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Oxidative stress has been considered as an important cause of neurocyte damage induced by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning; however, the precise mechanisms are not fully understood. The study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism and the neuroprotective effect of targeted regulatory nuclear factor erythroid2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene on acute brain injury in CO poisoning rats. An acute CO poisoning rat model was established by CO inhalation in hyperbaric oxygen chamber and followed by the administration of Nrf2 gene‐loaded lentivirus. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM), the levels of Nrf2, glutamate‐cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), and cell apoptosis were determined in brain tissue in rats. We found that CO poisoning could decrease ΔΨm of cells, slightly increase the expressions of Nrf2 and GCLC at mRNA and protein levels, reduce CAT and GSH‐Px, and thus initiate apoptosis process. The Nrf2 gene treatment could obviously enhance the expressions of Nrf2 at mRNA and protein levels, and increase the concentrations of CAT and GSH‐Px, maintain the ΔΨm of cells in brain tissue, significantly inhibit cell apoptosis as compared with the CO poisoning group (p <.05). These findings suggest that CO poisoning could induce oxidative stress and impair mitochondrial function of cells in brain tissue. The administration of Nrf2 gene could notably strengthen the antioxidant capacity of cells through regulating the downstream genes of Nrf2/antioxidant responsive element signal pathway, and positively protect cells against brain injury induced by acute severe CO poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic value and molecular characteristics of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs)-derived miRNAs for patients with solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs), particularly ground-glass nodules (GGNs). This study was registered at under registration number NCT03230019. Small RNA sequencing was performed to assess plasma EVs miRNAs in 59 patients, including 12 patients with benign nodules (2017, training set). MiRNA profiles of 40 an additional individuals were sequenced (2018, validation set). Overall, 16 pure GGNs, 21 mixed GGNs, and 42 solid nodules were included, with paired post-operative plasma samples available for 20 patients. The target miRNA/reference miRNA ratio was used to construct a support vector machine (SVM) model. The SVM model with the best specificity showed 100% specificity in both the training and validation sets independently. The model with the best sensitivity showed 100% and 96.9% sensitivity in the training and validation sets, respectively. Principal component analysis revealed that pure GGN distributions were distinct from those of solid nodules, and mixed GGNs had a diffuse distribution. Among differentially expressed miRNAs, miR-500a-3p, miR-501-3p, and miR-502-3p were upregulated in tumor tissues and enhanced overall survival. The SVM classifier accurately distinguished malignant GGNs and benign nodules. The distinct profile characteristics of miRNAs provided insights into the feasibility of EVs miRNAs as prognostic factors in lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the differences in mean ocular dimensions between urban and rural children and identify possible influencing factors. Methods: This work uses previously published data from the Shandong Children Eye Study, which was based on a random cluster sampling applied to a cross‐sectional school‐based study design in the rural Guanxian County and Weihai city. All children underwent auto‐refractometry and biometry under cycloplegia. Results: The study included 3290 children (aged 9.35 ± 2.93 years), consisting of 888 pairs of boys and 757 pairs of girls matched by sex, age and refractive error (each pair matching one child from urban cohort with one from the rural cohort). Overall urban children were significantly taller and heavier than rural children (t‐test; p < 0.001), which was confirmed for all age groups for weight. Urban ocular axial lengths were significantly longer by 0.23 mm compared to the rural population (t‐test; p < 0.001), mostly in younger children and boys. Meanwhile, corneal curvatures were flatter in the urban cohort by 0.08 mm (p < 0.001). This association of axial length with urban vs rural region was reduced in magnitude by 69.7% after accounting for height. Conclusions: For the same, matched refractive error, children from urban regions had significantly longer eyes and flatter corneal curvature than rural children. Since corneal curvature is defined during the first 2 years of life, early environmental factors may be the source of these differences in ocular dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloramphenicol was chosen as the imprinting molecule and the methacrylic acid was chosen as the functional monomer to prepare molecularly imprinted polymers. Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, and trimethylolpropane trimethylacrylate were used as the cross‐linking agents, respectively. The interaction processes between chloramphenicol and methacrylic acid were simulated by using the ωB97XD/6‐31G (d,p) method. The self‐assembled configuration, bonding sites, binding number, binding energy, and interaction principle of stable complex formed by chloramphenicol and methacrylic acid with different molar ratios have been studied. The selectivity of the most stable complex formed from chloramphenicol and methacrylic acid was discussed with the thiamphenicol and florfenicol as the analogues of chloramphenicol. The results showed that chloramphenicol and methacrylic acid were interacted through the hydrogen bonds. When the molar ratio was 1:10 and pentaerythritol triacrylate as the cross‐linking agent, the ordered complex formed by chloramphenicol and methacrylic acid has the largest amount of hydrogen bonds and the lowest binding energy. Scatchard analysis showed that the maximum apparent adsorption capacity was 173.3 mg/g (0.536 mol/g), and the selection factor of florfenicol was the largest. This study provides a reliable theoretical and experimental basis for the design, preparation, and characterization of chloramphenicol molecularly imprinted polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To assess the corneal diameter and its associations in children. Design Cross-sectional school-based study. Participants Six thousand twenty-six children aged 4-18 years were included in the Shandong Children Eye Study. Methods Horizontal corneal diameter was measured by laser interferometry-based ocular biometry. Main Outcome Measures Horizontal corneal diameter. Results Corneal diameter measurements were available for 5970 (99.1%) children. In multivariate analysis, larger horizontal corneal diameter (mean: 12.02 ± 0.38 mm; range: 10.1-15.0 mm) was associated with longer corneal curvature radius longer axial length, male gender, younger maternal age, rural region of habitation and lower intraocular pressure measurements. Higher prevalence of abnormally large corneas (macrocorneas; horizontal diameter ≥ 12.76 mm; mean value +2 × standard deviations; mean: 2.6%; 95% CI: 2.2, 3.0) was associated with longer corneal curvature radius, longer axial length, younger maternal age and male gender. Higher prevalence of abnormally small corneas (horizontal diameter ≤ 11.24mm; mean value −2 × standard deviations; mean: 2.4%; 95% CI: 2.0, 2.8) was correlated with shorter corneal curvature radius, shorter axial length and urban region of habitation. Neither abnormally large nor small corneas were correlated with time spent indoors/outdoors. Conclusions In 4 to 18-year-old children, larger corneal diameter was associated most strongly with flatter corneal curvature, followed by longer axial length and male gender. Corneal diameter was independent of age beyond an age of 4 years. Abnormally large and abnormally small corneas may be defined as being ≥12.76 and ≤11.24 mm in diameter, respectively. Corneal diameter was not correlated with time spent indoors/outdoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives As a parenchymal cell, the photoreceptor is more susceptible to alterations in outer micro-environmental conditions than other cells. In the present study, we aimed to investigate inhibitory effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn SOD) in murine photoreceptor-derived cells. Materials and methods We investigated effects of ZnO nanoparticles on murine photoreceptor cell viability and on expression and activity of Mn SOD using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide ( MTT) assay, immunofluorescence analysis, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA). Results ZnO nanoparticles were found to have higher cytotoxic effects in concentration- and time-dependent manners, to elevate intracellular levels of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, and thus to induce overproduction of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to cell damage. Moreover, ZnO nanoparticles also significantly reduced expression of Mn SOD at both the mRNA and protein levels, reduced its activity, and further aggravated oxidative stress-mediated cell damage. Conclusion Overall, ZnO nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity was associated with elevated levels of oxidative stress due to overproduction of ROS and reduced expression and activity of Mn SOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin is the mainstay of treatment for various haematological malignancies and solid tumours. However, its clinical application may be hampered by dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. The mechanism of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity may involve various signalling pathways including free radical generation, peroxynitrite formation, calcium overloading, mitochondrial dysfunction and alteration in apoptosis and autophagy. Interestingly, the use of resveratrol in combination with doxorubicin has been reported to prevent cardiac toxicity as well as to exert a synergistic effect against tumour cells both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge and to elucidate the protective effect of resveratrol in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate behaviour and expression of transforming growth factor-β ( TGF-β) and matrix metalloproteinases ( MMP-9) in murine photoreceptor-derived cells (661W) after incubation with zinc oxide ( ZnO) nanoparticles. Materials and methods We explored effects of ZnO nanoparticles on 661W cells using a real-time cell electronic sensing system, flow cytometry, multiple function microplate reading, real-time quantitative PCR detection system and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. Results Our results indicate that ZnO nanoparticles induced overload of calcium and reactive oxygen species within cells, causing formation of apoptotic bodies, disruption of cell cycle distribution, and reduction in expression of TGF-β and MMP-9, to suppress cell proliferation and migration. Our findings show that disruption of intracellular calcium homoeostasis and overproduction of reactive oxygen species were closely associated with reduction of TGF-β and MMP-9 in 661W cells under ZnO nanoparticle treatment. Conclusions Results of our study indicate that ZnO nanoparticles suppressed cell proliferation and migration, and reduced production of TGF-β and MMP-9 at both gene and protein levels. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that reduced TGF-β and MMP-9 levels inhibit cell proliferation and migration under ZnO nanoparticle influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although catheter ablation can effectively eliminate atrial fibrillation (AF), the progression of atrial remodeling increases the risk of recurrence. We, therefore, examined the possibility of determining the postablation prognosis of patients with AF using biomarkers of atrial structural remodeling and serum connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) level, and measured its changes after catheter ablation. Methods Subjects were 400 consecutive patients (308 with paroxysmal AF and 92 with nonparoxysmal AF [persistent and long-standing persistent AF]) who underwent catheter ablation for drug-resistant AF. Serum CTGF levels were measured before and 2 months after ablation. Results During the follow-up period of 20.5 ± 6.9 (8-30) months, 61 patients (66%) with nonparoxysmal AF and 95 patients (31%) with paroxysmal AF had recurrence after catheter ablation. Recurrence was associated with higher 'baseline CTGF level' in patients with nonparoxysmal AF (936.5 ± 93.1 ng/mL vs 746.3 ± 56.9 ng/mL, P = 0.007) instead of patients with paroxysmal AF (851.6 ± 97.6 ng/mL vs 807.6 ± 99.1 ng/mL, P = 0.921). In nonparoxysmal AF, the recurrence subgroup also had larger left atrial diameter (LAD; 47.1 ± 5.2 mm vs 39.5 ± 4.3 mm, P = 0.035) compared with the nonrecurrence subgroup, and 'baseline serum CTGF' and LAD were shown to be independent predictors for postablation recurrence by a Cox proportional hazards model. However, the 2-month postablation elevations of CTGF in patients with recurrence were not significantly different from that in patients without recurrence in nonparoxysmal AF. Conclusion Our finding indicates that 'baseline serum CTGF level' is an independent predictor for recurrence in patients with nonparoxysmal AF following catheter ablation. Two-month postablation elevation in CTGF has no association with recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have identified a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, named micro RNA (mi RNA), that is dysregulated in malignant brain glioblastoma. Substantial data have indicated that mi RNA-16 (miR-16) plays a significant role in tumors of various origins. This mi RNA has been linked to various aspects of carcinogenesis, including cell apoptosis and migration. However, the molecular functions of miR-16 in gliomagenesis are largely unknown. We have shown that the expression of miR-16 in human brain glioma tissues was lower than in non-cancerous brain tissues, and that the expression of miR-16 decreased with increasing degrees of malignancy. Our data suggest that the expression of miR-16 and nuclear factor ( NF)-κB1 was negatively correlated with glioma levels. Micro RNA-16 decreased glioma malignancy by downregulating NF-κB1 and MMP9, and led to suppressed invasiveness of human glioma cell lines SHG44, U87, and U373. Our results also indicated that upregulation of miR-16 promoted apoptosis by suppressing BCL2 expression. Finally, the upregulation of miR-16 in a nude mice model of human glioma resulted in significant suppression of glioma growth and invasiveness. Taken together, our experiments have validated the important role of miR-16 as a tumor suppressor gene in glioma growth and invasiveness, and revealed a novel mechanism of miR-16-mediated regulation in glioma growth and invasiveness through inhibition of BCL2 and the NF-κB1/ MMP-9 signaling pathway. Therefore, our experiments suggest the possible future use of miR-16 as a therapeutic target in gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The title compound, [Co(C10H8N2)3]2[V4O12]·11H2O, is composed of two symmetry-related cations containing octahedrally coordinated CoII ions, a centrosymmetric [V4O12]4− anion with an eight-membered ring structure made up of four VO4 tetrahedra, and 11 solvent water molecules. The CoII cations and vanadate anions are isolated and build cation and anion layers, respectively. In addition, the title compound exhibits a three-dimensional network through intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bond interactions between water molecules and O atoms of the anions, and the crystal structure is stabilized mainly by hydrogen bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in lymphocytes has been reported for nearly two decades; however, its physiological role remains elusive. Here, we report that co-culture of lymphocytes with lung epithelial cell line, Calu-3, promotes epithelial HCO [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study for analyzing the distribution of lens thickness and its associations with ocular biometric parameters in Chinese children. Topics include anterior and posterior lens curvature radius, participants underwent cycloplegic refractometry and ocular biometry; and increase in the equatorial diameters will lead to larger diameter of the ciliary body.

The title compound, [Co(C(10)H(8)N(2))(3)](2)[V(4)O(12)]·11H(2)O, is composed of two symmetry-related cations containing octahedrally coordinated Co(II) ions, a centrosymmetric [V(4)O(12)](4-) anion with an eight-membered ring structure made up of four VO(4) tetrahedra, and 11 solvent water molecules. The Co(II) cations and vanadate anions are isolated and build cation and anion layers, respectively. In addition, the title compound exhibits a three-dimensional network through intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bond interactions between water molecules and O atoms of the anions, and the crystal structure is stabilized mainly by hydrogen bonds.