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Recently, functional homotopy (FH) architecture, defined as robust functional connectivity (FC) between homotopic regions, has been frequently reported to be altered in MDD patients (MDDs) but with divergent locations.In this study, we obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) data from 1004 MDDs (mean age, 33.88 years; age range, 18-60 years) and 898 matched healthy controls (HCs) from an aggregated dataset from 20 centers in China. We focused on interhemispheric function integration in MDDs and its correlation with clinical characteristics using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) devised to inquire about FH patterns.As compared with HCs, MDDs showed decreased VMHC in visual, motor, somatosensory, limbic, angular gyrus, and cerebellum, particularly in posterior cingulate gyrus/precuneus (PCC/PCu) (false discovery rate [FDR] q 0.002, z = -7.07). Further analysis observed that the reduction in SMG and insula was more prominent with age, of which SMG reflected such age-related change in males instead of females. Besides, the reduction in MTG was found to be a male-special abnormal pattern in MDDs. VMHC alterations were markedly related to episode type and illness severity. The higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, the more apparent VMHC reduction in the primary visual cortex. First-episode MDDs revealed stronger VMHC reduction in PCu relative to recurrent MDDs.We confirmed a significant VMHC reduction in MDDs in broad areas, especially in PCC/PCu. This reduction was affected by gender, age, episode type, and illness severity. These findings suggest that the depressive brain tends to disconnect information exchange across hemispheres.

Nowadays, there are many dryness indices based on vegetation indices (VIs)-land surface temperature (Ts) feature space. Which dryness index should we use in dryness monitoring? The differences and capabilities for dryness monitoring among seven indices were evaluated in this study. These dryness indices were based on VIs-Ts or Albedo feature space. For instance, Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) from a triangle NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)-Ts feature space (TVDIt), TVDI from bi-parabolic NDVI-Ts feature space (TVDIc), TFDI from FPAR (Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation)-Ts feature space, TVDI from LAI (Leaf Area Index)-Ts feature space (TLDI), TVDI from EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index)-Ts feature space (TEDI), TVDI from SAVI (Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index)-Ts feature space (TSDI) and Vegetation Condition Albedo Dryness Index (VCADI) from NDVI-Albedo feature space. In this study, the assimilated 5/10 cm depth soil moisture, field measured 10 cm depth soil moisture, precipitation, and the assimilated land surface temperature data were selected as the indicators to test the performance of each dryness index in two periods of 2013/2015 and three periods of 2018. The results showed that the spatial distributions of dryness from TVDIc, TVDIt, TFDI, TLDI, TEDI, and TSDI were similar, except for VCADI. The ability of TSDI and TVDIt in dryness monitoring was not as good as TVDIc and TEDI, however, the robustness of them was stable and can be an alternative dryness index. TFDI can be applied to evaluate dryness conditions, but its robustness was not stable and its monitoring performance was not as good as other indices in Shaanxi province, China. Although TLDI can detect dryness conditions when NDVI reached saturation, its robustness was worse than TEDI. When NDVI did not reach saturation, TVDIc had the best ability in dryness monitoring. TEDI was the optimal dryness index when NDVI was approaching or reaching saturation. This study determined that NDVI reached saturation (LAI = 3) when its average value was >0.5368.

Objectives To explore factors affecting the efficacy of Bernese periacetabular osteotomy for the treatment of hip dysplasia. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 44 patients with hip dysplasia who underwent Bernese periacetabular osteotomy with a modified Smith‐Peterson approach between January 2017 and November 2019. Among them, 40 were women and four were men. The average age was 31.2 ± 9.4. Preoperative and postoperative imaging parameters were measured. The acetabular top tilt angle, lateral central edge angle, acetabular abduction angle, femoral head extrusion index, sphericity index of femoral head, Shenton line, Tonnis grade of osteoarthritis, joint congruency, p/a ratio, acetabular anteversion angle, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scale scores, and modified Harris hip score (MHHS) were observed. MHHS were divided into three clinically relevant categories: poor (, This is a retrospective single‐center analysis that investigates factors affecting the efficacy of Bernese periacetabular osteotomy. A preoperative lateral center edge angle ≥4.5° was found to be the only significant factor in multivariate analysis that affected surgical outcome, highlighting it as a “must‐assess” factor in order to determine postoperative prognosis.

There are two main categories of dryness monitoring indices based on spectral feature space. One category uses the vertical distance from any point to a line passing through the coordinate origin, which is perpendicular to a soil line, to monitor the dryness conditions. The most popular indices are the Perpendicular Dryness Index (PDI) and the modified perpendicular dryness index (MPDI). The other category uses the distance from any point in feature space to the coordinate origin to represent the dryness status, for instance, the soil moisture (SM) monitoring index (SMMI) and the modified soil moisture monitoring index (MSMMI). In this study, the performances and differences of these four indicators were evaluated using field-measured SM (FSM) data based on Gaofen-1 (GF-1) wide field of view (WFV), Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), and Sentinel-2 Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) sensors. Performance evaluations were conducted in two study areas, namely an arid and semi-arid region of northwest China and a humid agricultural region of southwest Canada. We employed gradient-based structural similarity (GSSIM) to quantitatively assess the similarity of the structural information and structural characteristics among these four indicators. Monitoring SM in bare soil or low vegetation-covered areas in the semi-arid region, the SMMI, PDI, MSMMI, and MPDI from Near-Infrared (NIR)-Red had significantly negative linear correlations with the FSM at 0–5-cm depth (P < 0.01). However, SMMI was better than PDI in estimating SM in bare soil, which was better than MSMMI and MPDI for GF-1. Moreover, the PDI and SMMI had similar SM evaluation abilities, which were better than those of MPDI and MSMMI for Landsat-8. The GSSIM map of the SMMI/PDI and the MSMMI/MPDI showed that the low change areas accounted for 99.89% and 98.89% for GF-1, respectively, and 95.78% and 94.45% for Landsat-8, respectively. This result indicated that the SMMI, PDI, MSMMI, and MPDI values from NIR-Red in low vegetation cover were similar. In monitoring SM in agricultural vegetation areas, the accuracy of the four indices from Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) feature space was higher than that from NIR-Red feature space for Sentinel-2. The SM monitoring effect of MSMMI and MPDI was better than that of SMMI and PDI. Due to the lack of SWIR band, GF-1 was limited in monitoring SM in vegetation-covered areas. The SMMI and MSMMI, which do not rely on the soil line, were more suitable than PDI and MPDI for retrieving SM in the complex surface environment depending on the soil line and the number of parameters. GF-1 with 16-m resolution had higher accuracy in SM assessment than Landsat-8 with 30-m resolution and had almost the same accuracy as Sentinel-2 with 20 m.

Dental pulp stem cells are a type of adult stem cells with strong proliferative ability and multi-differentiation potential. There are no studies on treatment of vascular dementia with dental pulp stem cells. In the present study, rat models of vascular dementia were established by two-vessel occlusion, and 30 days later, rats were injected with 2 × 107 dental pulp stem cells via the tail vein. At 70 days after vascular dementia induction, dental pulp stem cells had migrated to the brain tissue of rat vascular dementia models and differentiated into neuron-like cells. At the same time, doublecortin, neurofilament 200, and NeuN mRNA and protein expression levels in the brain tissue were increased, and glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA and protein expression levels were decreased. Behavioral testing also revealed that dental pulp stem cell transplantation improved the cognitive function of rat vascular dementia models. These findings suggest that dental pulp stem cell transplantation is effective in treating vascular dementia possibly through a paracrine mechanism. The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Harbin Medical University (approval No. KY2017-132) in 2017.

Dental pulp stem cells are dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells that originate from the neural crest. They exhibit greater potential for the treatment of nervous system diseases than other types of stem cells because of their neurogenic differentiation capability and their ability to secrete multiple neurotrophic factors. Few studies have reported Alzheimer's disease treatment using dental pulp stem cells. Rat models of Alzheimer's disease were established by injecting amyloid-β1-42 into the hippocampus. Fourteen days later, 5 × 106 dental pulp stem cells were injected into the hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry and western blot assays showed that dental pulp stem cell transplantation increased the expression of neuron-related doublecortin, NeuN, and neurofilament 200 in the hippocampus, while the expression of amyloid-β was decreased. Moreover, cognitive and behavioral abilities were improved. These findings indicate that dental pulp stem cell transplantation in rats can improve cognitive function by regulating the secretion of neuron-related proteins, which indicates a potential therapeutic effect for Alzheimer's disease. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Harbin Medical University, China (approval No. KY2017-132) on February 21, 2017.

Background Ischaemic stroke has become the main cause of death and severe neurological disorders, for which effective restorative treatments are currently limited. While stem cell transplantation offers therapeutic potential through neural regeneration, this approach is associated with the challenges of limited applicable sources. Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) are multipotential cells that can differentiate into ectodermal and mesodermal lineages and proliferate for long periods. The therapeutic potentials of HFSCs have not been investigated in ischaemic stroke models, and therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine whether they could survive and migrate to ischaemic areas after a stroke attack. Methods A rat model of middle cerebral artery ischaemia/reperfusion was established and intravenously administered HFSCs. The potential of HFSCs to migrate and differentiate into neuron-like cells as well as their ability to reduce the infarct size was evaluated. Rat brain tissue samples were collected 2 weeks after cell transplantation and analysed via TTC staining, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry methods. The data were statistically analysed and presented as the means ± standard deviations. Results Intravenously administrated rat HFSCs were able to migrate to the penumbra where they expressed neuron-specific markers, reduced the infarct volume and promoted neurological recovery. Conclusion HFSC transplantation has therapeutic potential for ischaemic stroke and is, therefore, worthy of further investigation toward possible clinical development for treating stroke patients.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide. Lactic acid bacteria have shown efficacy in alleviating diabetes. We studied the remission effect of nine strains of lactic acid bacteria on the symptoms of high-fat diet- and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes and its mechanism in mice. The oral administration of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, B. bifidum or Lactobacillus rhamnosus to mice every day for more than 12 weeks showed that the individual strains could reduce the fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels, improve glucose tolerance and prevent pancreatic damage. However, L. rhamnosus strains showed greater efficacy than Bifidobacterium strains in the regulation of blood lipid levels. The effects of lactic acid bacteria on the recovery of glycolipid metabolism disorder and gut microbiota dysbiosis showed inter- and intraspecific differences. In addition, the strains that exhibited hypoglycaemic effects played a beneficial role in reducing insulin resistance by contributing to the production of short-chain fatty acids and alleviation of inflammation. The ability of lactic acid bacteria to reduce inflammation was found to be closely related to their ability to alleviate diabetes mellitus.

Objective To explore the influencing factors of age at onset of pain and severe pain in patients with Hartofilakidis type I developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Methods A retrospective study of 83 patients with DDH treated at our hospital from January 2017 to June 2021 was conducted. The age at onset of pain, patients’ demographic data, and radiographic parameters were collected. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the influencing factors of age at onset of pain. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors of severe pain attacks. Results According to the results of multiple linear regression analysis, when the distance between the medial femoral head and the ilioischial line increased by one millimetre, the age at onset of pain decreased by 1.7 years (β = − 1.738, 95% CI − 1.914–[− 1.561], p β = − 0.334, 95% CI − 0.496–[− 0.171], p β]: = 0.947, 95% CI 0.898–0.999, p = 0.044). For each additional millimetre in the distance between the medial femoral head and the ilioischial line, the likelihood of severe pain increased by 2.4 times (Exp [β]: 2.417, 95% CI 1.653–3.533, p Conclusion Larger distances between the medial femoral head and the ilioischial line and sharp angle can lead to an earlier age at onset of pain in patients with DDH. Small LCEA and excessive distance between the medial femoral head and the ilioischial line are risk factors for severe pain.

In view of the key role of chloride diffusivity in evaluating concrete durability, it is very important to determine this parameter accurately by an effective approach. This paper establishes an analytical solution for chloride diffusivity of concrete that can consider the aggregate shape. In this approach, the aggregate shape is simulated as an ellipse and the equivalent model is applied to calculate the chloride diffusivity of equivalent aggregate composed of interface transition zone (ITZ) and aggregate. With resort to this model, at the meso scale, the concrete can be reduced from the original three-phase composition to the two-phase one (i.e., equivalent aggregates and cement paste). Based on the mesostructure of concrete that consisted of randomly dispersed equivalent elliptical aggregates and cement paste, the generalized Maxwell’s approach is formed to determine the chloride diffusivity of concrete. The corresponding chloride diffusion test is conducted and the thickness of ITZ is reasonably determined as 0.04 mm by SEM test. By comparing with the experimental data, the accuracy of the analytical solution is confirmed. Finally, the impact of aggregate shape on chloride diffusivity is discussed. The analytical results show that the chloride diffusivity has a reduction with the increase of aggregate content or decrease of aspect ratio.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of treating infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency with five-step pediatric tuina of Huxiang school. Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial design, sixty eligible kids with diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by the five-step pediatric tuina method of Huxiang school, and the control group received conventional tuina treatment. The intervention was conducted once a day, consecutive 5-day treatment as 1 course, at a 2-day interval between courses, successively for a total of 4 courses. Changes in the primary and secondary symptoms of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the scores of primary and secondary symptoms and the general score of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were improved; the improvements in fecal form and frequency, decreased appetite, bloating after meals and fatigue and sluggishness were more significant in the observation group than in the control group. Conclusion: The five-step pediatric tuina method of Huxiang school and conventional tuina both can improve the primary and secondary symptoms in infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, while the former one can produce more significant efficacy.

Background: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the additive effects of the melatonin supplementation with nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) on periodontal status in patients affected by chronic periodontitis. Methods: In December 2020, We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL databases and Google Scholar databases. Four RCTs were recruited with the same inclusion criteria. PD and CAL were the primary outcome measures. Subgroup analyses were performed according to health statuses and follow-up times, and Cochran’s Q and I-square ( I2 ) tests were used to assess heterogeneity.Results: This review included four RCTs. Four studies reported probing depth (PD) and 3 studies reported clinical attachment loss (CAL). Compared with the placebo groups, the melatonin groups showed a significant reduction in PD (weighted mean difference [WMD], -1.01; 95% confidence intervals [CI], -1.67 to -0.35; I2 = 76%) and CAL (WMD, -1.08; 95% CI: -1.36 to -0.79, I2 = 0%). Subgroup analyses revealed that the use of systemic melatonin + NSPT significantly reduced PD and CAL at the 2-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups compared to NSPT alone, and stronger treatment effects of reducing PD were observed at shorter follow-ups than at longer follow-ups when adjunctive systemic melatonin was used.Conclusions: Melatonin supplementation in adjunct with nonsurgical periodontal therapy can moderately improve the efficacy of NSPT in reducing PD and greater CAL gain in patients with periodontitis. With the limited evidence available, it is evident that additional good quality RCTs are required to demonstrate additional beneficial effects of oral melatonin supplementation on periodontal clinical parameters after NSPT.

Moving to a sustainable industry and weaning electricity supply off coal are critical to mitigate ambient air pollution and climate change. This is particularly true in China which is globally the largest manufacturer and relies heavily on coal-fired electricity. Three key knowledge gaps are relevant in this thesis: 1) how much electricity can saved in China’s industries; 2) what is the potential impact of industrial electricity savings on the evolution of electricity supply systems among different power grids; and 3) what is the relationship between electricity use, energy efficiency investments, GHG and air pollution emissions, on various spatial scales. Given the identified knowledge gaps, the objective of this thesis is to conduct an in-depth analysis of electricity saving potentials and cost-benefits of emission mitigation due to scaling up energy efficiency in industries. Our research targets industrial electric efficiency improvements in China, where electricity supply heavily depends on a coal-fired power plant fleet and faces multiple challenges to a sustainable future. Our research presents that improving energy efficiency in industry can help reshape electricity systems to combat global warming and air pollution cost-effectively, not only in China but for the countries where electricity use is likewise dominated by industry and heavily dependent on coal-based electricity, such as India, Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, and South Africa. We suggest that national policymakers who aim to co-control air pollutants and carbon emissions through decreasing the dependency on coal-intensive electricity need to recognize the importance of concurrent efforts to improve demand-side electricity use efficiency.

In mature mammalian brains, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and the functioning of neural networks. Besides, the ECS also contributes to the neurodevelopment of the central nervous system. Due to the increase in the medical and recreational use of cannabis, it is inevitable and essential to elaborate the roles of the ECS on neurodevelopment. GABAergic interneurons represent a group of inhibitory neurons that are vital in controlling neural network activity. However, the role of the ECS in the neurodevelopment of GABAergic interneurons remains to be fully elucidated. In this review, we provide a brief introduction of the ECS and interneuron diversity. We focus on the process of interneuron development and the role of ECS in the modulation of interneuron development, from the expansion of the neural stem/progenitor cells to the migration, specification and maturation of interneurons. We further discuss the potential implications of the ECS and interneurons in the pathogenesis of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

Titanium dioxide nanomaterials are applied in numerous fields due to their splendid physicochemical characteristics, which in turn poses a potential threat to human health. Recently, numerous in vivo studies have revealed that titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNPs) can be transported into animal brains after exposure through various routes. Absorbed TNPs can accumulate in the brain and may disturb neuronal cells, leading to brain dysfunction. In vitro studies verified the neurotoxicity of TNPs. The mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity of TNPs remains unclear. Whether necroptosis is involved in the neurotoxicity of TNPs is unknown. Therefore, we performed an in vitro study and found that TNPs induced inflammatory injury in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent way, which was mitigated by necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) pretreatment. Since receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1) is reported to be the target of Nec-1, we silenced it by siRNA. We exposed mutant and wild-type cells to TNPs and assessed inflammatory injury. Silencing RIP1 expression inhibited inflammatory injury induced by TNPs exposure. Taken together, Nec-1 ameliorates the neurotoxicity of TNPs through RIP1. However, more studies should be performed to comprehensively assess the correlation between the neurotoxicity of TNPs and RIP1.

Background This systematic review aimed to investigate whether non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) can reduce systemic inflammatory levels and improve metabolism in patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) and/or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Methods Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CNKI, and WFPD) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) performed through July 2019. The risk of bias within studies was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk assessment tool. The systemic inflammatory and metabolic outcomes included the highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), the albumin (Alb), and lipid metabolite levels. Meta-analyses (MAs) were performed to calculate the overall effect size where appropriate. Results Five RCTs were included in this study. Compared with untreated periodontitis groups, the dialysis patients after NSPT significantly showed decreased hs-CRP levels at less than or equal to 2 months (standardized mean difference: − 1.53, 95% confidence interval − 2.95 to − 0.11). No significant difference was found in IL-6 and Alb levels following NSPT at either the 3- or 6- month follow-ups. No MAs could be performed on the TNF-a level and the lipid metabolic markers. Conclusions NSPT can moderately reduce serum hs-CRP levels in HD and/or PD patients, but did not significantly change IL-6 or Alb levels. For TNF-a and lipid metabolism markers, no sufficient evidence supports that these levels are changed after NSPT. Additional scientific research is necessary to assess the effects of NSPT on systemic inflammation and metabolic parameters in dialysis patients.

This study aims to compare the expression of P2X receptor subtype mRNA in different arterial tissues of rats. After the rats were sacrificed, the internal carotid, pulmonary, thoracic aorta, mesenteric and caudal arteries were dissected out. Then, the P2X receptor mRNA expression in different blood vessels was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The P2X1, P2X4 and P2X7 receptor mRNA amplification products revealed specific bands of the same size as the amplified target fragment in their respective lanes, while the P2X2, P2X3, P2X5 and P2X6 receptor mRNA amplification products did not reveal significant specific bands in their respective lanes by RT-PCR. Based on the P2X1 receptor mRNA expression of the mesenteric artery, there were no significant differences in the internal carotid, pulmonary and thoracic aorta (0.64 ± 0.07, 0.17 ± 0.11 and 1.49 ± 0.65, respectively). However, the P2X1 receptor mRNA expression level in the caudal artery significantly increased (11.06 ± 1.99, P 0.01). Furthermore, there was no difference in P2X4 receptor mRNA expression among these five blood vessels (P 0.05). The P2X7 receptor mRNA expression level was significantly different: pulmonary artery tail artery = thoracic aorta internal carotid artery mesenteric artery. The relative P2X1 receptor mRNA expression in the caudal artery was observed to be elevated when compared to that of the internal carotid, pulmonary and thoracic aorta as well as the mesenteric arteries. The P2X7 receptor mRNA expression level is pulmonary artery caudal artery = thoracic aorta internal carotid artery mesenteric artery. P2X4 receptor mRNA expression was not significantly different among these five blood vessels.

Aims. The over-the-scope clip (OTSC) has recently emerged as a new endoscopic device for treating gastrointestinal bleeding, perforations, fistulas, and leaks. A modified OTSC device (full-thickness resection device, FTRD) has been widely used for endoscopic full-thickness resection. However, there is less experience regarding the indications and methods for OTSC removal. We aimed to summarize the existing methods and indications for OTSC removal. Methods. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant publications on OTSC removal. The details of OTSC removal, including the methods, indications, success rates, adverse events, and failure causes, were extracted and summarized. A meta-analysis of pooled success rates was conducted using STATA 15.0. Results. Eighteen articles were included. The reported methods for OTSC removal included (1) grasping forceps, (2) the Nd : YAG laser, (3) argon plasma coagulation, (4) the remOVE system, (5) endoscopic mucosal resection/endoscopic submucosal dissection, and (6) ice-cold saline solution. Indications for OTSC removal were (1) poor healing, (2) OTSC misplacement, (3) repeat biopsy/therapy or further treatment, (4) adverse events after OTSC implantation, (5) removal after recovery, and (6) patient wishes. The pooled success rate of OTSC removal was 89% in patients treated with the remOVE system. Minor bleeding, superficial thermal damage, and superficial mucosal tears were common adverse events. Mucosal overgrowth was the main cause of OTSC removal failure. Conclusions. The remOVE system is the best investigated method, with sufficient efficacy and safety for OTSC removal. This is the first systematic review of OTSC removal and provides significant guidance for clinical practice.

Objectives The pectoral nerves (Pecs) II block is a technique that places local anesthetic between the thoracic muscles to block the axillary and breast regions. This study aimed to compare the quality of perioperative analgesia and side effects of the Pecs II block under general anesthesia versus general anesthesia alone in immediate unilateral breast reconstruction with an implant and latissimus dorsi flap after modified radical mastectomy. Materials and methods Sixty-four patients scheduled for immediate breast reconstruction after modified radical mastectomy were randomly allocated into the Pecs II block under general anesthesia group (group P, n=32) or the general anesthesia alone group (group G, n=32). After anesthesia induction, patients in group P underwent a Pecs II block. The primary endpoint was postoperative morphine consumption in the first 24 hours in postoperative intensive care unit. Intraoperative fentanyl consumption, visual analog scale scores, shoulder range of motion, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were also assessed. Results Sixty patients completed the study. There was a significant reduction in postoperative morphine consumption (3.67 mg; 95% confidence interval, 2.91-4.51 mg) and intraoperative fentanyl consumption in group P patients compared with group G patients. Less postoperative nausea and vomiting (relative risk 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.94) and lower visual analog scale scores were also observed in group P. No block-related complications were recorded. Discussion When patients underwent immediate breast reconstruction with an implant and latissimus dorsi flap, the Pecs II block offers a comprehensive block of associated nerves in the surgical area, and therefore can provide superior analgesia and reduced perioperative opioids use without obvious block-related complications.

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the electrogastrogram and gastric antrum ghrelin in rats with diabetic gastroparesis (DGP). Fifty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into group A, group B, group C, group D and group E, 10 rats in each group. Group A was the blank control group without intervention. Group B, Group C, Group D and Group E were treated with single dose intraperitoneal injection of 2% streptozotocin (STZ), combined with 8-week high glucose and high fat diet to establish DGP rat models. Group B was the model group without treatment. Group C was the EA at acupoint group, was treated with EA at Zusanli (ST 36), Liangmen (ST 21) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Group D was the EA at non-acupoint group, was treated by EA at the control points of Zusanli (ST 36), Liangmen (ST 21) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Rats in the metoclopramide control group received 1.7% metoclopramide solution [10 mL/(kg·bw)] by gavage. Rat’s blood glucose level was measured by blood glucose meter; gastric emptying rate was detected using phenol red as a marker; the electrogastrogram was detected by BL-420F biological function system; the protein level of ghrelin was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the expression of ghrelin mRNA was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Compared with group A, the blood glucose of group B, C, D and E were significantly increased before and after the treatment (all P

To observe the effect of acupuncture at points selected from different regions on the positive expression of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and the stem cell factor (SCF) in gastric antrum tissues in diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) rats, and to explore the influence of region-based point selection on the acupoint combination efficacy. Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group (group A), a model group (group B), a group of Zusanli (ST 36) plus Zhongwan (CV 12) (group C), a group of Zusanli (ST 36) plus Neiguan (PC 6) (group D), and a group of Zusanli (ST 36) plus non-meridian non-acupoint points (group E), based on the random number table (n=12). DGP rat model was established by single intraperitoneal injection of 2% streptozotocin and common diet. After successful modeling, the rats were treated once a day for 4 weeks. Positive ICC and SCF expressions were measured by immunohistochemistry. Compared with group A, the gastrointestinal propulsion rate of group B showed a statistically significant decrease (P

Summary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a well-documented aetiological factor for multiple sclerosis (MS). EBV encodes at least 44 microRNAs (miRNAs) that are readily detectable in the circulation of human. Previous studies have demonstrated that EBV-encoded miRNAs regulate host immune response and may serve as biomarkers for EBV-associated diseases. However, the roles of EBV miRNAs in MS are still unknown. To fill the gap, we conducted a comprehensive profiling of 44 mature EBV miRNAs in 30 relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) patients at relapse and 30 matched healthy controls. Expression levels of ebv-miR-BHRF1-2-5p and ebv-miR-BHRF1-3 were elevated significantly in the circulation and correlated positively with the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores of MS patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses confirmed that the expression of these two miRNAs distinguished MS patients clearly from healthy controls. Luciferase assays revealed that ebv-miR-BHRF1-2-5p may directly target MALT1 (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma transport protein 1), a key regulator of immune homeostasis. In conclusion, we described the expression of EBV miRNAs in MS and preliminarily validated the potential target genes of significantly altered EBV miRNAs. The findings may pave the way for prospective study about the pathogenesis of MS.

Objective To seek the optimal acupuncture time for primary dysmenorrhea and provide clinical basis for optimal acupuncture treatment protocol.

A colonoscopy is considered to be the standard diagnostic test used to detect early colorectal lesions. Detection rates are expected to improve with optimised visualisation. A systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate detection efficiency in several colonoscopic modalities. Relevant articles were identified in searches of the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. The modalities, comprising of standard-definition white light (SDWL), high-definition white light (HDWL), narrow-band imaging (NBI), autofluorescence imaging (AFI), PENTAX image enhanced technology (i-SCAN), Fuji Intelligent Color Enhancement (FICE), dye-based chromoendoscopy and novel image enhanced systems, including blue laser imaging (BLI) and linked color imaging (LCI), were compared to identify the most efficient modalities that could be used to detect colorectal lesions. Odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. As a result, 40 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Overall, in the network meta-analyses, NBI (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04-1.58), FICE (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.11-1.77), chromoendoscopy (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.22-1.93) and AFI (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.07-2.87) were significantly better compared with SDWL at identifying adenoma in patients, and chromoendoscopy also proved significantly superior to HDWL (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06-1.60). In pairwise analyses, it was demonstrated that chromoendoscopy was significantly superior to HDWL at detecting the number of polyps (MD, -1.11; 95% CI, -1.46, -0.76) and flat lesions (MD, -0.30; 95% CI, -0.49, -0.10) per subject. Additionally, FICE detected a significantly greater number of subjects with polyps (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.96) and NBI was significantly better at detecting the number of subjects with flat lesions (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.60-0.99) compared with HDWL. Based on the meta-analysis, NBI, FICE and AFI were significantly better compared with SDWL at detecting patients with adenoma. Additionally, chromoendoscopy was significantly better than SDWL and HDWL at detecting the number of colorectal adenoma, however additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Multiple sclerosis is among the most serious inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDD). Interleukin-23A (IL23A) regulates and coordinates the activities of immune cells by interacting with its receptor IL23R and plays key roles in the pathogenesis of immune inflammatory diseases. IDD, deemed to be a kind of autoimmune diseases, may involve IL23A in the pathogenesis. The aim of this work was to validate the hypothesized involvement of IL-23A and its receptor in IDD. We sequenced the IL-23A and IL-23R genes for 206 Chinese Han IDD patients and evaluated SNPs within or near those genes. The serum levels of IL23A in IDD participants were analyzed using ELISA. The statistical analyses were conducted using Chi-Square Tests as implemented in SPSS (version 19.0). The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test of the population was carried out using online software OEGE. Three variants rs2066808, rs2371494, rs11575248 in IL-23A gene and one variant rs1884444 in IL-23R gene were demonstrated to be associated with the risk of MS or other IDD diseases, and the expression level of serum IL-23A in the MS patients was also altered. We conclude that variants in IL-23A and IL-23R genes were associated with the risk of MS or other IDD diseases.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of various doses of rocuronium on bispectral index (BIS) responses to propofol induction and tracheal intubation, as well as the role of the non-depolarization muscle relaxant rocuronium on the depth of sedation. A total of 72 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II) were anaesthetized with propofol using a target-controlled infusion, and randomly divided into two sedation level groups (n=36). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the BIS value: A normal sedation group (group 1), with a stable BIS value at 40–60, and a deep sedation group (group 2), with a BIS value

This meta-analysis compared clinical outcomes, including survival rate, marginal bone loss (MBL), and technical and biological complications of short implants (7 mm) and long implants (≥7 mm) placed in the posterior alveolar bone.Electronic (via PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) and manual searches were performed for articles published prior to November 29, 2019.The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019140718). Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing short implants and standard implants in the same study after an observation period of at least five years were included.Nine RCTs were included in this study. The survival rates of short implants (7 mm) ranged from 86.7 %-98.5 %, whereas the survival rates of longer implants (≥7 mm) were 95.1%-100% with follow-up ranging from 5 to 10 years. Dichotomous variables were compared using the Mantel-Haenszel (MH) method, and continuous variables were compared using the inverse variance (IV) method. The random effects model and the fixed effects model were used. Meta-analyses showed that short implants had a poorer survival rate than longer implants (P = 0.008). Short implants were associated with lower MBL than longer implants (P0.001). The biological complications of short implants were lower (P0.001) and the technical complications were higher, than those of long implants (P = 0.006).The results indicate that although the survival rate of short implants in the maxilla may be lower than that of long implants, the survival rate of short implants in the mandible is similar to that of long implants, and short implants can result in a lower rate of biological complications. The conclusions should be interpreted with caution due to the limited numbers of participants and implants.When selecting the length of implants, surgeons should consider survival rate, the location of implant placement, their own clinical experience, and the incidence of complications.

Antiangiogenesis is a promising approach to cancer therapy but is limited by the lack of tumor-homing capability of the current antiangiogenic agents. Angiogenin, a protein overexpressed and secreted by tumors to trigger angiogenesis for their growth, has never been explored as an antiangiogenic target in cancer therapy. Here it is shown that filamentous fd phage, as a biomolecular biocompatible nanofiber, can be engineered to become capable of first homing to orthotopic breast tumors and then capturing angiogenin to prevent tumor angiogenesis, resulting in targeted cancer therapy without side effects. The phage is genetically engineered to display many copies of an identified angiogenin-binding peptide on its side wall and multiple copies of a breast-tumor-homing peptide at its tip. Since the tumor-homing peptide can be discovered and customized virtually toward any specific cancer by phage display, the angiogenin-binding phages are thus universal "plug-and-play" tumor-homing cancer therapeutics.

Excessive forces may cause root resorption and insufficient forces would introduce no effect in orthodontics. The objective of this study was to investigate the optimal orthodontic forces on a maxillary canine, using hydrostatic stress and logarithmic strain of the periodontal ligament (PDL) as indicators. Finite element models of a maxillary canine and surrounding tissues were developed. Distal translation/tipping forces, labial translation/tipping forces, and extrusion forces ranging from 0 to 300 g (100 g=0.98 N) were applied to the canine, as well as the force moment around the canine long axis ranging from 0 to 300 g·mm. The stress/strain of the PDL was quantified by nonlinear finite element analysis, and an absolute stress range between 0.47 kPa (capillary pressure) and 12.8 kPa (80% of human systolic blood pressure) was considered to be optimal, whereas an absolute strain exceeding 0.24% (80% of peak strain during canine maximal moving velocity) was considered optimal strain. The stress/strain distributions within the PDL were acquired for various canine movements, and the optimal orthodontic forces were calculated. As a result the optimal tipping forces (40-44 g for distal-direction and 28-32 g for labial-direction) were smaller than the translation forces (130-137 g for distal-direction and 110-124 g for labial-direction). In addition, the optimal forces for labial-direction motion (110-124 g for translation and 28-32 g for tipping) were smaller than those for distal-direction motion (130-137 g for translation and 40-44 g for tipping). Compared with previous results, the force interval was smaller than before and was therefore more conducive to the guidance of clinical treatment. The finite element analysis results provide new insights into orthodontic biomechanics and could help to optimize orthodontic treatment plans.

Traditional NDVI-Ts space is triangular or trapezoidal, but Liu et al. (2015) discovered that the NDVI-Ts space was bi-parabolic when the study area was covered with low biomass vegetation. Moreover, the numerical value of the indicator was considered in most of the study when the drought conditions in the space domain were evaluated. In addition, quantitatively assessing the spatial-temporal changes of the drought was not enough. In this study, first, we used MODIS NDVI and Ts data to reexamine if the NDVI-Ts space with “time” and a single pixel domain is bi-parabolic in the Shaanxi province of China, which is vegetated with low biomass to high biomass. This is compared with the triangular NDVI-Ts space and one of the well-known drought indexes called the temperature-vegetation index (TVX). The results demonstrated that dry and wet edges exhibited a parabolic shape again in scatter plots of Ts and NDVI in the Shaanxi province, which was linear in the triangular NDVI-Ts space. The Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDIc) was obtained from bi-parabolic NDVI-Ts andTVDIt was obtained from the triangular NDVI-Ts space and TVX were compared with 10-cm depth relative soil moisture. By estimating the 10-cm depth soil moisture, TVDIc was better than TVDIt, which were all apparently better than TVX. Second, combined with MODIS data, the drought conditions of the study area were assessed by TVDIc between 2000 to 2016. Spatially, the drought in the Shaanxi Province between 2000 to 2016 were mainly distributed in the northwest, North Shaanxi, and the North and East Guanzhong plain. The drought area of the Shaanxi province accounted for 31.95% in 2000 and 27.65% in 2016, respectively. Third, we quantitatively evaluated the variation of the drought status by using Gradient-based Structural Similarity (GSSIM) methods. The area of the drought conditions significantly changed and moderately changed at 5.34% and 40.22%, respectively, between 2000 and 2016. Finally, the possible reasons for drought change were discussed. The change of precipitation, temperature, irrigation, destruction or betterment of vegetation, and the enlargement of opening mining, etc., can lead to the variations of drought.

MicroRNA-212 (miR-212) is dysregulated in numerous tissues and cancer types and serves a role in the progression of human cancer. However, the function and mechanism of miR-212 in the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain unknown, particularly in a hypoxic microenvironment. In the present study, miR-212 expression was observed to be significantly upregulated in PDAC tissues compared with normal tissues. Clinical data analysis indicated that miR-212 was positively associated with a large tumor size, Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage, lymph node metastasis and vessel invasion, and influenced the overall survival time. Notably, there was a positive association between the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and miR-212 in vivo and in vitro in hypoxic conditions. Mechanistically, HIF-1α bound directly to a hypoxia response element in the miR-212 promoter region and activated miR-212 expression in PDAC cells. Collectively, these results demonstrated that HIF-1α positively regulated miR-212 expression and resulted in PDAC progression.

Various types of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been used in urological tissue engineering but to date the existence of MSCs has not been reported in the human bladder. The present study provided evidence that a small number of MSC-like cells exist in the human bladder and designated this class of cells ‘human bladder-derived MSC-like cells’ (hBSCs). It was demonstrated that hBSCs can be cultured to yield a large population. These hBSCs expressed the surface markers of MSCs and exhibited the capacity for osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. On induction with appropriate media in vitro, hBSCs could differentiate into bladder-associated cell types, including urothelial, endothelial and smooth muscle cell-like lineages. In addition, the average telomerase activity of adult hBSCs was higher compared with adult human bone marrow-derived MSCs, but lower than that of human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs. These findings may inspire future studies on the role of hBSCs in urological tissue engineering applications and in other fields.

Olfactory dysfunction (ODF) has been reported in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the comparison of olfactory function and olfactory-related gray matter (GM) between patients with NMO and MS needed to be further elucidated.Thirty-seven patients with NMO and 37 with MS were enrolled. Olfactory function was evaluated with a Japanese TT olfactometer test kit, and the neuroanatomical features of olfactory-related GM were assessed using voxel-based morphometry.Olfactory deficits were found in 51.4% of patients with NMO and 40.5% of patients with MS. Patients with NMO with ODF had significantly smaller olfactory bulbs than patients with MS with ODF (p = 0.031). Olfactory-related GM atrophy was found in patients with NMO in several regions of the right orbitofrontal cortex and right superior frontal gyrus; in patients with MS, reduced GM volume was found in the right parahippocampal gyrus and piriform cortex (p0.05, cluster size200 voxels).Olfactory deficits are common in both NMO and MS. However, the neuroanatomical features related to olfactory deficits differ greatly between the two diseases.

Using 2000-2011 MODIS and 1998-2008 SPOT-4/5 satellites NDVI data, with maximum value composites (MVCs) method and linear regression analysis, the dynamic vegetation monitoring change in 1999-2011 of the vegetation coverage in Shendong coal mining area was analyzed. It is revealed that the NDVI in Shendong increases integrally, and the land vegetation coverage in most of the mining area is improved. The vegetation coverage overall showed an upward trend in using simple linear regression analysis, NDVI from MODIS and SPOT data was analyzed both inter-annual and intra-annual change. The spatial pattern of using NDVI calculated that the increase rate of NDVI average of SPOT and MODIS was 9.90%/10a. Temperature, air pressure, rainfall, solar radiation and other meteorological indicators have similar phenological seasonal variations with vegetation coverage. Moreover, NDVI has an obvious correlation with meteorological factors, such as temperature, rainfall, air pressure.

Lake level, area, and volume changes can describe the fluctuation of water bodies. In this study, ICESat/Hydroweb and Landsat data recorded with irregularly time intervals from 1975 to 2015 were used to examine changes in lake level and area which were combined to indirectly estimate water volume variations of Lake Hulun. The time series of lake level, area, and volume variations of Lake Hulun exhibited a fluctuating trend from 1975 to 1984 and the mean value were about 542.57 m, 2065.76 km2, and − 0.045 km3, respectively and an increasing trends showed during 1984–2000. Lake Hulun revealed the fastest decrease in lake level (− 0.42 m/a), volume (− 0.83 km3/a) from 2000 to 2009, and the fastest shrinking in surface area (− 33.88 km2/a) during 2000–2012. There was a seasonal variation of water level and lake volume variations during 2009–2012 and the mean value were 539.98 m and − 5.72 km3, respectively. From 2012 to 2015, a faster increasing trends were shown in water level, area, and volume variations with a rate of 0.73 m/a (the amount of change was 2.92 m), 81.95 km3/a (the amount of change was 327.8 km2), and 0.42 km3/a (the amount of change was1.67 km3), respectively. The lake level and area showed strong correlations for Lake Hulun (R 2 = 0.93). The water volume changes were in very good agreement for lake level changes (R 2 > 0.99) and surface area variations (R 2 = 0.92). Combining with lake level and area changes, the sum of lake volume variation of Lake Hulun was obtained and it showed a positive water budgets of 0.24 km3 during past 40 years. River and groundwater discharge, the pan evaporation, the net pan evaporation, and the water diversion project were reasons for the lake level, area, and volume variations in Lake Hulun. This study demonstrates that remote sensing data can be used as a source of information for monitoring comprehensively the fluctuation of large water bodies.

Background: Acupuncture and moxibustion has been widely applied to hyperlipidemia treatment in clinical practice in China, serving as an alternative treatment to statins. Warm-needling acupuncture and medicinal cake-separated moxibustion have been separately reported with potential therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia treatment in several studies but with limitations in study methodology. Combining these two modalities may provide a more advantageous strategy in treating hyperlipidemia. Therefore, a strict evaluation through well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCT) is necessary to determine their efficacy and safety on hyperlipidemia. Methods The study a multicenter, open-label, randomized, stratified, active-controlled, noninferiority trial with two parallel groups. Subjects with hyperlipidemia will be stratified into different groups by risk levels of heart diseases. They then will be instructed to the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) diet. Those who have not reached the target lipid level will be randomly assigned to the treatments of either acupuncture and moxibustion or simvastatin with a 1:1 allocation. One hundred and thirty subjects are aimed to be recruited. The duration of intervention for this study will be 12 weeks, followed by another 4 weeks for post-treatment assessment. The primary outcome is percentage change from baseline to the end of the study in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Other indicators in lipid change, safety and adherence will also be assessed secondarily. The repeated measures, linear mixed-effects model will be applied to the analysis. Discussion Acupuncture and moxibustion could be a potentially effective treatment alternative for hyperlipidemia. A study with careful design is developed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined acupuncture and moxibustion, by integrating the traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) regimens with the standardized Western medicine appraisal approach. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02269046 . Registered on 26 September 2014.

Drought occurs frequently in the world and it has great influence on the crops. Satellite remote sensing has been widely used in drought monitoring because of its wide range, fast information and short cycle. Temperature vegetation dryness index based on NDVI-T s space is widely used to assess drought conditions. In this study, LAI-T s space, constructed from MODIS MOD15A2 and MOD11A2 products, was used to replace the NDVI-T s feature space and drought condition of winter wheat in Henan province was evaluated from February 26 to June 1 during 2000–2015. The results show that there is a negative correlation between TVDI and soil moisture and LAI-Ts space can be used to monitor drought status. The LAI-T s feature space is a triangle in the low vegetation cover and evolves into a trapezoid with the improvement of vegetation cover. Drought is mainly distributed in the Midwest, southwest and northern regions in Henan province.

Ischemic postconditioning (IPo) attenuates ischemia‑reperfusion injuries (IRI) in various organs, of both animals and humans. This study tested the hypothesis that IPo attenuates renal IRI through the upregulation of heat shock protein (HSP)70, HSP27 and heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1, also known as HSP 32) expression. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia for 45 min followed by reperfusion for up to 48 h. One group of rats received IPo prior to restoring full perfusion. Another group was administered 100 mg/kg HSP inhibitor quercetin, injected intraperitoneally 1 h prior to ischemia. Control rats received sham operations. Renal IR resulted in severe morphological and pathological changes, with increased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations. IR resulted in increased inflammation by inducing plasma tumor necrosis factor‑α and renal nuclear factor kappa‑light‑chain‑enhancer of activated B cells expression. IR also increased lipid peroxidation, as indicated by elevated malondialdehyde content, reduced superoxide dismutase activity and increased renal apoptosis. Renal HSP70, HSP27 and HO‑1 mRNA and protein levels were increased by IR and further elevated by IPo. IPo attenuated these changes observed in pathology, lipid peroxidation, apoptosis and inflammation. Quercetin treatment abolished all the protective effects of IPo. In conclusion, this study showed that IPo can attenuate lipid peroxidation, apoptosis and inflammation as well as renal IRI by upregulating the expression of HSP70, HSP27 and HO‑1.

A short explanation of the finite element method as a powerful tool for mathematical modeling is provided, and an application using constitutive modeling of the behavior of ligaments is introduced. Few possible explanations of the role of water in ligament function are extracted from two dimensional finite element models of a classical ligament. The modeling is extended to a three dimensional finite element model for the human anterior cruciate ligament. Simulation of ligament force in pitching motion of basketball player is studied in this paper.

Backgrounds Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a postinfectious immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy. Interleukin (IL)-27 and IL-35 have been recognized as novel members of IL-12 family. We evaluated the serum and cerebral spinal fluid (CFS) concentrations of IL-27 and IL-35 in GBS and analyze their correlations with clinical characteristics. Methods Serum samples from 50 patients with GBS including 9 acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), 33 acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and 8 unclassified and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were collected. Thirty CSF samples from these patients and 25 patients with other noninflammatory neurological disorders (ONNDs) as disease controls were collected after lumbar puncture. Serum and CSF IL-27 and IL-35 concentrations were measured using human IL-27 or IL-35 ELISA. Results Serum IL-27 concentrations were elevated (p = 0.002) whereas serum IL-35 concentrations were decreased (p = 0.031) in patients with GBS comparing with healthy controls, particularly in patients exhibiting AMAN (p = 0.012). Additionally, serum IL-35 concentrations were negatively correlated with disease severity and outcomes in patients with AMAN (r = − 0.358, p = 0.041; r = − 0.416, p = 0.016). Conclusions IL-27 might be pathogenic, whereas IL-35 be protective in GBS. Additionally, serum IL-35 concentrations may be important biomarkers for the severity and outcomes of AMAN.

Aim To explore the effects of lectin-like ox-LDL receptor (LOX-1) on innate immunity against Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus ) in mice cornea. Methods The mRNA levels of LOX-1 were tested in normal and A. fumigatus infected corneas of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. The expression of LOX-1, pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, CXCL1 and IL-6, anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) were tested with treatment with LOX-1 neutralizing antibody or control IgG in A. fumigatus infected corneas of C57BL/6. Macrophages and neutrophils were extracted from susceptible C57BL/6 mice, and pretreated with LOX-1 neutralizing antibody or IgG, then stimulated with A. fumigatus. The mRNA levels of LOX-1, TNF-α, CXCL1, IL-6, IL-10 and MMP9 were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction. Results The expression of LOX-1 was significantly increased in C57BL/6 mice corneas after A. fumigatus infection compared with BABL/c mice. After treatment with LOX-1 neutralizing antibody, the expression of LOX-1, TNF-α, CXCL1, IL-6, MMP9 and IL-10 in C57BL/6 corneas were significantly decreased compared with treatment with control IgG; the expression of LOX-1, CXCL1, IL-6 and IL-10 were significantly decreased in macrophages, while TNF-α and MMP9 expressions had no change; LOX-1, TNF-α, CXCL1, IL-6, MMP9 and IL-10 expressions were significantly decreased in neutrophils. Conclusion The expression of LOX-1 can affect the expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in fungal infected corneas, macrophages and neutrophils of C57BL/6. LOX-1 inhibition rebalances the inflammatory response of fungal keratitis in mice.

Summary Background Cerebral ischemia is a situation with a deficit blood supply to the brain, which eventually leads to cell death, inflammation, and tissue damage. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) plays an important role in inflammation and immune regulation. The aim of this study was to test the function of the activation of NF-κB in vivo in cerebral ischemic injury. Material/Methods We generated an animal model that used the method of occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). The 60 traits were equally divided into 5 groups to investigate the role of NAC pretreatment: (1) sham-operation (control), (2) ischemia for 6 hours, (3) ischemia for 6 hours and NAC pretreatment, (4) ischemia for 24 hours, (5) ischemia for 24 hours and NAC pretreatment. The 36 rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: (A) recombinant adenovirus expressing wild-type κBα (AdIκBαM) group, (B) recombinant adenovirus expressing wild-type IκBα (AdIκBα) group, and (C) simple ischemia group. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) was used to measure infarct volume. Detection of expression of NF-κB was by Immunohistochemistry analysis. Results The infarct size of the 24-hours ischemia groups were bigger than those of 6-hours ischemia groups (P

The DEAD-box RNA helicase p68 plays a very important role in early organ development and maturation. However, the role of p68 in glioma is unclear. In this study, we showed that p68 protein levels were significantly elevated in high-grade gliomas compared to low-grade gliomas and normal adjacent brain tissues. Importantly, the expression of p68 was significantly associated with poorer overall survival and enhanced resistance to treatment with radiotherapy plus temozolomide for glioma patients. Ectopic expression of p68 enhanced glioma cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, knockdown of endogenous p68 prevented glioma cell proliferation. Using a tandem affinity purification assay, we found a new p68-binding protein, nuclear factor (NF)–κB p50. We found that p68 bound with the N-terminal of NF-κB p50, and the mutant of p68 lacking the p50-interaction domain failed to stimulate glioma cell proliferation and tumor growth. Moreover, p68 induced NF-κB p50 accumulation in the nucleus through release of NF-κB p50 from IκBα and increased NF-κB p50 target luciferase transcription activity. Knockdown of NF-κB p50 rescued the phenotypes induced by p68 both in vitro and in vivo. We concluded that p68 induces glioma tumor growth through binding with NF-κB p50, regulating NF-κB p50 nucleus accumulation and transcription activity.