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Yanni Yang,1– 3,* Daning Li,1,* Wentao Wu,1 Dingxing Huang,1 Haishi Zheng,3 Yirixiati Aihaiti3 1School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Joint Surgery, Xi’an Jiaotong University Affiliated HongHui Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wentao WuSchool of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 Yanta West Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710061, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 156 80833716Email 15680833716@163.comBackground: Selenium (Se) exhibits its anti-carcinogenic properties by regulating the redox system. However, the relationship between selenoprotein P (SeP), mRNA (SELENOP mRNA) and tumorigenesis remains unclear. Plasma SeP transports Se to various target tissues and has antioxidant characteristics. The present study aimed to explore the multifaceted pan-cancer properties of SELENOP in terms of its tissue-specific expression, prognostic value, immune function, and signaling pathway enrichment.Patients and Methods: The expression profile of SELENOP was determined in 33 tumor types and survival, pathway enrichment, and correlation analyses were conducted based on TCGA database. The relationship between SELENOP expression and immune infiltration and macrophage subtype gene markers was investigated using the TIMER and GEPIA.Results: SELENOP gene expression was decreased in many cancer tissues, but was upregulated in brain lower grade glioma (LGG). Furthermore, SELENOP expression was associated with a better prognosis in most cancers, but a poorer prognosis in LGG and uterine corpus endometrioid carcinoma (UCEC). Our results showed that SELENOP was correlated with infiltration level of six immune cell types, where SELENOP also showed a strong correlation with macrophages in some cancer types. However, we failed to determine macrophage polarization in 33 tumor types. SELENOP negatively regulated vascular endothelial cell proliferation in LGG and UCEC and epidermal cell differentiation in six tumor types. In contrast, upregulation was related to immune function, including T cell activation, B cell-mediated immunity, adaptive immune response and immune response regulation cell surface receptor signaling pathways in another six tumor types.Conclusion: These findings highlighted the tissue-specific expression, prognostic value and immune characteristics of SELENOP in pan-cancer, and provided insights for illustrating the role of SELENOP in tumorigenesis.Keywords: selenoprotein P, pan-cancer, immune infiltration, prognosis, tissue-specific expression

Objective This study aimed to investigate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with cleft lip and palate and velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in relation to sex, age, age at initial cleft lip surgery, and age at initial cleft palate surgery. Design This is a cross-sectional study. Setting The study was conducted in a tertiary medical center. Participants The participants were caregivers of 72 patients with cleft lip and palate and VPI aged 4 to 20 years. Main Outcome Measure(s) Participants completed the Chinese version of the caregiver report of the VPI Effects on Life Outcomes (VELO) questionnaire. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to evaluate the patients’ sex, age, age at initial cleft lip repair, and age at initial cleft palate repair in relation to VELO total score and domains. Spearman correlation analysis was completed including all study variables. Associations between the study variables and the VELO total score were tested using a generalized linear mixed model. Results In the univariate analysis, patients’ age and age at initial cleft palate surgery influenced the QOL of patients with VPI. There were no differences in the VELO total score or domains based on sex or age at first cleft lip surgery. In the generalized linear mixed model, patients older than 8 years had higher VELO total scores. Conclusions By caregiver report, the QOL of patients under age 8 years with VPI was lower than older patients. In addition, the caregiver impact domain was higher for parents of children who had their initial cleft palate surgery at age 2 years or younger.

Objective: To study the potential biomarkers and related pathways in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial lesions, as well as immune cell, to provide theoretical basis and research directions for the mechanism and treatment of RA. Methods: Download the RA synovial tissue microarray data set (GSE77298, GSE55457 and GSE55235) from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The“limma” package of R to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), DAVIA Perform GO (Gene Ontology, gene ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Kyoto Gene Encyclopedia) enrichment analysis. STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes) constructs a Protein Protein Interaction Network (PPI), R screens Hub genes, and mines targeted miRNAs of Hub genes based on multiple databases. In R,the immune cell of RA synovial tissue samples are obtained through the three packages of "e1071", "parallel" and "preprocessCore" with "CIBERSORT" software. Results: Ten Hub genes (KIAA0101, FOXM1, EGFR, CDC20, BUB1B, TYMS, TOP2A, RRM2, JUN and CCNA2) and 2 key miRNAs (miR-520d-5p and miR) related to RA synovial lesions were finally identified -139-5p), significantly enriched in epithelial cell signaling, ECM-receptor interaction, estrogen signaling pathway, cell cycle, ErbB signaling pathway and GnRH signaling pathway in Helicobacter pylori infection. Immune cell analysis found that resting dendritic cells, B cells memory, dendritic cells activated, plasma cells, macrophages M1, mast cells resting and T cells regulatory have high expression in RA, while neutrophils, B cells naive and natural killer cells activated have low expression in RA. Conclusion:The Hub genes, key miRNAs, related pathways, and immune cell obtained in this study provide a certain basis for the etiology and treatment of RA synovial lesions.

Objective: To study the potential biomarkers and related pathways in osteoarthritis (OA) synovial lesions, and to provide theoretical basis and research directions for the pathogenesis and treatment of OA. Methods: Download the microarray data sets GSE12021 and GSE82107 from Gene Expression Omnibus. GEO2R recognizes differentially expressed genes. Perform functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes and construct protein-protein interaction network. Cytoscape performs module analysis and enrichment analysis of top-level modules. Further identify the Hub gene and perform functional enrichment analysis. TargetScan, miRDB and miRWalk three databases predict the target miRNAs of Hub gene and identify key miRNAs. Results: Finally, 10 Hub genes and 17 key miRNAs related to the progression of OA synovitis were identified. NF1, BTRC and MAPK14 may play a vital role in OA synovial disease. Conclusion: The Hub genes and key miRNAs discovered in this study may be potential biomarkers in the development of OA synovitis, and provide research methods and target basis for the pathogenesis and treatment of OA.

The BiFeO3 (BFO) thin films made by the electron beam evaporator are systematically investigated. As the most difficult part of this work, the preparation process is repeated until the optimal deposition power and elemental composition of BFO are obtained. With the help of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, we specify precisely that the sample annealed at the temperature of 650 °C is the purest BFO phase with rhombohedral R3c structure. The Scanning Electron Microscopy images provide the surface morphology and cross-sectional thickness of each sample for the further performance analysis. With the aim of understanding the changes in the chemical bond structure of BFO samples at the different annealing temperatures, we applied X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the result indicates that the absorption of oxygen is increasing with the raising of the annealing temperature. Finally, we measured the magnetic property and resistivity of BFO samples to explore their applications. The saturation magnetization measurement shows the correlation between the magnetization of BFO and microstructures such as phase structure, grain size. Meanwhile, the electronic resistivity explains the close relationship between the resistivity and surface morphology.

The efficacy of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was limited. However, there were no predictive markers for poor csDMARDs outcome. Clinical information of RA patients was collected and the high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) polymorphisms (rs4145277, rs2249825, rs1412125 and rs1045411) were examined. Among the 252 patients, 31.0% had no response of csDMARDs. Anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28- erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were the associated factors, which (DAC:DAS 28 > 4.7 and ACPA-positive and CRP > 7.1 mg/L) was used to predict poor csDMARDs outcome, the sensitivity and specificity was 87.2% and 60.9%, respectively. Among those DAC patients, the refractory RA rate in the rs2249825 GG genotype patients was 83.3%, the specificity was 98.5%. The clinical markers (DAC) and rs2249825 GG genotype can be used to predict poor csDMARDs outcome.

Nitrogen oxides (NO 2 and NO x ), ozone (O 3 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) and ammonia (NH 3 ) were determined in ambient air in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang in NW China, from 2010 to 2012 by applying the diffusive sampling approach. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify the major contributions to atmospheric pollution. Four extensive measurement campaigns were performed in the city, where very few investigations had been made on ambient pollution. The impacts of pollutants in four city districts were assessed. Considerably high mean annual concentrations were observed in Urumqi for all toxicants; these latter ranged between 46 and 158 μg m −3 (SO 2 ), 33–126 μg m −3 (NO 2 ), 83–141 μg m −3 (NO x ), and 46–82 μg m −3 (BTEX). Nitrogen oxides and BTEX were overall released by industrial plants and motor vehicles. Huge consumption of fossil fuels for energy generation and domestic heating purposes looked as the principal factors causing the high pollution levels recorded. In the winter, coal burning in houses was recognized as a major contributor to SO 2 and BTEX budgets. Important ammonia loads were found in the district hosting slaughter and meat treatment facilities. Other primary factors influencing the pollution patterns were variously related to diffusion of chemicals across the atmosphere, i.e.: wind speed and direction, air stagnation and occurrence of inversion events; besides, important roles were played by relevant emission sources (especially for BTEX and NO x ), seasonality and photochemistry.

Previous study revealed that microRNA (miR)-150 might function as a tumor suppressor in osteosarcoma partially by targeting Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 mRNA-Binding Protein 1 (IGF2BP1). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of miR-150-IGF2BP1 axis in human osteosarcoma which remains unclear. At first, expression levels of miR-150, and IGF2BP1 mRNA and protein in 20 osteosarcoma and matched adjacent noncancerous tissues were respectively detected by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analyses. Then, subcellular localization and expression pattern of IGF2BP1 protein in 100 osteosarcoma tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. Associations of miR-150/IGF2BP1 expression with various clinicopathological features and patients’ prognosis were also statistically evaluated. As a result, miR-150 expression was significantly decreased, while IGF2BP1 mRNA and protein expression were dramatically increased in osteosarcoma tissues compared to matched adjacent noncancerous tissues (all P

The mortality rate of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is high because of retarded liver regeneration. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rHuG-CSF) and tacrolimus are known to be immunosuppressive and supportive to liver regeneration. We investigated the effects of their combination therapy in a rat FHF model with a 68% partial hepatectomy and 24% liver necrosis. All rats without drug pretreatment died within 55 h. The median time was prolonged from 37 to 52 h by rHuG-CSF (250 microg/kg/day s.c. on days -5 to 0) and to 46 h by tacrolimus (0.5 mg/kg/day i.m. on days -2 to 0). Notably, the combination therapy facilitated DNA biosynthesis and survival prolongation, with a median of 77 h. The interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) protein levels and natural killer cell (NK) activity in the liver were low at 12 h, and no further inhibition was detected by any treatment. Tacrolimus significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of insulin receptors and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), whereas rHuG-CSF did not. Regarding tissue remodeling-related factors, rHuG-CSF upregulated mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase- 9 (MMP-9), whereas tacrolimus did not. The combination treatment upregulated protein levels of both insulin receptors and VEGF. These results suggest that tacrolimus improves the hepatocyte replication and rHuG-CSF contributes to tissue reconstitution, and this combination therapy directly facilitates liver regeneration in the FHF model.

We determined the equation of state of ballistic gelatin (20%) using Brillouin scattering spectroscopy with diamond anvil cells by measuring the pressure dependence of the sound velocities of the material from ambient pressure to 12 GPa at room temperature. We extended these measurements to 4%- and 10% gelatin solutions up to 12 GPa. Consistent results for 4%- and 10%-gelatin in several experimental runs were not obtained. For comparison purposes, we also measured the pressure dependence of sound velocity of lamb tissues up to 10 GPa. We analyzed the Brillouin data using the Vinet equation of state and obtained the bulk modulus and its pressure derivative. We compared the parameters obtained for gelatin with several relevant polymer materials as well as water. In addition, we discussed the possibility of ultrasonic measurements on gelatin solutions under similar conditions. Such measurements are expected to provide useful information in understanding of the relaxation phenomena in gelatins.

Pretransplant treatment of recipients with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF, 250 μg/kg/day s.c. for 5 days) facilitates heart allograft acceptance in tacrolimus-treated rat recipients. We examined effectiveness of transfusion of in vivo rhG-CSF-treated blood since rhG-CSF induces immunoregulatory cells in human blood. DA heart grafts were transplanted into tacrolimus (2 mg/kg i.m. on day 0)-treated Lewis recipients. Although graft survival prolongation by blood transfusion on day 0 from rhG-CSF-treated syngeneic Lewis was comparable to that in directly rhG-CSF-pretreated recipients ( p =0.22), transfusion of rhG-CSF-treated allogeneic DA blood was much more effective ( p =0.0016). Intragraft cytokine mRNA levels were measured by reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction at 24 h after transplantation. IL-12p35 expression was downregulated by both treatments. Notably, IL-12p40 was upregulated by rhG-CSF-treated DA blood transfusion but downregulated by transfusion of rhG-CSF-treated isogeneic blood. Differential expression of IL-12 subunits was associated with facilitation of graft acceptance by rhG-CSF-treated donor blood transfusion.