9 and g( G) ≥ 4, or Δ( G) ≥ 7 and g( G) ≥ 5, where Δ( G) is the maximum degree of G and g( G) is the girth of G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wiener index of a hypergraph is the sum of distances between all pairs of vertices of the hypergraph. In this paper, we first investigate the Wiener index of some special r-uniform paths and r-uniform cycles. The Wiener index of different kinds of 3-uniform paths were also considered. Then we explore the lower bound of Wiener index in a r-uniform hypergraph on n vertices with a given circumference which is the maximum length of a cycle in a hypergraph. In the last part, we propose the concept of the chemical bond-Wiener index of a graph, which is the sum of the distances between all pairs of chemical bonds of a graph, considering the removing of hydrogen atoms. The polyphenyl chains with minimum and maximum chemical bond-Wiener indices among all the polyphenyl chains with h hexagons were completely determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to investigate the correlation of the enhancement degree on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with the histopathology of carotid plaques and the serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Carotid CEUS was performed preoperatively in 115 patients who would undergo CEA, and the enhancement degree of the carotid plaques was evaluated by both the visual semiquantitative analysis and the quantitative time-intensity curve analysis. Serum hs-CRP levels were detected using the particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay also before the operation. Additionally, the carotid plaque samples were subjected to histopathological examination postoperatively. The density of neovessels and the number of macrophages in the plaques were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that among the 115 patients, grade 0 plaque contrast enhancement was noted in 35 patients, grade 1 in 48 patients and grade 2 in 32 patients. The degree of plaque enhancement, the density of neovessels, the number of macrophages, and the hs-CRP levels were highest in the grade 2 patients. Correlation analysis showed that the enhancement degree of the carotid plaques was closely related to the immunohistochemical parameters of the plaques and the serum hs-CRP levels. It was suggested that the carotid plaque enhancement on CEUS can be used to evaluate the vulnerability of carotid plaques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restenosis after angioplasty is a serious clinical problem that can result in re-occlusion of the coronary artery. Although current drug-eluting stents have proved to be more effective in reducing restenosis, they have drawbacks of inhibiting reendothelialization to promote thrombosis. New treatment options are in urgent need. We have shown that netrin-1, an axon-guiding protein, promotes angiogenesis and cardioprotection via production of nitric oxide (NO). The present study examined whether and how netrin-1 attenuates neointimal formation in a femoral wire injury model. Infusion of netrin-1 into C57BL/6 mice markedly attenuated neointimal formation following wire injury of femoral arteries, measured by intimal to media ratio (from 1.94 ± 0.55 to 0.45 ± 0.86 at 4 weeks). Proliferation of VSMC in situ was largely reduced. This protective effect was absent in DCC animals. NO production was increased by netrin-1 in both intact and injured femoral arteries, indicating netrin-1 stimulation of endogenous NO production from intact endothelium and remaining endothelial cells post-injury. VSMC migration was abrogated by netrin-1 via a NO/cGMP/p38 MAPK pathway, while timely EPC homing was induced. Injection of netrin-1 preconditioned wild-type EPCs, but not EPCs of DCC animals, substantially attenuated neointimal formation. EPC proliferation, NO production, and resistance to oxidative stress induced apoptosis were augmented by netrin-1 treatment. In conclusion, our data for the first time demonstrate that netrin-1 is highly effective in reducing neointimal formation following vascular endothelial injury, which is dependent on DCC, and attributed to inhibition of VSMC proliferation and migration, as well as improved EPC function. These data may support usage of netrin-1 and netrin-1 preconditioned EPCs as novel therapies for post angioplasty restenosis. Key message: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A graph is 1-planar if it can be drawn on the plane so that each edge is crossed by at most one other edge. In this paper, we prove that every 1-planar graph G with maximum degree Δ( G) ≥ 12 and girth at least five is totally (Δ( G) + 1)-colorable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Netrin-1 is a neuronal guidance molecule implicated in the development of spinal cord neurons and cortical neurons. In the adult spinal cord, UNC5H (repulsive receptor of netrin-1), but not deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) (attractive receptor of netrin-1), constitutes a major mode of netrin-1 signal transduction, which may be involved in axon repulsion and inhibits neurite outgrowth. Abnormal sprouting of myelinated afferent fibers in the spinal dorsal horn can cause mechanical allodynia associated with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN, Shingles) and other neuropathic pains. However, whether netrin-1 participates in sprouting of myelinated afferent fibers and mechanical allodynia remains unknown. In an ultropotent TRPV1 agonist resiniferatoxin (RTX)-induced PHN-like model, RTX treatment for 6 weeks increased netrin-1 expression in dorsal horn neurons, including NK-1-positive projection neurons. In human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, we found that TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine antagonized RTX-induced upregulation of netrin-1. After RTX treatment, UNC5H2 expression was gradually decreased, whereas DCC expression was significantly increased. Silencing netrin-1 in the spinal dorsal horn significantly attenuated RTX-induced mechanical allodynia and sprouting of myelinated fibers into the spinal lamina II. Our results suggest that RTX treatment upregulates netrin-1 expression through activation of TRPV1 receptors and change UNC5H2-rich spinal dorsal horn into a growth-permissive environment by increasing DCC expression, thus enhancing the sprouting of myelinated afferent nerves. Netrin-1 may be targeted for reducing primary afferent sprouting and mechanical allodynia in PHN and other neuropathic pain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) results in β-endorphin release from keratinocytes, which then acts on primary afferent neurons to inhibit nociception. However, the underlying mechanism is still unknown. The CB2 receptor is generally thought to couple to Gi/o to inhibit cAMP production, which cannot explain the peripheral stimulatory effects of CB2 receptor activation. In this study, we found that in a keratinocyte cell line, the Gβγ subunits from Gi/o, but not Gαs, were involved in CB2 receptor activation-induced β-endorphin release. Inhibition of MAPK kinase, but not PLC, abolished CB2 receptor activation-induced β-endorphin release. Also, CB2 receptor activation significantly increased intracellular Ca. Treatment with BAPTA-AM or thapsigargin blocked CB2 receptor activation-induced β-endorphin release. Using a rat model of inflammatory pain, we showed that the MAPK kinase inhibitor PD98059 abolished the peripheral effect of the CB2 receptor agonist on nociception. We thus present a novel mechanism of CB2 receptor activation-induced β-endorphin release through Gi/o-Gβγ-MAPK-Ca signaling pathway. Our data also suggest that stimulation of MAPK contributes to the peripheral analgesic effect of CB2 receptor agonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipooligosacharide (LOS) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococci, GC) is involved in the interaction of GC with host cells. Deletion of the alpha-oligosaccharide (alpha-OS) moiety of LOS (lgtF mutant) significantly impairs invasion of GC into epithelial cell lines. GC opacity (Opa) proteins, such as OpaI, mediate phagocytosis and stimulate chemiluminescence responses in neutrophils in part through interaction with members of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family, which includes CEACAM3 (CD66d), a human neutrophil specific receptor for phagocytosis of bacteria. In the present work, we examined the effects of OpaI-expressing lgtF mutant on phagocytosis by HeLa-CEACAM3 cells and chemiluminescence responses in neutrophils. The results showed that lgtF mutant even expressing OpaI completely lost the ability to promote either phagocytosis mediated by CEACAM3 interaction in HeLa cells or chemiluminescence responses in neutrophils. These data indicated that Opa proteins in the lgtF mutant, which might result from the conformational change, cannot be functional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total chromatic number of a graph $$G$$ , denoted by $$\chi ''(G)$$ , is the minimum number of colors needed to color the vertices and edges of $$G$$ such that no two adjacent or incident elements get the same color. It is known that if a planar graph $$G$$ has maximum degree $$\Delta (G)\ge 9$$ , then $$\chi ''(G)=\Delta (G)+1$$ . In this paper, it is proved that if $$G$$ is a planar graph with $$\Delta (G)\ge 7$$ , and for each vertex $$v$$ , there is an integer $$k_v\in \{3,4,5,6,7,8\}$$ such that there is no $$k_v$$ -cycle which contains $$v$$ , then $$\chi ''(G)=\Delta (G)+1$$ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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